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STORY: TÜRKIYE / GUTERRES ATATÜRK INTERNATIONAL PEACE AWARD
TRT: 5:20
SOURCE: COURTESY OF TURKISH PRESIDENCY
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 12 MARCH 2026, ANKARA, TÜRKIYE
1. Various shots, President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on his arrival
2. Various shots, President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed Secretary-General Antonio Guterres meeting
3. Various shots, President Erdoğan and Guterres arriving at the Conference hall
4. Various shots, Guterres receiving the Atatürk International Peace Award from President Erdoğan
5. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“I am keenly aware that the recognition comes at a time of immense suffering in this region and beyond, terrible conflicts, deepening geopolitical divisions, and eroding trust in global cooperation. The Atatürk International Peace Award is a recognition that peace is more than a noble vision. Peace is a rallying cry. It is a call to action.”
6. Wide shot, Guterres at the podium
7. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Dedicated women and men striving to advance the cause of peace, sustainable development, and human rights around the globe. Humanitarians delivering aid to the world’s most desperate places. Peacekeepers helping sustain fragile ceasefires. Mediators working patiently to bridge divides. Human rights defenders and development experts strengthening communities and protecting rights. This award honours them.”
8. Wide shot, Guterres at the podium
9. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Throughout my two decades in the United Nations family, I have observed a personal Ramadan tradition: making a solidarity visit to a Muslim community and sharing in the fast. These visits are a powerful reminder, to me and to the world, of the true spirit of Islam: compassion, community and empathy.”
10. Wide shot, Guterres at the podium
11. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“The unfolding crisis in the Middle East stands as a most tragic example. The massive military strikes launched by the United States and Israel – and the subsequent attacks by Iran on so many countries, which were strongly condemned by the Security Council yesterday – constitute a grave threat to international peace and security and has caused immense suffering for civilians. The region is being pushed to the breaking point. And the consequences are cascading around the world: disrupted trade, rising energy and food prices, deepening insecurity and instability. As always, the most vulnerable are being hurt first and worst. The region and the world desperately need an off-ramp. De-escalation and dialogue are the only way out. And I strongly urge all parties to cease the hostilities, uphold international law, protect civilians, and return immediately to the negotiating table.”
12. Wide shot, Guterres at the podium
The Secretary-General received the “Atatürk International Peace Award” at a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Ankara. Guterres thanked the people and Government of Türkiye for the honour, saying he accepts this award on behalf of the United Nations’ staff around the world who work every day to advance peace and deliver aid in the world’s most dangerous places and on behalf of peacekeepers sustaining fragile ceasefires.
Upon receiving the award, he said that “around the world, we hear much talk of peace, but we see far too little of it.”
He warned that the region in which he was speaking is being pushed to the breaking point, adding that the massive military strikes launched by the United States and Israel, and the subsequent attacks by Iran on several countries, which were strongly condemned at the Security Council yesterday, constitute a grave threat to international peace and security and have caused immense suffering for civilians.
The Secretary-General stressed that de-escalation and dialogue are the only way forward, urging all parties to cease hostilities, uphold international law, protect civilians and return immediately to the negotiating table.
Earlier in the day, the Secretary-General discussed with Türkiye’s Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, and separately with President Erdoğan, these developments in the Middle East as well as other issues, including cooperation between the UN and Türkiye, especially on refugee matters.
This visit is part of the Secretary-General’s annual Ramadan solidarity visit. He said he chose Türkiye as his final Ramadan solidarity visit as Secretary-General, in recognition of the country and its people’s generosity in hosting millions of refugees, the largest number hosted by any country during his tenure at the United Nations.
Today, he also engaged with representatives of non-governmental organizations supporting refugees. He also visited the Ankara Provincial Directorate of Migration, highlighting the importance of collaboration between NGOs and government institutions in assisting refugees. And he also met with the UN country team.
