At the initiative of Azerbaijan, the Solidarity Forum of Non-Governmental Organizations from the Member Countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was inaugurated in Baku on November 24.
The participants first visited stands showcasing cultural examples from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Hungary.
The opening ceremony featured a video highlighting the historical ties, shared values, and close cooperation among the Turkic states, visually demonstrating the development path and future prospects of these relations.
Hikmet Hajiyev, Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, read out President Ilham Aliyev’s address to the Forum participants.
In her opening address, Aygun Aliyeva, Executive Director of the Agency for State Support to NGOs, highlighted the significance of the forum, noting that the event would serve as a platform for creating new partnerships and ensuring the consistent implementation of joint projects.
Following the opening speeches, the forum featured two panel discussions.
The panel discussion titled “Zangezur Corridor: A Bridge Uniting the Turkic World” focused mainly on regional collaboration and civil society initiatives.
Özcan Aygün, Deputy Director of the Department of Civil Society Relations at Türkiye’s Ministry of Interior; Bobur Bekmurodov, Chairman of the Committee of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan; Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the Project Office of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) in Turkmenistan; István Kiss, Executive Director of the Danube Institute in Hungary; and other speakers addressed the session, highlighting the strategic importance of the Zangezur corridor for Azerbaijan, the Caucasus, and the entire Turkic world. They emphasized that the corridor would significantly contribute to strengthening economic ties, enhancing transportation routes, and ensuring lasting peace in the region.
It was noted that fostering stronger connections and joint initiatives among non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Turkic countries is vital for achieving sustainable development and protecting shared interests across the region.
Today’s discussions in Baku concluded with a cultural program.
The forum will continue its work in Nakhchivan, where a Platform of NGOs from OTS Member Countries is planned to be established. This platform will be chaired by Azerbaijan and will bring together NGOs from eight countries. Forum participants will also be invited to the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), to be held in Azerbaijan in 2026.
The event will conclude with the adoption of a joint statement.
More than 500 civil society representatives from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Hungary, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are attending the event. This is the largest forum organized by the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations.
AZERTAC