11. Cumhurbaşkanı Abdullah Gül’ün, Delfi Ekonomik Forumu’nda Yaptığı Konuşma

Distinguished audience,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to join you at the Delphi Forum. I thank the organisers and our Greek friends for their hospitality.

We are meeting during a period of global crisis and uncertainty. The rules-based order and international norms are being degraded by some of the most powerful states.

The recent attacks against Gaza, Lebanon and Iran have been devastating. These operations disregarded international rules. They caused severe humans rights abuses. The situation in Gaza amounted to a genocide, according to experts and UN reports.

The direct American involvement in Iran made it a turning point. This operation will have longer term strategic results with regional and global consequences. I want to mention some major blows it caused.

The first blow was to the rules-based international order.

A striking feature of this operation was the lack of effort to create a legal basis. There was no attempt to render it legitimate. Washington did not seek international approval. Even American officials admit that Tehran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States.

By acting this way, the US is opening the door to illegal actions by other powers. The limits of what is permissible are becoming elastic. How can Washington accuse others, when it is breaking the rules?

The second blow was to the reputation and influence of the US itself.

Israel and its lobbies have managed to push the American President into attacking Iran. The decision-making process regarding the use of force by the biggest military power has come to light. It is shocking and frightening to see how death or life decisions have been taken.

The American rhetoric on “destroying an entire civilisation” has damaged its image as the leader of the democratic world. It is unfortunate to see where the US leadership has drifted. It was not the Iranian civilisation, but the American image that was destroyed in the eyes of the world.

The US has now become part of Israel’s actions by bombing schools in Iran and fueling conflict in the region. American allies will have more difficulty in trusting it.

In fact, Gulf states are loosing confidence in American power. The US has become an unpredictable partner who is ready to risk the entire region to blatantly support Israel. Washington was supposed to be a source of safety. Instead, it became the reason why Gulf cities were hit by missiles.

China now seems capable to increase its sway in the region. It established itself as a power with the 2023 deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Following the latest developments, Beijing could be seen as a more predictable partner than Washington. It already had the economic upper-hand. It might now win the strategic game.

A third blow caused by the American attack on Iran is to the future of the regional order.

It was not a surprise that as a response Iran targeted US military facilities located in the Gulf. Hostilities will not vanish overnight, with long term consequences reshaping the dynamics in the region.

The Gulf will need new security policies. It will diversify its security partnerships and options, due to the vulnerability of trusting American protection. This will also mean diverting resources from the economy for defense spending. The economy and welfare of the region will be affected.

The Strait of Hormuz is another new problem. Previously, it had a clear status and was open to navigation. It contributed to the American strategy of safe energy transit in the region. Now, the status of the strait has become a matter of debate and negotiation. We will see how it settles.

The operation damaged global energy supply and the Gulf countries. The US and Israel have failed at regime-change. At a heavy price, Iran is resisting American attacks in a conventional conflict.

The clear result of this war is that it became a lose-lose equation. All parties ended up losing. Lessons should be taken.

Iran’s policies in the last forty years did not help the welfare of its people. Tehran’s rhetoric in foreign policy did not produce gains for the Islamic cause on Palestine. This rhetoric was even exploited by Israel to get the blind support of the West.

Both sides of the conflict should show flexibility to reach a peace agreement. This would benefit the stability of the whole region.

A comprehensive settlement would decrease the threat perception of the Iranian leadership. In this scenario, instead of worrying of regime change, Tehran should re-assess its threat perception and use the opportunity to undertake domestic reforms. Steps on fundamental rights and freedoms, together with structural and economic changes would benefit the country.

Israel may see itself as a victor, but this is self-deceiving. It is now globally more isolated than ever. It is responsible of the pain and suffering in the region. As long as its policies of invasion, illegal settlement and so-called buffer zones on neighbor countries continue, the negative feeling in the region will not change. The leaders of Middle-Eastern countries cannot risk any normalisation with Tel- Aviv. This is unfortunate for the prospect of peace in the region.

Distinguished Audience,

We are at an important point in history, where rational actors are needed. Following the trans-Atlantic rift, Europe should stop underestimating itself and show the courage to speak up. It should actively defend a just solution to the problems in our region. After all, Europe is the cradle of democracy and human rights.

But such soft-power alone is not sufficient. Washington has become an unreliable actor for Europe too. The US signalled that it will no longer be the security provider of the continent.

I recently argued that Europe needs a grand project to reach strategic autonomy. This cannot be done at a small scale. The EU alone is not enough. This project should be based on a broad vision, encompassing the continent at large, reaching from the UK to Türkiye.

Ankara has the military capabilities and strategic reach that Europe needs today. In turn, remaining inside this coalition of democracies is important for Türkiye’s future.

Ankara has a position of geo-strategic significance. It contributes to stability in the region. The Black Sea Grain Corridor and diplomatic efforts in Palestine and Iran are recent examples.

Turkish-Greek problems and Cyprus should not become an obstacle to this new European security project.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Illegitimate attacks in the Middle-East once again caused chaos and suffering. The results will be long-term and dramatic.

It must be clear that in the nuclear age, we need more rules and norms, not less. The world needs powers that defend international laws.

The lack of rules might seem like an advantage for some powerful countries. But this is an illusion. We should be staunch supporters of a strong and just international system. Working together toward this objective remains more important than ever.

Thank you for your attention.

SORU-CEVAP BÖLÜMÜ

I support the good friendship between Turkey and Greece, and always try to create a positive agenda between us. This is the first thing. We need a positive agenda.

