Distinguished Participants,

Let me begin by thanking you for joining us this Saturday morning. I extend my appreciation to the Communications Directorate and Professor Fahrettin Altun for organising this important event.

At a time when the world is undergoing profound transformations, discussions like these are not only timely but essential.

The international order established after World War II is now being tested, ironically, by the very actor that designed it.

While recent developments may seem surprising to some, the reality is that we did not arrive at this point overnight. The political and economic structures designed in the post-war era have been failing to address today’s challenges. For nearly two decades, we have seen this system struggle to deliver justice, stability, and security.

A clear example of this failure was the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic - one of the greatest crises in modern history. Millions of lives were at stake, yet it took the UN Security Council 100 days to adopt a resolution. This delay reflected a broader dysfunction.

We are back again in a world where power dictates outcomes, not justice. Without a truly just international system, calls for multilateralism become nothing more than lip service.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the response to the Palestinian tragedy. The stark contrast between the world’s reaction to the tragedy in Palestine and the response to other crises, such as Ukraine, reveals a serious ethical dilemma that we, as humanity, must confront.

Even the global outcry over humanitarian suffering is selective. We do not hear much about the humanitarian carnage in Sudan. The same goes for Somalia and Myanmar.

Even more troubling is the fact that a conflict rooted in the forced displacement of Palestinians is now being escalated with proposals to displace them even further. Türkiye will continue to stand by our Palestinian brothers and sisters.

For years, we have called for a more just and democratic international order —one that upholds fairness, equality, and dignity for all. A system that lacks these values cannot produce lasting solutions.

Our global challenges —poverty, income inequality, food crisis, irregular migration, terrorism, and climate change — demand global cooperation.

Although AI and disruptive technologies are about to bring dramatic changes to our lives, the world also seems to be divided on their governance.

Despite these challenges, we cannot surrender to cynicism. We must work together —both as public and private actors— to create an international system that is more rational, humane, and cooperative. Change only happens when nations and societies act with collective will and moral courage.

In this spirit, I hope that today’s event will yield meaningful outcomes for the collective good. I once again extend my gratitude to the Directorate of Communications for organising this important gathering and our distinguished panelists for joining us today.

Thank you all.