Dear conference participants, good afternoon to you all. Since it is often challenging for an audience to remain focused during these hours of a conference, I wanted to open on an engaging note. First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the organizers for their kind invitation and for honoring me with the role of moderating this session. Gathering with the anti-imperialist community to conduct a direct and transparent dialogue—even on the most contentious issues—is of profound value to me.
Throughout history, particularly during the second half of the 20th century, diplomacy was often conducted by exploiting the disputes between the Greek and Turkish communities. Today, we are doing the exact opposite by fostering genuine dialogue. While it may not be realistic to expect a swift resolution to the longstanding Greco-Turkish disputes or the Cyprus issue in the immediate future, our primary duty is clear: to resist provocations, avoid positions that promote hostility or invite third-party exploitation, abide by international agreements, and rigorously evaluate geopolitical projects to avert catastrophic outcomes.
The theme selected for today’s conference is of paramount importance. Escalating conflicts in both the East and the West carry the distinct potential to degenerate into nuclear warfare. A nuclear catastrophe is, regrettably, on all of our doorsteps. We are witnessing an alarming breakdown of rationality within the Western bloc. The reckless moves executed against Iran under the influence of deceptive propaganda and the Israeli lobby—along with Netanyahu’s pursuit of global rather than merely regional dominance—clearly illustrate this irrationality. The targeted assassinations of Iranian figures by Israel underscore a deliberate strategy to perpetuate war and dismantle any possibility of diplomatic normalization. Deepening crises of capitalism inevitably generate such destructive forces.
Under these circumstances, establishing a robust alliance to deter a global nuclear conflict is imperative. An inter-state alliance encompassing Russia, China, Türkiye, and Iran is essential. However, this initiative must not remain restricted to state actors alone; it must expand into a broader alliance of social forces, organizations, and civil societies. The Western establishment appears willing to risk the destruction of humanity rather than accept the loss of its global hegemony.
Historical analogies from the prelude to the Second World War demonstrate that models of unilateral hegemony and imperialist domination must be definitively terminated. In an era where humanity faces existential challenges—such as climate change and unbridled artificial intelligence—civilizations must organize not merely on military terms, but through social and civil solidarity. Socially grounded Eurasian and Asian alliances represent the most viable safeguard for global peace and human civilization. Thank you for your attention.
