The Organization of Turkic States (OTS): security, cooperation, consolidation

It was the first summit in the status of the Organization. On November 12, 2021, in Istanbul, at the 8th Summit of the Heads of Turkic States,  it was declared the successor of the Turkic Council, established on the initiative of the President of Kazakhstan N. Nazarbayev in 2009. This reincarnation, according to the idea of ​​Turkish President Erdogan, is dictated by new challenges and the need to consolidate the Turkic states as a response.

Acquaintance with the speeches in Samarkand of the heads of the Turkic states - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, revealed the following strategic aspects of their further cooperation:

-regional security

-regional cooperation

- consolidation.

The most capacious vision of the future of the OTC was expressed by the President of Uzbekistan Shovkat Mirziyoyev, host of the summit. His theses are a reflection of the five-year “Strategy of the Organization of Turkic States for 2022-2026”, agreed by the member countries of the Organization, which was developed on the basis of the “Vision of the Turkic World - 2040” adopted last year.

The Uzbek leader proposed strengthening cooperation in the fight against terrorism, extremism, youth radicalization, human trafficking, drug trafficking, in the areas of ensuring public and cyber security.

“Today, we are all facing difficult trials associated with the growing geopolitical confrontation, the negative consequences of the global economic crisis and climate change ... The recent escalating conflicts in different parts of the world have an impact on the overall security of the Turkic world.”

The second topical aspect of the UTC is the expediency of strengthening the foundations of trade and economic cooperation at a time when mutual trade between the Turkic countries accounts for four percent of the total foreign trade. The .rest is accounted for by third countries.

In order to radically change the situation in this strategic direction, to ensure the free promotion of trade, investment and services, Mirziyoyev put forward the initiative to create within the framework of the ATG "Space of New Economic Opportunities".

“To implement this plan, I propose to hold an annual International Turkic Economic Forum with the active participation of member countries and observers of the Organization, as well as leading representatives of world business ... It is important to annually adopt road maps based on the results of these events, focused on the implementation of joint programs and projects.”

All parties supported the proposal to launch a joint investment fund, which was discussed at the last summit in Istanbul. But the idea was not realized within a year. Logistics was also named as a strategic aspect of cooperation, which provided for the formation of various transport corridors, including the Trans-Caspian International Corridor.

Mirziyoyev proposed that the transport ministers develop a detailed plan and effective mechanisms for cooperation by the end of the year based on the Program adopted today.

Focus on:

- increasing the competitiveness of transit corridors in our region,

- introduction of the most favorable tariffs for business,

- Creation of a modern transport infrastructure.

Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Uzbekistan have already agreed to create a simplified customs zone to simplify and speed up the movement of goods.

Particular attention was paid to food security, which includes three tasks:

1) creating an efficient food supply system based on the needs of the global and domestic markets, as well as the production capabilities of our countries,

2) establish a full partnership between the Organization of Turkic States and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,

3) hold annual Turkic agricultural forums.

The President of Uzbekistan called the creation of a mechanism for the implementation of agreements and decisions of the UTC the most urgent task.

Mirziyoyev proposed to unite efforts so that the Organization would work in the future on the basis of a completely new, efficient system. “To this end, we propose to carry out institutional reforms in the Organization. First of all, to create separate committees at the ministerial level in priority areas - politics and security, trade and investment, transport, agriculture, energy, information technology, tourism, innovation and education, medicine, youth and others."

Ukraine

Unlike the summits of the heads of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICMA), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which took place this year, the OTC nevertheless touched upon the topic of Ukraine.

The Prime Minister of Hungary, which regularly participates in the UTC as an observer, Viktor Orban, said that the Ukrainian war has placed a heavy burden on European countries that have suffered more from the sanctions imposed against Moscow than Russia itself.

“Hungary's goal is to establish a ceasefire in Ukraine and start peace negotiations as soon as possible. Only this can put an end to the energy crisis, the prime minister said at the UTC summit.

He expressed gratitude to Turkish President Erdogan for the successful mediation steps taken to prevent war and the resulting food crisis. He, in turn, noted that Ankara is making efforts to end hostilities by achieving a just peace.

Protection of the Turkic heritage

In this aspect, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, made a revolutionary speech. “The Turkic world consists not only of independent Turkic states, its geographical borders are wider. I believe that the time has come not to lose sight of such issues as protecting the rights, security and national identity of our compatriots living outside the countries that are members of the Organization of Turkic States, preventing their assimilation. It is time to pay attention to these issues within the organization on a permanent basis,” Aliyev said.

The younger generation in the Turkic world should be able to study in their native language in the schools of the countries where they live, the President of Azerbaijan believes. "Unfortunately, most of the 40 million Azerbaijanis living outside of Azerbaijan are deprived of these opportunities," Aliyev stressed.

“Education of our compatriots living outside the Turkic states in their native language should always be on the agenda of the organization. Necessary steps must be taken in this direction,” Aliyev continued.

Outside the OTC countries, the Turkic world extends across the territories of Iran, Afghanistan, China, Russia and other countries, and Aliyev's statement, supported by the speeches of other presidents in defense of the Turkic heritage and the preservation of Turkic identity, will have wide-ranging geopolitical consequences in the future. The first touchstone has been thrown into the world. The UTC declared 2023 the Year of the Development of the Turkic Civilization.

At the time of writing, the text of the adopted Samarkand Declaration has not been published.