President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Monday in a press meeting before flying to New York that at the U.N. General Assembly he will highlight the fight against the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), PKK and DAESH terrorism, the success of Operation Euphrates Shield and reforms needed to correct the structure of the U.N. Security Council (UNSC).
"My speech in the General Assembly will be a good chance to explain the FETÖ threat to the other countries, the group behind the failed July 15 coup attempt. We are unveiling the shadowy side of FETÖ at every turn. No country will be a safe haven for FETÖ after this time," Erdoğan said. He added that he will also reiterate his famous slogan at the U.N. Summit, "The world is bigger than five," something he has frequently said at different platforms, referring to the veto power of the five permanent countries on the UNSC. Erdoğan has long been saying the structure of the UNSC should be changed, claiming it is not fair to let just five countries vote on the world's critical issues, while other countries aren't represented in the council.
Erdoğan will attend the 71st Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly and take part in the general debate, titled "The sustainable development goals: a universal push to transform our world," on Sept. 20.
According to reports, President Erdoğan is expected to attend the program on the first anniversary of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as the summit for refugees and migrants on Sept. 19, which aims to address the movement of refugees and unite countries behind a more organized and humane approach to the refugee issue.
"I will express the need for a security zone inside Syria," Erdoğan said, drawing attention to Turkey's hosting of more refugees than any country in the world as well as to how Operation Euphrates Shield has positively affected the migrant crisis, allowing people to return home now that DAESH has been swept from the Turkish border.
A new road map for the children of Syrian refugees to gain access to education will be also discussed. The road map aims to give more than 1 million refugee children access to education.
Turkey already hosts more refugees than any other country in the world. According to the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR), more than 4.8 million Syrians have fled their country since a civil war started in 2011. Some 2.7 million are registered in Turkey, and a further 2.1 million in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon.
President Erdoğan will meet U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim al-Thani, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras during the U.N. Summit.
The president is also expected to attend the working lunch organized by Ban Ki-moon, as well as the reception hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
