Turkish President Erdoğan awards peace prize to UN Chief Guterres

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has accepted a peace prize awarded to him in Ankara. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presented the Atatürk International Peace Prize to the UN chief in the country’s capital.

Guterres has had a long and distinguished career, most recently becoming Secretary-General of the United Nations in January 2017. In the role, he has led global action in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, gender equality and a number of international conflicts. Before becoming Secretary-General, Guterres spent ten years as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Shared objectives

Erdoğan said Türkiye is working intensively to help bring peace to the Middle East and has offered to mediate between the U.S., Israel and Iran in an effort to halt the latest conflict.

"As Türkiye, we are conducting intensive diplomatic efforts to prevent the Iran-centered spiral of violence, which risks dragging our region into total disaster, from expanding. Despite those seeking to crush hopes and make us abandon our struggle, we will continue to work with patience and determination."

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He continued: "As a leader who believes that development, peace, and stability are impossible without justice, we will continue to support initiatives to make the UN a more inclusive institution."

Global leadership

At the ceremony, Erdoğan highlighted his country’s role in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which helped prevent a global food crisis. He also pledged to implement the UN House Project in Istanbul, bringing together several UN offices, and referred to Türkiye’s contribution to the UN80 initiative.

He thanked Guterres and the United Nations for their support following the earthquakes in Türkiye, assistance in Gaza, and cooperation on climate projects such as the Zero Waste Project and COP climate initiatives.

After receiving the award, Guterres said: "I have seen Türkiye's global leadership in championing zero-waste initatives and I commend the First Lady's efforts along with preperations towards the COP31 climate conference later this year."

World leaders and other key figures are expected to meet in Antalya, southern Türkiye, in November.

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Türkiye United Nations Antonio Guterres Atatürk peace price Peace