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Türkiye reaffirmed its support for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' reform efforts as the international body commemorates eight decades since its founding, a senior Turkish diplomat said at the Security Council this week.
Kemal Onur Ekren, First Counselor of Türkiye's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, told the Security Council during a session titled "UN: Looking to the Future" that Ankara backs ongoing reform initiatives, including the "UN 80 initiative," aimed at improving the organization's effectiveness and efficiency.
"We are living in a period of increasing geopolitical shifts, polarization, poverty, climate change, threats to peace and security, prolonged conflicts and rapid transformation," Ekren said, outlining the urgent challenges facing the international community.
As a founding member of the United Nations, Türkiye has maintained unwavering support for multilateralism and the UN system, Ekren emphasized. He pointed to Türkiye's consistent contributions to mediation efforts and UN peacekeeping operations as evidence of this commitment during turbulent times.
The Turkish diplomat stressed that the values enshrined in the UN Charter must continue to serve as the foundation for collective action. He called for substantive changes to how the organization operates, particularly within its most powerful body.
"We once again underline the necessity of reforming the Security Council, because inaction on this reform undermines the credibility of the UN as a whole," Ekren said. "Türkiye wants to see a more democratic, representative, transparent, effective and accountable Security Council."
Türkiye also reiterated its vision to establish Istanbul as a UN hub, with plans to consolidate UN offices in the city under one roof remaining a national priority, according to Ekren.
The reform push comes as the UN faces financial pressures. In March, Secretary-General Guterres announced the "UN 80 initiative" to journalists at UN headquarters, citing a liquidity crisis stemming from significant declines in member state contributions in recent years. The initiative seeks to revise the UN system and budget to use resources more efficiently.
"Looking to the future, Türkiye reiterates its calls for building a more effective and transparent UN with the capacity and resources to support the principles of international peace and security," Ekren said.
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