The Memorandum of Understanding to open United Nations Development Programme’s Regional Service Centre for Europe and Commonwealth of Independent State (UNDP-RSC) in Istanbul was signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu and UNDP Administrator, Helen Clark on 27 September 2013 during the 68th UN General Assembly in New York

Speaking at the ceremony where Minister of Development of Turkey, Cevdet Yılmaz also attended Foreign Minister Davutoğlu underlined Istanbul’s strategic location at the heart of the region and said that the location of the Regional Center in İstanbul will contribute to both relations between Turkey and the UN and the UN system. He emphasized that Turkey looks forward to engaging ever more closely with UNDP and the broader UN system through the Regional Centre.

UNDP Administrator Clark noted that the UNDP-RSC’s co-location in Istanbul with key UN partners will improve co-ordination and harmonization within the UN development system. Clark stressed that the selection of Istanbul reflects the city’s central location within the region and Turkey’s increasing role on the international stage.