Erdogan: UNSC 'standing idle to oppressions in world'

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: The UN Security Council currently serves the interests of five permanent members holding veto rights, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday. The five members of the Council, the U.S, Russia, China, France and Britain, are “standing idle to the oppressions in other parts of the world," Erdogan said in his address to the 73rd session of UN General Assembly. The Turkish president has long advocated for reforming the structure of the Security Council, pushing the motto, "The world is bigger than five." Erdogan said the UN has carried out work and achieved considerable successes over its 73-year history. "However, it is also a fact that over time the United Nations moved away from meeting the expectations of humanity for peace and welfare," he added. Erdogan said past "massacres" in Bosnia, Rwanda and Somalia, recent ones in Myanmar and ongoing ones in Palestine, have all taken place before the eyes of the Security Council. "Those who do not raise their voices against the oppression of the Palestinians, their efforts even to reduce assistance for them, are only increasing the courage of the oppressors," he added, referring to the recent U.S. decision to cut aid to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. Turkey will continue to stand with the "oppressed" Palestinians and will protect the historical and legal status of Jerusalem, Erdogan said. He underscored there needs to be "comprehensive reform" in the structure and functioning of the UN, particularly the Security Council. "And we believe that when we say ‘the world is bigger than five,’ we become the voice of the common conscience of humanity," Erdogan said. (Footage by Vural Elibol/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)