Turkish diplomat takes the helm of OSCE

A senior Turkish diplomat, Feridun Sinirlioğlu, has been appointed as the secretary-general of the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) with the votes of all 57 member states, becoming the first Turkish national taking the helm of the prestigious organization.

Sinirlioğlu's appointment was announced by the OSCE's 31st Ministerial Council meeting that took place in Malta on December 6 and 7. Ambassador Sinirlioğlu is one of the most experienced Turkish diplomats with more than 40 years of experience in diplomacy.

He had served as the undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry between 2009 and 2016 and as Türkiye's permanent U.N. representative between 2016 and 2017. After his retirement, he was appointed as U.N.'s coordinator for Afghanistan in 2023 by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterrez.

According to Turkish diplomatic sources, the selection of Sinirlioğlu as the secretary-general of the 57-nation organization reflects the importance of Türkiye's active and constructive diplomatic efforts in trying to resolve conflicts in Europe and elsewhere.

In an environment where the OSCE was divided between eastern and western members due to the Russian occupation of Ukraine, the unanimous vote of all 57 countries for the Turkish candidate is of historic significance, recalled sources.

The timing of Sinirlioğlu's appointment is also important in the eyes of the Turkish sources. First, 2025 will be the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, a key historic move that paved the way for the establishment of the OSCE.

Second, Sinirlioğlu takes the helm of the OSCE as prospects and hopes for the launch of a political process to end the Russian-Ukrainian war are strengthening, especially after the election of Donald...