BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 17. Through joint efforts, we must ensure that the OTS plays an even greater role in international affairs, in matters related to international security, international trade, energy security and transport connectivity. All of this is in our hands, President Ilham Aliyev said as he received security officials of OTS member states.
Speech by President Ilham Aliyev
- Salam. Today, Baku is hosting another event within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States. Just a couple of days ago, I received religious leaders representing our countries. Today, the secretaries of the security councils of the organization have gathered in Baku for the 5th meeting of their council. All of this is evidence of active interaction within our organization and demonstrates that the Organization of Turkic States is an entity with very high international standing. The issues discussed in various formats encompass international affairs, international security, multiculturalism, trade, transport, and humanitarian cooperation as a whole. Therefore, it can be said with confidence that, after nearly twenty years of operation and following the historic summit in Nakhchivan in 2009, when the organization was established, the Organization of Turkic States is making the most effective use of its potential to address key issues, foster interaction among member states, and define and strengthen the organization’s position on the international stage. We all share an interest in this. The overall sentiment among the leaders of the member states is specifically aimed at strengthening the role and position of the OTS on the international stage. All the necessary capabilities are there for this. The potential of our countries is quite substantial and continues to grow. We are located across a vast geographical expanse. Crucial energy and transport routes and corridors pass through our territories, playing an important role today not only for our countries, but also for the broader region. To the west and east of the OTS region, our organization is being closely watched with great interest as it strengthens its positive role in international affairs, including in matters related to connectivity, transport security, energy security, and security in general. Therefore, I am confident that these issues will also be discussed at today’s council meeting, because today, without energy security and transport connectivity, it is virtually impossible to speak about overall security.
Our countries possess extensive natural resources, which is also a major advantage. These natural resources serve to strengthen our states, enhance the well-being of our peoples, and play an important role for the entire world. Especially in today’s environment unfolding along the perimeter of our borders, issues related to energy security acquire particular significance.
As for Azerbaijan, we are both suppliers of energy resources to the global economy and transit countries for energy resources from the countries of Central Asia, across the Caspian Sea, and onward to international markets. Thus, Azerbaijan’s geographical position—situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and maintaining active interaction both with the Central Asian member states of the OTS and with Türkiye—naturally underlines the role we play in implementing transport and energy security projects to the maximum benefit of all our countries.
I must also note that, in a bilateral format, Azerbaijan actively cooperates with the member states of the OTS. My numerous visits to the member countries of the organization and the visits of the heads of OTS states to Azerbaijan stand as clear evidence of this. Furthermore, Azerbaijan has signed declarations and treaties on allied relations with Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. This represents the highest level of bilateral interaction, and these agreements are being successfully implemented.
With Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, we have established joint investment funds, and an active process of attracting and mobilizing mutual investments is underway. In other words, our country’s bilateral agenda is primarily focused on the Turkic world. This is our main foreign policy priority, as I have repeatedly stated in my public speeches. I have also said that the Turkic world is our family, and we have no other family.
Another advantage of our organization is that it brings together countries with common ethnic roots. There are not many organizations of this kind in the world. If you look at the list of international organizations, it is rare to find a similar example. This is an important factor in consolidation, because not only economic and political interests, but also people-to-people ties and relations among the peoples of our countries, play an important role in strengthening our cooperation. Thus, this spiritual affinity, similarity of cultures and languages, and common ethnic roots all bind our organization together and give it particular significance.
Another key factor behind the successful development of the OTS is that, in today’s turbulent world, as it is often described, stability, peace and security prevail across the territories of our countries. In today’s political and foreign policy realities, this is an important factor for development, because it is well known that no country can develop without stability and security. Neither investment, technology nor innovation will come to a country if there is no stability or political and economic security there. Therefore, today this is also a key factor that distinguishes our countries from many of the surrounding regions where we are located.
Our countries are also demonstrating strong economic growth, especially at a time when we see opposite trends occurring in various parts of the globe: stagnation, economic decline and other economic and social difficulties – these are, by and large, the realities of the modern world today. However, across the OTS space, we observe positive dynamics: growth in industrial production, strong economic performance and stable financial systems. All of this is also a major achievement of our countries and of the policies pursued in our states at the government level.
And, of course, it is also very important to highlight another commonality between our countries and peoples: our commitment to our moral and national principles. In our countries, national principles and the principles of national identity prevail over other principles that are sometimes attempted to be imposed on us from outside. It is equally essential that the younger generations in our countries be raised in the spirit of patriotism and devotion to national principles and our moral values. In this context, this is a major area where the OTS should work actively, including through initiatives related to youth policy.
Furthermore, the fact that the population of our countries is young and the demographic situation is positive is also an advantage, because we see what is happening in many countries where populations are rapidly shrinking. Some nations are already sounding the alarm that if this continues, their populations will drop to critical levels. In our countries, the opposite process is taking place – population growth. Yes, at a certain stage, this can lead to certain economic and even social challenges if it is not supported by an active economic policy, including the creation of social infrastructure and more jobs. But in our countries, we see that economic growth and issues related to social well-being are being addressed very successfully.
