The Organization of Turkic States (OTS), formerly known as the Turkic Council, is an intergovernmental body comprising key Turkic nations: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. Proposed by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2006 and officially founded on October 3, 2009, in Nakhchivan, its primary goal is fostering comprehensive cooperation among Turkic-speaking states. The General Secretariat is located in Istanbul.
Observer states include Hungary, Northern Cyprus, and Turkmenistan. In 2021, during the 8th summit in Istanbul, the council transitioned into an organization, with the name changed to the Organization of Turkic States.
Nakhchivan Agreement
The Nakhchivan Agreement, through its preamble, reiterates Member States' commitment to UN Charter principles and outlines the main objective of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS): fostering comprehensive cooperation among Turkic Speaking States and contributing to regional and global peace and stability. Member States have also affirmed their dedication to democratic values, human rights, the rule of law, and good governance.
Key purposes and tasks outlined in the Nakhchivan Agreement include:
- Strengthening mutual confidence and friendship among Member States.
- Developing common positions on foreign policy issues.
- Coordinating actions against international terrorism, separatism, extremism, and cross-border crimes.
- Promoting effective regional and bilateral cooperation in various common interest areas.
- Creating favorable conditions for trade and investment.
- Aiming for comprehensive and balanced economic growth, social and cultural development.
- Expanding interaction in science, technology, education, health, culture, sports, and tourism.
- Encouraging media interaction and communication means.
- Strengthening cooperation and integration among member states.
- Promoting the exchange of legal information and enhancing legal cooperation.
