ISTANBUL— Straddling Europe and Asia, Türkiye has connections “across the region and across the world,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin during the opening ceremony of UNFPA's Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia in Istanbul. “We are here to make a difference in Türkiye, in the region and the world,” he added. This is the first United Nations regional office to be hosted by the city.

“This office will be one of the most successful of the United Nations System,” predicted Ahmen Davutoglu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, who attended the ceremony.  His government, he said, intends to make Istanbul a 'UN City', adding that he was looking forward to other offices of the United Nations to be relocated to Istanbul. He assured all present that his government “will support this office and that there will be no issue that we cannot solve.”

“Through this office,” added Dr. Osotimehin, “we will provide a better life for women for girls and for young people, because it is the right thing to do.”

Mr. Davutoglu said  that it was his desire that the United Nations flag, which is currently raised at the site of the United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries, should “continue to fly forever,” and expressed his hope that the opening of the UNFPA Regional Office would be the first milestone towards this objective.

Ms. Thea Fierens, UNFPA Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, described the long road to the opening of the Regional Office in Istanbul, and thanked everyone who has worked so hard to make the UNFPA Regional Office a reality.

Contact information:

Abubakar Dungus:
Cell: 0538 962 0510 or +1 646 226 6120
Email: dungus@unfpa.org

Raquel Wexler
Telephone: 1 212 297-5073
Email: wexler@unfpa.org