Turkic leaders gather in Ankara for 13th summit
The 13th Summit of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) opened in Türkiye’s capital, Ankara, on Friday, bringing together leaders and senior representatives from member and observer states to strengthen political, economic and strategic cooperation.
Hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan under the theme “Turkic Century: Unity in Language, Thought and Deed”, the summit began with a welcoming ceremony and a family photograph at the Bestepe National Exhibition Hall.
Among those attending were Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Tufan Erhurman also attended, alongside OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev.
The visiting leaders were welcomed by Erdogan and greeted by soldiers carrying the flags of 16 historical Turkic states, as well as troops dressed in traditional Ottoman Janissary uniforms.
Erdogan urges strategic economic integration
Addressing the summit, Erdogan called on Turkic countries to strengthen their cooperation and transform the region into a major international centre for trade, transport and energy.
“We can make the Turkic world a major trade, transport, and energy hub, with the Middle Corridor shaping future trade,” he said.
Erdogan described the Middle Corridor as a key strategic route for connecting Asia and Europe, stressing the importance of coordinated regional efforts to expand its potential.
He also announced that Türkiye had assumed the organization's rotating chairmanship from Azerbaijan, thanking Baku for its work during its term.
Referring to the summit's theme, inspired by Turkic intellectual and Turkologist Ismail Gasprinski, Erdogan said unity required preserving common cultural heritage, developing shared objectives and translating political decisions into practical results.
“There is no room for division or discord in the Turkic world,” he said, reaffirming Ankara's commitment to closer cooperation among member states.
He also expressed hope that Turkmenistan would eventually become a full member of the organization and highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional and cultural ties with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Regional security and Gaza on agenda
Regional developments also featured prominently in Erdogan's address.
On the South Caucasus, the Turkish president said lasting peace and stability would create significant opportunities for the region and the wider Turkic world.
He welcomed ongoing negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and reaffirmed Türkiye's support for efforts to achieve a lasting peace agreement.
Regarding Iran, Erdogan called for renewed tensions to be resolved through diplomatic channels rather than military confrontation.
On Palestine, he urged Turkic countries to increase their efforts towards a just settlement, facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza and support the rapid launch of reconstruction work.
He reiterated Türkiye's backing for an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Digital technology and cybersecurity cooperation
Erdogan also called for stronger cooperation in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital trade and space technology, identifying these areas as increasingly important to the region's security and economic development.
He urged member states to accelerate the implementation of a memorandum on cybersecurity cooperation and develop a common digital trade platform to connect their markets.
The Turkish president also highlighted plans for a joint satellite project and called for contributions to a major Turkic language model covering the Oghuz, Kipchak and Karluk language groups.
Türkiye's rotating chairmanship, he said, would prioritise the implementation of an artificial intelligence and digital development action plan focused on tangible results.
Erdogan also invited fellow leaders to attend the COP31 Leaders' Summit, scheduled for November 11-12 in Antalya.
Ankara declaration outlines next steps
At the conclusion of the meeting, Erdogan announced the adoption of the Ankara Declaration, describing it as a framework for translating the summit's commitments into concrete action.
“With the Ankara Declaration adopted and the decisions taken today, we have outlined concrete steps guided by our motto, ‘Unity in Language, Thought and Deed’,” he said.
He thanked participating leaders for their contributions and constructive approach, emphasising the spirit of cooperation among Turkic countries.
Erdogan also paid tribute to outgoing OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev, who has held the position since 2022, and wished his successor, Mirvahid Azimov, success.
Türkiye's assumption of the rotating chairmanship marks a new phase for the organization, with Ankara pledging to advance economic integration, regional connectivity, cultural cooperation and technological development across the Turkic world.
Source:AA
