World : Türkiye Nominates OSCE Chief Sinirlioglu As Candidate For Next UN Secretary-General

Turkey has officially designated Feridun Sinirlioglu, the secretary-general of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), as a candidate for the upcoming United Nations (UN) secretary-general position, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry. This move comes after an unsuccessful straw poll at the UN Security Council, which concluded inconclusively on Friday.

Turkish UN envoy Ahmet Yildiz forwarded President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's nomination letter to the presidents of the General Assembly and Security Council, following the UN Charter and a relevant General Assembly resolution.

In his letter, Erdogan highlighted Sinirlioglu's extensive 40-year diplomatic career, which includes stints as foreign minister and UN envoy, as well as his appointment in 2023 to lead an independent assessment on Afghanistan. The Turkish president expressed confidence in Sinirlioglu's experience, deep understanding of the UN system, and commitment to UN Charter principles, deeming him the ideal candidate to lead the United Nations Organisation.

A candidate must secure at least nine votes in the Security Council to gain support, with any of the five permanent members - the US, China, France, Russia, or the UK - having the power to veto. Once the Security Council reaches an agreement, the eventual nominee will be appointed by the General Assembly, typically a formality at that point.

Antonio Guterres currently serves as the UN secretary-general, with his term set to conclude on December 31. So far, eight candidates have been nominated for the position: Rebeca Grynspan, Rafael Grossi of Argentina, former Senegalese President Macky Sall, Guyana's UN Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, Ecuador's former UN General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Ugandan politician and diplomat Olara Otunnu, and Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne A-Baki.