Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 16
By Fakhri Vakilov-Trend:
The membership in Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (CCTS-Turkic Council) can help Uzbekistan become accustomed to governance processes in a regional integration project prior to acceding the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Tobias Vollmer, Senior Analyst at PRISM Political Risk Management - a London-based consultancy covering the Caspian and Central Asia, told Trend in an interview.
“Uzbekistan joined the Turkic Council in September having publicly entertained the intention first in April 2018. This move breaks with Tashkent’s longstanding neutral position under late President Islam Karimov,” he said.
Vollmer stated that it, however, dovetails with the current President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s general opening towards greater regional integration with its neighbors. Tashkent also recently announced it might join the EAEU, in which Turkic Council members Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan also take part.
“Uzbekistan’s most immediate interest and gain from the accession is the potential for a boost in its tourism industry. Long-term benefits could, firstly, stem from a closer relationship with Ankara and Budapest (which holds an observer status), which could act as advocates of Uzbekistan’s interests in Europe,” he added.
Secondly, Vollmer said, should the member states move to a deeper economic integration in the very long term, Uzbekistan would benefit from the access to culturally similar markets for its produce in the region. With Uzbekistan, the CCTS also gains its second most populous member.
“In conclusion, Uzbekistan’s accession gives the organization new impetus for further integration,” he noted.
The 7th Turkic Council Summit was held in Baku on Oct. 15.
A meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Turkic Council was held in Baku on Oct. 14.
The Turkic Council was established on Oct.3, 2009 in Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Its goal is the development of full cooperation between member states. Since its establishment, six meetings of the council have been held.
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