The Azerbaijani city of Gabala has become the diplomatic center of the Turkic world this week as it hosts the 12th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).
Leaders and top officials from across the Turkic world – including the presidents of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, as well as the prime minister of Hungary and foreign ministers of Turkey and other member states – have gathered to discuss regional peace, unity, and strategic cooperation.
Summit of unity and strategy
The summit, themed “Regional Peace and Security,” aims to define the future strategic goals of the Turkic world and establish new mechanisms for joint action. Heads of state and government are expected to review progress since the previous meeting and adopt the Declaration of the 12th OTS Summit. At the conclusion of the gathering, Azerbaijan will assume the chairmanship of the Organization from Kyrgyzstan.
High-level arrivals and meetings
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan arrived in Gabala to a ceremonial welcome at the city’s international airport, where he was greeted by Azerbaijani Culture Minister Adil Karimli and other officials.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, representing an observer state, also met with President Ilham Aliyev. The two discussed cooperation in energy, agriculture, investment, and tourism, as well as the participation of Hungarian companies in the reconstruction of the liberated village of Soltanli in Jabrayil.
Statements of solidarity
Following his meeting with President Aliyev, Binali Yıldırım, Chairman of the OTS Council of Elders, praised Azerbaijan’s leadership and hospitality, noting that “the unity and brotherhood of our nations are a driving force for both regional and global development.”
Similarly, President Ersin Tatar of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus said relations between his country and Azerbaijan would continue to strengthen “in the spirit of one nation,” describing their cooperation as a guarantee of unity and shared destiny.
Diplomacy in motion
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrived in Azerbaijan for a two-day visit, attending the OTS Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in preparation for the summit. Speaking to reporters, Fidan expressed pride in hosting Turkic leaders in Gabala, calling the city “a symbol of the Turkic world’s beauty and strength.”
“Strong state alliances contribute to the stability of our organization,” Fidan said. “We hope to see a Turkic world that is increasingly resilient to global crises.”
Fidan also met with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov to discuss regional cooperation in security, defense, trade, energy, and transport, reaffirming that solidarity within the OTS remains a strategic priority for both nations.
