BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov has addressed the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), which is being held today in Astana, the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan told Trend.
Bayramov emphasized that strengthening ties with member states of the OTS in all spheres is one of Azerbaijan's key foreign policy priorities.
He noted that contacts at various levels between Turkic countries, visits, and mutual support across all directions, contribute to the development of cooperation.
The minister also noted that Turkic unity will play a significant role in shaping a new architecture of international security that will emerge in the conditions of addressing current threats and challenges.
Alongside the growth in international influence and economic potential of member and observer states of the OTS, Bayramov mentioned that the organization's importance at the international level has increased since the Nakhchivan Summit of 2009.
Furthermore, he emphasized that Azerbaijan places special importance on the activities of TURKPA (Turkic Parliamentary Assembly), TURKSOY (International Organization of Turkic Culture), the Turkic Academy, the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, and the Turkic Investment Fund, all of which operate in conjunction with the Turkic Council.
Reminding about the speech of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at the Fifth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia (held in September 2023), in which he paid special attention to transport issues, Bayramov pointed out significant potential for more effective development of relations between Turkic countries in the field of transportation and communications.
In this regard, he stated that the proper utilization of the new opportunities emerging in the region will lead to great success.
The minister pointed out the need for joint and effective measures to increase and diversify trade turnover among Turkic countries, simplify and improve transit procedures within transportation and communication corridors, and coordinate tariff regulations.
Bayramov emphasized that the creation of transportation infrastructure in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan holds special significance in terms of launching a new transportation artery through the Middle Corridor. Moreover, as he added, it will contribute to the complete realization of the transit potential of Turkic countries as a whole, while also strengthening regional peace and security.
The 10th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the OTS has started today in Astana.
Within the meeting international documents in the fields of emergency response and metrology are expected to be signed. In addition, the Astana Act and the Declaration of the Astana Summit will be signed, as will a cooperative action plan for the implementation of the OTS transport communication program.
Furthermore, Uzbekistan's chairmanship of the OTS will be transferred to Kazakhstan.
This year, Uzbekistan chairs the Organization of Turkic States. The beginning of the chairmanship was marked by the OTS Summit in Samarkand, held under the slogan “A new era of Turkic civilization: on the way to common development and prosperity” in November last year.