Turkish president speaks out on Security Council reform

ACCRA, Ghana

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeated his wish that the UN Security Council be reformed for the benefit of poor and underdeveloped countries.

He made the comments during a speech at Ghana’s parliament during the second stop on his four-nation West African tour.

Erdogan described the UN Security Council as “an unequal system” which failed to reflect the will of poor and underdeveloped countries.

He told Ghanaian MPs in Accra that all important issues currently depended on just five countries, including China, Russia, the U.K., the U.S. and France.

“The world is greater than five,” Erdogan said, referring to the five permanent members of the Security Council’s decision-making system.

“We should take a step” and try to change the system, Erdogan added.

“Turkey is in third place [when helping] undeveloped or less-developed countries across the world. When we compare the national income of counties which provide humanitarian aid, Turkey is in first place,” he said.

Turkey and Ghana are determined to contribute to regional peace as well as world peace, said Erdogan.

He added that Turkey continues to combat terrorism.

Erdogan arrived in Ghana late on Monday and attended a Turkey-Ghana Business Forum early Tuesday.

During his Africa tour, the Turkish president will also visit Nigeria and Guinea.