Türkiye’s nominee to lead the United Nations urged the next secretary-general to mediate conflicts directly and make spending more transparent, placing diplomacy and accountability at the center of his campaign.
At a Nov. 6 interactive dialogue with UN member states and civil society representatives, Feridun Hadi Sinirlioğlu, secretary-general of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), described high geopolitical tensions, widening economic inequalities within and between countries, and weakening global solidarity. The UN Web TV recording of the session shows him urging engagement with people who disagree, saying it “is not a concession, but a responsibility.”
Sinirlioğlu outlined five priorities: preventing and resolving conflicts, restoring confidence in multilateralism, preparing for emerging challenges, advancing sustainable development and climate action, and protecting human rights. The list puts conflict work alongside institutional confidence, preparedness, development and rights.
He also called for UN reforms to improve transparency and financial accountability. Sinirlioğlu said the organization should explain how it allocates funds and what its programs achieve, so taxpayers can assess the results of its spending.
A joint letter to member states dated Nov. 1 recorded Türkiye’s nomination of Sinirlioğlu. His candidacy joins a selection process that includes United Arab Emirates nominee Lana Zaki Nusseibeh; EconoTimes previously covered Nusseibeh’s agenda for the post.
Article 97 of the UN Charter gives the Security Council the role of recommending a secretary-general for appointment by the General Assembly. The UN has not announced dates for either step. António Guterres’ term is due to end Dec. 31, 2026, and the next term is scheduled to begin Jan. 1, 2027.
