Turkic Council and Cooperation in Eurasia in the Light of Developments Across the Region

Türkmeneli İşbirliği ve Kültür Vakfı AVRASYA İNCELEMELERİ MERKEZİ CENTER FOR EURASIAN STUDIES

TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION

February 24, 2015, Ankara TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION

February 24, 2015, Ankara CENTER FOR EURASIAN STUDIES (AVİM) CONFERENCE BOOKS No: 14

EDITOR Pelin Musabay Baki, Turkic Council Project Director

TRANSLATOR Assist. Prof. Güliz Dinç, Yıldırım Beyazıt University Ali Murat Taşkent, Specialist at AVİM Mehmet Oğuzhan Tulun, Specialist at AVİM Ozan Akın, Attaché at SAM

PHOTOS Hazel Çağan, Specialist at AVİM

CONTRIBUTORS IN THE PREPARATION OF THE MEETING

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey Ümit Alpaslan Kılıç, Acting Head of Department at SAM Rana Gökmen, Head of Section at the Deputy General Directorate for Central Asia and Caucasia Ozan Akın, Attaché at SAM

Center for Eurasian Studies (AVİM) Ali Murat Taşkent, Specialist Hazel Çağan, Specialist Mehmet Oğuzhan Tulun, Specialist Özge Öğütcü, Specialist Hülya Önalp, Director Assistant Ali Kenan Erbulan, Administrative Affairs Staff

Turkic Council Pelin Musabay Baki, Project Director Burcu Korkmaz, Research Expert Zamin Aliyev, Project Director Assan Mazhitov, Project Director Zhyldyz Uzakova, Project Director Yedil Myrzakhanov, Project Director Emre Yurdakul, Chief of Protocol

Designing Ruhi Alagöz

PUBLICATION DATE April 2015

PRINTING Özyurt Matbaacılık Büyük San. 1. Cad. Süzgün Sok. No: 7 İskitler / ANKARA Tel: 0 312 384 15 36 - Faks: 0 312 384 15 37

Copyright © Center for Eurasian Studies (AVİM)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission in writing from the Publishers. ABOUT AVİM

he Center for Eurasian Studies (AVİM) is an independent, non-profit think tank based in TAnkara. The mission of AVİM is to advise and educate researchers, journalists, policy makers and the broader community about the current political affairs in the regions, which are strategically important to Turkey such as the EU, the Balkans, the Wider Black Sea Region, the Caucasus and the Central Asia. With this mission, AVİM aims to contribute to the understanding of challenges and opportunities that Turkey faces within the changing global geopolitical context. The geopolitical position of Turkey requires great attention to the Eurasian Region with two hinges on the Balkans and the Caucasus. With this awareness, AVİM attributes particular attention to these two regions. Within this context, AVİM has a special interest in the controversial Turkish-Armenian relations. Building a network of scholars and experts on the Eurasian Region to facilitate intellectual interchanges among diverse views and perspectives is one of the objectives of AVİM. Within this framework, AVİM collaborates with national and international governmental and non- governmental organizations, independent policy institutions and universities and aims to enhance those partnerships. AVİM publishes books and reports based on original research, conference proceedings and policy briefs both in print and electronic format. AVİM shares news and commentaries related to its field of work on its website and distributes a daily bulletin via email. AVİM publishes the following three peer-reviewed academic journals.

G Ermeni Araştırmaları (in Turkish; since 2001) G Review of Armenian Studies (in English; since 2002) G Uluslararası Suçlar ve Tarih (bilingual in English and Turkish; since 2005)

AVİM has been carrying on its activities within the scope of the above mentioned aims since 2009 with its Honorary President Ambassador (R) Ömer Engin LÜTEM, President Ambassador (R) Alev KILIÇ, experts and administrative personnel.

