Feridun Sinirlioğlu - Interactive dialogue for the position of the next Secretary-General of the United Nations

Yes, I know. Excellencies, colleagues, please be seated. Colleagues, please be seated so we can start. Good afternoon, colleagues, Excellencies. I call to order the informal meeting to conduct an interactive dialogue with Mr. Fereydun Sinirlioglu, candidate for the position of the United Nations Secretary-General. Allow me to extend a warm welcome to Mr. Sinirlioglu. and to thank him for his participation in this important process. I will now read the statement on behalf of the PGE. Excellencies, the selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General is among the most consequential decisions before the United Nations. It comes at a time when our organization faces profound challenges from continuing conflicts and humanitarian crisis to pressures on the multilateral system, financial constraints, and growing demands for institutional reforms. These challenges reinforce the need for effective, principled, and independent leadership firmly grounded in the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. The next Secretary General will have a vital responsibility in strengthening the organization's capacity to deliver across its three pillars: peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights. Above all, the next Secretary General must help restore trust in multilateral cooperation and ensure that the United Nations remains responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people it serves. Excellencies, today's dialogue forms an important part of the transparent, inclusive, and merit-based selection and appointment process established by the General Assembly, including through Resolution 79/327. It provides Member States and civil society with an opportunity to engage directly with the candidate assess his vision and priorities, and consider the leadership qualities and experience required to guide the organization at this critical juncture. The President of the General Assembly will remain committed to facilitating a fair, open, and transparent process consistent with the respective roles of the General Assembly and the Security Council under the Charter. I encourage all participants to make full use of this opportunity through constructive, focused, and substantive engagement. The credibility of this process is essential to strengthening the confidence of Member States and wider international community in the United Nations. As outlined in the letters of the President of the General Assembly dated 4 March and 15 April 2026, and reaffirmed in the letter of 23 October, today's dialogue will follow the established modalities. The candidate will first be invited to present his vision and priorities for up to ten minutes. This will be followed by an interactive exchange organized into two thematic segments. The first segment will focus on leadership abilities, experience, and skills required to lead an effective United Nations that is fit for the future. The second segment will address the three pillars of the United Nations: peace and security, development, and human rights. Representatives of civil society will also have the opportunity to participate in both segments in accordance with the established arrangements. Let us approach today's dialogue in the spirit of openness, mutual respect and shared responsibility for the future of our organizations. To send the statement on the behalf of the President of the General Assembly, before proceeding to hear the presentation of the vision of the candidate, I would like to inform members on how to inscribe to speak in the two thematic segments. Delegations wishing to speak can register they wish to speak by pressing the microphone button, but please do not press the microphone button yet. I will announce when the delegations will be asked to press the microphone button at the beginning of the first segment. Member States speaking on behalf of groups are invited to approach the list of the speakers table and will be given priority. Delegations can speak only once in each segment, whether on behalf of a group or in national capacity. In the second segment, priority will be given to delegations that did not have an opportunity to speak during the first segment. I now invite Mr. Feridun Sinirlioğlu to present his vision. Mr. Sinirlioğlu, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to be here with you. Today, I stand before you as an international civil servant who has devoted his life to diplomacy. In my current role as Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, I lead a regional organization whose mandate is based, like the UN, exactly like the UN, on three pillars, namely peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights. It brings allies and adversaries around the same table, where decisions are reached by consensus. In previous decades, I have worked with you in these halls as a delegate, as Permanent Representative, and as Foreign Minister of the country I served. and as a senior UN official, to lead the Security Council-mandated independent assessment on Afghanistan. Now it is an honor to present my vision as a candidate for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations. Throughout my long career as a diplomat, I have seen how the UN can save lives. I have also seen moments when we collectively failed. I have learned that adherence to the Charter is not an act of idealism. It is the way to address the complex realities of our world and resolving differences between states. The Charter sets the rules and principles for international dialogue and cooperation. We are not going to reinvent it. The Charter was forged by the wisdom of men and women who knew all too well the unspeakable price that war had inflicted on humanity. As Secretary-General, I would strictly abide by it, serve it, and promote it. Colleagues, distinguished delegates, we are living today through high geopolitical tensions, the highest in decades. Mistrust among States is deepening. The international system is unable to address, or even agree on, the threats to peace and security. Economic inequalities are growing within and between countries. Global solidarity is fraying. Human rights are violated in plain sight and undermined by intolerable double standards. One's rules do not matter to some, they won't matter to anyone, and that becomes a problem for everyone. Furthermore, emerging Technologies, including artificial intelligence, are evolving faster than the legal frameworks to manage them, often generating uncertainty among the global public and posing new questions and opportunities for humanity as a whole. Against this background, I firmly believe that the United Nations still stands as humanity's best chance to address the challenges in front of us, those we see and those we do not yet see. I seek the office of the Secretary-General not because I think that the UN is perfect, but because I firmly believe that it is indispensable. Once you step outside the halls of this body, you quickly realize that no other institution possesses the UN's universal legitimacy, convening power, and moral authority. And more importantly, no other institution has the collective mandate of the peoples of the world to serve every man and woman without distinction and with the commitment to leave no one behind. The Secretary-General must be an independent guardian of the Charter, an honest broker among Member States, and an effective manager of the world's only universal multilateral institution. The role demands integrity, impartiality, experience, courage, and the ability to listen carefully and to lead. This is particularly relevant in today's context, when the United Nations is called to reform, cut costs, and refocus on its core mission. France, Throughout my career, I have managed complex, ambitious, and successful reform processes, both in national government and in multilateral institutions. If entrusted with this role, I will not strive to merely preserve the organization, but I will work hard to strengthen it. I will focus on five interconnected priorities: preventing and resolving conflict; restoring confidence in multilateralism, preparing for emerging challenges, accelerating sustainable development and climate action, protecting human rights. I am happy to go into details on all of these during our conversation today. Allow me now to focus on three of them. First, preventing and resolving conflict, and re-establishing the UN as the global forum for dialogue and diplomacy. Diplomacy remains our most powerful tool for reducing tensions and managing risks in an international environment marked more and more by mistrust. The United Nations was founded on a simple yet enduring truth: security cannot be built against one another. As hard as it may be, it must be built with one another. Addressing today's geopolitical challenges requires, first and foremost, keeping channels of communication open, and reopening those that have been closed. Engaging with those with whom we disagree is not a concession, but a responsibility. It is essential for avoiding misunderstandings and reducing the risk of miscalculation in today's volatile security environment. The UN Secretary-General has a unique convening power. As Secretary-General, I would use my good offices to prevent and resolve conflicts, to help bridge differences, and provide Member States with options for action and consensus. The Secretary-General should have a more visible presence on the ground and be willing to reach out directly to leaders on opposing sides Take calculated risks and engage discreetly. Silent diplomacy is a sine qua non of effective mediation. The UN needs a Secretary-General who is not only a chief administrator or the voice of the organization, but also an active and experienced diplomatic mediator, prepared to go where peace is most needed. If there is one lesson I have learned in my 40-year diplomatic career, it is this: dialogue is always possible. It only requires a platform to exercise it. And United Nations is the most important one of them. We must use it effectively. Second, restoring confidence in multilateralism. The UN is the only universal forum to advance peace, sustainable development, and human rights. Our collective security rests on these pillars. However, across all three pillars, the selective application of rules and exceptions risks eroding trust, the United Nations' effectiveness, and ultimately international law. When a system is facing this much distrust, there needs to be some soul-searching and an honest discussion. Therefore, the United Nations must become a more effective platform for dialogue among all Member States, large and small. Colleagues, under the UN umbrella, we must strengthen our focus on addressing the structural and systemic challenges facing the most vulnerable members of our international community, including the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states. This is not only a moral responsibility, but a strategic investment in global peace, stability, and prosperity. This brings me to the third point I wish to raise today: strengthening the United Nations itself. To play its crucial role, the United Nations needs reform. It must become more agile, transparent, digitally capable, financially responsible, and accountable. Resources should be directed towards impact, decision-making should be informed by evidence, with personal accountability at every level of leadership. Building on the UN80 initiative, we must create a more coherent, efficient, and accountable organization. The Secretary-General’s role should be to facilitate decision-making among Member States on the priorities of reform, what success looks like, and which benchmarks to follow. We need one United Nations, working together and delivering results for people. Diplomacy means finding a way where there seems to be none. But diplomacy without effective management cannot bring results. Worse, it risks further undermining the credibility of this great body. Taxpayers around the world need to see where their money goes, what projects it finances, and what impact it creates. A more accountable United Nations is a more credible, stronger United Nations. We also need to communicate the work of the United Nations in a clearer, more concise and compelling manner. Distinguished delegates, If selected, my approach will be guided by: strict fidelity to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter; independence and impartiality in serving all Member States; transparency and accountability throughout the UN system; partnership with regional organizations; and a commitment to inclusion, ensuring that all voices especially those traditionally underrepresented, help shape global solutions. Dear colleagues, at this pivotal moment in history, I believe the United Nations needs a Secretary-General who understands the dynamics that drive today’s major conflicts. I have devoted my career to addressing the very issues that threaten international peace and security today, many of which have roots in the wider region in which I was born and raised, but whose consequences are felt across the globe. If selected, I would dedicate all my experience, energy, and commitment to ensuring that the United Nations remains faithful to the vision of its founders and fit for our common future: preventing conflict, advancing sustainable development, protecting human dignity, and helping to build a more peaceful, prosperous, and just world for all. I thank you.