As you know, I frequently visit OTS member states; just last month, I visited Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and I often visit Türkiye and Turkmenistan. Therefore, I personally witness the positive transformations taking place across the OTS region. All of this brings me a sense of joy and pride in our brothers.
And, of course, the main topic you will be discussing concerns security system, which requires constant attention. Once again, the advantage of our countries is that across this vast geography, the situation regarding public order and various terrorist threats remains under control, but that does not mean we should let down our guard. Wars are raging around us, and there is no end in sight to these conflicts. The geography of the wars is expanding. Mutual hostility between the warring parties is taking on a pronounced character. All of this can lead, and in fact is leading, to the expansion of conflict zones along the perimeter of our countries. In our case, speaking of Azerbaijan, our neighbors to both the north and the south are warring nations. In this context, issues related to regional security naturally become of paramount importance.
Without this, as I have already said, there can be no talk of any development. In this context, coordination between the services responsible for state security is extremely important. Information sharing, exchange of operational information, joint action, and strengthening coordination in countering – and, most importantly, preventing – potential threats are, I believe, vital for all of us. I am confident that within the framework of the council meeting in Baku, all these issues will be discussed, but they are also under the constant supervision of the leadership of our countries.
As you know, summits of the Organization of Turkic States are held on a regular basis. On Azerbaijan's initiative, we have recently begun holding informal summits as well, because we felt that meeting once a year at the head-of-state level in this format was not enough. Although, as I said, each of our countries has a fairly active bilateral agenda with fellow member states, we gather together only once a year, and we considered that insufficient. Our colleagues supported this, and the first informal summit was held in Shusha, followed by others in other states.
So, at the leadership level, there is a shared understanding of our common interests and plans, the implementation of which, again, will largely depend on how well our countries are protected from existing and potential threats.
As for the fact that today's threats are not only physical but also ideological, I believe there is no need to elaborate on this; we are all well aware of it. In order to ensure the steady development of our countries and the protection of the constitutional order, it is necessary to jointly fight against all types of ideological subversion aimed at our countries and peoples. This includes subversion carried out through various media outlets, which are usually located far beyond our borders but, for some reason, receive funding from well-known centers. This funding is directed at undermining our statehood, disrupting social cohesion, and imposing alien narratives and values. In Azerbaijan, we are actively fighting against this, and I must say that we have achieved significant results.
Traitorous, anti-national and corrupt structures in Azerbaijan are, in essence, extremely marginalized. Most importantly, they are condemned by the absolute majority of our people. This is because commitment to spiritual values, traditions, and our way of life is the mainstream and dominant trend in Azerbaijan. Anything that attempts to harm this is received extremely negatively by our society. However, this does not mean that our work is complete, as attempts to destabilize our countries will continue.
I am confident that each of you knows the situation in your respective countries very well. Naturally, conditions are not identical in all our countries, but the methods used by certain international centers to subvert the state interests of our nations remain unchanged. Their approaches and attempts to achieve their goals are quite standardized – I would even say primitive. So, I would say our detractors lack creativity. Of course, they focus the bulk of their efforts on the younger generation – a generation that has not yet fully taken shape, is still in the process of formation, and is therefore much easier to manipulate. That is why I say that while active youth policies are being pursued across our countries, I believe that within the OTS framework, we should pay even greater attention to fostering interaction among our youth organizations. We should host regular events, forums, and conferences so that our young citizens can communicate with one another. They must feel toward fraternal peoples as our generation does. We must pass this on to them through our example, through successful work, by strengthening our organization, and through proper ideological guidance.
Thus, the tasks facing you as heads of the security councils of your countries are naturally quite extensive. I believe that during this 5th meeting, there will be a valuable exchange of information and experience. It will be useful to see where our vulnerabilities lie – where there are so-called gaps through which alien elements attempt to penetrate and harm us.
And I will conclude with one last point. For most OTS member states, their modern statehood spans only 35 years. This is not counting, of course, our ancient history – ancient states existed on our territories, our peoples possess a rich tradition of statehood, and we are rightfully proud of it. But as for the recent period, 1991 was the year Azerbaijan regained its statehood. Naturally, this is a factor we must keep in mind. Not much time has passed since Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan regained their independence, but this period has been both challenging and honorable. Every country faced its own difficulties, Azerbaijan faced its own, but we all emerged with honor from the most demanding trials. Today, we have essentially left most of those challenges behind – when I say challenges, I mean the major global problems that faced us. Ahead of us lies joint work, stronger cooperation, even closer ties between our countries and peoples, and the enhancement of the OTS's role on the international stage. Through joint efforts, we must strive to transform the OTS into one of the leading international institutions and organizations. The points I have outlined clearly demonstrate that we have every opportunity to achieve this.
I wish you productive work, welcome you to Azerbaijan, and say to you: Welcome!
