‘Organization of Turkic States has become body of global stature’
OTS aims to establish strong political partnerships between member countries, says deputy secretary general
ANKARA
The Organization of Turkic States (OTS), an international body of growing global visibility, operates in over 20 areas of cooperation in order to bring the Turkic world closer together, said the group's deputy secretary general.
Omer Kocaman told Anadolu Agency that the organization aims to establish strong political partnerships between its member countries while economically benefiting from the rich potential and connectivity advantages of Turkic countries.
The organization aims "to guarantee the continuity of an environment of stability and trust in our countries and regions geopolitically," he said.
Formed in 2009, the Organization of Turkic States promotes cooperation among Turkic-speaking states, including member states Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan, with Hungary and Turkmenistan as observers.
Leaders of the member countries as well as Hungary are set to attend the organization’s summit in the Uzbek city of Samarkand on Nov. 11.
"We are very pleased with the organization's expansion and strengthening with Uzbekistan, Hungary and Turkmenistan joining our organization," Kocaman noted.
Saying that Turkic states are working under one entity for the first time in history, Kocaman underlined there are new challenges that the world, including Turkic states, face.
"Multipolarity, which has become more dominant in the international system, causes intense competition between the great powers and decreases predictability while causing the trust-based atmosphere to deteriorate and increasing the risk of conflicts in our region," he said.
Kocaman noted that the COVID-19 pandemic left a great economic burden on countries across the globe, adding "food and water shortages, famine, the rise in energy prices, global warming, mass migrations, social inequality and discrimination are also threats and challenges that have serious consequences."
He emphasized the necessity of further cooperation and coordination between Turkic states in the face of global challenges and threats.
- Vision document
Citing the Turkic World's 2040 Vision document agreed on by Turkic states' leaders during the summit held last year in Istanbul, Kocaman said "important decisions in the field of security cooperation are included in the vision document and in the Istanbul Summit Declaration, as it also embraces cooperation in all areas."
"There is a strong need for Turkish geopolitics in the world today in order for the comprehensive economic and commercial relations between Europe and Asia to continue stably, for the geography of Eurasia not to become a region of competition between the great powers, and for eliminating important instabilities such as terrorism and migration that may spread to the world from regional countries such as Afghanistan," he added.
He further noted that "strong Turkic states mean a stable and prosperous Asia and Europe."
On the Trans-Caspian East-West Middle Corridor, Kocaman said it is becoming the safest and fastest trade route between Europe and Asia.
"The war between Russia and Ukraine has proven the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor, not only for our countries, but for the entire Eurasian continent. The Middle Corridor is also of increasing importance in terms of Europe's sustainable energy supply," he noted.
The Middle Corridor is a network of railways and roads that start in Türkiye and cover Georgia, Azerbaijan, the Caspian Sea and Central Asia to reach China, making it an important effort to revive the ancient Silk Road.
Kocaman said he believes the organization will continue to strengthen its relations with member states and international institutions.
"We will continue to strengthen our efforts in this regard," he added.
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