Türkiye has put forward its UN Ambassador, Ahmet Yildiz, as a candidate for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) role. Yildiz, who has 37 years of diplomatic experience including work with refugees in Bosnia, Iraq, Libya, and Syria, outlined a vision focused on fair burden-sharing, operational excellence, and addressing root causes of displacement such as conflicts and climate change.
Highlighting Türkiye’s “gold standard” in refugee response, Yildiz emphasized preventive measures, strengthened international cooperation, and making UNHCR more visible globally. He described the role as a “collective responsibility for humanity” and expressed readiness to lead the organization while continuing Türkiye’s active support for global refugee protection.