I thank Mr. Sinnerluolu for presenting his vision. We now proceed to the first segment. Delegations wishing to speak in the first segment are invited to press the microphone button now. The members are reminded that they are encouraged to ask short and focused questions. Interventions should not be more than two minutes for delegations speaking in national capacity, and not more than three minutes for delegations speaking on behalf of group of states, member states. Time limits will be strictly enforced by automatic microphone cut-off. A timer will be projected on the screen to assist the speakers to observe the time limit. The microphone will start blinking 30 seconds before the time limit elapses. As indicated in the President's letter, after each intervention, the candidate will be given the floor to respond, and the response should not be more than two minutes for questions from delegations speaking in national capacity, and not more than three minutes from the delegations speaking on behalf of a group of Member States. I will remind the candidate of his time limits. And civil society questions will be intercepted with the questions from member states. As mentioned before, we will now focus on leadership abilities, experience, and skills needed to lead the strong organizations that is fit for the future. With that, I would like to now invite the distinguished representative of Uruguay, who will speak on the behalf of Group of 77 and China. You have the floor.

Mr. President, the Group of 77 and China attaches great importance to the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General and reaffirms the need to ensure that this process remains open, transparent, and inclusive in accordance with the relevant General Assembly resolutions. First, with reference to the UN80 initiative introduced by Secretary-General António Guterres, what is your assessment of the proposal and how do you believe it could advance a United Nations that is more effective, efficient, and delivers greater impact on the ground? How would you ensure that any related reforms fully respect the intergovernmental nature of the United Nations? Preserve the balance among its three pillars and do not come at the expense of development mandates or other priorities of developing countries. Second, with a 2030 deadline fast approaching, how would you ensure the full and timely implementation of the Agenda for Sustainable Development, bearing in mind the universality and indivisibility of the goals and targets, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and the commitment to leave no one behind? Specifically, how do you envisage the role of the Secretary-General and the UN Secretariat in advancing this objective? Third, if you were appointed as Secretary-General, how would you ensure equal and fair distribution based on gender and geographical balance, as prescribed by Article 101 of the Charter and the relevant General Assembly resolutions, particularly in terms of the overall increase in the representation of unrepresented and underrepresented countries especially from developing countries, at the senior level appointments within the UN Secretariat and the broader UN system? Fourth, at a time of shrinking fiscal space, declining ODA, rising debt burdens, and widening development gaps, how would you, as Secretary General, mobilize the United Nations system to defend and advance the development pillar, accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and support financing for development in a manner fully responsive to the priorities of developing countries? Fifth, in light of the organization's persistent liquidity crisis, including warnings of potential race to bankruptcy, what concrete measures would you as Secretary General undertake to promote compliance with Member States' financial obligations, ensuring that assessed contributions are paid in full, on time, and without conditions? Final reflection, the Group of 77 and China underscores the importance of safeguarding the full independence, impartiality, and institutional integrity of the Secretariat, while ensuring that it provides equitable and effective support to all Member State representations in the discharge of their responsibilities. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Uruguay. I now give the floor to Mr. Sinneruolo to respond to questions.

Thank you very much. Thank you for this important question. The United Nations should become the ideal organization humanity needs and deserves again. I believe the next Secretary-General should pursue ongoing comprehensive reform processes with determination. The momentum of reforms and of concrete outcomes should be maintained. Of course, the United Nations is an intergovernmental organization, thus the next Secretary-General should also reaffirm the central role of Member States in shaping the work of the United Nations system. I will take the UN80 as the basis and we'll build on that. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 goals represent a landmark achievement of effective multilateralism. However, only 36% of assessable SDG targets are on track. or making sufficient progress, while the rest are lagging, stagnating and regressing. Despite some gains, the broader picture is sobering. I know all this. Armed conflicts, economic vulnerabilities, climate change and humanitarian crises increasingly undermine the global sustainable development agenda. One in ten people still lives in extreme poverty, while food security is affecting 2.3 billion people. These challenges are complex and interconnected. They require global solidarity and targeted action. With only four years remaining, we need scaled-up investment, renewed commitment, and concrete implementation. On gender and geographical balance, In all my previous and current executive roles, I paid special attention to ensure gender balance in the various organizations and projects I have led. I sincerely believe that women should be on all tables at all levels. In all appointments I will make as UN Secretary-General, if selected, I will observe gender balance and make it an across-the-board priority to ensure women's strong representation within the Organization, especially at senior levels. Regarding regional balance, the UN is composed of 193 members from different geographies, large and small, at different points on development trajectory, with different priorities and needs. All this diversity must be reflected and represented in the Secretariat ranks at all levels, but of course merit always should be observed. Our world does not lack the knowledge of the resources. What it requires is the collective will to act together. The global sustainable development financing gap now exceeds 4 trillion US dollars annually, disproportionately affecting developing countries. The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development provided an opportunity to renew global commitments. Calls for reform of the international financial architecture are increasingly voiced across all fora. International financial mechanisms must be aligned with development priorities. I commit to work with Member States to advance the development pillar. And on the budget and the contribution to the budget on time, I will stay always engaged with the Member States and try to ensure that this will be done according to their obligations. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Norway, who will speak on behalf of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency Group, followed by European Union and Singapore. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, Mr. Sinioğlu, for presenting your vision. I would like to ask the candidate two questions on behalf of the Accountability, Coherence, and Transparency Group, or in short, ACT, a cross-regional group comprised of 27 small and mid-sized countries committed to a transparent and accountable UN and seeking to improve the working methods of the Security Council. First, the ACT Group has developed a code of conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes. The code of conduct urges Security Council members to pledge against voting no on credible draft resolutions aimed at preventing or halting genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes, and encourages all Council members to take timely, decisive action during mass atrocities. The Code of Conduct is supported by 130 Member States. How do you see the Secretary-General's role in promoting and implementation of the Code of Conduct? Second, the selection and appointment process for the Secretary-General is fundamentally a joint process between the Security Council and the General Assembly, but it is not the only area where they have a complementary mandate. How do you see the role of the General Assembly in the maintenance of international peace and security? Thank you.

