Uzbekistan–OTS: preserving and enhancing the common Turkic heritage

On July 5-6, the President of Uzbekistan will attend the Informal Summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Shusha, Azerbaijan.

The Organization of Turkic States (OTS), formerly known as the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (CCTS), was established on October 3, 2009, in Nakhichevan. The transformation into OTS was formally announced on November 12, 2021, during the summit in Istanbul, driven by Uzbekistan’s initiative.

The member states of OTS include Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Türkiye. Additionally, Hungary and Turkmenistan hold observer status within the organization.

“In the new world order and the system of international institutions that are being shaped today, the Organization of Turkic States is occupying yet more uniquely important place, – President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized in his address on November 3, 2023, at the OTS summit in Astana. – The territory of our Organization, which is home to 160 million people, is also a land of vast economic opportunities. I am pleased to say that Uzbekistan has established strategic partnership with all member-states of the Organization”.

OTS serves as a pivotal platform for member states to enhance cooperation, strengthen mutual trust, and promote economic, political, and cultural ties among Turkic speaking peoples.

Countries collaborate to develop unified foreign policy stances on shared interests within international organizations and forums. They coordinate efforts to combat international terrorism, separatism, extremism, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and transnational crimes. Additionally, they promote regional and bilateral cooperation across political, law enforcement, trade, economic, energy, transport, credit, financial, cultural, and humanitarian domains.

Furthermore, member states strive to enhance conditions for trade and investment, facilitate the free flow of goods, capital, services, and technologies, and streamline financial and banking operations. They aim for comprehensive and balanced economic growth, along with fostering social and cultural development in the region. Collaboration also extends to advancing science, technology, education, healthcare, culture, youth affairs, sports, tourism, and promoting the rich cultural and historical heritage of Turkic peoples.

The supreme body of the OTS is the Council of Heads of State (CHS), which convenes regular meetings attended by the heads of state of its member countries. The CHS addresses current international issues, sets priority areas for cooperation, and reviews ongoing activities. Additionally, the CHS may hold extraordinary and informal meetings upon the initiative of member states.

Another significant body is the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), which discusses operational matters of the OTS. It identifies pressing international issues for the CHS meetings and approves the Secretariat’s staffing and financial reports.

The Senior Officials Committee (SOC) plays a coordinating role for the Secretariat. It reviews and approves draft documents prepared by the Secretariat before these are presented to the Council of Foreign Ministers and subsequently to the CHS for final approval.

Furthermore, the Council of Elders of the Organization of Turkic States is a permanent consultative and advisory institution within the Turkic Council. Each member state appoints one representative, known as an aksakal, who is a prominent public or political figure. The Council of Elders is chaired by Binali Yildirim, former Prime Minister and Deputy of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye.

The Secretariat is a permanent executive body headed by the Secretary General, approved by the Council of Heads of State. It is located in Istanbul, Türkiye.

In addition, International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), headquartered in Ankara, Türkiye, the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA), based in Baku, Azerbaijan, International Turkic Academy, headquartered in Astana, Kazakhstan, Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, headquartered in Baku, Azerbaijan, Turkic Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Turkic Investment Fund, headquartered in Istanbul, Türkiye operate under the auspices of the OTS.

On September 19, 2019, in Budapest, at the initiative of the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban, a Representative Office of the Organization of Turkic States was created, which is designed to promote the development of relations of the OTS member states with Hungary, the countries of the Visegrad Group, European countries and international organizations in Europe.

Uzbekistan has been a proactive participant and initiator in establishing and enhancing interaction among Turkic speaking states. A pivotal moment in this engagement was the participation of the President of Uzbekistan as an honorary guest at the VI summit of the OTS on September 3, 2018, held in the Kyrgyz city of Cholpon-Ata.

On September 14, 2019, Uzbekistan ratified the Nakhichevan Agreement. Its accession to the organization has significantly boosted the activity among other member states of the OTS, underscoring the increasing regional role of the OTS.

During the OTS summits from 2019 to 2023, the President of Uzbekistan proposed 58 specific initiatives aimed at further developing multifaceted cooperation within the OTS. Currently, 42 of these initiatives have been successfully implemented, with 6 nearing completion.

According to experts, the OTS summit held on November 11, 2022, in Samarkand marked the beginning of Uzbekistan’s chairmanship in the association, playing a crucial role in enhancing multilateral cooperation within the organization. During Uzbekistan’s chairmanship, over 100 events were organized.

Over the years of Uzbekistan’s participation in the organization, dozens of major events have been held, including the 6th meeting of Ministers of Tourism of the OTS member states (June 2021), the 1st meeting of Ministers of Agriculture of the OTS member states and the first Turkic Agricultural Forum in Tashkent (July 2022), the 4th Young Leaders Forum in Bukhara (June 2022), international scientific conferences dedicated to the cultural heritage of Mahmud Kashgari, Yusuf Khos Hajib, Alisher Navoi, Musa Al-Khorezmi, a conference for IT specialists in the field of “smart cities” and the Forum of youth startups within the framework of “IT Week” and “InnoWeek.Uz”, international scientific and practical conference “Educational activities of the Jadids: ideas, goals, objectives and contribution to the development of Turkestan” in Tashkent (March 2023), International Forum “Rail Communication of Turkic States: Fergana Valley – Anadolu” in Fergana (April 2023), meetings of the Secretaries of the Security Councils, the Council of Elders, ministers of education, health, heads of customs administrations, heads of human resources departments, rectors of the Turkic University Union in Uzbekistan, international science congress and innovations of the youth of the Turkic world.

In 2022, the city of Kokand was declared the tourist capital of the Turkic world, and Bukhara — the first youth capital of the Turkic world.

In summary, the upcoming informal OTS summit in Shusha, centered on “Building a Sustainable Future through Transport, Connectivity and Climate Action”, with our Head of state participation, will mark a pivotal moment in advancing multilateral cooperation and strengthening the bonds of friendship among Turkic peoples.

Dunyo IA