Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan once again raised the issue of Kashmir during his address at the 78th UN General Assembly session, underlining the importance of fostering a just and enduring peace in the region through constructive dialogue between India and Pakistan.
The Turkish president affirmed his commitment to supporting initiatives in this direction, a topic he has consistently highlighted in previous UN General Assembly speeches.
Erdoğan's remarks followed his recent meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, where they discussed bolstering trade and infrastructure ties.
He commended India's role in the United Nations Security Council and advocated for an expanded council membership. He proposed adding 15 "temporary" members to the existing five permanent ones, thereby totaling 20 members serving on a rotational basis.
He emphasised that the world's representation should extend beyond the current five permanent UNSC members, comprising the US, UK, France, China, and Russia, promoting a more inclusive approach.
In Erdoğan's address during the previous UN General Assembly session, he had brought up the Kashmir issue, emphasising its global significance.
He expressed concern that, despite gaining independence and sovereignty 75 years ago, India and Pakistan have yet to establish enduring peace and cooperation between them. Erdoğan expressed hope for a prosperous and equitable future for Kashmir.
In the 2020 general debate, Erdoğan had made reference to Jammu and Kashmir in a pre-recorded video statement, which India strongly condemned as "completely unacceptable".
In response, India urged Turkey to respect the sovereignty of other nations and reevaluate its own policies in a more profound manner.
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