Please.

Instruments of the international law, of course, code of conduct that you have mentioned, who has a very wide support among membership, are referring to the instruments of international law. And as Secretary General, I will definitely work with the supporters of this important document and see how and when there is a lack of implementation of the international obligations under law, and try to work together again with all of you to address them and try to change the lack of implementation. Of course, general Assembly is the representative of the universal character of United Nations, and it is one of the important bodies of this organization, and it should have a better and stronger role in discharging the mandates that the Charter is entrusted upon all of us. And I know that the interaction between Security Council and General Assembly is actually, again, defined by the Charter. And as Secretary-General, i will be the guardian and the implementers of the Charter together with the Member States, and I will make sure that the voices of all the organs of the United Nations be heard, and the interaction between all the organs of the United Nations should be at the service of its members. I thank you.

Thank you. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of European Union, who will speak on the behalf of EU and its member states. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union's member states. At this critical juncture, the United Nations needs a Secretary-General that is fully prepared to defend and promote full respect for the UN Charter and international law and all three UN pillars equally. The EU itself concretely supports all strands of the UN's work, vigorously and equally, and also supports comprehensive reforms throughout the whole UN system in line with the aspirations agreed in the Pact for the Future. In today's global context, we are especially concerned that respect for international law and the UN Charter is being persistently undermined, with violations too often going unaddressed, from Ukraine and the Strait of Hormuz to the Middle East, Sudan, and Myanmar, or the continued division of Cyprus. We are also deeply concerned with recent normative attacks on the human rights pillar, including on women’s and girls’ rights and gender equality, on the safety of civil society and journalists, as well as racial, religious, political, and other forms of discrimination and persecution. Against this background, we wish to ask the following questions: First, Recent developments in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, the Black Sea, and the Eastern Mediterranean have brought to the fore heightened challenges to the rules-based international order in the maritime domain, including through increased violations of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. As Secretary General, how would you use your good offices and the authority of your office to promote compliance with international law, including UNCLOS, And how would you fortify the UN's capacities to ensure full accountability for violations? Second, would you agree that the promotion and protection of all human rights and of the UN's human rights pillar is indispensable to achieving peace, security, and sustainable development, and vice versa? If so, can you provide one example from your own experience to support that premise? As Secretary General, how concretely would you act to ensure that this pillar receives the necessary political attention and adequate, predictable, and sustainable funding, given that, remarkably, only 1% of the UN system spending is dedicated to human rights mandates today? Third. The promotion of gender equality and the full enjoyment of women’s and girls’ rights is explicitly mandated in the 2030 Agenda and the Pact for the Future, but these rights are being persistently challenged both within the UN context and on the ground. As Secretary-General, what concrete steps would you take to safeguard and advance gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights? Thank you.

I would like to invite you to respond to questions, Your Excellency.

Thank you very much for this important question. As Secretary General, I would make the promotion of respect for international law and the freedom and safety of navigation a central priority. Recent developments in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea and the Black Sea demonstrate that threats to maritime security have consequences extending far beyond the regions concerned. Attacks against commercial vessels, threats to civilian seafarers and unjustified restrictions on navigation are unacceptable, irrespective of their source or motivation. Strengthen the UN's preventive and monitoring capacities, including through closer coordination among relevant UN bodies and international and regional organizations, particularly the International Maritime Organization. Improving early warning, information sharing, and maritime domain awareness would help identify emerging threats, prevent incidents, and facilitate timely diplomatic engagement. My guiding principles would be straightforward restraint at sea, dialogue among states, and respect for international law throughout. I will, of course, refer to all the important instruments of international law. Human rights are violated in plain sight and weakened by intolerable double standards. These are my words, and I stand by them. Human rights pillar is indispensable to achieving peace, security and sustainable development, and vice versa. It is incumbent upon us to strengthen the UN's human rights pillar. Regarding the funding, I believe that we could all agree that the one person figure needs to be increased. Human rights cannot be allowed to remain the weakest funded pillar of the United Nations. On gender equality and women's rights, a good starting point would be to admit that we still have a long way to go in achieving actual gender equality, ensuring equality between woman and man, and the empowerment of women should be a top priority on the UN's global agenda, along with combating violence against women. It is crucial to ensure that women have bought a seat at the negotiating table and a meaningful role in decision making. I will prioritize this issue within the institutional framework of the UN itself, as well as in the UN's dialogue and cooperation with its counterparts around the world. My track record in all the institutions that I led, i have improved the representation of the women in the decision-making places, and I will continue to do that in the role as Secretary-General. Thank you.

Thank you. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Singapore. who will speak on the behalf of the Small States Group. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Indeed, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Small States Group, which is a cross-regional grouping of small states comprising both developed and developing countries. More than 50 countries have aligned with the statement, and the full list will be made available after this meeting. Mr. President, we are living in a volatile and dangerous period in international relations, characterized by geopolitical tension and conflict. For small states, an effective multilateral system founded on the principles of the UN Charter and international law is not an option, but an existential necessity. The next Secretary-General will play a critical role not only in defending the UN Charter, but also in reinvigorating and reshaping the role and relevance of the United Nations. We look to the Secretary-General to safeguard the interests of all Member States, especially the interests of the smallest, weakest, and most vulnerable members of the UN. We do not want a world of might is right, where international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of small states are violated with impunity. The members of the Small States Group stand ready to work with the next Secretary-General and, of course, with all Member States to strengthen the role of the UN and to defend international law and multilateralism. In the interest of brevity, I will now go directly to the question addressed to Mr. Feridun Sinirlioğlu, whom we welcome to this interactive dialogue with the General Assembly. First, what steps will you take to strengthen the role of the General Assembly, especially at a time when the Security Council has been unable to take decisive action? And related question: how will you support and strengthen the office of the President of the General Assembly? The next question is that we are at a critical moment when public perception of the UN seems to have become critical and even cynical in many countries. How would you as Secretary-General plan to galvanize support for the work of the UN, especially among younger people who represent the future in all our societies? Thank you very much.

