UN-HABITAT stated that the award will be given to Erdoğan for his achievements in “leadership, statesmanship and good governance,” especially as mayor of İstanbul in the mid-1990s when he hosted the Second UN Conference on Human Settlements, which led to the establishment of UN-HABITAT as a full-fledged UN program tasked with promoting adequate shelter for all.
“When the history of UN-HABITAT is written, Prime Minister Erdoğan’s contribution as mayor of İstanbul will not be missed,” UN-HABITAT Executive Director Anna Tibaijuka said in a message congratulating him on the award. Tibaijuka added that she looked forward to receiving Erdoğan at the World Urban Forum later this month in Rio de Janeiro, where the ceremony to present the award will be held.
In granting the award the seven-member international jury also noted Erdoğan’s contribution to conflict resolution, tolerance and peace-building initiatives in his region and international cooperation.
“All these are core ingredients in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda and poverty eradication and are in line with the vision of the late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri,” UN-HABITAT said in a news release.
The agency said the memorial award was instituted with the slain prime minister’s foundation to reward individuals and organizations that have made considerable efforts towards the development of human settlements, as well as economic and social advances, in line with Hariri’s vision and his dedication to the reconstruction of Lebanon.
