APA Information Agency conducted interview with the Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Kubanychbek Omuraliyev.
Azerbaijan’s chairmanship has brought a very dynamic and practical impulse to the activities of the OTS
- How do you assess the work carried out during Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS)?
- Every chairmanship has its own priorities, style and political energy. In this regard, I would say that Azerbaijan’s chairmanship has brought a very dynamic and practical impulse to the activities of the OTS. What is especially important is that during this period, the organization focused not only on political dialogue, but also more on achieving concrete results in many areas.
After the Gabala Summit, coordination among member states has strengthened
Azerbaijan, which assumed the chairmanship after the Gabala Summit held under the theme of "Regional Peace and Security", has attached special importance to strengthening coordination among member states at a time of significant regional and global changes. We saw the results of this in high-level meetings and new initiatives aimed at building cooperation on a more effective and institutional basis.
For example, the second meeting of Heads of Government and Vice Presidents held in Baku in April 2026 became an important platform for translating the decisions adopted by heads of state into practical implementation. The discussions covered very concrete areas — trade, transport, energy, digitalization and regional connectivity. At the same time, the informal meetings of foreign ministers in Istanbul and Antalya served to continue close political consultations on major regional and international processes.
One of the clearest examples of practical progress is observed in the field of transport and connectivity. During the meetings of customs and transport institutions held in Geneva and Bishkek, member states advanced cooperation toward the implementation of the eTIR and eCMR systems. Although these may sound like technical issues, they are in fact extremely important strategic steps. Because these systems simplify cross-border trade, modernize customs procedures and increase the efficiency of the Middle Corridor. In this regard, the signing of the Memorandum on eCMR is of particular importance.
Another area where we have observed impressive development is space cooperation. At the 5th Meeting of Heads of Space Agencies held in Tashkent, the final stages of the OTS Cube Satellite Project were reviewed. This project has already become one of the key technological initiatives of the Turkic world. Parallel discussions regarding the future Space Industry Agreement and the expansion of the Turkic Space Explorers Academy show that the organization is increasingly investing in innovation, education and the technologies of the future.
I would also like to emphasize the growing institutional dimension of the OTS. During Azerbaijan’s chairmanship, new cooperation mechanisms were launched in areas such as labor and social protection, forensic expertise and supreme audit institutions. This also includes the establishment of the Union of Supreme Audit Institutions of Turkic States – TURKSAI. These initiatives may be less visible to the public eye, but they are extremely important in terms of building long-term institutional ties among our countries and strengthening the overall architecture of cooperation.
At the same time, culture and people-to-people relations have remained an important priority. Turkic Week held in Vienna, the broader celebration of Novruz within the framework of the OTS, and the second Turkic Ski Cup held in Uludag contributed to increasing the international visibility of the Turkic world and strengthening ties, especially among younger generations.
OTS is recognized internationally as a reliable regional platform
Another important tendency is the growing international activity of the OTS. Cooperation documents signed with organizations such as the World Health Organization, CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center), and the Islamic Organization for Food Security, a specialized institution of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, show that the OTS is increasingly recognized internationally as a reliable and constructive regional platform
One of the distinguishing features of this chairmanship is the special attention given to future-oriented fields. The Informal Summit held in Turkistan under the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development” demonstrated that the future competitiveness of our region will increasingly depend on innovation, technology and digital transformation. In this sense, the organization is already adapting its agenda to new global realities.
Overall, I believe that Azerbaijan’s chairmanship demonstrated that the OTS is becoming a stronger, more coordinated and result-oriented organization. The organization is increasingly focusing on institutional development, technology and practical cooperation.
President Ilham Aliyev’s commitment to the idea of Turkic unity creates a solid foundation for the OTS
At the same time, it is important to emphasize that the strong political will of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and his personal commitment to the idea of Turkic unity create a solid foundation for the further strengthening of the OTS. It is worth recalling what President Ilham Aliyev said during the inauguration ceremony held on February 14, 2024: “The Organization of Turkic States is the main international organization for us because it is our family. We have no other family. Our family is the Turkic world.” I believe these words clearly reflect Azerbaijan’s long-term vision and its determination to strengthen the OTS and further increase its role and influence in the international arena.
Turkistan Summit demonstrated the OTS’s development in recent years
- How can the results of the Informal Summit of the Heads of State of the OTS held in Turkistan be assessed?
- As I mentioned in my answer to the previous question, the Informal Summit held in Turkistan demonstrated in many ways how far the Organization of Turkic States has progressed in recent years. The most striking point was the atmosphere of unity and strategic understanding among the leaders. It is becoming increasingly clear that Turkic states are connected not only by shared history and culture, but are also becoming closer in their visions for the future.
