It is with deep sorrow that we mourn the passing of our esteemed founding member, Ambassador (R) Dr. Üner Kırdar, and extend our condolences to his family and all who held him dear.
Ambassador (R) Dr. Üner Kırdar, one of the 40 founding members of GRF, held senior positions both at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and within the United Nations Secretariat. In this capacity, Dr. Kırdar served as Director of the Executive Board and External Relations of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (1980–91), as well as Senior Adviser to the UNDP Administrator (1992–98). He was also the key figure in the design and establishment of the UNDP Development Studies Programme, launched in 1981. Within the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he held various roles, including Director of International Economic Organizations and Deputy Permanent Representative of Türkiye to the United Nations Office in Geneva.
Dr. Kırdar authored or edited more than seventeen books and published numerous articles on international cooperation and human development. He graduated from the Faculty of Law at Istanbul University, pursued graduate studies at the London School of Economics, and earned his PhD in International Economics and Law from the University of Cambridge.
We respectfully commemorate our esteemed founding member Dr. Üner Kırdar, who made significant contributions to GRF since its establishment, and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.