I thank you. Please, Mr. Sinhalu, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Representative of Singapore, dear Burhan. GA is the main deliberative organ of the United Nations, of course, composed of all Member States, as I have stated before, and we need to put it in the right center in the work of the United Nations. I find it extremely important that the SG and the PGA work in harmony, cooperation, and transparency. I will continue the practice of periodic meetings with the PAs for consultation and coordination, ensure high quality and timely secretariat support for the delivery of PA mandates. The work of the GA will be among my priorities. Of course, you are absolutely right, we should promote the UN better, especially among young people. because young people are real agents of change, the most dynamic and creative segment of our societies, and the UN should be working hard to explain itself to the young people and get the trust of the future generations in its work. Thank you.

Thank you. I now invite the assembly to view a pre-recorded video by the Rural Mother and Child Health Care Society. We have no sound. No. Still no? Okay. Just tell them to put on hold. We will move the speakers by that time.

Okay.

We will move to Uganda now.

Until they fix it.

Uganda? Uganda, the only speaker on the locker. Until we fix the technical issues, I will now invite to the distinguished representative of Uganda again, who will speak on the behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. You have the floor.

Mr. President, I am honored to speak on behalf of the member states of the Non-Aligned Movement. We welcome the holding of this informal dialogue to exchange views with the candidate for the position of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Non-Aligned Movement affirms the leading role of the United Nations in the promotion of multilateralism and international cooperation, which are essential in addressing global challenges that impact the members of the Non-Aligned Movement. In this context, I would like to raise the following questions: Number one, The Declaration on the Right to Development was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1986.

Which is 40 years ago.

What are your views on the right to development? And how would you advance its implementation within the UN system when you become the next Secretary-General? Number two.

How would you assess the impact of the unilateral coercive?

Measures on the ability of affected developing countries to achieve sustainable development and fully implement the 2030 Agenda.

Related to that, what concrete actions would you promote in your capacity as next Secretary-General to strengthen the role of the United Nations in opposing such illegal measures that violate the UN Charter, urging their elimination and promoting mechanisms to prevent their application. I thank you.

You have the floor, sir.

Thank you. I would like to thank the representative of Uganda for this important question. Upholding multilateralism and building bridges is indeed why I am here today. We must restore confidence in multilateralism and prepare for the international system for emerging challenges. I believe that The main platform for multilateralism, the United Nations, must become a more effective platform for dialogue among all Member States, large and small. I will work to increase the effectiveness of the UN to carry out reform process in this direction. On development, i believe the Secretary-General must recognize the indivisible relationship among the three pillars of the United Nations and give due attention to each one of them. This is why I consider accelerating sustainable development a priority for a more just, inclusive and resilient future. As underlined 40 years ago by the General Assembly with the Declaration on the Right to Development, development is centered on human dignity, equality of opportunity, participation and international cooperation. We approach 2030 in relation to the SDGs. I believe decisive leadership that listens to the voices of Member States, responds to their needs, and keeps the development pillar at the center of the UN is crucial in order to respond to today's interconnected challenges. Regarding the issue of UCMs, I am aware that Member States have divergent views. The UN has authority to impose sanctions mandated by the Security Council. When such measures are needed, the issue can be addressed within the framework of the UN. Essentially, the effective functioning of the UN system could also reduce the recourse to more unilateral measures. In any case, consideration to their consequences for the civilian population should be at the forefront. I thank you.

Thank you. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mauritania. who will speak on behalf of the Arab group?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Our region was and remains witness to the role of the United Nations and the capacities of the United Nations, but also the challenges that often prevent lack of achievement of objectives. The question of Palestine, which is central in the Arab world, enjoys special attention since the establishment of the United Nations. Therefore, there is a permanent responsibility towards this question of Palestine until it is settled in accordance with international law. The Security Council and the GA have adopted several resolutions, and the UN has established agencies accordingly, including the UNRWA. And the Member States have sought to address this situation. However, the situation on the ground remains contradictory to these efforts. The Arab Group reiterates the need for a bold leadership, including inside the United Nations, to change this reality and to make it aligned with the vision of the UN Charter. Accordingly, if you are elected, How will you use your good offices and all means at your disposal to support the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and to achieve a just and lasting peace in our area of the world, and in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and the opinions of the ICJ on the illegality of the occupation? And how will you force the United Nations to support the inalienable rights to self-determination of the Palestinian people? And how will you support the efforts aimed at a just and lasting peace as per international law and the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant UN resolutions? Thank you.

Thank you. You have the floor, sir.

I thank the representative of the Arab League for this important of Arab group for this important question. The question of Palestine remains at the top of the international agenda. As Secretary General, I would place this historic responsibility at the forefront of my political engagement. A just resolution of the Palestinian question is central not only to the Arab world, but also to the stability of global order. and indispensable to lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. I would make full use of the good offices to engage the parties and relevant regional and international actors, facilitate meaningful dialogue. I would also seek to mobilize regional and international efforts towards a comprehensive political settlement based on a two-state solution. This would include mobilizing international support for the implementation of relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions. The immediate humanitarian situation, particularly in Gaza, must remain a central priority. I would work to ensure the protection of civilians, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access, and the effective delivery of assistance. The capacities of UN agencies and humanitarian organizations, including UNRWA, must be preserved, strengthened, and where necessary, reformed, so that they can fulfil their respective mandates. I thank you.

Thank you. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Republic of Korea, who will speak on behalf of a group of Member States. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Mr. Signorino, for joining us today. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the nine member states whose nationals have served as Secretary General: Norway, Sweden, Myanmar, Austria, Peru, Egypt, Ghana, Republic of Korea, and Portugal. Drawing on our shared experience and institutional memory, we feel a particular responsibility to support the next Secretary-General and to engage constructively in this selection process. Each Secretary-General has confronted defining challenges over their time and left a lasting imprint on this organization. decades, UN peacekeeping has taken shape, and the United Nations have achieved major milestones, including the Millennium Development Goals, 2030 Agenda, and the Paris Agreement. Today, the United Nations faces increasingly complex conflict while also pursuing reforms on a historic scale. Our first question You have joined this process at a later stage. What distinctive experience, perspective, or approach will you bring to the office, and how will it add value to the UN at this critical juncture? Second, those who have held this office have each worked in their own way to serve an impartial and trusted mediator. If appointed, how would you safeguard the impartiality and independence of the office in addressing today's conflicts and earn the trust of all parties? Mr. Chair, I would now like to add one question in my national capacity. The United Nations faces many pressing challenges that demand immediate attention, given their humanitarian toll and the loss of civilian lives. Yet, we must not lose sight of long-standing and unresolved situations that receive less attention, but still pose serious challenges to international peace and security, including on the Korean Peninsula. How will you ensure that such long-standing issues remain firmly on the UN agenda? And what role do you envision for the Secretary-General, including through good offices, in preventing tensions from escalation? I thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Mr. Sinirlioglu.

