Emine Erdoğan: Peace prize for Guterres will strengthen humanity's shared conscience

2026-03-13 - 00:02

Türkiye's first lady Emine Erdoğan on Thursday expressed hope that the Ataturk International Peace Prize presented to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will increase hopes for peace around the world. In a post on Turkish social media platform NSosyal, she said the prize will strengthen humanity's shared conscience and increase hopes for peace by promoting dialogue and solidarity. Recognition of leadership Earlier Thursday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presented the UN chief with the peace prize in Ankara, honoring Guterres' principled leadership on humanitarian crises and his contributions to international peace. The ceremony recognized Guterres' decade-long efforts as UN High Commissioner for Refugees and his tenure as secretary-general, during which he has championed peace, dialogue and refugee protection. Symbol of hope Emine Erdoğan's remarks underscore the symbolic significance of the award as a beacon of hope amid ongoing global conflicts, including the US-Israeli war with Iran, the Russia-Ukraine war and humanitarian crises in Gaza. The first lady's emphasis on dialogue and solidarity reflects Türkiye's broader diplomatic approach of maintaining communication channels with all parties to conflicts. Commitment to peace The award ceremony and Emine Erdoğan's comments come as Türkiye continues intensive diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the Iran-centered conflict, with President Erdoğan vowing to work "with patience and determination" despite attempts to undermine hopes in the diplomatic process.