SESRIC delegation headed by H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK, Director General of SESRIC, participated in the 9th Istanbul Mediation Conference, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye. The conference was held in Istanbul on 23-24 October 2026 under the theme “Partnerships and New Perspectives for Peace: Mediation in a Changing World”. The conference brought together senior government officials, representatives of international and regional organizations, mediators, practitioners, academics, and civil society representatives to exchange experiences and explore innovative approaches to peacebuilding and conflict resolution.

The conference was inaugurated with video messages from H.E. Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN, President of the Republic of Türkiye, and H.E. António GUTERRES, Secretary-General of the United Nations. In his address, President Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to promoting dialogue and peaceful dispute resolution, stressing that Türkiye would continue to bring parties together, facilitate mediation efforts, and assume responsibility in the pursuit of just and lasting solutions. For his part, Secretary-General Guterres underscored the transformative power of mediation, noting that “mediation can turn the possibility of peace into a lasting reality.”

H.E. Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, inaugurated the conference and highlighted the growing importance of diplomacy and mediation in addressing increasingly complex global challenges. Emphasizing the need to preserve dialogue channels and enhance international cooperation, he underlined the vital role of mediation in preventing conflicts, sustaining peace, and strengthening multilateral engagement. He also highlighted Türkiye’s longstanding commitment to mediation as a key instrument of foreign policy and noted that the Istanbul Mediation Conference has evolved into a leading global platform for advancing dialogue on mediation and peace diplomacy.

Speaking during the High-Level Session on “Mediation in a Changing World: Reclaiming the Space for Diplomacy,” H.E. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Secretary-General of the OIC, emphasized that the key challenge facing international mediation is not the lack of diplomatic initiatives, but the need for stronger political will to translate them into tangible results. He underscored the importance of addressing the root causes of conflicts, prioritizing dialogue, and leveraging emerging technologies to support peacebuilding efforts, while reaffirming the OIC’s commitment to strengthening its role in mediation and conflict resolution.

Through its participation in the Conference, SESRIC reaffirms its commitment to promoting cooperation and solidarity among OIC Member Countries and supporting initiatives that contribute to peace, stability, and sustainable development across the Islamic world and beyond. The Conference provided an important platform for exchanging views on emerging trends in mediation and peacebuilding, areas that are increasingly relevant to fostering stability, cooperation, and sustainable development across OIC Member Countries.

Since its inception, the Istanbul Mediation Conference series has provided a unique forum for bringing together policymakers, practitioners, academics, and international organizations to exchange experiences and explore innovative approaches to mediation, conflict prevention, and peacebuilding in response to evolving global challenges. For more information on the conference, please visit: https://istanbulmediation.org/index.html

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