I thank the representative of Korea for this fair question. As emphasized in my opening remarks, over the past decades, I have worked with you in these halls as a delegate and as a Permanent Representative. In my current role as the Secretary-General of the OSCE, I have consistently fulfilled the mandate of uniting the diverse stakeholders on a common platform where decisions are taken by consensus. I know how Member States approach the issues in front of us, how they take their decisions. I also bring to the table how a Secretary-General should conduct in working with the Member States in navigating the complex issues. I have a long experience in diplomacy, in multilateralism, and I wanted to give an option to you for your important work in selecting the next Secretary-General. With all the experience that I have, I believe I am the right person to lead this Organization at a time of great geopolitical challenges. Of course, mediation is the most important role of a Secretary General. I believe that, as I explained before, a Secretary General should be on the ground all the time when he or she needed, when there is a need for bringing parties together, when there is a need to build bridges, when there is a need to mediate between parties, even if they are at war, the Secretary General should be the first one to arrive on the spot and be a trusted, honest broker and use his authority through a silent diplomacy and help the parties to compromise. This is how a Secretary-General should act. He should be a good listener, he or she should be a good and trusted diplomat who can understand the most complex issues that need to be resolved. I believe that I can do this job I am already doing this job in my current capacity, and I can add to the work of the United Nations with my experience, and I can lead this organization to be a problem solver at a time when we face so many problems and geopolitical challenges. Thank you.

Thank you. I now again invite the assembly to view a pre-recorded video by the Rural Mother and Child Health Care Society.

Excellencies candidates, under the UN80 initiative, the organization is pursuing critical structural efficiencies, mandate discipline, and programmatic realignment, shifting these political and administrative reforms from design to tangible delivery remains a profound test. As Secretary-General, how will you personally lead and incentivize Member States and the Secretariat to overcome bureaucratic fragmentation? Specifically, what concrete metrics will you use to ensure that these reforms genuinely enhance the UN’s field-level impact on peace, development, and human rights for the people we serve? S.M. Rofiqul Islam on behalf of Rural Mother and Child Health Care Society based at Bangladesh. Thank you.

I now give the floor to Mr. Sinir Olu to respond to questions.

The UN should be judged by the difference it makes in people’s lives, not simply by the number of resolutions adopted or meetings held. Reform is an opportunity to improve efficiency. reduce duplication, and strengthen accountability. But reform must not undermine essential humanitarian, development, and human rights work. I would prioritize stronger country-level coordination, measurable results, and meaningful engagement with local communities. My experience in the UN-mandated Independent Assessment on Afghanistan reinforced the importance of bringing political, humanitarian, and development efforts together. I would strengthen coordination among UN agencies, empower resident coordinators, and reduce duplication. We need one United Nations working together and delivering results for people. Thank you.

Thank you. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of New Zealand, who will speak on behalf of the CAHMs, followed by Austria and Andorra.

President, Excellencies, I have the honour to address you today on behalf of Canada, Australia, and my own country, New Zealand. At a time of heightened global uncertainty and complex international challenges, the United Nations' ability to fulfil its core mandate rests on its institutional credibility, capability, and capacity. Institutional credibility requires bold and principled leadership, including the ability to deploy the Secretary-General's good offices with political courage and effect. Institutional capability requires a UN that is focused on upholding all three pillars of its work and translates early warning into early action. and institutional capacity requires experienced and ethical management and realistic and fit for purpose mandates that sharpen effectiveness and delivery. Turning now to the question, how do you think the UN80 initiative is working to align leadership, authority, and resources to restore confidence in the UN and enable it to deliver results? How would you sustain leadership and ambition on UN reform? building on the UN80 initiative to make the UN more effective? Thank you.

I now invite Mr. Sinrol Leo to respond to the question.

I think the starting point of the UN80 was correct. Our ultimate objective is a UN that can better deliver results, and this is indeed how we can raise confidence in the UN to the level it ought to be. I think continuity is important for large-scale reform processes. Member States adopted some decisions so far within the framework of UNHCR, and some issues are still under consideration. I think the role of the Secretary-General and that of the Secretariat will be not only to oversee the implementation of what was already decided by Member States, but also to propose to Member States consideration of new avenues of reform with a reasonable level of ambition. But streamlining needs a careful balance, better value for money without compromising core capabilities, expertise or operational capacity. Cuts alone are not reform, so agencies must also refocus refocus on their mandates and implementation of their mandates. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Austria, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Friends of the Rule of Law. You have the floor.

Mr. President, Excellency, thank you for your presentation. I have the honour to deliver this question on behalf of over 50 cross-regional members of the Group of Friends of the Rule of Law. Excellencies, in recent years, we've witnessed breaches of even the most fundamental provisions of the UN Charter, including the obligation of all Member States to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force, as well as mass atrocities committed at large scale in grave breach of international law. All this pairs with the failure of the Security Council to take action in response. So the question of the Group of Friends of the Rule of Law to you would be: What concrete, proactive and preventive measures would you personally pursue if elected as Secretary-General to strengthen the rule of law and prevent breaches by Member States of the Charter's principles and of international law? Further, what specific preventive diplomacy initiatives would you launch or strengthen? We look forward to your answers. I thank you.

Thank you. Please.

Thank you very much again for this important question, which requires a lot of reflection. I think, contrary to domestic law, international law does lack enforcement. and without enforcement, it is not easy to avoid impunity. I think what we must do is to continue to defend a rules-based order, which is not to the interest of some, but to the interest of all of us, and we need to actually be insisting on the commitment to international law. Perseverance is the only tool that we diplomats have. We should not forget, for enforcement in international law, we don't have arms in our hands, but we only have words that can matter. We have to repeat the same message, that the principles, the rules that we all need should be upheld by everyone, without a double standard. These rules, principles are universal and should remain universal. We should all work together to convince, to persuade each other, diplomats, only can work with the power of persuasion and perseverance. With persuasion and perseverance, we can only make sure that the international law can be upheld and enforced. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Andorra, who will speak on behalf of a group of Francophonie ambassadors. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. The group of French-speaking ambassadors would like to thank Mr. Sinyolo for explaining your strategic vision. At a time when the United Nations has to face systematic crises, there's a growing fragmentation of international order. We feel that multilingualism is a strategic lever to strengthen the legitimacy, effectiveness, and inclusivity of the multilateral system. in a context where multilingualism is being relegated to second place. We would like to hear your views on your personal position on this and your ability to ensure that this matter is taken to the highest levels. That's why, with regard to the first segment on leadership and experiences, we have the following questions. Could you explain your policy on UN working languages, particularly French, and the place that you attach to multilingualism and have done during your career? And if you're elected as Secretary General, will you make multilingualism a structural part of your mandate and not just a functional issue? And to what extent will you ensure that the composition of your close team effectively represents regional diversity, linguistic and cultural of the UN? And finally, with regard to your governance of the Secretariat, how will you develop human resource practices to ensure that linguistic abilities are fully taken into account in recruitment and career progression, in accordance with the rules relating to linguistic diversity in the Secretariat. Our group remains attached to an inclusive multilateralism based on linguistic and cultural diversity, an essential condition for legitimacy and efficiency, and we look forward to your ability to translate this into concrete terms. Thank you.

You have the floor, sir.

I thank the representative of Andorra for this important question. I am currently leading an organization which is also based on multilingualism. We have more than United Nations' seven working languages at the OSCE. Of course, in diverse organizations like UN and OSCE, multilingualism is very, very important for all of us. And I will make sure that this will be held as an important topic in my work and if I am elected, selected Secretary-General. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Senegal, who will speak on behalf of the UNAT group. You have the floor.

