The key facts
- The conference will be held on October 23–24 under the auspices of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan
- It will open with video messages from Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
- Around 200 high-level participants are expected, including the OSCE, OIC and GCC
Ninth Istanbul Mediation Conference
The ninth Istanbul Mediation Conference will take place on October 23–24 under the auspices of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, sources at Turkey's foreign ministry said. The event will be held under the theme 'Partnership and New Horizons for Peace: Mediation in a Changing World'.
Opening and participants
According to the ministry, the conference will open with video messages from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, after which Fidan will deliver opening remarks. The forum will bring together ministerial-level representatives, secretaries-general and senior officials of international organisations, including the OSCE, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Around 200 high-level officials, experts, diplomats, scholars and representatives of think tanks specialising in mediation and conflict resolution are expected.
Expected focus of Fidan's speech
Fidan is expected to stress in his opening speech that, amid increasingly complex disputes and shifting conflict dynamics, it is more important than ever for the international community to create space for diplomacy and to make effective use of mediation mechanisms. He is also expected to speak about Turkey's efforts in the peaceful settlement of disputes, prevention of escalation and the promotion of dialogue across a broad geographic area — the Black Sea region, the South Caucasus, the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and the Balkans.
Format and history of the conference
The programme includes numerous discussion panels designed to connect political vision with practical experience and to turn reflections into ideas for future cooperation. The Istanbul conferences have been held since 2012 and serve as a high-level platform for exchanging knowledge and experience in mediation, exploring new approaches and assessing the role of mediation in the changing landscape of international peace and security.
