Davutoğlu Calls For Reforming UNSC

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said that the United Nations needs to be reformed, criticizing the veto powers of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

Speaking at a dinner organized for the participants of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Davutoğlu said on Thursday that the UN is an institution that was established after World War ll and needs to be reformed according to today's world.

He gave the examples of the Palestine-Israel conflict and the crisis in Syria, saying that these conflicts are unresolved due to the veto powers of the five permanent members. He added that Turkey doesn't have any problems with the five permanent member states of the UNSC but that it is not right that only these five permanent member states can decide what will happen concerning a major crisis in the world.

The UNSC has five permanent members -- the US, Russia, Great Britain, France and China -- and 10 non-permanent members. Davutoğlu stated that the UNSC is responsible for maintaining global order and should therefore be more inclusive, citing the lack of representation of an African country or a Muslim country in the permanent five.

The idea of reforming the UNSC was first brought up by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last year. Erdoğan said that the UNSC should be a more inclusive body, criticized the veto powers and also called for the establishment of an international crisis management mechanism at the UN.

When asked about whether it's still a strategic goal for Turkey to join the EU, Davutoğlu said Turkey is ready to be a member but it's not clear if the EU is ready to accept Turkey.

“Membership in the EU is our strategic goal,” said Davutoğlu. Turkey began its accession talks with the EU in 2005. Turkey needs to complete 35 chapters with the EU and reform its laws according to EU standards. The process has been stalled due to Greek Cyprus and France's blockage.

Davutoğlu said that Turkey will complete the accession process to the EU in two years, if there is no political blockade. He added that unfortunately, because of the Cyprus problem and due to certain blockades by some countries Turkey cannot move forward. He also said that the EU needs Turkey to maintain peace, stability and economic vitality.

Davutoğlu also talked about Russia's termination of the South Stream pipeline project to supply gas to southern Europe without crossing Ukraine. When visiting Turkey last December, Russian President Vladimir Putin had unexpectedly announced that he had ended the South Stream project and instead named Turkey as its preferred partner for an alternative pipeline.
Davutoğlu said that Turkey is still discussing the feasibility of the project with Russia and after careful consideration will make a decision whether to go through with the project.

He said that Turkey is open to any ideas about energy issues given that Turkey is willing to become an energy hub in the region.

Before coming back to Turkey, Davutoğlu on Friday also met with the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz.

(Cihan/Today's Zaman)