The focus on the topic of artificial intelligence and digital development was a particularly timely and well-chosen approach. It reflects the realities of a rapidly changing global environment in which digital transformation, innovation, connectivity and sustainable development are becoming decisive factors for competitiveness and resilience. In this context, the leaders once again reaffirmed their commitment to the goals of the “Turkic World Vision–2040” document and the strengthening of cooperation in future-oriented fields.
In terms of outcomes, the Summit was remembered for concrete and significant decisions. These include the adoption of the Turkistan Declaration and important decisions aimed at further strengthening the institutional and digital capacities of the OTS Secretariat. These steps are not merely procedural in nature – they represent a clear transition toward a more efficient, flexible and implementation-oriented Organization.
Turkic Civilization Center will serve the preservation of common heritage
The opening of the “Turkic Civilization Center” in Turkistan also became an equally important event. This initiative adds a new dimension to our cultural and civilizational cooperation. The project is not only symbolic in nature, but also aims to preserve, unite and promote our common heritage in a modern and internationally visible format.
Overall, the Turkistan Summit was remembered as a successful and influential meeting. It strengthened political dialogue at the highest level, ensured concrete institutional progress and once again confirmed that the OTS is a dynamic and increasingly influential platform for cooperation in the Turkic world.
Security and new technologies have become key directions of the OTS agenda
- How is the OTS responding to modern challenges, especially in the fields of security, defense and new technologies, and what practical initiatives are being prepared to strengthen cooperation among member states?
- In recent years, cooperation in the fields of security, defense and new technologies has become an increasingly important and natural part of the agenda of the Organization of Turkic States. This development reflects broader changes taking place in the international and regional environment. Traditional security challenges are now closely linked with cyber threats, technological competition and rapid digital transformation.
Gabala Summit demonstrated the importance of security cooperation
This development is clearly reflected in key strategic documents such as the “Turkic World Vision–2040” and the OTS Strategy for 2022–2026. Both documents emphasize the importance of deeper coordination in political, security and technological fields. This approach is also reflected in practice, including at the highest political level. The OTS Summit held in Gabala in October 2025 under the theme “Regional peace and security” demonstrated how central security cooperation has already become on the Organization’s agenda.
At the same time, it is important to note that our understanding of security today goes beyond traditional dimensions and also includes digital resilience and technological sovereignty. A clear example of this shift was the Informal Summit held in Turkistan on May 15, 2026, dedicated to artificial intelligence and digital development. This meeting confirmed that a common understanding has emerged among member states that artificial intelligence and digital transformation are now directly linked to economic competitiveness, governance efficiency and long-term security.
A multi-level system of security consultations has been formed within the OTS
In parallel, a multi-level system of political and security consultations ensuring continuous communication among member states has been established. This includes regular meetings held at the level of heads of state and government, foreign ministers, presidential advisers and deputy ministers. This format ensures both strategic alignment and operational coordination on emerging issues.
Alongside this political framework, more specialized cooperation formats are also taking shape. These include meetings of National Security Councils, defense industry institutions and special service agencies. Although the OTS is not a military alliance, these mechanisms clearly demonstrate that a more structured and predictable security dialogue is being formed.
Cybersecurity has become one of the most dynamic and rapidly developing directions of this agenda. As digital transformation accelerates, cyber resilience is now directly linked to national security, economic stability and institutional trust. In this regard, Kazakhstan’s initiative to establish a Cybersecurity Council within the OTS framework is an important and timely step. Work is currently underway on a Memorandum of Understanding that will formalize this cooperation.
The next meeting on the defense industry will be held in Baku
We are also observing growing practical cooperation in the fields of the defense industry and security-related technologies. Following the first meeting of the Heads of Defense Industry Institutions held in Istanbul in July 2025, the next meeting will be held in Baku in 2026 and will be dedicated to defense production and technological cooperation. In addition, the upcoming meeting of the secretaries of the Security Councils will further strengthen coordination on strategic security issues.
One of the important points is that this agenda is being shaped by the concrete initiatives of member states. President Ilham Aliyev’s call for further strengthening unity among Turkic states, including cooperation in defense and military-technical fields, opens new practical opportunities. These include the proposal to hold joint military exercises in Azerbaijan in 2026. At the same time, Uzbekistan’s proposal to institutionalize regular consultations between foreign ministers and heads of special service agencies, as well as Kyrgyzstan’s initiative to create a law enforcement cooperation mechanism to combat terrorism, extremism, cyber threats and transnational crime, demonstrate a common will aimed at making cooperation more structured and practical. During his speech at the Turkistan Summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also called on Turkic states to further strengthen cooperation in the defense industry and emphasized the importance of deeper coordination in this direction. This call is in line with the overall activities being carried out to expand practical cooperation among member states. This also includes preparations for the meeting of the secretaries of the Security Councils expected to be held in Baku in September.
