After U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier this month traveled to Central Asia to meet with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to “reduce their reliance on Russia.”
Are we to suppose these events and developments don’t occur in tandem? And that the Kremlin’s resident Turkologist, Dmitry Peskov, is not aware of the fact?

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Hürriyet Daily News
March 16, 2023

Turkic states hold key position in Europe’s energy security: Erdoğan

The Organization of Turkic States will play a strategic role in regional transportation, supply chain and energy security, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on March 16.

“Thanks to the southern gas corridor, the backbone of which is TANAP [Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline], Turkic states have become a key player in Europe’s energy security,” Erdoğan said at a gathering of the Organization of Turkic States.

The Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States convened in Ankara….

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The president also welcomed Turkish Cyprus granted observer status during last year’s summit in Uzbekistan. Turkish Cyprus participated in an Organization of Turkic States summit for the first time.

“As the Organization of Turkic States, we have embodied our strong and determined support to the Turkish Cypriot people. We will continue to fight for the recognition of the [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] TRNC and the lift of restrictions,” he stated.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov, Uzbek leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and People’s Council of Turkmenistan Chair Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov attended the summit.

The members of the Organization of Turkic States, formerly called the Turkic Council, are Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Hungary and Turkmenistan.

Anadolu Agency
March 17, 2023

Russia ‘highly appreciates’ Turkish president’s efforts for peace

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Russia highly appreciates Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s efforts for peace.

“We highly appreciate Mr. Erdogan’s efforts, his peacekeeping activities, his attempts to provide mediation services, and his attitude to the development of bilateral Russian-Turkish relations,” Peskov said a press briefing in Moscow, commenting on an idea to nominate the Turkish leader for the Nobel Peace Prize.