I would like to draw your attention to the immediate neighbourhood of my country, Turkey. In the south, in the Middle East, we are facing the greatest turbulence of our time. In the north, we are surrounded by both frozen and actual conflicts among former Soviet Union Republics. In the west, we are an inherent part of the Balkans, where peace and stability remain fragile. Additionally, Turkey stands at the crossroads of the routes of migrants and Foreign Terrorist Fighters, which pose a direct threat not only to our country, but also to the whole international order.
Such a geography requires Turkey to be strong, resilient and active. This is key for the peace and stability of our region. It is also self-evident that the peace and stability of this geography is vital for Turkey’s well-being. So there is a mutual benefit here. That is why, Turkey has been following a principled foreign policy since its foundation by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, guided by the dictum: “Peace at Home, Peace in the World”.
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