Overall, the process we are observing is a gradual but clear institutional transformation. Security, defense, cybersecurity, and new technologies are becoming closely interconnected areas of the OTS agenda. We are moving from fragmented consultations toward a more unified system of cooperation that combines political dialogue, practical mechanisms, and future-oriented digital initiatives.
- At what stage is the institutionalization process within the OTS currently?
- I would say that the institutionalization process of the Organization of Turkic States has already reached a mature and highly dynamic stage. Today, the OTS is a clear example of how the idea of cooperation can gradually evolve into a practical and functioning international structure.
If we look at this process, everything began with the Nakhchivan Agreement in 2009. At that time, the foundation for structured cooperation was laid. Since then, step by step, we have transformed from a conceptual framework into a full-fledged international organization with its own institutions, mechanisms, and operational agenda.
Undoubtedly, the main turning point was the Istanbul Summit held in 2021. During that Summit, the Council was transformed into an Organization. This step provided us with a solid institutional foundation and enabled the transition toward more systematic and long-term cooperation.
Today, the OTS has become a broad platform covering around 60 areas of cooperation, ranging from economy, trade, agriculture, transport, and tourism to education, science, culture, the digital economy, green energy, and even the space sector. This shows that our agenda has truly become comprehensive and future-oriented.
At the same time, the region itself possesses significant potential. Approximately 175 million people live here, and the combined GDP exceeds 2.4 trillion US dollars. We are also witnessing steady growth in economic relations and trade turnover among member and observer states.
An important point is that the focus today is shifting from declarations to implementation. Concrete instruments such as the Turkic Investment Fund, the Trade Facilitation Committee, and the TURAN Special Economic Zone are already contributing to real economic cooperation and joint projects. At the same time, efforts are underway during Kazakhstan’s chairmanship to further strengthen the institutional structure of the Union of Turkic Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The goal is to increase efficiency and coordination.
An initiative has also been proposed to establish the Coordination Committee of Turkic Cooperation Organizations in order to prevent duplication and improve the alignment of activities. This is an important step toward better coordination across various platforms.
Noticeable progress is also being observed in the fields of connectivity and transport. The development of the Middle Corridor is significantly improving links between Asia and Europe, while digital solutions such as eTIR help simplify and accelerate cross-border procedures.
Digital Economy Partnership strengthens coordination against new risks
At the same time, cooperation in the fields of digitalization and security continues to expand steadily. This includes initiatives such as the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement and the Civil Protection Mechanism for Emergencies. These initiatives are aimed at strengthening coordination in responding to emergencies and new types of risks.
The people-to-people dimension of our cooperation is equally important. Education, culture, and tourism continue to play a key role in strengthening mutual understanding. Initiatives such as the “Modern Silk Road,” “Tabarruk Pilgrimage,” “Tourism Capital of the Turkic World,” and the Union of Turkic Ski Resorts increase the region’s visibility and connectivity. Academic cooperation is also deepening through platforms such as TURKUNIB (Union of Turkic Universities). This platform brings together more than 180 universities with the active participation of higher education institutions such as the Khoja Ahmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University.
At the same time, political and security coordination among the Turkic states is also strengthening year by year. Against the backdrop of changing regional and global challenges, member states have developed closer consultation and coordination mechanisms. Strategic documents such as the “Turkic World Vision–2040,” the OTS Strategy, the Astana Act, and the Charter of the Turkic World serve as important guiding frameworks for this cooperation.
Perhaps the most significant development in this regard is the growing mutual trust and solidarity among our leaders. Regular high-level Summit meetings have enabled continuous consultations on both bilateral and multilateral issues. This has significantly strengthened political trust and further reinforced the sense of common direction in the Turkic world.
The OTS has already moved beyond being merely a dialogue platform
Thus, the overall picture is clear: the OTS has already moved beyond the stage of being merely a dialogue platform. Today, it is transforming into a structured integration process with growing institutional capabilities and regional-international significance. For the first time in history, the Turkic states have created an international organization with its own identity, values, and continuously developing implementation capacity.
Photo - Rufat Mustafayev ©️ APA GROUP
