Ankara-Based International Organization Officially Established
A Presidential Decree numbered 10467, signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on October 6, 2025, has been published.
According to the decree, the Union of Mediators of the Turkic World has been established, with its headquarters located in Ankara.
The Union will operate at the international level pursuant to Article 1 of Law No. 3335 on International Organizations.
The new entity aims to promote the peaceful resolution of legal and diplomatic disputes among the member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and to foster a culture of mediation.
The establishment of the Union is considered an important step toward institutionalizing reconciliation, legal diplomacy, and ethical dispute resolution within the Turkic world.
Contribution to the Mediation System
According to the Presidential Decree, the headquarters of the Union of Mediators of the Turkic World will be in Ankara.
The Union will hold the status of an international organization, as defined under the framework of Law No. 3335 on the Establishment of International Associations.
The Union’s main objectives include:
- Promoting the peaceful settlement of legal disputes among member countries,
- Expanding the culture of mediation and negotiation,
- Contributing to the development of common ethical and professional standards,
- Strengthening international cooperation through training, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building initiatives.
The Union of Mediators of the Turkic World seeks to support legal diplomacy and enhance mediation– and reconciliation-based dialogue mechanisms among OTS member and observer states.
Governance and Membership
The Chairperson of the Union’s Board of Directors has been appointed as Yakup Erikel from the Republic of Türkiye.
The Vice Chairperson position will be held by Nadir Adilov, Chairperson of the Board of the Mediation Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Hungary, among other Turkic-speaking and observer countries, will also take part in the Union.
This structure aims to establish a multilateral cooperation mechanism to strengthen justice, legal integrity, and a culture of reconciliation across the Turkic world.
The Union’s areas of activity include the development of mediation methods, the harmonization of professional ethical standards, and the implementation of international training programs to advance mediation practices globally.
