The world postal organisation could be forced to cancel a high-level three-week conference in Istanbul next month due to security concerns following recent terror attacks and the attempted coup in Turkey.
The Universal Postal Union (UPU) has held urgent talks with Turkish and other UN authorities in the last few weeks about the security situation in the country ahead of the 26th UPU Congress, which is scheduled to run from September 20 to October 7.
The final decision whether or not to go ahead with the event will be taken by the UPU’s Council of Administration (CA) at an emergency meeting in Bern on August 29.
The Congress, held every four years, normally attracts representatives of the UPU’s 192 member states and hundreds of other officials and participants. It is the UPU’s top decision-making authority and decides on the overall strategy and activities of the world postal organisation. The 2016 Congress is due to decide on the ‘Istanbul World Postal Strategy’, which will run from 2017 to 2020.
“Preparations for the hosting of the 26th UPU Congress have experienced setbacks in recent months, owing to security concerns in the host country, Turkey. These concerns stemmed from the terrorist attacks in Istanbul, and the subsequent political developments in Turkey following the attempted coup on 15 July 2016, with the country declaring a state of emergency,” UPU Director General Bishar Hussein told postal operators in an explanatory letter.
In June, Hussein travelled to Istanbul to review planning with Turkish Post Director General Kenan Bozgeyik and told local media that he was confident that preparations for the event were going well. “I have full confidence and trust that the UPU and the Turkish Post have the skills, knowledge and leadership required to bring the world together here,” he said at the time.
But in July, the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) advised the UPU not to go ahead with the conference in Istanbul as the security situation was still considered risky.
The UPU then held talks with Turkish authorities, including the country’s UN ambassador in Geneva and the Turkish Post chief, on August 2. According to the UPU, the Turkish authorities presented a detailed report on the security situation in the country and measures that had been put in place to restore order. They also gave an undertaking that they would ensure the security of the Congress and its participants during the three-week event.
However, the UPU did not authorise going ahead with the Congress at the meeting but decided to give the Turkish authorities more time for internal discussions and with the UNDSS. UPU Council of Administration chairman Faleh Al-Naemi had said it was the responsibility of all concerned “to ensure the Congress is held in a secure atmosphere, where all delegates and participants feel safe”.
Since then, the UNDSS has sent another security report to the UPU that includes a comprehensive risk analysis on the situation in Turkey. It has further advised on suitable options that may be considered in seeking to resolve the Congress host issue.
The UPU’s head of communications Faryal Mirza told CEP-Research: “At the meeting on August 29, the UNDSS will present their recommendations directly to the CA members for their decision. These recommendations still include not holding the Congress in Turkey.”
The UPU is expected to announce the CA’s decision as soon as possible after the meeting on August 29.