Mr. President, we thank Mr. Sirronoglou for presenting his vision and participating in this interactive dialogue.

We, the members of the UNAD Global Group.

Barbados, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, and Senegal, aim to build bridges and coordinate action among countries.

From various regions that support multilateralism, strengthen the United Nations, and contribute constructively to the reform.

Efforts of the UNAD initiative. In this connection, we intend to develop ideas and recommendations for the next UN Secretary-General on the future of the organization.

On behalf of the group, I want to ask the following question: What will?

You do to meaningfully strengthen trust between the Secretariat and the Member States.

The Executive Office of the.

Secretary-General, and the rest of the system, and most importantly, global confidence in the United Nations.

Thank you.

Please, Excellency, you have the floor.

I will serve all Member States impartially, large and small, with transparency and accountability throughout the system. I will protect the impartiality, independence, and international character of the Secretariat as a principal organ of the UN at the service of all Member States. I will always stick to the Charter and international law, avoid double standards. I will use good offices, mediation, silent diplomacy when needed, but also be direct, transparent, and honest. I attach particular importance to the UN80 initiative to restore trust in the system. Because it is a task for all of us, the Secretariat, agencies, and Member States, I am ready to assume my share of this huge responsibility. The UN should be judged by the lives it saves and improves rather than by the resolutions it adopts. That means following up resolutions with concrete delivery. I believe trust grows when decisions are carried out. I thank you.

Thank you. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of civil society, so-called Collectif des Familles des Martyrs du Sénégal. You have the floor.

Hello, and thank you for the opportunity to participate. My name is Oumou Diallo, and I represent the families of victims of political repression in Senegal between 2021 and 2024 under the previous regime. These families are still waiting for justice and accountability, which makes the protection of human rights all the more important. With this in mind, I would like to ask: As Secretary General, you may face situations where powerful states resist UN action in response to serious human rights violations. How would you exercise your leadership and responsibility to uphold human rights while respecting national sovereignty? And how would you ensure that civil society and affected communities have a meaningful voice when governments fail to protect their people? Thank you.

Thank you. I invite the candidate to respond to the question posed by this civil society organization.

I thank the representative of the civil society. The Secretary-General must be impartial, independent and principled. Impartiality, however, must never mean indifference. I would use all the instruments available under the Charter, including good offices, preventive diplomacy and engagement with Member States. But especially, I will use all the human rights instruments that are available to pursue the violations of human rights, while at the same time respecting the sovereignty of Member States. Diplomacy done in a discreet way that builds trust, keeps and builds communication channels will be my approach. Hence, I will engage with Member States before such violations occur or after they emerge, with a view to bring a resolution to disputes and such occurrences. against violations.

Thank you. Colleagues, we have exhausted the allotted time for the first segment. While there is still interest from Member States to speak on the first segment, in the interest of time, I invite delegations to proceed to the second segment to allow sufficient time to hear the candidates' response to the questions related to the three pillars of the United Nations: peace and security, development, and human rights. Civil society questions will also be interspersed with the questions from Member States. Priority will be given to those who have not spoken in the first segment. With that, I would like to give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ukraine, who will speak on the behalf of the Lublin Triangle Group. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. First of all, I would like to thank you for convening the important interactive debate and continuing this good tradition in good faith. I'm also grateful to Mr. Siniroglu for presenting your clear vision and priorities as a Secretary General candidate. I'm honored to take the floor and pose the question to the distinguished candidate on the behalf of a group of states called Lublin Triangle, comprising Lithuania, Poland, and my own country, Ukraine. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has produced documented patterns of atrocity crimes, including deportation of children, attacks on civilian infrastructure, and arbitrary detention. In this context, existing UN mechanisms have proven unable to compel accountability. In this vein, I have two questions. First, what is your vision to ensure that impunity does not become the default outcome? And the second, what concrete role should Secretary General's good office play in advancing accountability when a permanent member of the Security Council is the alleged perpetrator? Thank you.

I give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Sinirlioglu.

Thank you, Mr. President. I thank the representative of Ukraine. for this important question. As the Secretary-General of the OSCE, I am daily dealing with this situation, with the war in Ukraine. And the war in Ukraine remains one of the most serious challenges facing the international community today. Of course, for the United Nations, the path forward must be guided by the principles of the Charter, respect for international law, and the protection of civilians. Accountability is an essential part of any sustainable peace. Allegations of serious violations should be documented and investigated in an impartial, independent, and credible manner. The United Nations has an important role in supporting these efforts within its mandates. At the same time, the UN’s responsibility is to help create the conditions for peace. The Secretary-General’s good offices should remain available to all parties. with the aim of keeping channels of communication open and building confidence step by step. I would work to strengthen the UN's role as a platform for dialogue. My aim would be to support every genuine effort toward a negotiated and just settlement to end the war in Ukraine, and all the humanitarian issues that are the consequence of this very tragic and terrible war should be followed through by all the international and regional organizations. I thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, who will speak on the behalf of the Benelux States.

Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, Minister, Mr. Sinurlukio, for sharing your vision. I speak today on behalf of the Benelux, a longstanding regional partnership comprising Belgium, Luxembourg, and my own country, the Kingdom of the Netherlands. We align with the statement delivered by the European Union. We consider that the UN needs, above all, a Secretary-General with proven leadership and reform credentials. capable of guiding a complex organization in a time of geopolitical tension and financial pressure. We attach particular importance to a Secretary-General who can strengthen trust in multilateralism and the international legal order, who can act as a strong and credible convening power across all three pillars, and who can proactively contribute to prevention, peacebuilding, and mediation. At the same time, we see a need to strengthen the UN's financial sustainability, accountability, and system-wide coherence. We place high value on leadership that can connect the UN's development work with broader efforts on peace, security, and human rights, particularly in times of systemic stress. In your statement, you state that, and I quote, "Our objective should not simply be to manage crises, but to prevent them," and that the UN should strengthen early warning, mediation, peacebuilding, and cooperation with regional partners. Could you kindly elaborate? on how, as Secretary General, you would organize and prioritize the UN's good offices and preventive diplomacy in practice to make the UN a more effective actor in prevention and mediation across all three pillars. Finally, we would love to hear from you your early thinking on the composition of your senior leadership team, including the Deputy Secretary General, And we're just very curious how you would approach considerations such as regional balance, gender, and the specific qualities needed to support your priorities. Thank you.

Thank you.

Please, you have the floor, sir.

I thank the representative of the Netherlands for this important question. Of course, United Nations is not fully using the potential of the regional organizations. Chapter 8 of the Charter of the United Nations clearly defines why the regional organizations are important for discharging the work of the United Nations, and that chapter should be better used. And as the Secretary-General of a regional organization, I know how this can be improved, and this will be one of my priorities if I am selected as Secretary-General of the United Nations. Of course, the Secretary-General should benefit also from the tools that these regional organizations have in early warning, risk reduction, crisis management, conflict prevention, arms control. The interaction of the UN agencies that are working in those areas, together with the capabilities of the regional organizations, can be the best way to address the problems that we face. I think the role of the Secretary-General as a mediator is a key in the work of prevention as well. As I said, the Secretary-General should be on the spot always and be first to be in the game when there is a need to intervene of a good offices mission, and that will be, again, my priority. The financial part of the question is, of course, important, but that requires only patience and more engagement with the Member States. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Israel, followed by Cyprus.

