Türkiye nominates OSCE chief for UN top post
Türkiye has formally nominated Feridun Sinirlioglu, secretary-general of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), as its candidate to become the next United Nations secretary-general.
The announcement was made on Friday by Turkish Foreign Ministry sources, following a deadlock in the selection process after the latest UN Security Council straw poll ended without a conclusive result.
Türkiye’s UN Ambassador, Ahmet Yildiz, submitted the nomination to the presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council in a letter dated Friday, conveying a formal request from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
In his nomination letter, Erdogan highlighted Sinirlioglu’s more than four decades of diplomatic experience, including his previous roles as foreign minister and Türkiye’s UN representative.
He also pointed to Sinirlioglu’s appointment in 2023 to lead an independent assessment of the situation in Afghanistan.
“Taking together the strategic vision I have personally witnessed, his deep knowledge of the UN system and his unwavering commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, I believe Ambassador Sinirlioglu possesses the experience and culture of consensus required to lead the United Nations Organization,” Erdogan said.
Security Council deadlock complicates selection
The nomination comes as the search for the next UN chief faces growing difficulties in securing agreement among Security Council members.
A candidate must obtain at least nine votes in the 15-member Security Council. However, any of the five permanent members — the United States, China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom — can block a nomination through their veto power.
Once the Security Council agrees on a candidate, the name is submitted to the General Assembly for appointment, a step generally considered a formality.
Sinirlioglu joins a field of eight previously nominated candidates, including Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi of Argentina and former Senegalese President Macky Sall.
The other candidates are Guyana’s UN Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, former UN General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Ugandan politician and diplomat Olara Otunnu, and Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne A-Baki.
Guterres set to leave office at end of year
The selection process will determine the successor to current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term is scheduled to end on December 31.
Türkiye’s nomination adds another contender to an increasingly competitive race, with the Security Council still facing the challenge of finding a candidate capable of securing the necessary support from both permanent and non-permanent members.
Source:AA
