Top Turkish diplomat: Diplomacy crucial for peace

"Effective mediation" and "preventive diplomacy" are crucial tools in tackling ongoing conflicts taking place around the world, Turkey’s foreign minister said Thursday.

Speaking at the sixth Istanbul Mediation Conference in Istanbul, Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "We are witnessing the emergence of a new set of challenges including terrorism, radicalism, climate change, poverty, extremism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and antisemitism."

Underlining that the "phenomenon of conflict became more complicated," Cavusoglu said: "Conflict prevention and resolution efforts have to match the complexity of the conflicts worldwide."

"The need for effective mediation is more than ever before," Cavusoglu stressed, adding that "preventive diplomacy and conflict resolution became more crucial."

He recalled a century-old motto, "Peace at Home and Peace in the World," first articulated by the founder of Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

"This is not a simple preference, but a necessity given Turkey’s location at the epicenter of geography hosting a great number of conflicts," Cavusoglu stressed.

Highlighting that Turkey has undertaken various mediation and facilitation efforts and developed numerous regional cooperation initiatives, he said, "A decade ago, we launched the 'Mediation for Peace Initiative' together with Finland at the United Nations."

"Today, the UN Friends of Mediation Group has 59 members representing all continents, regions and major international organizations.

"Over the past ten years, this Group made critical contributions to mediation, such as helping the adoption of four UNGA [UN General Assembly] Resolutions on mediation, and the preparation of three UN guidelines on mediation," he added.

Cavusoglu stressed that this "surge in diplomacy for peace" elevated the place of mediation and conflict prevention in the UN.

"This is a major service for global peace and stability," Turkey’s top diplomat said.

Addressing UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Cavusoglu concluded, "We support your efforts and truly appreciate your presence here today."

The sixth Istanbul Mediation Conference was themed: International Peace Mediation: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead. The event brought together policy-makers, diplomats, international organizations and non-governmental organizations in Istanbul.

It aims to discuss the role of regional and international organizations in the field of mediation and strengthening avenues of cooperation among them, according to a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement.

Various main aspects of the practice of mediation as well as the connection between emerging technologies and peace efforts are also among the topics to be discussed during the event.