Madame President,

I would like to thank you for convening this meaningful commemorative event.

74 years ago the United Nations was born out of the sufferings caused by the Second World War. The determination, enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" is as vital today as it was 74 years ago.

In the face of the unprecedented global challenges such as humanitarian and migratory crises, inequality and transnational threats, the value of the UN Charter is more visible than ever.

Erosion of mutual trust among states and the current state of play in international politics is a constant reminder for us why we have created the UN and why its Charter is still relevant after 74 years.

Madame President,

The Charter gives expression to the common values and aspirations of humankind. Türkiye, as a founding member, is proud of the achievements of the UN.

At the same time, it is clear that solutions to current diverse but interrelated global problems require more collective actions. These actions demand a more efficient and responsive multilateral system.

Without the multilateral system and respect for international rules, there is a risk of returning to relations solely based on power, mechanisms based on rewards and sanctions as well as a cycle of protracted conflicts.

Multilateralism is also the only way to safeguard national interests in an interdependent world. No country, no matter how powerful, is able on its own to effectively counter current problems.

The United Nations, as the preeminent institution of multilateralism, provides a forum where states come together to share burdens, address common problems, and seize common opportunities

Madame President,

We are all aware that multilateral institutions and rules are not perfect. The necessity of reform is well-known. The reform agenda of the UN Secretary General is praiseworthy, as it strives to make the UN more effective, relevant and mainly focused on the lives of the people it serves.

Creating responsive institutions to the people’s needs is the only way of meeting the challenges of an increasingly complex world.

We cannot achieve a world of safety and dignity for all without addressing the plight of millions of people affected by the ongoing complex emergencies. A UN that does not touch the souls of the human beings, that does not speak to human conscience and that does not have a humanitarian essence, will not be able to bring lasting solutions.

Madame President,

While anchoring our past, today and future to the principles of the UN Charter, it is essential that member states commit themselves to more cooperation, dialogue and coordinated work and become active advocates of the spirit and ideals of the UN Charter.

In this sense, the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations in 2020 will provide an excellent opportunity to redirect the UN to greater service to humankind. This is the practical and moral challenge ahead of us. And our obligation is rooted in the Charter.

As Kofi Annan once said, “More than ever before in human history, we share a common destiny. We can master it only if we face it together.”

Thank you.