Süleyman Nazif Sok. No: 12/B Daire 3-4 06550 Çankaya-ANKARA / TURKEY Tel: +90 (312) 438 50 23-24 • Fax: +90 (312) 438 50 26

@avimorgtr

https://www.facebook.com/avrasyaincelemelerimerkezi www.avim.org.tr INFORMATION NOTE ON THE COOPERATION COUNCIL OF THE TURKIC SPEAKING STATES (TURKIC COUNCIL)

he Cooperation Council of the Turkic Speaking States (Turkic Council) was established by the TNakhchivan Agreement, which was signed at the Turkic Summit of Heads of States held in Nakchivan in 2009 with the overarching aim to promote comprehensive cooperation among Turkic Speaking States. The founding and current members are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey. The Turkic Council is an intergovernmental organization committed to the purpose and principles of the Charter of the United Nations (UN) and other universally recognized principles and norms of international law, including sovereign equality, territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders of states, as well as the maintenance of international peace, security and development of good-neighbourly and friendly relations. Turkic Council is an organisation dedicated to strengthening peace and stability, promoting wide-ranging cooperation and disclosing the potential for common development amongst its member states. Bringing together a particular group of countries, the organization takes an inclusive approach with regard to the regional cooperation. Thus, by promoting deeperrelations and solidarity amongst Turkic speaking countries, it aims to serve as a new regional instrument for advancing international cooperation in Eurasian continent, particularly in Central Asia and Caucasus. Being constructed on four main pillars as common history, common language, common identity and common culture, the Turkic Council does not limit itself to the confines of these commonalities. Rather, it aims to broaden the existing bilateral cooperation areas such as economy, science, education, transportation, customs, tourism and other various fields between the Member States into multilateral cooperation for the benefit of the region. Also the Turkic Council does not limit itself within the frames of its Member States and willingly cooperates with its neighbour states in order to ensure peace and stability in its region particularly in the fields of transport, customs, tourism etc. Furthermore, activities of the Turkic Council are also supported by its related and affiliated organizations as Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking Countries (TURKPA), International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), Turkic Academy, Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation and Turkic Business Council. Attributing utmost importance to the regional and international cooperation, the Turkic Council, as observer to the Economic Cooperation Organization is in cooperation with numerous global initiatives and international organizations including OSCE, EU, World Customs Organization and relevant agencies of the UN.

Balmumcu Mah. Bestekar Şevki Bey Sok. No.14 Balmumcu 34349 Beşiktaş / İstanbul Tel: +90 212 283 16 44 (pbx) Fax +90 212 283 16 86 E-mail: [email protected] @TurkicCouncil www.turkkon.org ABOUT SAM

enter for Strategic Research of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey C(SAM) is a think-tank and a research center which is chartered by law and has been active since May 1995. SAM was established as a consultative body to provide Turkish Foreign Policy decision makers with scholarly and scientific assessments of relevant issues, and reviews Turkish foreign policy with a futuristic perspective. SAM conducts research, organizes scholarly events relevant to the ever expanding spectrum of Turkish Foreign Policy in cooperation with both Turkish and foreign academicians, its counterparts from around the world as well as various universities and government agencies. SAM provides consultancy to the foreign ministry departments as well as some other state institutions in foreign policy issues while also establishing regional think-tank networks. SAM has signed about 50 MoU with different institutions, from to governmental organizations, in 45 countries across to the world. SAM pays reciprocal visits to these think- tanks and organizes workshops/ round-table meetings in every year. SAM employs undergraduates as well as graduate students in full-time and part-time internship throughout the year for those who want to gain knowledge and experience in Turkish- foreign policy. Over 120 students were enrolled in the internship program in 2014. SAM organizes summer/winter school programs for young students interested in foreign policy and diplomacy to inform them about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the profession. A limited number of outstanding students, selected from among a large number of applicants, attend the lectures given by senior diplomats, top-level bureaucrats and academics on a wide range of issues related to international relations. SAM has a widening range of publications. Along with its traditional publication, Perceptions, which is a quarterly English language journal that hosts distinguished Turkish and international scholars within its pages, SAM recently initiated Vision Papers which expresses the views of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey H.E. Prof. Ahmet Davutoğlu and SAM Papers that will cover the current debates of foreign policy by various scholars. With its commitment to contribution to the body of knowledge and constructive debate particularly in Turkish Foreign Policy, SAM will continue to serve as an indispensable think- tank and research center given its role promoting interaction and mutual benefits among the MFA, NGOs, other think-tanks and the broader scientific community and hence strengthen the human and intellectual capital of Turkey.

Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs Center for Strategic Research Dr. Sadık Ahmet Cad. No: 8 Balgat / Ankara 06100 Tel: (0312) 292 2587 • Fax: (312) 292 27 15 @sam_mfa www.sam.gov.tr . years. again my gratitude to our statesmen for the support they have provided to us for the last five Azerbaijan andKyrgyzstan. On this occasion, in your presence, I would like to convey once Mr. NursultanNazarbayev with the commonconsent of the Heads of State of Turkey, H.E. Kazakhstan RepublicPresidentinitiative of ofthe ofthe with thevaluable materialized Nakhichevan in2009by ajoint decision of our Presidents. The Turkic Council hasbeen the tanks it, for the awarefirst time. in are of As you established Turkic Councilwas Turkey (SAM)and Center for Eurasian Studies (AVİM). byjointly the ForeignTurkish Council,Ministry of Center forStrategicStudiesofthe Affairs of * The document is the report of the first meeting that was organized byResearcwas organized the meeting that reportwith Strategic cooperation ofthe first is the in Turkic Council The document * A Ankara. Center of the Ministry Affairs of the Republic of Turkey and Center for Eurasian Studies (AVIM) held on 24 February 2015in Our meeting today isaproject prepared by the Turkic Council incooperation with the think- m Distinguished guests, we are pleased to greet you all of you at this meeting organized b a I s N s a

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TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION Turkic Council, Retired Ambassador H.E.Mr. Halil Akıncı, who will enlightenus with his meeting. preparation ofour in the that theydisplayed Ambassador Alev Kılıç,Director of the Center for Eurasian Studies (AVİM) for the cooperation ForeignMinistry of of Center forStrategic Studiesofthe Affairs of and (SAM) Turkey participation. Finally, I would like to extendmy thanks to Prof. Dr. Ali Resul Usul, Chairman of ForeignMinistry of Republic the Affairs ofthe Turkey,with their meeting honored our who Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, and Ambassador Ali Kemal Aydın, Deputy Undersecretary of our activities.I would like to thank particularly H.E.Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan for itscontinuouscontribution to Azerbaijan in Ankara attending and our meeting, through himalsoextendingmy gratitude to their participationin our today’s meeting. Yunusov never spare their valuable supports to our work. I would alsolike to thank them for Canseyit Tüymebayev and Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to Ankara H.E.Mr. İbragim them inpersonseparately. Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Ankara H.E.Mr. Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy, for hisparticipationin this meeting. establish closerelations. Availing of this opportunity, I would like to thank Mr. Viktor Matis, today the Ambassador of Hungary to Turkey with which we, as the Turkic Council, aim to meeting invited toour also world. representativesApart fromwe Member States, the ofour way. Every step we take in this direction will provide goodresults for peaceandsecurityin the Our goalis to ensure that our peoplecontinue their lives inamore peacefulandprosperous as well as for their homeland. lives for theirterritory sacrificed their martyrs ofthe have all the mercywho world to Turkic Khojaly Massacre. On this occasion, in your presence, with all of you, I would like to wish God’s other brotherly countries. Council by our Member States of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan and Turkey along with work ontheirown field. like to thank everyone who have contributed to both our jointinitiative and to their individual academicians andresearchers putconsiderableeffortin this direction. In I this context, would challenging job. Our distinguished scientists,ambassadors-in-officeandretired ones, gathering ideas together andputting forward relevant proposals to this endare apart of policy-making process. Makinganalysis andexchanging ideas on projects shaping the future, tanks andstrategicresearch centers, which are importantelements of the foreign We alsoinvited to our meeting our esteemed senior, Founding Secretary General of the Republicgratitude totheEmbassyof Counsellormy ofthe extend like to would I Two of our very valuable Ambassadors are alsohere with us today. I would alsolike to thank In fact, the work conductedby scientists,academicsand diplomats serve the samepurpose. As you know, February 26isa very important day for Azerbaijan. Itis the anniversary of the At the same time, I would like to extendmy gratitude for the supportprovided to the Turkic with thethink-cooperation importance tothe As the utmost attach Turkic Council,we [ 8 ] the distinguished members of the press. members ofthe the distinguished introductorypreparation ofthisfilm. the would like to convey my thanks to Assoc. Prof. KürşatZorluandhis team for their efforts for meeting. Then, I will leave the floor the distinguished speakers. Taking this opportunity, I importance in that senseas the film isshared with the public opinion for the first time at this with your permission,I would like to introduce our film to you. Today’s meetinghasaspecial 5 minutesandprepared anintroductory film. Our introductory film isin three languages.Now, support. with theirvaluable carry out many result-oriented meetingsin the future under the umbrella of the Turkic Council will appreciate to have support of our Ambassadors on the subjectmatter. Ihope that we will hope to see our KazakhandKyrgyz brothers andsistersat our upcomingmeetingsas well. I Mammadov isalsoattending our meeting.Ialso would like extendmy thanks to himandI President of Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Farhad the Republic of Azerbaijan to TURKSOY, Mr. Elchin Gafarli are alsoamongus today. Dinamic foundations on which the Council was establishedas well asitsactivities. meeting, Ambassador Akıncı will present to you acomprehensive explanationregarding the contributions tothe his valuable Turkic World.Indeed, following theofficialopeningof the for the last four years. In your presence, I would alsolike to express my gratitude to him for of Secretary General, hehaspioneered in the implementation of many importantprojects establishment ofthe position idea for the assuming the existence ofthe Turkic By Council.the experience on the subject of today’s event. Mr. Halil Akıncı hadbeen within the process since Let meconcludemy words here andnowlet’s watch the introductory film together with As you know, the Turkic Council hasbeen operating for 5 years. We put these 5 years into Secretary General of TURKSOY, Ambassador DusenKaseinov and the Representative of [ 9 ]

TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION geography. covers anarea of 10millionkm², Asia’s importance stands out in terms of populationand into account that the European portion of Eurasiacontainsapopulation of 550millionand billion peopleequating to %60 of the world’s population on anarea of 55millionkm². Taking strategist Mackinderas the world-island at the beginning of the pastcentury, contains4,3 inspire theoperationsofSecretariat.proposalswill that and ideas new lead to will place today expected totake brainstorming and believe thatthediscussions I meeting was organized for our country’s selectacademiciansand think-tank representatives. successful andconduce to aproductive exchange of views. Secretariat for their contributionin organizing andI this meeting, wish this meeting will be Press, of the Distinguished Guests, Eurasia, which was defined by the Britishgeographerandgeo- I additionally would like to express that Ialso find appropriate andmeaningful that this I would like to express my gratitude to everyone andinparticular to the Turkic Council Dear Secretary General, Dear Ambassadors, Distinguished Guests, DistinguishedMembers A m M b i n a i s s t s r a y d

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organization that carries out its operations to improve cooperation, enhancemutualeconomic lacking andnarrow evaluation. The Turkic Council isamultifacetedandcomprehensive with aninclusive view, contribute to the cooperation,stabilityandprosperity in our region. of the Council. Wegladly observe thatthe Turkic Council’simplemented are which operations, Republics developed in allareas, diversified andultimately institutionalizedunder the umbrella independence following thedissolutionofSoviet Union. period of in this challenge major short time. a veryWe in on theirown witnessed the feet Turkic Worldget through the first people to be objects of history were mistaken. All of the brother republics managed to stand “days that lastedmore than ahundred years.” However, the ones who expected the Turkic people’s source of prideand our world-renowned author, Chinghiz Aitmatov said, there were breakdown. brother countries would beset the examples of “failed states”along with economicandsocial countries couldremain independent for along time. There were peoplearguing that these 90s. sovereigntychallenges ofthe despitethe is important with regard to these countries which preserved their independenceand significant progress inpolitical,economicandsocio-cultural fields. The present situation today among themselves and with their neighborsandembracing democratic values. of their politicalandeconomicstability, andsupporting these states on beingincooperation won theirrestorationfreedom,which countries independence ofthese enhancement of as the Republics. with Turkic relationsof Turkey’s dynamics the dissolution of the USSR, this commonhistoryandshared cultural values formed the Turkey and Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries. Therefore, within the first 10 years following policy. As amatter of special fact, ties that we share form the basis of the relations between the end of the Cold War stood out asanewand valuable dimension of the Turkish foreign The reestablishment of relations between our countryand the countries in the region following 1,5 trillion. its GNP of population of 140million,7th with itsarea of 4,8milionsquare kilometers and13th with Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstanand Uzbekistan in total is9th with its in the large Eurasiangeography. The economicand demographic potential of Turkey, also demonstrate the Asia’s importance. The Turkic World hasanindispensableimportance To view the Turkic Council asasimpleregional organization amongmemberstatesisa In this period of over twenty years, relations andcooperation between Turkey andbrother Indeed, the 1990’s were noteasy for the Turkic Republics inmany respects. Like Turkic In the 1990’s, several strategistsandpoliticalscientist were skeptical whether these In this period of over 20 years since their independence,countriesin the region made Turkey’s approach to the region isshapedaround contemporaryanduniversal values such Central Asia, situatedat the heart of Asia, is the cradleandbirthplace of the Turkic identity. Besides itslarge geography andlarge population,politicalandeconomic developments [ 11 ]

TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION developments in the MiddleEastcould directly affect the region. Inadequateregional developments in Syria, Foreign Terrorist Fighters from Central Asia going to the region and the stand out as factors that could trigger potential conflicts. growing influence of the extremists, risingnationalism,historicalanimositiesand wage gaps existing border disputes betweencountries, the increasing rivalry on water andenergy, the that can fuel the instabilityin Asia, which hostsmany hotand frozen conflicts.Especially the that the transition process still continues andstabilityremains fragile. There are many factors objective in the short-term. to prove itselfasan organization. Gaining observer statusat the UN is our primaryinternational Afghanistan”, held on 31 isalsoevidence October 2014,inBeijing, of the importantsteps taken held on 26November 2013,in Tehran. Turkic Council was represented as observer in the 21thMeeting