[Nations like Afghanistan, Cyprus, Finland, Georgia, Mongolia and Ukraine (through Crimea) are also frequently referenced as being part of the Turkic world. See this from a year ago today: Post-war triumphalism: 22-nation “Turkic world” sets sites on Cyprus, land “stolen” by Soviet Union ]

Azeri Press Agency
November 11, 2022

OTS on the way to become a global power: What Ilham Aliyev said 13 years ago come true – analysis

The Organization of Turkic States (OTS), which unites eight states (five members and three observers), has already become a serious international power.

Considering that the Turkic world covers a vast geography inhabited by more than 200 million people, it is not difficult to imagine how great results the integration and unity of this big family can bring. Azerbaijan also closely participated in the establishment of this global organization and has an important share and has always tried to unite the Turkic world. In this regard, we can say that the Organization of Turkic states has passed a great path of development, starting the Nakhchivan Summit on October 3, 2009. During that Summit, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, delivered a programmatic speech calling for further strengthening of the unity of Turkic-speaking peoples and states and joint action on international platforms.

[From 2009] “We want the unity between the Turkic-speaking peoples and countries to be even stronger….Because Turkic-speaking countries have all the opportunities – natural resources, oil and gas fields, favorable geographical situations, strong economies, people’s talent, and existing new infrastructure. If we collect and concentrate all these opportunities, Turkic-speaking countries will become a great power on a global scale,” the President said in his speech.

President Ilham Aliyev’s visionary views are being implemented 13 years later.

[T]he activity of the Turkish world as a single family, as a single force, has been stopped for decades. However, we are strengthening this connection with the decisions and steps taken today. It is true that, from the geographical point of view, today the ancient land of Azerbaijan, which is now part of Armenia, is located between us – the Zangazur region….”

In recent years, the strengthening of relations with the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States in all fields has been one of the main priorities of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. The problems of our compatriots living outside the borders of the Turkish states of Azerbaijan have already started to be brought to the agenda of the organization….

“The Turkic world does not consist of independent Turkic states only, its geographical boundaries are broader. I believe that the time has come to permanently keep in mind, within the framework of the organization, issues such as preventing the assimilation and protecting the rights, security, and national identity of our compatriots living beyond the countries that are members of the Organization of Turkic States.

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[I]t should be noted that the Turkic world does not consist of only independent Turkic states, its geographical boundaries are wider. This wide geography includes Russia, China, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Balkan countries.

One of the important missions of the OTS is related to the road leading from cooperation to integration. The intensifying integration process between the Turkic states can be clearly seen from the policies of Turkiye and Azerbaijan. A clear sample of the Azerbaijan-Turkiye brotherhood, one of the examples showing that the countries work for a fully coordinated and unified goal in foreign policy, shows itself in the construction and restoration works in Karabakh and East Zangezur, which Azerbaijan liberated….An example of this is 3 visits of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the liberated territories and visited Shusha, Fuzuli, Zangilan, and Jabrayil. Azerbaijan invites the heads of the other Turkic states to Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur and tries to further deepen the existing relations,

…In his speech at today’s summit, the Azerbaijani leader once again emphasized the importance of the cooperation of the Turkish states in various fields: “The Turkic world covers a vast geography inhabited by more than 200 million people and has great economic potential, energy resources, transportation routes, and advanced military capabilities. The Turkic world is a large family….”

….Awarding President Ilham Aliyev with an order for the liberation of Karabakh, in Istanbul last year, is a sign of the Turkic world’s assessment of the activities of the President of Azerbaijan, and respect for him as Commander-in-Chief of the victorious country.

Alongside military, and political prestige, Azerbaijan’s economic power in the Turkic world, including in the world is not denied. Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban expressing gratitude to Azerbaijan for providing alternative energy to Europe proves it. In that difficult period, when the Russian-Ukrainian war continues, high-ranking officials of the European Union and experts admit that Azerbaijani gas is the only alternative source for Europe and the importance of Azerbaijan’s role in ensuring the energy security of Europe.

Samarkand IX Summit once again showed that Azerbaijan is successfully advancing along the path it has taken together with other Turkish states, this cooperation format founded in Nakhchivan 13 years ago further strengthens and expands, and OTS is rapidly turning into a regional and international power.