OSCE Secretary General calls for renewed commitment to diplomacy at Istanbul Mediation Conference

ISTANBUL, 24 October 2026 – OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu underscored the importance of preserving space for diplomacy and keeping channels of communication open amid intensifying geopolitical competition and eroding trust. In his remarks at the high-level opening session of the ninth Istanbul Mediation Conference, he called for renewed commitment to dialogue, co-operation and peaceful dispute resolution.

“As we face major risks across the region linked to the ongoing escalation of the war in Ukraine, it is more urgent than ever to reinvest in mediation and diplomatic engagement. We need to keep channels of communication open, and to urgently reopen those that have been closed. We cannot give up on diplomacy,” said Sinirlioğlu.

He highlighted the OSCE’s unique role in offering platforms for diplomatic engagement and in connecting different actors in a structured and meaningful way. This includes political dialogue in Vienna among its 57 participating States, as well as on the ground through OSCE field operations, helping reduce risks, prevent conflict, manage tensions and build trust across divides.

Established in 2012, the Istanbul Mediation Conference brings together international stakeholders to discuss mediation, preventive diplomacy and approaches to resolving conflicts.