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Azerbaijan has welcomed the candidacy of Feridun Sinirlioglu, secretary-general of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), for the top post at the United Nations.
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ayhan Hacizade said so in a written statement on the selection of the next U.N. secretary-general. He said Baku “welcomes” Sinirlioglu’s nomination.
Hacizade said the choice should rest on candidates’ professional qualifications, diplomatic experience and impartiality. He added that a candidate also needs the ability to build consensus among member states.
He stressed that the selection process should be conducted in line with the U.N. Charter.
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Hacizade said Azerbaijan believes ongoing consultations and constructive dialogue among member states will produce an appropriate decision. In his words, that outcome would strengthen the U.N.’s capacity to respond more effectively to today’s global challenges.
Sinirlioglu, a career Turkish diplomat, was elected OSCE secretary-general in December 2024 at the organization’s ministerial council meeting in Malta. He is the first Turkish citizen to hold that post. He previously served as Türkiye’s ambassador to the United Nations.
Reports earlier in October said Türkiye was weighing whether to put him forward, and that he had discussed a possible bid on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. At the time, Türkiye had not formally nominated him.
Under the U.N. process, the 15-member Security Council selects a candidate, and each of its five permanent members holds a veto. The 193-member General Assembly then gives final approval. The next secretary-general is due to take office on Jan. 1, 2027.
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