Former Turkish Foreign Minister Appointed as OSCE Secretary General
Feridun Sinirlioğlu has been appointed as the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) during the 31st OSCE Ministerial Council meeting held in Malta on December 5-6, 2024.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Secretary General is elected by OSCE member states for a three-year term. Sinirlioğlu’s appointment marks a historic milestone as he becomes the first Turkish citizen to hold this position in the 50-year history of the Helsinki Final Act, which laid the foundation for the organization in 1975.
Officials in Ankara expressed confidence in Sinirlioğlu’s ability to successfully fulfill his new responsibilities, emphasizing his role in enhancing the OSCE’s effectiveness in addressing key issues.
Sinirlioğlu brings over 40 years of experience in international relations and diplomacy. He previously served as Türkiye’s Foreign Minister in an interim government in 2015 and as Deputy Foreign Minister between 2009 and 2016. From 2016 to 2023, he represented Türkiye as its Permanent Representative to the United Nations. In 2023, the UN Secretary General appointed him as the Special Coordinator for the Independent Assessment of Afghanistan.
The OSCE has also outlined several new project areas for Central Asia, highlighting its focus on regional collaboration and development initiatives.
