Ankara emphasizes dialogue for peace in Ukraine
TURKEY called to keep communications channels open at a special U.N. Human Rights Council session for Ukraine on Thursday, as Russia continues its military invasion of the country.
“We believe it is necessary to keep dialogue channels open for a peaceful solution and the easing of the humanitarian situation,” said Turkey’s Permanent Representative to the U.N. Office at Geneva in a statement during the 34th Special Session of the U.N. Human Rights Council on “the deteriorating human rights situation in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression.”
“We support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, including Crimea,” the statement added.
Noting that Turkey rejects “breaches of fundamental principles of the U.N. Charter and the military aggression on Ukraine,” the statement said: “We are also concerned by the long-term and broader consequences of the conflict on human rights in Ukraine and the world at large.”
“The international community cannot afford the potential risks of such serious regional and even global complications,” it added.
Noting that images from various districts around Kyiv, including Bucha and Irpin, as well as from Mariupol and other Ukrainian cities are appalling, the statement added: “We share the pain of the people of Ukraine. Targeting innocent civilians and civilian infrastructure can never be accepted.”
The statement also called for identifying perpetrators and bringing them to account via independent investigations.
“Since the early days of the war, we have been seeking a humanitarian cease-fire and a way to open humanitarian corridors,” the statement added.
“We believe it is necessary to keep dialogue channels open for a peaceful solution and the easing of the humanitarian situation. We should do all we can to keep the diplomatic track going.”
“Turkey will continue to work towards achieving peace without delay,” it added.
Turkey is one of the most active countries working to ensure a permanent cease-fire between Ukraine and Russia. Its delicately balanced act of assuming a role as a mediator by keeping communication channels with both warring sides open provides a glimmer of hope in diplomatic efforts to find a solution and achieve peace in the Ukraine crisis. With its unique position of having friendly relations with both Russia and Ukraine, Turkey has won widespread praise for its push to end the war.
Since the beginning of the conflict, Ankara has offered to mediate between the two sides and host peace talks, underlining its support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. While Ankara has opposed international sanctions designed to isolate Moscow, it also closed its straits to prevent some Russian vessels from crossing through them.
In a breakthrough, Russian and Ukrainian delegations met for peace talks in Istanbul on March 29 as the war entered its second month, with casualties piling up on both sides.
During the talks, Ukrainian officials signaled readiness to negotiate a “neutral status,” a key Russian demand, but demanded security guarantees for their country. Ukraine wants to see countries, including Turkey, as guarantors in a deal with Russia, a Ukrainian negotiator said after the talks. Russia, meanwhile, pledged to significantly decrease its military activities focusing on the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Chernihiv to build trust for future negotiations.
Turkey also hosted the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine in Antalya in March. Turkish officials have also been engaging with their counterparts on the issue of humanitarian corridors in Ukraine to evacuate stranded civilians and wounded persons.