Thank you, Chair. Mr. Sinirlioglu, in June 2018, both of us served here as Permanent Representatives. In your capacity as Permanent Representative of Türkiye, you urged this very Assembly to reject an amendment condemning Hamas and demanding that it cease all violent activity. Then, on October 7th, 2023, Hamas executed the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. They murdered children in front of their parents. They burned people in their homes. They took babies and elderly people captive and killed them in tunnels underground. Now that you are a candidate for the position of the UN Secretary General, Can you finally, unequivocally condemn Hamas?

You have the floor, sir.

I thank the representative of Israel. I was ambassador of my country in Israel for five years. I know the country very well. In my speech in 2018, I addressed the situation as representative of the country I represented. Of course, United Nations has many instruments at its hand, and we are bound by the international law and all the instruments of the international law, I will be guided by the international law. I fully and unequivocally condemn terrorism in its every form. And Hamas or whatever organization, if And when they are violating any rule and is defined by the international legal institutions, instruments as such, then, of course, they will be and they should be held accountable and responsible. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cyprus.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Sinirlioglu, I would like to pose the following questions. Number one, in your letter dated 19th May, 2022, to the UN Secretary General, you stated that the Republic of Cyprus had ceased to exist as a legal entity in 1963. Given that the Republic of Cyprus is a sovereign member state of the UN, do you now recognize its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and its status as a UN member state? Number two, in August 2023, Turkish Cypriots attacked UN peacekeepers in Pyla area in the buffer zone in Cyprus, an incident condemned by the UN Security Council. Do you condemn these attacks and agree that any threats or acts of violence against UN peacekeepers are unacceptable and must entail accountability? Number three, in July 2021, the Security Council unanimously condemned the announcement concerning the further reopening of Varosha in Cyprus and called for the reversal of the actions taken since October 2020. As a candidate for SG, do you endorse the Council’s position? Would you commit to using the authority of your office to encourage full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions? Number four: In 2024, the UN Committee against Torture raised concerns about allegations of widespread torture in Türkiye. Do you share the Committee’s concerns, and would you support independent, impartial, and effective investigations into these allegations? Number five: Following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu in 2025, OHCHR described blanket bans on public demonstrations as unlawful. Do you endorse OHCHR's assessment? As Secretary General, would you be prepared to publicly call on all Member States to respect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly? I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I now give the floor to Mr. Sinirlioglu. You have the floor, sir.

I thank the representative of Cyprus for this question. It goes without saying that the United Nations Charter, by which this Organization and its Member States are bound, will guide my work if I become this next Secretary-General, also as regards the Cyprus issue. Of course, we have been going through a period of sustained global geopolitical change in the past decades, and it would be unrealistic to assume that such changing conditions have no bearing on international disputes. Yet the UN Charter, the tenets of which I will naturally be pledged to uphold as Secretary-General, continues to provide inspiration to all of us in the constantly shifting international landscape. I would like to draw you to a quote I am going to take from the former late Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld. Let me quote his views expressed in a press conference in June 1961, which I find very telling: “It may be true that in a very deep human sense there is no neutral individual, because everyone If he is worth anything, he has to have his ideas and ideals. But what I do claim is that even a man who is in that sense not neutral can very well undertake and carry through neutral actions, because that is an act of integrity. I would say that there is no neutral man, but there is, if you have integrity, neutral action by the right kind of a man. End of quote. I thank you.

I will now give the floor to the representative of civil society, Cadre du Concerte National de la Societe Civile de la Republique Democratique du Congo. You have the floor.

Merci.

Thank you. In country, in conflict-affected countries, civil society often is marginalized from discussions and decisions which determine the future of the people they represent. My question is as follows: do you view civil society as a critical, indispensable actor in peace and development? If so, what concrete action would you undertake in order to guarantee their meaningful participation in United Nations decision-making and to build the capacity of Global South organizations, particularly in the least developed states and conflict zones? Thank you.

Please, sir.

Thank you, Mr. President. I thank for this question to the representative of civil society. Of course, civil society is an important partner in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and sustainable development. It should not simply be consulted after decisions are made. It must be meaningfully involved in shaping them. As Secretary General, I would strengthen structured engagement with civil society. particularly women, young people, and local organizations. We must ensure that their voices are heard in early warning, mediation, peacebuilding, and decision-making processes. Peace cannot be sustainable unless it is inclusive and reflects the aspirations of the people we serve. Thank you.

Thank you. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Russian Federation, followed by Djibouti and Greece. You have the floor.

Mr. President, the Russian Federation believes that there's a need to select the most – the worthiest candidate who meets the highest standards of professionalism, competency, and commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in all of their full and intricate nature. In this respect, we wish to pose – I wish to pose the following question to the candidate. Number one, the Secretary General’s role is guided by the General Assembly decisions, which are non-consensus based in nature, which goes beyond UN Charter, specifically under the situations where a situation is under the consideration of Security Council? Second, do you believe that the principles of the Charter can be arranged or placed and arranged based on their importance? Does the Secretariat have – is able to arbitrarily determine the – where self-determination applies and where the principles of territorial integrity prevails? Thank you.

Thank you. I understand the concern behind this question. The Charter's principles were designed to work together, not against each other. They cannot be ranked or chosen for political reasons. Self-determination and territorial integrity should both be applied fairly and consistently. The Charter is the founding document and compass of the United Nations. Each organ's functions and role have been defined in the Charter. The Charter's purposes and principles must be upheld at all times, and I will make sure that this will happen. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Djibouti. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President.

At the outset, my delegation wishes to thank you.

For convening this timely interactive dialogue, and I would also like to welcome.

And thank His Excellency Mr. Sinirlioglu for the presentation of his vision.

Excellency, as you may be aware, there is an urgent need for jobs across the world.

Over the next 10 to 15 years, more than 1 billion people in developing countries will reach working age, with roughly half of them women. If elected Secretary-General, how will you align agencies such as the ILO, UNDP, or the World Bank towards a common and global jobs agenda? What concrete strategy would you pursue to turn the UN into a platform for large-scale youth employment partnerships and job creation, particularly in Africa and other developing countries?

I thank you, Mr. President.

Please, you have the floor, sir.

Thank you. This is an important question. Job creation, particularly for young people and women, is an important component of global development agenda. It is not only an economic priority, but also a matter of social stability and peace. I would promote a coordinated and measurable global jobs agenda, bringing together the ILO, UNDP, World Bank, and other relevant partners with clear targets. I would also encourage large-scale partnerships among governments, international financial institutions, and the private sector, particularly in Africa. The focus should be on skills development, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and investment in labor-intensive sectors. The United Nations is not only a platform for discussing the global employment challenge, but also for addressing the avenues for real opportunities for the next generation. As Secretary-General, I will make sure that the work for coordination towards job creation will be a priority. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to distinguished representative of Greece, followed by Indonesia and El Salvador.

May I?

