A Turkish bid for the post of UN Secretary-General would be inconsistent with the conduct of a country that violates the UN Charter, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Friday evening. He was responding to reports that Ankara intends to put forward Feridun Sinirlioğlu to succeed António Guterres.
The president's remarks
Speaking to journalists as he arrived at an event in Frenaros, President Christodoulides was asked to comment on reports that Turkey is promoting a candidate for the post of UN Secretary-General.
"I have nothing to comment on. Turkey does its job and we do ours. For a country that violates the Charter of the United Nations to claim such a position is not consistent with its conduct," he said.
Reports of a Turkish candidate
According to the reports, Turkey is promoting Feridun Sinirlioğlu for the post.
Greek news website iefimerida reported on Friday that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's intention to put Mr Sinirlioğlu forward as the next UN Secretary-General, first revealed by the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, is being closely examined by Athens.
Greece at the helm of the Security Council
The reports come at a particularly sensitive moment, as Greece assumes the presidency of the UN Security Council for October. According to iefimerida, this will place Athens at the centre of the process to choose Mr Guterres's successor.
