President Erdoğan says UN needs structural reforms

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Sept. 18 that the U.N. must undergo "structural changes" to reflect today's world.

"It is a necessity that the U.N. is reformed. Once again reform is on the agenda at this year's [U.N. General Assembly], but it is not the reform that we understand. What really matters is a reform of the U.N. structure.

 As long as this does not happen, it is not possible to see a healthy U.N.," Erdoğan said at a groundbreaking ceremony of a new "Turkish House" in New York.

The Turkish president, in New York to attend the General Assembly meetings, said the current structure of the U.N. "does not serve with an aim to provide the world peace."

"While the number of countries is increasing, threats have also changed in form. There is a need to develop new methods to struggle with those threats," Erdoğan said.

He also noted that Turkey had proposed for Istanbul to become a U.N. center.

Erdoğan arrived in New York on Sept. 18, where he is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with world leaders and attend the United Nations General Assembly.

Erdoğan, who flew to the U.S. with key regional issues and the ongoing violence Myanmar on his agenda, will address the General Assembly on Sept. 19. 

The General Debate at the 72nd session of the U.N. General Assembly will open on Sept. 19, with the theme "Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet."
     
Before he left Ankara Sept. 17 for New York, Erdoğan highlighted Ankara's stance against the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) planned referendum for independence, adding that he would meet with both U.S. President Donald Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, who is...