Türkiye's UN chief candidate Sinirlioglu pledges a leaner, accountable United Nations

Feridun Sinirlioglu, Türkiye's nominee for UN secretary-general, laid out his priorities in a vision statement, calling for deep reform of the world body, tighter spending and stronger conflict prevention.

Feridun Sinirlioglu, the former Turkish foreign minister who now serves as secretary-general of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), has published the vision statement attached to his bid to lead the United Nations. Titled "Preserving Multilateralism and Building Bridges," the document sets out how he would steer the organization if elected.

Reform amid a funding squeeze

Sinirlioglu wrote that the U.N. must become "more agile, transparent, digitally capable, financially responsible and accountable" at a time when global needs are at record highs while financial resources have fallen sharply. He said resources should be directed toward measurable impact and decisions should rest on evidence, with accountability at every level of leadership.

Restructuring, he argued, requires a careful balance: making investments in the U.N. more efficient without sacrificing its core expertise or operational capacity. "The next secretary-general must lead this comprehensive reform process with determination," he wrote.

Feridun Sinirlioglu speaks at a podium (AA archive)

"Dialogue is not a concession"

Sinirlioglu, who represented Türkiye at the U.N. in New York from 2016 to 2023, said diplomacy remains the strongest tool for easing tensions. "Engaging in dialogue with those with whom we disagree is not a concession; it is a responsibility," he wrote, adding that the U.N.'s job is not only to resolve crises but to prevent them through early warning, mediation and peacebuilding.

He also called on the U.N. to help build global governance frameworks for artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cyber security and space, and pledged to serve all member states impartially, strengthening transparency and cooperation with regional organizations.

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