Considering the latest increasing economic and social improvements, People’s Republic of China organized a meeting called the First Annual Conference of the Non-governmental Forum of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA)  that brought together the international institutions last week in Beijing.

On behalf of Turkey, from the Marmara Group Foundation, Dr. Akkan Suver and Hon Şamil Ayrım participated to this meeting. Dr. Akkan Suver mentioned in his speech about the ‘’Peace at home, peace in the world’’ phrase of the Great Atatürk.

During their business trip, Dr. Akkan Suver and Hon. Şamil Ayrım visited the Turkish Ambassador to Beijing H.E. Ali Murat Ersoy in his Office.

The speech of Dr. Akkan Suver which he delivered on the General Assembly of the CICA is below:

Before I start my speech, I would like to thank for the hospitality of CICA- Non Governmental Forum and Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs who brought us together in here

We all are, here together for the idea of that building security and development in Asia. So, with your permission, now I would like to talk about ‘’ Peace Culture ‘’.

Because, I am a man who is attached with great importance to the peace culture.

We are living in an information age.

Information technologies are opening new doors of an innovation every day. Medicine helps to extend people’s life every day. Cross-Continental travel times have descended from days to the hours. While Scientists and technology aim to reach to the Sun, the ones who try to destroy our World are looking for a way to remove the peace, stability and prosperity.

Africa is like a fireplace!

Middle East is like a fireball!

Europe is under the threat of terror networks.

United States of America is faced with homicides and sabotage activities.

Asia has to cope with conspiracies, traps and bombs.

Who found all of the innovations, goodness, and kindness is human being. In addition to this, who has burned and destroyed Africa, Middle East, Europe, United States of America and Asia is also human being.

However, even it is expected, mankind, improving his intelligence, thinking, understanding, seeing and reading with it, will reach more clear, more naive, more humanistic, neither in Africa or in Europe there is no such level of life.

How can we bring together a human who respects and gives importance to peace with a person who is intended to destroy the World not just politically but ecologically and economically?

This is our subject !

Here, today the topic we will speak is to seek the opportunities in order to live together with same dignity provisions. I call this peace culture.

Nowadays, we have to act together as the World. Acting together, World is not an issue of sacrificing the national independence. This is a mutual dependence situation in today’s conditions. Again within today’s conditions, this is creating a world where all the people will be happy, a world where peace will be the leader and a place that improvement and development is constant.

In fact, what happened in Africa is barbarous.

People who are killed in Middle East are the same religion’s members.

Europe has become a continent where the terrorists spread fear. In addition, Europe is now is the shelter of refugees.

United States of America recently, is become the nightmare of murders.

As for Asia, is facing with malicious attacks every single day.

Which point of view it does serve, whomever intend to kill people, severely prevent the creation of peace culture .

Prevention of peace culture causes various sincere obstacles for  countries’ future

Economy cannot live long in a country where there are serious obstacles in front of the peace culture.

Our duty is to improve intelligence and information on the road of peace culture.

After all these I would like to say that;  There are three basic factors that command  to Turkish Foreign Policy during 92 years, under the ‘’Peace at home, peace in the World’’ phrase of Kemal Atatürk.

Firstly; we seek friends to ourselves. Why do we do that? Because we would like to feel more secure. That is to say, increase our military force, we want to make an alliance against enemies and any threats to be occurred.

The second one is economic refreshment and growth. Since, if economic growth doesn’t exist, you cannot run the first one. What we search for the economic growth is resource. We have communications with the World during these resource searching. Especially, after the World War II together with the creation of international institutions, economic growth and economic development have become prominent. 

Thirdly, we would like to build a peace circle around us. So that, we don’t go to war or struggle with anyone, But, in the same time we do not give up our national law.

Hence countries shouldn’t lose their deterrence. Whatever the circumstances are or will be, Can we act in peace? This is impossible. And also, if there are countries continuously getting armed, it is not possible to say ‘’we are peaceful’’ and stay calm. Accordingly, you need to take your measures.

Kemal Atatürk once said; ‘’War, is a murder unless there is no vital necessity’’. Ok, but, any vital necessity can come up against us leading to a war. Then if you beware , you cannot protect your rights and you lose your deterrence.

Peace policy of the Republic of Turkey during 92 years, which was created by the Great Atatürk, gave major interests to the country. Current Turkey is his achievement. And, honestly, peaceful policy will be helpful for improvement of Turkey more and more. This politics is the essence of Peace Culture.

Peace culture is the unity of values.

It shouldn’t be a part of a geography.

This values of unity is not anybody’s monopoly.

People and communities that want to own this unity should be embraced.

Einstein had a word ; ‘’ It is harder to crack a prejudice of a man than dividing an atom’’. We have to remove the prejudices that can affect Peace culture negatively.

I want to say once again; I give great importance to peace culture.

I attach tolerance and respect to this belief and would like to say to you all that we shouldn’t give up our hopes.

I salute your distinguished delegation with hoping to live in Peace.

Thank you!