According to Tradewinds, Greek foreign minister Nikos Dendias has told his Turkish counterpart that it intends to support Türkiye’s candidate in the race for the leadership of the International Maritime Organisation, according to reports.
Dendias met Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in Brussels on Monday and said Greece would support the nomination of Suat Hayri Aka at the election that takes place at the UN’s maritime safety and environment agency in London in June.
Greek television reported that it is part of a diplomatic horse-trading deal in which Türkiye will support a bid by Greece to become one of the non-permanent rotating members of the UN Security Council.
Türkiye has nominated Suat Hayri Aka, who is its representative at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and a former under-secretary for maritime affairs in Türkiye’s ministry of transport.
No final decision has yet emerged, with observers suggesting the likelihood of him standing as a candidate from the European Union are fading.
Leading the field so far is Arsenio Dominguez, the experienced Panamanian diplomat and IMO negotiator, and Nancy Karigithu, principal secretary for shipping and maritime in Kenya.
Bangladesh is nominating Moin Ahmed, who is the director general of the International Mobile Satellite Organisation, while former World Maritime University president Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry from Dominica is also standing.
