UPU Congress to go ahead in Istanbul

29.08.2016 - The 26th Universal Postal Congress will still be held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 20 September – 7 October, following a decision by acclamation by the Union’s Council of Administration (CA).

 UPU Director General Bishar Hussein congratulates Turkish Permanent Representative to UN Organizations in Geneva Mehmet Ferden Carikci (right) and Turkish Post, PTT, Chairman Kenan Bozgeyik (left) after the CA's extraordinary session upheld Turkey as host for the 26th UPU Congress

CA members attending an extraordinary Council meeting made the decision after taking into consideration Turkey’s own report on the security situation in its country and the United Nations Department of Safety and Security’s comprehensive risk analysis. The UNDSS report was presented by Under-Secretary-General Peter Drennan via video link from New York. 

Addressing the delegates earlier, UPU Director General Bishar A. Hussein had said: “The Turkish authorities have so far done a commendable job to ensure Congress is secure, going by the information they have shared with the UPU.”

‘Perfectly safe’

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Turkey to United Nations Organizations in Geneva Mehmet Ferden Carikci told the meeting that his nation was not the only one to be affected by “scourge of terrorism”. 

“Turkey remains perfectly safe,” he said. 

For his part, CA Chairman Faleh Al-Naemi underlined that it had been necessary to hold this extraordinary session as it was the responsibility of all concerned to ensure that the UPU Congress is held in a secure environment, where all delegates and participants feel safe. 

“The CA takes note of the additional security measures that Turkey commits to undertake to fully secure Congress in compliance with the requirements pointed out by UNDSS,” he said. 

Turkey won the bid to host the 26^th UPU Congress during the last event held in Doha, Qatar in 2012, but the mandate had been under review in recent months, following a series of terrorist attacks in Istanbul and the recent failed military coup.

Looking ahead

Some 2,000 decision-makers from UPU member countries are expected to attend Congress, the supreme decision-making organ of the Union. 

Director General Hussein underlined that the preparation work for the 2016 Congress was progressing well to date. 

“Both the Turkish and UPU secretariats have worked efficiently to deliver good results,” he said. “Furthermore, Turkey has deployed substantial resources to ensure provision of modern facilities for the Congress,” he added. 

Plenipotentiaries wishing to attend Congress are advised to make arrangements as soon as possible. 

More information is available at: congress2016.upu.int