Turkish-Pacific Island states cooperation on the way
For some of them it took 48 hours to get to Turkey. Foreign Ministers of South Pacific Islands had to endure a long trip to attend a meeting in Istanbul yesterday.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan invited officials from the 16 member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum to attend the first ever meeting between Turkey and these distant nations. The majority of the Turkish public is unaware even of the existence of these states, some of which are islands as small as 26 square kilometers. The Republic of Tuvalu for example might cease to exist in the future as the island’s highest point – only five meters – will be absorbed by the Pacific Ocean as a result of global warming. The Turkish public is probably unaware of the plight of the 10,000 residents of the island who are negotiating with authorities in Canberra to migrate to Australia. “If you aspire to be a global player you have to be sensitive to everything, even to those in the remotest places,” a Turkish diplomat told the Turkish Daily News. And Turkey aspires to be a global player. In its bid for a non-permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council in 2009-10, Turkey has recently reached out to countries with which it has had little relationship. “Our interest in those countries with which we had no contact until now, goes beyond our campaign for the Security Council membership,” said a high-level Turkish official. “After all, if we win we will have the seat only for two years. We want to continue our relationship with far away locations even after our possible Security Council membership,” he said.
“A seat in the Security Council will be just an extra bonus next to the ramifications of our expanded relationship,” said a Turkish ambassador accredited to one of the Pacific Islands. “By bringing new pace to our relations, we aim for a long term endeavor,” said Babacan in his opening remarks. “The primary aim of Turkish foreign policy is to help secure a peaceful, stable, prosperous and cooperative regional and international environment that is conducive to human development within and around Turkey as well as other parts of the world,” he said.
“We admire our rapid economic program,” said Samuel Abal, foreign minister of Papua New Guinea, emphasizing that small nations are the ones suffering most from the negative effects of globalization. “We look forward to cooperating with Turkey to reach our socioeconomic development objectives,” he said speaking on behalf of all the participating states. “We will encourage you to continue your engagement in the region,” he said. Turkey included the Pacific Island States in its recently launched “Strategy for Development of Commercial and Economic Relations with Asia-Pacific Countries.” “We believe that with their rich mineral resources, unique geographical features and competitive export portfolios, the Pacific Islands are more and more taking up bigger roles in the global economy,” said Babacan. Babacan reiterated the Turkish quest for a non-permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council in 2009-10. When asked to what degree Turkey secured the support of the Pacific Island states during a press conference at the end of the first session, Babacan said the majority of them promised to back Turkey.
No commitment to Kyoto Agreement.
Member countries of the Pacific Islands have asked for Turkey’s support to fight the negative effects of global warming. “We are zero emitters of green gases, yet we are experiencing the worst effects of climate change,” said the foreign minister of Papua New Guinea. The minister also asked for Turkey’s assistance to face the challenges posed by climate change. Turkey signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2004, but the Kyoto Protocol was not signed. The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the international Framework Convention on Climate Change with the objective of reducing greenhouse gases that cause climate change. The Turkish government is considering signing the protocol. During the press conference Babacan reiterated that the Kyoto Protocol is on the agenda, however he avoided giving any time frame regarding the signing of the protocol.
Source: Turkish Daily News