We need a positive climate. And I believe that smart leaders, if they are neighbours, the smart leaders of the countries, they should follow this line because we are neighbour, and we will remain neighbour. So instead of creating problems of adding news, solving them through dialogue and creating more possibilities for cooperation, we help both sides' welfare, trust. At the moment, our president and our prime minister, they know each other. And very high-level meetings are taking place. Just last month, the prime minister was in Turkey. Two years ago, our president was here. And they signed an agreement called Athens Declaration. So, the framework is good. So, step by step, we have to follow all this. Of course, there are some problems between us. Now, my approach, my style was this. I always put myself in others' shoes first and approach from their perspective. This helps solving the problem.

So we have to do this. And your side should put yourself in our place, and we should then how do we see? So doing this, do you understand how Greece I wouldn't say is afraid, but is worried sometimes when comments are heard about, "We can come one night suddenly"? Do you understand how the Greek subconscious is?

You see, I mean, populism doesn't have. We should know this. In fact, populism don't have in any country. We know, I mean, populism brings the countries where instability. So therefore, this is not good. If there are serious issues, we have to, of course, have the courage to solve and to face this. But the method always should be with good intention. I believe that the Turkish people, they don't have any hostile feelings towards Greece.

I will give you an example. It was a long time ago. I was foreign minister. One of your banks, National Bank of Greece, wanted to buy one of the big private Turkish banks, okay? Owner of the bank came to me, and he said. Finance Bank, you mean?

Yes, Finance Bank. Mr. came to me, and he said, "National Bank of Greece wants to buy this. What do you think?" He was stating. I said, "How is the price? Are you satisfied?" He said, "It's good." I said, "Okay. Sell it." He was surprised. Then I went to parliament. I defended this. But what is important? Why I want to remind this. National Bank's side, they had stated. They thought that if the owner of the bank is known that the Greeks are the owner of the bank, what would be the attitude of the Turkish people? Are they going to put their money or the business service? Put their money in Greece? So they carried out opinion polls. Then they told me that 90% of the people in Turkey, they said that it doesn't make any difference for us. So I mean, this is a simple but real indication. Of course, there are extremists on both sides. I mean, in democracies, they will be. But we should manage them. So follow the positive path. That will create good things for both of us. That's what I see.

You understandably spent a lot of time on criticizing Israel and the US for the war, but Israel, and there's a very tensious relationship between Turkey and Israel these days. So how do you see do you feel that Israel has to be contained in some way? And in connection to that, because you know there's a trilateral agreement between Israel, Cyprus, and Greece, and recently, both President Erdogan and Foreign Minister Fidan have noted that it's seen as aiming, in a way, at Turkey. Here, I have to make a note that during a meeting that took place in Jerusalem, it was not the Greek prime nor the Cyprus president that said anything. It was just Prime Minister Netanyahu that attacked Turkey through this alliance. Do you feel there's an alliance against Turkey on that level? And how do you feel about Israel more generally?

Well, first, in Turkey and Israel, there's a tense, yes. We cannot call it as a conflict. It's a tense. What is the reason of that? Israel or the current governments, I will put it like that, which is better, current prime ministers and his governments, I underline this because just to remind that very fundamental, very right people, some names are the ministers there and ones, even they were involved in Rabin's issues. So this is well known, okay? So in the last two years, what's happening in the Middle East, we know, I mean, almost 80,000 people. One-third of them children.

Yes, in Gaza. They killed. And it's continuing. And they drove America. I mean, they managed to drive them, to direct them in the war in Iran. So the Turkish leadership is rightly criticizing these policies. It's well said and argued at the times of Israel is saying that Turkey is a threat for Turkey. It's a very irresponsible statement.

I mean, our Embassy is functioning in Tehran. It's one of the few ministry embassies, okay?

And before this Gaza war, the president of Israel was in Turkey, and he was received with full-fledged ceremonies. Prime Minister of Israel is going even distorting this story and attacking the Ottomans in Paris. This is shameful because it is well known that when the Jews were persecuted in Europe, the Ottoman state was the land. They opened their doors and they settled them. So, the Turkish leaders, our president, foreign minister, I criticize now, as you see. We are criticizing Israel's policies of these governments.

And we are supporting the UN Security Council's resolutions. If Biden also Israel because that's the only mechanism to trust the peace in the region. Anyway, coming to your side, of course, you are sovereign states. It's the decision of your governments, I mean, to have this. But when I see it, I was a little bit surprised because I know that the Greek people, they are the strong supporters of Palestine. And traditionally, there is not conflict with Greece. Traditionally, it is known that the people here, they support Palestine.

And during this war, even their ministers, their former prime ministers, many generals of the ISIS, they are saying that we are committing war crimes in Gaza. While this was happening, having this type of alignment is just a question to me.

On the other side, Italy, Spain, many other European countries are stopping and upholding their military agreement. Well, it's a decision of, of course, the governments, I mean.

Of course, you can always be understanding and supportive of Palestinian rights and have a good strategic relationship with Israel. I mean, during your presidency, you also had a very good relationship with Israel. So it doesn't the one does not exclude the other. I mean, you can be very good friends with Israel and?

Sure. Of course. I mean, once, when I was minister, I made many visits to Israel. And when I elected President Perez together with Mahmud Abbas, they came to Turkey to congratulate me. And both of them made a speech in the Turkish Parliament.

That is the only Muslim country's parliament that the ISIS president able to make a speech. So, I mean, we have a good will. We want to have. We want them to live together. Two-state solution is not just our plan. It's the plan of UN. It's the plan of Arab League. It's the plan of yes.

Mr. President, thank you very much. I see the ambassador of the US who has been a star in our country.

So he came in, and you see all these people. But it was a full room for you, so I have to be fair here.

Thank you very much. It was a very interesting discussion.

Thank you.