Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has reaffirmed his country’s determination to pursue diplomatic initiatives in international crises, while criticising the United Nations and the dominance of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

On Friday, a meeting of foreign ministers from Turkey, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is taking place on the sidelines of the 9th Istanbul Mediation Conference, at Ankara’s initiative.

The discussions are focusing on regional crises, including the Palestinian issue, Yemen, the Strait of Hormuz and the war in Ukraine.

In a recorded video message to the conference, hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Erdoğan emphasised Turkey’s role as a mediator, saying Ankara was committed to keeping channels of communication open even during the most difficult conflicts.

“At a time of growing conflicts and declining trust in international institutions, Turkey never abandons diplomacy, even when the parties involved are not speaking to each other. From prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine to our mediation efforts in Africa, we are working to pave the way for peace,” he said.

Turning to the United Nations, Erdoğan questioned the fairness and effectiveness of the current international system.

“Millions of people in Palestine, Lebanon and Sudan who have pinned their hopes on the United Nations are experiencing profound disappointment. A system in which the will of more than 190 countries depends on the whims of five is neither fair nor capable of inspiring confidence,” he argued.

The Turkish president pledged that his country would continue to undertake mediation initiatives, stressing that “even in the most difficult disputes, there is always a door open to diplomacy”.

Fidan: ‘Israel violates the ceasefire every day’

Meanwhile, Fidan accused Israel of violating the ceasefire on a daily basis, warning that such actions were undermining confidence in the international system. He also highlighted Turkey’s mediation efforts in regional crises.

Addressing the 9th Istanbul Mediation Conference, Fidan cited UN figures showing that more than 100 million people have been displaced worldwide.

Referring to the Middle East, he accused Israel of continuing military operations in Gaza and the West Bank without facing consequences.

Fidan then presented Libya as an example of Turkey’s mediation policy, expressing optimism that an agreement could be reached.

“We believe that the only path to a lasting solution is a Libyan-owned process based on sincere dialogue,” he said.

The Turkish foreign minister argued that regional stability could not be imposed by outside powers.

“The Mecca Defence Alliance was established to protect regional security, peace and prosperity,” he said, adding that the Balkan Peace Platform was promoting practical solutions through regional cooperation.

Concluding his remarks, Fidan stressed that Turkey was seeking to transform mediation from a diplomatic instrument into a central pillar of its broader strategy.