ANKARA, 31 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Türkiye has nominated veteran diplomat Feridun Hadi Sinirlioglu, the current Secretary-General of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as its candidate for the next United Nations Secretary-General, a diplomatic source confirmed on Saturday. The nomination follows a deadlock in the selection process after the latest informal straw poll at the UN Security Council (UNSC) on Friday failed to produce a conclusive result. According to the Turkish diplomatic source, a nomination letter dated October 30 and signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was submitted to the presidents of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council. In the letter, Erdogan said the nomination reflected Türkiye’s commitment to effective multilateralism at a time of deepening geopolitical divisions and declining trust among nations. He highlighted Sinirlioglu’s more than four decades of experience in international relations and diplomacy, noting that he had held several senior positions, including Turkish foreign minister and permanent representative to the United Nations. Erdogan said selecting the next UN chief would be vital to guiding the international community towards a more peaceful, just and sustainable future amid growing global challenges. Sinirlioglu currently heads the OSCE, which describes itself as the world’s largest regional security organisation, comprising 57 member states. The current UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres of Portugal, is due to complete his second five-year term on December 31. Under the selection process, a candidate must secure at least nine votes in the 15-member Security Council while avoiding a veto from any of its five permanent members. The divided positions of major powers have made the selection process increasingly challenging. Once a candidate receives the Security Council’s recommendation, the name is forwarded to the UN General Assembly for confirmation by all member states.