2022 Organization of Turkic States Summit

The meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States Summit was held on November 11, 2022 in Samarkand amid increasingly frequent statements from the European Union and the United States America that the countries of Central Asia should get rid of the influence of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China.

Prior to the summit, negotiations were held between the Ministers of Economy of the Member States, discussing the creation of the Turkic Investment Fund, the opening of joint trading houses and the formation of the special economic zone “TURANCEZ”. Meetings were also held between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Member States

The summit was chaired ин the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The summit was held under the slogan: “A new era of Turkic civilization: Towards Common Development and Prosperity.”

The Organization of Turkic States, formerly known as the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (Turkic Council), was established on October 3, 2009. The members of the Organization of Turkic States are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan. Hungary and Turkmenistan have observer status.

The summit was also attended by the leaders of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TÜRKSOY), the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic Speaking Countries (TURKPA), the International Turkic Academy of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation

The President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev began a meeting of the Council of Heads of State. He welcomed the guests and delivered a speech. In his speech, he mentioned the issues concerned, spoke about the goals and prospects for expanding cooperation between the Turkic countries.

Highlights from speech of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev

• Strengthening the bases of trade and economic cooperation;
• Proposed to hold annually the Turkic Economic Forum in the format of the state and business in order to ensure its single promotion of trade and investment;
• Expansion of transit corridors and creation of transport infrastructure;
• Ensuring access to the foreign market and the creation of an efficient food supply system;
• Build partnerships with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations;
• Regularly hold the Turkic Agro Forum and organize an international exhibition of agriculture;

Highlights from speech of the President of the Republic Turkey Recep Tayyip

• Proposed the establishment of an Investment Fund;
• Implementation of joint energy projects;
• Turkey is ready for active cooperation with the Turkic states in all areas;
• Expanding cooperation in the prevention and regulation of illegal migration;
• Cancellation or reduction of customs payments on the route passing through the Middle Corridor, as well as simplification of transit cargo transportation;
• Congratulated Azerbaijan on the occasion of the second anniversary of Victory in the Patriotic War.
• Highlighted that Turkey supports Azerbaijan in its aspiration for a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue;

Highlights from speech of the President of the Republic Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

• “Green economy” development;
• Development of the transport and logistics industry between countries;
• Strengthening the scientific and educational connection of the Turkic countries;
• Compliance with the Charter of the United Nations on the issue of territorial integrity;
• Proposed to create a Center for Digitalization of the Organization of Turkic States on the basis of the International Technopark “Astana Hub”;
• Proposed to create in 2023 a unified network of universities of the Turkic countries, which will allow students to study Turkic languages and get acquainted with the history and culture of the Turkic nations;

Highlights from speech of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev

• Called on countries to intensify cooperation in the field of security, defense, defense industry;
• Pay attention to the issue of human rights, security, preservation of national identity and assimilation of compatriots living outside the countries of the members of the Organization of Turkic States;
• The President of Azerbaijan invited Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States to visit the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions;

Chairman of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly said that the Samarkand summit made a significant contribution to the development of relations between the Turkish states and stressed the importance of expanding cooperation.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban noted the important role of Azerbaijan in ensuring the energy security of Europe.

The President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov said that relations with Azerbaijan are reaching a new level.

Bagdad Amreev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, said that the organization has always supported the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. And that cooperation and the political arena have developed significantly. The countries demonstrated unity in supporting Baku in the struggle for the liberation of their lands from occupation and the restoration of territorial integrity.

Summit outcomes

• A strategic plan was adopted for the next 5 years;
• The Organization of the Turkic States declared 2023 as Year of Rise of Turkic Civilization;
• Member States signed a final declaration (the Samarkand Declaration) and a number of other documents, including protocols on amending the Nakhchivan Agreement on the establishment of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States;
• Decision on the adoption of the rules of procedure for the establishment of the Turkic Investment Fund;
• The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has been granted observer status.
• Representative of Kyrgyzstan Kubanychbek Omuraliev has been appointed Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, who replaced Bagdad Amreev in this position;
• At the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, the Ali-Shir Nava’I International Prize was established. The first winner of The Ali-Shir Nava’I International Prize was the famous Kyrgyz writer Chinghiz Aitmatov in recognition of his contributions to the unity and development of the Turkic world. His award was presented to the President of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov;
• President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev awarded President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Chairman of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly with the Supreme Order of Turkic World.

Farida Musayewa is a Graduate Student in the School of Politics and International Relations at East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.