BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 3. Azerbaijan’s chairmanship in the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is proceeding at a high level, Secretary-General of OTS, Kubanychbek Omuraliev, told Trend in an exclusive interview following the meeting of heads of government and vice presidents of the OTS member states in Baku.
“The meeting of heads of government and vice presidents of the OTS member states is practically a new mechanism for us. The first such meeting took place last year in Bishkek,” he noted.
He further emphasized that cooperation among OTS countries has been steadily strengthening in recent years. Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev highlighted that the Organization now operates 58 cooperation mechanisms spanning a wide range of fields, from culture, youth policy, and tourism to foreign policy, economy, customs, and even the space sector.
“While these mechanisms have significantly advanced our cooperation, the active engagement of Heads of Government further enhances their overall effectiveness. In this context, we introduced this format last year. It not only strengthens coordination and interaction among our countries, but also contributes to the more effective implementation of the decisions adopted by our Heads of State, while facilitating closer follow-up on their execution,” he added.
The Secretary General noted that this format allows the OTS to monitor decisions and ensures that initiatives are implemented efficiently across member states. It has strengthened coordination and accountability at the highest levels.
“At one stage, Kazakhstan put forward an initiative on the liberalization of trade in services and investments, and work in this direction is currently progressing actively. As all decisions within our organization are taken by consensus. The presence of different economic frameworks – such as the membership of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) – may naturally require careful coordination of interests. In this regard, it remains important to continue advancing this initiative in a constructive and inclusive manner. Its realization would make a meaningful contribution to increasing trade volumes and facilitating the freer movement of investments, goods and services within the Turkic region,” Kubanychbek Omuraliev said.
He highlighted that economic integration within the OTS remains a priority, even when some members have overlapping commitments with other regional organizations.
“The Turkic Investment Fund, established three years ago, has made steady progress in finalizing its organizational and technical arrangements and has already begun reviewing potential projects. Financing will begin in the near future. Its main goal is to provide support to small and medium-sized businesses. Moreover, economic development is impossible without developing transport and logistics infrastructure, so the investment fund pays special attention to these areas,” he added.
Kubanychbek Omuraliev emphasized that supporting SMEs and infrastructure projects is critical for sustainable growth and long-term economic stability across the region.
“Azerbaijan is one of the founding members of our organization, standing at its origins. Moreover, the organization itself was founded in Nakhchivan. Azerbaijan’s chairmanship in the OTS is proceeding at a high level. In October last year, the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of States of the OTS was successfully held in Gabala under the theme “Regional Peace and Security”. In today’s evolving global context, issues related to security continue to hold particular importance. In this regard, all our Member and Observer States are actively engaging and cooperating to further strengthen coordination and dialogue,” he noted.
He stressed that Azerbaijan has played an important role in advancing OTS initiatives, particularly in strengthening regional security and fostering coordination among Member States.
“The Informal Summit of the OTS Member States will be held on May 15 in Turkestan, Kazakhstan. Türkiye will soon announce the venue and date of the 13th Summit. An OTS-related event is also planned as part of the World Urban Forum in Baku. As we have a memorandum of understanding with UN-Habitat, we will actively take part in the Forum,” Kubanychbek Omuraliev said.
He added that the organization has been engaged with UN-Habitat projects, reflecting its ongoing commitment to urban development initiatives.
“We are a unique organization built on a shared history, culture, heritage, language, as well as deep-rooted values. This strong foundation enables us to maintain a high level of mutual understanding and solidarity. While each of our Member States pursues its own national priorities, we continue to engage in close coordination and constructive dialogue in foreign policy and other areas. In this spirit of cooperation, our partnership remains characterized by unity, trust and brotherhood,” Kubanychbek Omuraliev emphasized.
He concluded by underscoring the central importance of both economic cooperation and security for the OTS. “The economy remains a key pillar for our continued development and prosperity. At the same time, security issues continue to hold a prominent place on our common agenda. Guided by our motto, ‘Together we are Stronger’, we remain committed to advancing our cooperation in a spirit of unity and solidarity,” he stated.