Sezer: U.N. Should Get More Support From Member States And World Public Opinion

ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Friday that the United Nations (U.N) should get more support and contribution from member states and world public opinion to respond to the needs of the 21st century.
''Reform of the U.N. and its restructuring in a way to respond to the needs of the century will be a correct step to be taken to this end,'' President Sezer in his message issued upon the 58th foundation anniversary of the United Nations.
Presidential Press Centre stated that Sezer noted in his message that U.N. was founded to install international peace and security, prevent wars and ensure universal prosperity.
U.N. which was the only universal organization that would reflect the common wish of the international society, gained more importance than ever, said Sezer noting that ''Turkey, which is a founding member of the U.N. attached great importance to supporting the activities of the U.N. from the beginning. Turkish officials always launched efforts to the benefit of the international society and for peace within the scope of the U.N.'s activities. Our participation in peace keeping operations and the support we extended to the U.N. is always a source of pride for us. Turkey is resolved to continue its support to U.N.''
Sezer congratulated the U.N. upon its 58th foundation anniversary due to its significant contributions to humanity and wished success to all of its personnel.
ERDOGAN ISSUES STATEMENT ON 58TH ANNIVERSARY OF U.N.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that United Nations (U.N.) should undertake responsibility more than ever today at a time when humanity was face to face with new international threats as well as war and terrorism.
Erdogan issued a message on the occasion of the 58th anniversary of the U.N.
Prime Ministry Press Center issued a statement and stressed that U.N. was the most broad-scale organization of the world today with its 191 members.
Erdogan said the U.N. had very valuable contributions to international peace in the past 58 years, stressing that he hoped the U.N. would continue to unite all humanity around targets like preservation of peace, prevention of clashes, overcoming of poverty, improvement of social justice, environmental protection, and fight against natural disasters.
Erdogan said Turkey, which has a special geogstrategical position and an element of stability in its region, continued its contributions in solution of current conflicts and prevention of the new ones.
Erdogan said, ''Turkey, which supports efforts of the U.N. toward universal peace, security and development, will continue its contributions as a founder member of the U.N. and a responsible member of this organization.''
Erdogan said, ''Turkey, which is loyal to the fundamental principles and targets of the organization, thinks that effectiveness of the organization should be increased in a way to meet the needs of 21st century, stressing that it was ready to undertake its responsibility in this respect.''
Erdogan said Turkey appreciated very valuable services of the U.N. and stressed that Turkey reiterated the importance it attributed to the U.N.
GUL ISSUES STATEMENT ON 58TH ANNIVERSARY OF U.N.

Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that there was a clear and pressing need to strengthen the United Nations (U.N.) in the new global security environment.
Gul issued a message on the occasion of the 58th anniversary of the U.N.
In his message, Gul said, ''this year we celebrate the 58th anniversary of the United Nations, which was founded on 24 October 1945 with the aim of maintaining peace and security as well as improving the welfare of humanity, particularly in the fields of human rights, health, education and environment.''
Gul noted that the serious global problems that they were encountering today were more challenging then ever before and stated that the many challenges that the world faced today underlined the central role of the U.N.
The efforts to adapt that unique organization to the realities of today's international life should resolutely be pursued, Gul stressed.
Gul said, ''the world needs a more representative, effective and functional United Nations to face the major problems of peace and security and other challenges which remain to be addressed: poverty, illiteracy, violence, terrorism, organized crime, narcotics, ecological disasters, epidemics, refugees, gender inequality, corruption, racism, anti-semitism, prejudices against certain faiths and peoples among them Muslims, xenophobia and others.''
Having supported U.N. efforts towards safeguarding peace and security and the socioeconomic advancement of the world, Turkey had made important contributions to the activities of the Organization in many fields, Gul stated.
Gul emphasized that aware of her international responsibilities, Turkey would carry on her supportive approach to the U.N.
Foreign Minister Gul said, ''having declared her candidature to the U.N. Security Council for the term 2009-2010, Turkey believes that she will be better equipped to bring further contributions to international peace and security as well as to cooperation and development, which are ever so closely interlinked.''
International terrorism also remained to be an important issue, Gul pointed out.
Gul said that the recent attacks on the U.N. headquarters and the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad had demonstrated once again how terrorism threatened international peace and stability and violated fundamental human rights, first and foremost the right to life.
Within this framework, increasing the security of the UN personnel was a crucial issue, Gul emphasized.
Gul said that better working conditions should be provided for those devoted people so that they could perform their duties with minimum risk.
''With this understanding, we have recently taken the necessary steps to become a party to the 'Convention on the Security of UN Personnel','' Gul noted.
Gul added, ''whilst celebrating the 58th anniversary of the United Nations, I would like to express my belief that the Organization shall continue to be successful in its efforts towards the advancement of mankind.''
(BRC-AY) 24.10.2003