BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 15. The second meeting of the chairpersons of defense and security committees of the parliaments of the member states of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TurkPA) is currently being held at the Parliament of Azerbaijan, Trend reports..
The session is focused on the theme "Strengthening Cooperation in the Field of Security and Defense Among Turkic States: The Role of Parliaments."
The event participants include Hulusi Akar, former Minister of Defense of Türkiye and current Chairman of the National Defense Committee of the Turkish Parliament; Amangeldy Nugmanov, member of the Committee on International Relations, Defense, and Security of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan; Eldar Sulaymanov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs, Defense, Security, and Migration of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of Kyrgyzstan; Kutbiddin Burkhanov, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defense and Security of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan; Yasemi Öztürk, Chair of the Committee on Legal, Political Affairs, and Foreign Relations of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; Mehmet Sureyya Er, Secretary-General of TurkPA; and others.
During his speech, Hulusi Akar noted that Azerbaijan's victory in Karabakh is a source of pride for the Turkic world.
" Today, the world faces growing tensions, economic problems, and climate change threats. Turkey strives to play a key role in solving global problems, and national security protection is directly dependent on a strong army. The success Azerbaijan achieved in Karabakh confirms this. We must unite our efforts in addressing international threats and economic challenges, and we should leverage the opportunities of artificial intelligence in the security sector," he said.
Kutbiddin Burkhanov, in turn, emphasized the importance of maintaining regular dialogue on political and security issues within the framework of inter-parliamentary cooperation among Turkic countries.
"Given the complex and multipolar international environment, it is especially important for the defense committees of the parliaments of Turkic states to deepen regional cooperation in the fight against global threats, such as terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, and cybersecurity," Burkhanov said.
He noted that Uzbekistan had already implemented a range of strategic measures to ensure national security.
"One of the key initiatives was the adoption of the 'Uzbekistan-2030' strategy in 2023, which outlines priorities: protecting national security and territorial integrity, maintaining peace and harmony in society, strengthening the country's defense potential, developing armed forces, and implementing digital technologies," Burkhanov added.
According to him, based on this strategy, Uzbekistan is focusing on developing its military-industrial potential, improving the combat readiness of the army, equipping it with modern weapons and technologies, and enhancing personnel training.
Yasemi Öztürk highlighted that challenges of the new era, such as cybersecurity, energy resilience, and disaster management, require the Turkic world to consolidate efforts and unite around common goals. Addressing these challenges is only possible with strategic thinking and a unified vision for the future. In this context, the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-Speaking States (TurkPA) serves as a unique platform to harmonize and implement these goals.
She emphasized that Northern Cyprus is an integral part of the political, economic, and cultural unity of the Turkic world.
"The bonds between the Turkish people of Northern Cyprus and the Turkic world, based on shared roots, history, and values, are strong. This alliance must manifest not only in cultural relations but also in strategic cooperation," she said. "Our unity in language, history, and culture highlights the equality of Turkic states in defense and security matters. In this sense, the sustainable development of healthy dialogue between Turkic states and the creation of a joint infrastructure in the defense industry are of strategic importance," she noted.
Öztürk expressed confidence that strengthening cultural ties between Northern Cyprus and the Turkic world would deepen cooperation between their peoples and contribute to building a shared future.
During the meeting, Mehmet Süreyya emphasized that multi-faceted cooperation between Turkic states is being implemented within TurkPA.
"The Permanent Commission contributes to deepening cooperation between parliaments by developing model laws in various areas—from legal issues to international relations and economics, from socio-cultural and humanitarian spheres to environmental protection and healthcare," Süreyya mentioned.
He stressed the importance of meetings between the relevant committees of the Turkic parliaments, which have become an essential part of the cooperation mechanism within TurkPA.
"I'm convinced that the meetings of the chairpersons of the defense and security committees of the parliaments of the member states, which will continue in the future, will make a significant contribution not only to the development of interaction within TURKPA but also to strengthening the security of our states and the region as a whole," the secretary general noted.
According to him, the cooperation of Turkic countries, based on common history, culture, language, and values, turns the Turkic world into a growing center of power.
The meeting concluded with an exchange of views on the topic.
12:21
The second meeting of the chairpersons of defense and security committees of the parliaments of the member states of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TurkPA) is currently being held at the Parliament of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.
The session is focused on the theme "Strengthening Cooperation in the Field of Security and Defense Among Turkic States: The Role of Parliaments."
The event participants include Hulusi Akar, former Minister of Defense of Türkiye and current Chairman of the National Defense Committee of the Turkish Parliament; Amangeldy Nugmanov, member of the Committee on International Relations, Defense, and Security of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan; Eldar Sulaymanov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs, Defense, Security, and Migration of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of Kyrgyzstan; Kutbiddin Burkhanov, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defense and Security of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan; Yasemi Öztürk, Chair of the Committee on Legal, Political Affairs, and Foreign Relations of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; Mehmet Sureyya Er, Secretary-General of TurkPA; and others.
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