# List of ambassadors of Turkey to the United Nations

The ambassador of Turkey to the United Nations is the leader of the delegation of Turkey, the Permanent Mission of Turkey to the United Nations. The position is formally known as the permanent representative of the Republic of Türkiye to the United Nations, with the rank and status of ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary, and representative of Turkey through its non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and in the plenary meetings of the General Assembly.
The current Permanent Representative of Türkiye to the United Nations since 25 April 2024 is Ahmet Yıldız.

## History

On 26 June 1945, the Charter of the United Nations was signed and came into force on 28 September 1945. Turkey was among the first countries that signed the United Nations Charter, becoming a founding member of the United Nations among 51 countries.
Permanent Mission of Turkey to the United Nations started its activities after the Permanent Representative Ambassador Selim Sarper presented his letter of credence to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 15 August 1947.

## List of permanent representatives

The following diplomats served as the permanent representative of Turkey to the United Nations:
| # | Ambassador | Years served | UN Secretary-General | Turkish President |
| 1 | Selim Sarper | 1947–1957 | Trygve Lie | İsmet İnönü |
| 1 | Selim Sarper | 1947–1957 | Trygve Lie | Celâl Bayar |
| 1 | Selim Sarper | 1947–1957 | Dag Hammarskjöld | Celâl Bayar |
| 2 | Seyfullah Esin [tr] | 1957–1960 | Dag Hammarskjöld | Celâl Bayar |
| 3 | Turgut Menemencioğlu [tr] | 1960–1962 | Dag Hammarskjöld | Cemal Gürsel |
| 3 | Turgut Menemencioğlu [tr] | 1960–1962 | U Thant | Cemal Gürsel |
| 4 | Adnan Kural [tr] | 1962–1964 | U Thant | Cemal Gürsel |
| 5 | Orhan Eralp | 1964–1969 | U Thant | Cemal Gürsel |
| 5 | Orhan Eralp | 1964–1969 | U Thant | Cevdet Sunay |
| 6 | Ümit Haluk Bayülken | 1969–1972 | U Thant | Cevdet Sunay |
| 6 | Ümit Haluk Bayülken | 1969–1972 | Kurt Waldheim | Cevdet Sunay |
| 7 | Osman Olcay | 1972–1975 | Kurt Waldheim | Cevdet Sunay |
| 7 | Osman Olcay | 1972–1975 | Kurt Waldheim | Fahri Korutürk |
| 8 | İlter Türkmen | 1975–1978 | Kurt Waldheim | Fahri Korutürk |
| 9 | Orhan Eralp | 1978–1980 | Kurt Waldheim | Fahri Korutürk |
| 10 | Ali Coşkun Kırca | 1980–1985 | Kurt Waldheim | Kenan Evren |
| 10 | Ali Coşkun Kırca | 1980–1985 | Javier Pérez de Cuéllar | Kenan Evren |
| 11 | İlter Türkmen | 1985–1988 | Javier Pérez de Cuéllar | Kenan Evren |
| 12 | Mustafa Akşin | 1988–1993 | Javier Pérez de Cuéllar | Kenan Evren |
| 12 | Mustafa Akşin | 1988–1993 | Javier Pérez de Cuéllar | Turgut Özal |
| 12 | Mustafa Akşin | 1988–1993 | Boutros Boutros-Ghali | Turgut Özal |
| 13 | İnal Batu | 1993–1995 | Boutros Boutros-Ghali | Süleyman Demirel |
| 14 | Hüseyin Çelem [tr] | 1995–1998 | Boutros Boutros-Ghali | Süleyman Demirel |
| 14 | Hüseyin Çelem [tr] | 1995–1998 | Kofi Annan | Süleyman Demirel |
| 15 | Volkan Vural [tr] | 1998–2000 | Kofi Annan | Süleyman Demirel |
| 16 | Ümit Pamir [tr] | 2000–2004 | Kofi Annan | Ahmet Necdet Sezer |
| 17 | Baki İlkin | 2004–2009 | Kofi Annan | Ahmet Necdet Sezer |
| 17 | Baki İlkin | 2004–2009 | Ban Ki-moon | Ahmet Necdet Sezer |
| 17 | Baki İlkin | 2004–2009 | Ban Ki-moon | Abdullah Gül |
| 18 | Ertuğrul Apakan | 2009–2012 | Ban Ki-moon | Abdullah Gül |
| 19 | Yaşar Halit Çevik | 2012–2016 | Ban Ki-moon | Abdullah Gül |
| 19 | Yaşar Halit Çevik | 2012–2016 | Ban Ki-moon | Recep Tayyip Erdoğan |
| 20 | Feridun Sinirlioğlu | 2016–2023 | Ban Ki-moon | Recep Tayyip Erdoğan |
| 20 | Feridun Sinirlioğlu | 2016–2023 | António Guterres | Recep Tayyip Erdoğan |
| 21 | Sedat Önal | 2023–2024 | António Guterres | Recep Tayyip Erdoğan |
| 22 | Ahmet Yıldız | 2024–present | António Guterres | Recep Tayyip Erdoğan |

## List of permanent representatives in Geneva

The permanent representative of Turkey to the United Nations in Geneva is the ambassador responsible for representing Turkey at the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG).
| # | Ambassador | Term start | Term end |
| 1 | Özdemir Benler | 9 April 1967 | 28 April 1970 |
| 2 | Coşkun Kırca | 29 April 1970 | 29 August 1976 |
| 3 | Ercüment Yavuzalp | 10 September 1976 | 23 July 1979 |
| 4 | Kamuran İnan | 26 July 1979 | 19 September 1983 |
| 5 | İlter Türkmen | 13 December 1983 | 25 August 1985 |
| 6 | Ercüment Yavuzalp | 2 February 1985 | 23 September 1989 |
| 7 | Cem Duna | 26 September 1989 | 7 July 1991 |
| 8 | Gündüz Aktan | 30 July 1991 | 20 May 1995 |
| 9 | Tugay Uluçevik | 25 May 1995 | 30 April 1998 |
| 10 | Murat Sungar | 1 May 1998 | 16 October 2002 |
| 11 | Türkekul Kurttekin | 1 November 2002 | 30 November 2006 |
| 12 | Ahmet Üzümcü | 14 December 2006 | 12 July 2010 |
| 13 | Mustafa Oğuz Demiralp | 29 July 2010 | 16 August 2013 |
| 14 | Mehmet Ferden Çarıkçı | 22 August 2013 | 7 November 2016 |
| 15 | Ali Naci Koru | 17 November 2016 | 20 July 2018 |
| 16 | Sadık Arslan | 4 February 2019 | 27 January 2023 |
| 17 | Güven Begeç | 29 January 2023 | 1 June 2024 |
| 18 | Burak Akçapar | 13 June 2024 | Present |