You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Mr. Sinirlioglu, in your vision statement, you placed strong emphasis on good faith, respect for international law, mediation, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Greece fully shares these principles. which any Secretary-General must embody and champion without exception. Your record, however, raises questions about how this commitment would translate into practice. As Turkey’s Permanent Representative at the time, you defended maritime claims that are incompatible with international law. A striking example is the so-called 2019 Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Delimitation between Türkiye and Libya. These two countries have neither adjacent nor opposite coasts, and consequently no common maritime boundaries. The memorandum entirely disregards numerous Greek islands, including Crete and the Dodecanese. and their entitlement to generate maritime zones beyond the territorial sea in accordance with the law of the sea as reflected in UNCLOS. It amounts to a blatant refashioning of geography. The memorandum is null and void, and its recent purported ratification by the Libyan House of Representatives cannot confer any legal effect upon it. And my question therefore is the following. How do you recognize your stated commitment to good faith, international law, and peaceful settlement with having defended claims that disregard geographical reality and constitute a flagrant violation of international law, generating sustained tension in the Eastern Mediterranean? I thank you.

I thank the representative of Greece for this important question. I just like to remind her that I have been nominated by my country, but I am not here as a representative of my country. And I would also like to remind her that I am now currently serving as the Secretary General of the OSCE, the biggest regional organization in the world. I think she should remember that I have been selected, elected to this position in a joint bid of Turkey and Greece, and supported by Greece. for my election, and we were actually a team of a Greek candidate in the election process who is now working together with me in the leadership of the OAC as the director of ODHIR. So you should know me throughout my long career how I worked in my national capacity with you, and I also worked as an international civil servant, as an independent, impartial way. But as I said, I mean, we are all coming from a country. We all have a national identity. I do have a national identity, of course, but I also have proven several times that I can be an impartial, independent international civil servant. So you can be rest assured. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia, followed by El Salvador.

Thank you, Chair. Excellency, We thank you for sharing your vision for the future of the United Nations. We take note of your vision, key priorities, as well as principles to ensure that the United Nations fulfill its mission to serve as the foremost global forum for building peace, advancing economic and social development, and promoting universal human rights. At a time when multilateralism is facing increasing fragmentation, the role of the Secretary-General is more critical than ever. The Secretary-General must serve as a moral leader and bridge-builder, one who restores trust in multilateralism while delivering concrete, impactful, and measurable results across the three pillars, and ensuring that the organization remains adaptable to future challenges. In this regard, Indonesia would like to pose the following questions. With multilateralism under increasing strain, do you believe incremental reform is sufficient, or is there a need for more fundamental recalibration to the system? How will you overcome persistent resistance to change while ensuring the UN adapts to current and future realities? Secondly, we took note of your response to previous question on youth, especially the importance of gaining trust of young people. As a follow-up question, how do you envision strengthening meaningful youth participation in shaping global norms and contributing to forward-looking and future-ready multilateral solution? We look forward to your insight. Thank you.

You have the floor, sir.

Thank you very much. I do not think that efforts towards these two types of reform, incremental and fundamental, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. The Secretary-General can use its prerogatives in those areas. I believe that the UN's unique character as the most comprehensive forum for dialogue among states has never been surpassed by any other organization in the eight decades of its existence. There is no alternatives in that sense. However, there are certain steps that can and indeed should be taken to transform this forum into one that delivers more effective results, particularly regarding the prevention and resolution of threats to international peace and security. The youth, as I explained before, should be included in the work of the United Nations through campaigns that will enable them to own the United Nations as their own. I thank you.

I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of El Salvador. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair, and I’d like to thank Mr. Sinidolo for taking part in this interactive dialogue. Our questions are as follows: If you are elected as the next Secretary General, how will you guarantee greater transparency and accountability in the implementation of mandates, particularly given the current financial limitations? And in that regard, what priorities would you protect, and what would you be prepared to reform or consolidate? And maybe you could give us a specific example. Secondly, How are you going to strengthen the peacebuilding architecture to ensure that the approach is more predictable and preventive within the UN system? And along the same lines, what specific measures would you promote as Secretary General to ensure sustainable peacebuilding? Thank you.

Thank you. I think we don't need to rediscover anything under this roof. Everything is well defined and written. Also, the answer to your question is among them. Actually, we have frameworks, resolutions, decisions that will guide me my work on all these issues. Transparency, accountability are not excluded. Thank you.

I now invite the Assembly to view a pre-recorded video by SafePoint and K-Initiative.

At SavePoint and Care Initiative, Nigeria.

In situations where internal conflicts and mass violence are escalating, particularly where women and girls are disproportionately affected, the international.

Community often responds after significant loss of life has already occurred.

How would you, as Secretary General, strengthen the UN's capacity to move from the predominantly reactive and humanitarian response model to a preventive protection model, including early warning.

Preventive diplomacy, and timely intervention, especially where a Member State is demonstrably unable or unwilling to protect its civilian population. Thank you.

Thank you. Conflict prevention must be at the center of the United Nations' work. I have repeatedly emphasized that. My approach would combine early warning, preventive diplomacy, mediation, development, and respect for human rights. I would strengthen the Secretary General's good offices and partnerships with regional organizations, while ensuring that women, young people, and civil society participate meaningfully in peace processes. My experience in the OSCE has reinforced the importance of dialogue and regional cooperation. The international community must invest more in preventing wars than in managing their consequences. I thank you.

Thank you. As the last speaker for today's interactive dialogue is a presenter from the Assembly of Turkish-American Associations, you have the floor.

Thank you, President. For 15 years, frontline countries like Türkiye, Lebanon, Jordan, Pakistan, and Uganda have hosted far more than their fair share of the world's refugees, while global responsibility sharing has remained a promise more than a practice. Today, nearly 6 million Syrians and Afghans have returned to their homes, many with little or nothing left to rebuild their lives. Compounding this crisis, UNHCR is operating with a third fewer staff and only a third of the funding it desperately needs. While you cannot directly control the agency’s budget, the next Global Refugee Forum falls within your first year. How will you ensure that returns remain truly voluntary, safe, and dignified, while successfully keeping the host countries’ doors open? I thank you.

You have the floor.

I know that Türkiye, Lebanon, and Jordan have carried an enormous responsibility in hosting refugees. The international community must strengthen burden-sharing and provide more predictable financial support to these countries. On returns, we must strictly uphold UN principles and international law. Refugee repatriation must always be voluntary, safe, and dignified, based on a free, and informed decision without pressure or coercion. As Secretary-General, I would work closely with UNHCR, host countries, and countries of origin to ensure that returns are sustainable and that those who return can rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. I thank you.

Thank you very much. As we have exhausted all the speakers for today's interactive dialogue, I will now give the floor to Mr. Sinirlioglu to make concluding remarks. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to thank here each and every colleague from the bottom of my heart. Throughout today, I have listened to each question and presentation that you made very carefully, and I have learned a lot. I will carry this, the impressions, the lessons that I gathered today with me, and I will benefit from them. if I elected in discharging my responsibilities as Secretary-General. Again, I thank you very much. I talked less and listened more to you, and that should be actually the way a Secretary-General discharges its responsibilities. I will be also listening to you more when and if I become Secretary-General. I thank you all.

We have now come to the end of this interactive dialogue. I would like to thank Mr. Sinir Olu once again and all participants for their contribution. The meeting is hereby adjourned.