Gabala: The 12th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) began in Gabala with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan delivering a speech to the gathered heads of state and government. The summit, held on October 7, saw the attendance of leaders from Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, as well as the OTS Secretary General.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev emphasized the evolution of the OTS from a cooperative platform to a significant geopolitical entity. Stressing the importance of historical and ethnic ties, Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijan’s $2 million contribution to the OTS Secretariat, underlining the nation’s commitment to the organization’s mission. He acknowledged the Kyrgyz Republic’s leadership in presiding over the OTS and welcomed the transition of the chairmanship to Azerbaijan.
Aliyev’s speech touched on the essential role of peace and security as foundations for development, referencing the Nakhchivan Agreement’s emphasis on safeguarding these principles. He proposed joint military exercises for OTS member states in Azerbaijan in 2026, reflecting on Azerbaijan’s collaboration with Turkey in military and defense sectors. Highlighting Azerbaijan’s victory in the 2020 Patriotic War, Aliyev announced the recent peace agreement with Armenia, marking a step towards transforming the South Caucasus into a region of peace.
President Aliyev also addressed the strategic importance of transport and communication links within the OTS, noting Azerbaijan’s role in the East-West and North-South transport corridors. He highlighted the significance of the newly opened Zangezur Corridor and Azerbaijan’s active participation in energy security, exporting natural gas to 14 countries. Aliyev underscored Azerbaijan’s investment in renewable energy and proposed the organization of the 100th anniversary of the First Turkological Congress within the OTS framework.
The summit continued with speeches from other leaders. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov expressed gratitude for the hospitality and praised the Joint Declaration signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan emphasized the importance of unity among Turkic states and commended the green energy corridor initiative. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan highlighted cultural heritage preservation and developments in the South Caucasus, while Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev lauded Azerbaijan’s progress in Karabakh.
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, stressed the importance of cooperation amidst global challenges. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb¡n expressed satisfaction with the stability among Turkic states and praised Azerbaijan’s achievements in renewable energy. Ersin Tatar, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, highlighted the significance of the Karabakh Victory for the Turkic world.
OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev acknowledged the symbolic significance of the summit’s location in Gabala and announced the establishment of the Union of Turkic Universities. He expressed confidence in Azerbaijan’s chairmanship to deepen cooperation.
The summit concluded with the signing of the Declaration of the 12th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States, followed by the groundbreaking ceremony of a mosque in Fuzuli, signifying cooperation and support among member states.