ISTANBUL - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Turkey would become a symbol of harmony of cultures and civilizations in the 21st century, based not only on its economic and military power, but also thanks to her capability to contribute to universal values and facilitate the interaction of these values among different regions.
Erdogan addressed Youth Summit held on the occasion of the NATO Istanbul Summit of the Heads of Government and State.
Erdogan said, ``I do not consider the Youth Summit to be a symbolic gathering, but an opportunity for the articulation of the intellectual contribution to the development of collective wisdom by those generations to whom we will entrust our future.``
``One of the roost important defining characteristics of youth is the inclination to asses with different and new interpretations the issues that are commonly accepted in society. In fact, the questioning of the societies` habits and Governments` decisions is an indispensable fact of our democratic order. Moreover, I believe that in today`s globalized world the younger generations are more successful in developing cross-cultural skills,`` Erdogan said.
``We are living through difficult times in international relations. As the members of the world`s strongest Alliance, we are trying to closely follow and accommodate the change on the international scene. The basic consideration guiding us in this endeavor is our commitment to the universal values,`` Erdogan said, adding that ``the preponderance of these values in a wider geography and eventually throughout the world is the common objective of us all. We consider democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, good governance and prosperity as every individual`s and every people`s natural rights. It is a duty for all of us to demonstrate that the advocacy of these values is not merely rhetorical.``
Erdogan said, ``let me try to briefly explain this by referring to Turkey`s view of the world and especially the vision we have for our region: In recent years, due to the eastward expansion of NATO and the European Union, as well as the developments taking place in our geography, Turkey, once a flank country of the Alliance, has found itself at the very center of the new geopolitical commotion.``
``Our understanding of alliance and the historical ties we have with surrounding countries have bestowed upon us a special role. As the east and west have been brought closer together, Turkey`s unique function has in time been consolidated. In fulfilling this successfully, we draw strength from our history, multi-cultural accumulation, democratic and secular system and the dynamism of our integration with the West,`` Erdogan stressed.
Erdogan said, ``our historical experience and geopolitical location have led us to be realistic. In these early years of the 21st Century, we are encouraging regional and international cooperation, taking as our point of departure the reality of interdependence - a dynamic which, we believe, supports peace and stability. Guided by regional dynamics and supported by the international community, we aim for a positive change in the political, economic and social spheres.``
Prime Minister Erdogan said, ``we would like the problem-solving, win-win approach which we employ in foreign policy to become tile prevailing mentality in our region, in other words, we are following a policy which incorporates both realism and rational idealism.``
``I would like to underline once again the importance of the NATO Youth Summit and would like to express my appreciation and gratitude for the work carried out therein,`` Erdogan stressed.
(AY-AÖ) 28.06.2004