Davutoglu calls for new vision in Turkish diplomacy

Turkey needs a new and more powerful foreign policy, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said yesterday. Speaking at the opening of a Turkish diplomats' conference bringing together Turkey's ambassadors from all over the world to discuss the future of the Turkish foreign policy, Davutoglu said, "A new world is emerging with new requirements. We need to develop a systematic and strategic vision to meet those requirements." Stressing that Turkey has a vast foreign policy experience almost unmatched worldwide, Davutoglu said Turkish diplomacy should be ready to represent a country set to join the European Union by 2023, with one of the worlds' top 10 economies, and most importantly, a country making a unique contribution to global culture. Reiterating Turkey's determination to move towards EU integration in all areas, Davutoglu said Turkey this year will open 26 more missions abroad, which he said would boost the country's active diplomacy in helping settle global crises. Davutoglu said the world needs a new international body with a new perspective and philosophy which meets the requirement for international political reforms. "And right at the center of that requirement stands Turkey's important geography and history," he said. The Brazilian, German and Japanese foreign ministers, as well as Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat, are among the distinguished guests at the week-long conference.