‘Turkey aims to strengthen diplomatic influence via Antalya Diplomacy Forum’

ANTALYA

Turkey wants to continue to work towards the establishment of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum as a foundation like the World Economic Forum and the Munich Security Conference, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on June 16, noting that they want to turn the forum into a more professional think tank and discussion platform.

“With the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, we aim to strengthen our influence that is on the field and at the table in diplomacy and also in the field of thought,” Çavuşoğlu said, speaking at the opening of the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Summit.

The Antalya Diplomacy Forum will host 12 heads of state, 43 foreign ministers, four former heads of state, representatives of international organizations, intellectuals and academics, the minister said.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell will also be joining the meetings, he added.

Noting that the Antalya Diplomacy Forum is the first of its kind as it specifically focuses on diplomacy, Çavuşoğlu said: “We want every issue to be discussed innovatively and creatively. We want a liberal discussion platform which can reflect different perspectives.”

“Even if the majority of the participants are official representatives, we don’t expect them to have official talks,” he added.

There will be two sessions with the participation of state leaders, 15 sessions on regional, global and thematic topics as well as numerous bilateral interviews, roundtables and side events, he stated.

“This first meeting of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum will be one of the biggest international events to be held during the pandemic period, with physical participation and observance of all health measures,” the minister stated.

“We believe that the forum will gain an important prestige and visibility in the international arena in a short time,” the minister said.

He recalled that Antalya hosted many international events, including the G20 Summit and NATO Foreign Ministers meeting.

He said many global issues, including the situation in the South Caucasus and opportunities for regional peace, would be discussed at the forum.

Highlighting that Azerbaijani lands remained under occupation for three decades and diplomatic initiatives were not enough to liberate the lands, Çavuşoğlu said, “Azerbaijan’s patience was not limitless, and Azerbaijan took its lands.”

“Everyone should respect its territorial integrity,” he said. “We want this region to be a region of peace and stability.”

The forum was postponed last year due to pandemic measures.