THE MESSAGE OF THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY HIS EXCELLENCY ALİ BABACAN
The primary aim of Turkish foreign policy is to help secure a peaceful, stable, prosperous and cooperative regional and international environment that is conducive to human development around Turkey as well as in other parts of the world. Peace and stability are indispensable for economic development and prosperity. Rapid and radical changes are taking place around the world, which have a direct impact on all of us. At the outset of the 21st century, there still exist serious destabilizing factors on our overburdened planet, and a vast gap regarding welfare among states persists. In order to eliminate this outlook, Turkey attaches utmost importance to the achievement in full of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as defined by the United Nations by the year 2015.
Since the establishment of modern Turkey in 1923, Turkey follows the motto of her founding leader Atatürk, which cites as “Peace at home, peace in the world”.
Turkey pursues this objective by following a principled and proactive foreign policy that employs a broad spectrum of peaceful means. These entail, inter-alia, membership in the NATO Alliance and full integration with the European Union, taking the lead in regional cooperation processes, promoting good neighbourly relations and economic cooperation, extending humanitarian aid and assistance to the less fortunate, participating in peace-keeping operations, and contributing to the peaceful settlement of disputes as well as post-conflict reconciliation and reconstruction efforts.
It is within this general framework that we are looking to foster ever deepening relations with Africa. In conformity with Turkey’s active and multi-dimensional foreign policy and in view of the growing economic and political significance of Africa, we have adopted a new approach in our relations with African countries. We observe with great pleasure that our policy of opening up to Africa is already bringing its positive results and ramifications to the benefit of all parties concerned. We will continue to do our best to this end.
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