Marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations (UN), a high-level panel discussion titled "The United Nations at 80: How Türkiye's Support for the UN and Multilateralism Advances Global Peace and Development" was held in Ankara, bringing together senior government officials, diplomats, representatives of the UN and international organizations, academia, and youth.
Hosted by the UN Resident Coordinator in Türkiye, Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi, the event highlighted Türkiye's longstanding commitment to multilateralism and its strong partnership with the UN in advancing global peace, sustainable development, and social justice.
© Bülent Kulfel
In his opening remarks, Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi, UN Resident Coordinator in Türkiye, highlighted Türkiye's strong advocacy for multilateralism. "None of us can stand alone. The United Nations is only as strong and effective as its Member States." Quoting UN Secretary-General António Guterres, he added: "Now more than ever, the world must recommit to solving problems no nation can solve alone. On this UN Day, let's stand together and fulfil the extraordinary promise of the United Nations. Let's show the world what is possible when 'we the peoples' choose to act as one." Ahonsi said.
The high-level panel was moderated by Mr. Yasser Hassan, Director of the ILO Office for Türkiye, and featured distinguished speakers including H.E. Mr. Levent Gümrükçü, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Rahman Nurdun, Vice President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA); and Ms. Hilal Gedik, Youth Representative from the Capital Youth Assembly.
Discussions centred on Türkiye's role in the multilateral system, the importance of international cooperation in addressing global challenges, and the need to empower and engage young people as active contributors to peace, human rights and development.
© Bülent Kulfel
In his remarks, Mr. Hassan, Director of the ILO Office for Türkiye, highlighted the continued importance of collective action in addressing global challenges. "If we put things together, there seems to be a meaningful answer," Hassan said, adding "The question, if multilateralism and international cooperation is the preferred option for the way to deal with the global challenges ahead of us, the answer is yes."
H.E. Levent Gümrükçü, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs said "Multilateralism is going through a crisis, and we cannot afford to be indifferent to this growing problem. Any organizational reform can deal with problems we face today. The world is going through such a rough path. We need more of the UN, more of effective multilateralism."
Dr. Rahman Nurdun, Vice President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) reminded participants that only five years remain to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) saying that finance for development is the key to achieving this goal. He emphasized the importance of strengthening national capacities and managing resources effectively to advance progress towards the SDGs.
Hilal Gedik, Youth Representative from the Capital Youth Assembly, underscored the importance of youth engagement and inclusivity in international organizations and the value of collaboration across generations and institutions.
The event concluded with an informal networking session, offering participants the opportunity to strengthen collaboration and reaffirm their shared commitment to the values and goals of the United Nations as it enters its ninth decade of service to humanity.
