Erdoğan welcomes UN chief Guterres in Ankara for talks, peace award ceremony

2026-03-12 - 23:52

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Thursday for official talks and a peace award ceremony. The two leaders posed for photographs after shaking hands, with Guterres greeting the Presidential Guard Regiment Ceremonial Unit by saying "Hello soldiers" before proceeding to their meeting. High-level attendance Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Akif Cagatay Kilic, the president's chief adviser on foreign policy and security, also attended the meeting, underscoring the importance Ankara places on dialogue with the United Nations amid escalating regional tensions. The discussions covered bilateral issues and the ongoing Middle East conflict. Peace award presentation Following the meeting, Erdoğan presented Guterres with the Ataturk International Peace Award at the Bestepe Nation's Exhibition Hall. The award recognizes Guterres' contributions to international peace and his leadership of the UN during multiple global crises, including the current Middle East war and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and elsewhere. Ramadan solidarity visit Guterres' visit to Ankara is part of his annual Ramadan solidarity trip, honoring Türkiye's hospitality to millions of refugees. The UN chief previously noted that Türkiye hosts one of the largest refugee populations in the world, with nearly 2.5 million refugees and asylum seekers, including more than 2.3 million Syrians. Regional context The meeting comes as the US-Israeli war with Iran enters its 14th day, with over 1,300 killed in Iran and thousands injured on both sides. Türkiye has maintained intensive diplomatic engagement, advocating for de-escalation and a ceasefire while opposing any plans to provoke civil war in Iran.