03 November 2023

The President of Uzbekistan made important initiatives at the summit of OTS

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who is in Astana on a working visit, took part in the next meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States, the press service of the head of our state reports.

The event, chaired by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, was also attended by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, the Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, as well as the Secretary General of the OTS Kubanychbek Omuraliev.

In accordance with the agenda, an exchange of views took place on the state and prospects of multifaceted relations within the framework of the OTS, and current issues of practical interaction were discussed.

In his speech, the President of Uzbekistan emphasized that in the current rapidly changing times, the voice of the Turkic peoples, inextricably linked by language, religion and spiritual values, sounds even louder and stronger throughout the world. The organization occupies an increasingly important place in the new world order and system of international institutions that are emerging today.

At the same time, the head of state pointed to emerging new problems in ensuring global security and increasing cases of deviations from international law.

Particular concern has been expressed by the recent exacerbation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. As a result of armed clashes, the number of deaths and injuries among civilians, especially the elderly, women and children, increases sharply, and the threat of a widespread escalation of the conflict increases.

In this regard, the leader of Uzbekistan called on the conflicting parties for an immediate ceasefire and military operations, and to reach a truce for humanitarian purposes. Uzbekistan’s firm position on the need to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli problem on the basis of the principle of “two states for two peoples” in accordance with UN resolutions was voiced.

Speaking about Uzbekistan’s cooperation with the OTS countries, the head of state noted with satisfaction the establishment of strategic partnership relations by our country with all members of the Organization. Important documents signed at the Samarkand summit last year are being consistently implemented.

During the period of Uzbekistan’s chairmanship in the OTS, more than 100 different events were held aimed at strengthening cooperation between the Turkic countries, important initiatives were put forward, new structures were created, and close partnerships were established with a number of authoritative global and regional structures.

In order to further expand multilateral and long-term ties between the member states of the Organization, the President of Uzbekistan put forward a number of proposals and initiatives.

In particular, it was proposed to develop, with the involvement of leading scientists and experts, a Charter of the Turkic World, which would reflect the unity and cohesion of the Turkic peoples, their great past, rich culture and ancestral values.

In order to strengthen industrial cooperation and implement large joint investment projects, the importance of intensifying work on the creation of the Turkic Development Bank with the location of this financial institution in Tashkent was pointed out.

Having fully supported the practical work on organizing the Research Center for Trade Cooperation of Turkic States, the President of Uzbekistan drew attention to the need to effectively use its capabilities to eliminate barriers to trade, widely introduce new mechanisms for increasing export and import volumes, and develop e-commerce platforms.

The relevance of the development and diversification of global logistics chains and transport corridors and the formation of a unified transit network was emphasized. In this context, the head of state supported measures to expand the potential of the Middle Corridor, the development of additional multi-sectoral directions, in particular, corridors passing through the OTS countries to the markets of China, South Asia and Europe, as well as the digitalization of transport services.

It was also proposed to establish a Council of Railway Departments of the Organization and locate the directorate of this structure in Uzbekistan.

In order to strengthen cooperation in the field of ecology, the creation of a permanent Turkic Environmental Forum was initiated at the ministerial level.

The leader of Uzbekistan emphasized that creatively thinking, talented and purposeful youth will build a new Renaissance of the Turkic world in the future. To support and stimulate initiative young men and women who strive for everything new, it is proposed to open a Center for Creative Youth of the Turkic World in Uzbekistan.

Noting the importance of an in-depth study of the scientific and creative heritage of the Jadids, the President of Uzbekistan invited representatives of the OTS countries to actively participate in the international conference “Jadids: national identity, ideas of independence and statehood”, which will be held in Uzbekistan in December this year.

In the final part of the speech, the head of Uzbekistan drew the attention of those present to the situation of the multinational and long-suffering people of Afghanistan, whose history and fate have been inextricably linked with the Turkic peoples for thousands of years.

The leader of our country called not to reduce humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, and also to develop specific mechanisms aimed at solving acute social problems in this country.

The heads of delegations of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Hungary, Turkmenistan, as well as the Secretary General of the Organization also spoke at the meeting.

As a result of the summit, a number of agreements and decisions were adopted on priority areas of interaction within the framework of the OTS.

The chairmanship of the Organization passed to the Republic of Kazakhstan.