of ECO Council of Ministers during the 20thMeeting of ECO Council of Ministersheld on 15 October 2012,inBaku. The organizations. Turkic Council’s observer statusat the Economic Cooperation was endorsed Therefore, we prioritize the improvement of cooperation with regional andinternational success ofthe Council.be the ofthe umbrella under the structuresTurkic Council. successes oftheseorganizationswill The Turkic Culture andHeritageFund that is to be operationalized inBakuare complementary International Organization of Turkic Culture (TÜRKSOY), the Turkic Academy in Astana and as we succeedin this, the appealandattraction for the Turkic Council will increase. and relations in the fields of culture, education,scienceandsports will strengthen. Insomuch agenda, trade betweenmembercountries will expand, transportation services will develop, the meetingssetgoals towards concrete results. With the realization of the projects on our each passing day. We gladly observe that contactsamong our institutionsare increasing and strengthenedin the culture,Council our economy education,faith tofrom transportationto Turkic world. human relations andcomprehensive recording of historicalandculturalaccumulations of the acceleration of opportunities for economicand technical cooperation,establishment of sound of mutualenvironment of trust within the Turkic World, strengthening of politicalsolidarity, of regional ownership. dependence andcollaboration,strengthen socio-culturalinteraction within the framework The situationin Afghanistan and the country’s future will directly affect the region. The Distinguished guests, despite the successstories of the countriesin the region, itisa fact Turkic Council’s invitation to the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the “IstanbulProcess on Works andsuccesses of the Turkic Council in the internationalarena are alsoimportant. ParliamentaryWe see thatthe Assembly of (TÜRKPA),Turkic Speaking Countries Since its foundation, cooperationprojects launched within a wide range of areas from In its founding agreement, the primary targets of the Council are defined as;consolidation [ 12 ] Bukhara, Samarkand andKhiva to their former gloryare the signs of acultural rebirth. transformation of Almaty, Ashgabat and Tashkent intobright cities, the rise of Turkistan, emerging. These are the first signs of aculturalrevival. The foundation of Astana, the Turkic world. A commonlanguage,aconceptandcityculture are Today, we observe the emergence of anarea of culturalintegrationin Central Asia and the In the past two centuries, Central Asia strived to protect itsculture and finally succeeded. is weakened in the past two centuriesand thus, wanted to beliquidated though revitalization. the Council. relations with Uzbekistan also will reflect positively on our relations within the framework of the umbrella of the Council, along with our bilateralcooperation. We hope that the improving Turkmenistan’s participationinmeetingsat various levels and the improving relations under in our countrylast June was animportantstepin this regard. We are pleased with advantage in this process. Naturally, we hope that Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will joinus. object. Our cooperationandsolidarityunder the roof of the Turkic Council will be our greatest world will become the subject of developments ininternationalpolitics,instead of being the is planned to becompletedassoonpossible. marketsEuropean gas tothe natural enable thetransportationof Azerbaijani projectwill which constitute the two key components of the East-West energy corridor. The completion of this (TAHAP) to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) andBaku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (BTE) pipelines, which of cooperation. Within this framework, we added the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Caspian Sea will provide extraimpetus to the economies of these countries. capacities onthe harbor increase ofthe and lifting ofquotas, land transport, Liberalization of project, we aim to turn Central Asia intoacentralregion of globaleconomy again. networks, highwayenergy corridors,naturalgaspipelines. With our Middle Corridor economic integrationandcivilizedlife. civilization. Therefore, the Silk Road shouldberegarded as the lifeline of the politicalefficiency, integration processes and world trade routes lose their influencein the field of politicsand countries which lost their geo-economicexistenceandare out of the globaleconomic powerful andeffective was when the Silk Road was the mainroute of world trade. Regions and among themselves and the countriesin the region. cooperation ofthe and Republicssolidarity Turkic into opportunitiesdependsonthe challenges partnership appears to bea weakness againstall these threats andchallenges. Turning these Dear Friends, itisnecessary to revive the language,beliefandculture of Central Asia that President of Berdimuhamedov’sH.E. Gurbanguly Turkmenistan, held visittotheSummit In the comingperiod,itis our greatest hope that our ties will strengthen and the Turkic Opening up the region’s energy capacity to the world markets isanotherimportantpillar For this reason, we shouldstrive to rebuild the historical Silk Road, this time through railway history,at we observelooked thatthetime most Central wereWhen countries the Asian [ 13 ]

TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION my greetings andregards to you all. coming generations. With these thoughts, I wish you a very successfulmeetingandIextend the Turkic World andguide this richandstrong legacy which is our duty to hand over to the World. Our hopeis that our Council will grow stronger andbeinstitutionalized together with Turkey sinceits foundation, isnot only valued by Turkey, butalsoby the whole the Turkic unity will be the mostimportantadvantage of the Turkic world in this process. law andeducationare essential to further enhance the existingcooperation. The strength in in the fields ofdemocracy,economy,steps change, taking firm reformswithout the fear of the with the cominggenerations, developed andhave strong brotherly ties. To this end,continuing continuity of the Turkic World and for this, leave behinda Turkic World which isintegrated Distinguished guests, the Turkic Council, which isattachedgreat importanceandcared by Looking to the future, the mostimportant test before usis to secure the existenceand [ 14 ] eroding of the globalhegemonicstructure. On one hand,centrifugalelementsare gaining gaining weight atinternational politics. There are alot of reasons behindit. One of them is the elements centrifugal level.witness at thedesired we Quite theopposite, institutionalized through a In twilight. the post-Cold War period,internationalpolitical order hasnot make sensein this effort. for peaceandsecurityinEurasia the geography covering the Turkic Council States will understand the nature of this periodand develop newideas on it. The quest for cooperation political dynamics in the first 15 years of the 21stcentury. Iconsider that we shouldprimarily approaches regarding the quest for cooperation for peaceandsecurity inEurasia. meeting isbothimportantand timely. Inmy address, I would like to put forward precise to thankthe joint (AVIM).and Turkic I thinkthatthis Eurasian Studies CenterCouncil for Ambassadors andDear Colleagues; P I think that the nature of the politicalrelations in the post-Cold War period ispassing I would firstly state that we are experiencing aninteresting period with regard to the global Firstly, letmeexpress my respects to each of you and wish you apleasant day. I would like Thank you Mr. Secretary General, Your Excellency Mr. Deputy Undersecretary, Distinguished r o f .

