Erdogan Honors UN Chief with Ataturk Peace Award, Emphasizes Middle East Diplomacy

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan awarded the Ataturk International Peace Award to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, praising his efforts for peace and multilateral cooperation. Erdogan emphasized Türkiye’s commitment to a more inclusive UN and highlighted Ankara’s diplomatic efforts to prevent the Middle East conflict, particularly tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran, from escalating further.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented the Ataturk International Peace Award to Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, during a formal ceremony held in Ankara. During the event on Thursday, Erdogan commended Guterres for his dedication to promoting peace and fostering multilateral cooperation, while emphasizing Türkiye’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the role and effectiveness of the United Nations on the global stage.
Erdogan stated that Ankara will continue supporting initiatives aimed at making the UN more inclusive and representative of the international community. “As a leader who believes that there can be no development, peace or stability without justice, we will continue supporting efforts to transform the UN into a more inclusive structure,” he said, underscoring Türkiye’s vision for a reformed and stronger international organization.
In his remarks, the Turkish president also drew attention to Ankara’s active diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation of violence in the Middle East. He warned that the growing conflict centered around Iran could potentially draw the entire region into a broader crisis if not carefully managed. According to Erdogan, Türkiye is pursuing intensive diplomatic measures to ensure the conflict does not expand further and to maintain regional stability.
Despite challenges and attempts to undermine dialogue involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, Erdogan affirmed that Ankara will continue to work patiently and with determination to support diplomatic solutions. His statements reflected Türkiye’s commitment to promoting peaceful negotiation and constructive engagement, even amid heightened tensions and complex geopolitical dynamics in the region.