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TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION desired level hasnotbeenestablished yet. We observe that this cooperationhasnot been cooperation andintegration among the Eurasian countries, we see that cooperationat the in-office. Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), of which Turkey was previously the chairman- and regardingis the issue. ConferenceOne oftheseorganizationsInteraction founded this on ensure peaceandsecurityin the Eurasiauntil today, andmany regional organizations were That is to say, itisa well-known fact that various activitieshave been organized in order to present amore complicated nature. are more complicated. The instruments of globalandregional instabilityare increasing and compared to the 1990s. This results from the fact that bothactorsandissuescausingproblems entered intoa tenser andcomplicatedperiod of internationalrelations in the 21st century developments inglobalpolitics will affect the region, itisanundeniable fact that we have countries in the region within the aforementioned framework. foremost, I would like to share my opinions and views about quest for cooperation for the Certainly, beingcompletely indifferent to the wheels of globalpoliticsisimpossible.Firstand forthcoming days. We shouldclosely follow these developments also for our nationalinterests. developing their own Silk Road versions. As aresult, a Silk Road phenomenon will mark the follow this project. Besides, we see that bothEuropeans and Americans are striving for developed by China that hasbeengiven highimportancerecently. Turkey continues to closely underline three different Silk Road Projects in Turkey’s perspective. The first one isaproject been mentionedhere, as well. Of course, while mentioning the Silk Road Project, we should America haspartially withdrawn. The most well-known of these is the Silk Road Project. Ithas That is to say, Russiaand China have developed great projects towards Eurasia from where region. The third andlast of these three international variants is China’s changingglobalrole. Eurasian strategy documentsthatthe United Statesfocusingon national in United States’ Eurasian region which was neglectedbefore. This is very crucialbecauseitcanbeeasily seen will pourinto other regions. The second one is whether the United States will return to the respect to the future internationalpoliticalstructure. the aforementioned framework. In this sense, three international variants are important with However, with regards to our topic, which isEurasianpolitics, I think that we have to stick to ignore Itishardthe globalcontext. to define andexplain these crises within alimited time. Despite these crisesresult from anumber of regional and domestic factors, we shouldnot crises in the MiddleEastlike inIraqand Syria come first and Ukraine crisiscomessecond. Moreover,complex. we see that internationalinstitutions fail to respond to these threats. weight and on the other hand,bothregional andinternational threats are becomingmore However, looking into the nature of these regionalnaturebasis of organizations ofthese However,into the founded onthe looking This situation drives the Eurasiancountries to more cooperation for peaceandsecurity. Even ifitis difficult to predict exactly howregional problems as well as the latest and WesternRussia powers between whether thetension is thequestionof The first one In this context, there are two concrete examples which are affecting Turkey. Among these, [ 16 ] element is the common ground to beestablishedamong these strong nationalidentities. the stabilityin Central Asia andEurasiaisstrong nationalidentities.However, the other Central Asia, as well. Namely, itgoes without saying that one of the fundamental elements of aforementioned strong national identitiesinEurasia for development of cooperationin region shouldbecarried out inacross border manner. Erasmus, as well. In other words, I think that social,cultural,artisticandacademicactivitiesin continued. Inaddition,itis very important to have an academicexchange program like General talked about“OrkhunProcess”. This isasignificant development andshouldbe mentioned within the scope of socialmobility. For instance,a few momentagoMr. Secretary understanding maybeuseful to someextentamong these strong nationalidentities I identities. This is very important for domestic stabilityandpeace.Inmy view, joint prejudices that maybepresent incountries. increasing socialmobilityinEurasianregion has the nature to break down socio-cultural I thinkthatthe addition tothis, region.In of the consideration. Weinto should take these crimes or criminalenterprises.In fact, these are great elements of threat in terms of instability connotations. The most well-known of these is the issue of cross border and transnational the region about this issue within the context of regional cooperation andintegration. trade. The other issocialelements, transnational relations and the progress to beachieved in come tothe forefrontespeciallyregarding issue. mutual increasing this is The first oneofthese Europe to Eurasia.But, this does notmean that there will notbea source of inspiration. course, itisnotpossible to directly transfer the politicalintegrationin the politicalhistory of history of the world, there are many fields which will give inspirationabout this issue. Of That is the insufficiency of transnational relations amongsocialactorsandcivil society. to develop strategiesregarding this issue.Inaddition to this, there isanotherissue we overlook. social levels in the relations amongstatesand their quest for cooperation.Itis very important Because, statesstart to take intoconsideration relative gaininsuchcircumstances. and mental factor inimprovement of interstatecooperation,isuseless from time to time. international politics.Moreover, we see that the idea, well-known “win-win” which isa driving the Eurasiancountries. This reluctance andmistrustcanbeconsidered as the nature of partially reluctance andpartially mistrustin terms of carrying further the cooperationamong established among the countriesin the Central Asia inprivate. We shouldsee that there is Indeed ,establishment of the Turkic Council showsus that this strategicinsight ispresent. On the other hand,itisnecessary that cultural ties that maybeestablishedby the In this respect, itiscertain that the statesin the regions shouldhave strong national Unfortunately, the concept of “transnational” or cross border” mayevoke negative Looking into the non-state transnational paraphernaliabox, we see that two fields In the European integration, which isasuccessfulexampleincooperationandintegration I believe that in this situationitis very important to increase mutual trust atpolitical and [ 17 ]

TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION that international factors shouldbeaddressed as well. Thank you very much. and Central Asia are involved inmore cooperation than ever before. In this regard, Ibelieve we go, we comeacross this issue.In this environment, itisessential that the statesinEurasia increased. Indeed, this topic is one of the mostessentialissuesinEurasia today. And wherever points and the securityissuesin the internationalandregional politicalenvironment has nations. to the What isimportanthere is the necessity of transferring the knowledgeat the level of specialists very important values, but what is the popularitylevel of these values? That is quite indefinite. Ali Şir Nevaiand others… These namesImentionedare the elements of this secret. These are Fuzuli, Nasreddin Hodja,DedeKorkut, Koroghlu, Epic of Manas,Mevlana Jalāl ad-DīnRūmī, This isasecret which ispresent in the Turkic Council. For example,Khoja Akhmet Yassawi, of acommonimagination for civilizationisinherent in the quest for securityandcooperation. cultural elementsmustnotbeexclusionist, butinclusionary. In other words, the development to remind one thing. Popularization of commonculturalelements is very crucialbut these As aculturalelement, we have acommonliterature andithas to gainpopularity. I would like Before concludingmy remarks, I would like to underline that the number of the centrifugal [ 18 ] Union spearheadedby Russia.From today’s outlook, this Eurasia is of coursea different, more encompass nearly the entirety of the European continent or the Europe section of Eurasia. Europe. Europe hasnearly completeditspolitical formation. The European Union hascome to sub-regions within this landmass. Then, we face the topic of political formations. We lookat mass that stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific and vice-versa. Of course, there are many %36 of world’s total area. When we define Eurasiaingeneral terms, what we meanisaland fulfillment of the expansion of the Council asindicatedin the previous speeches. for the Turkic Council to reach itsnaturalborders. In other words, our common wish is for the Turkic Council, the necessity of cooperationandsolidarity within the Council, and ifpossible, I would like to briefly refer to somepoints. Our commonground is this: The importance of the SAM, Prof. Usul on the issues that they raised.Due to time constraintsand to avoid repetition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey Ambassador Aydın andDirector of to express that we are in full agreement with the approach of the Deputy Undersecretary of Council for holding this meetingincollaboration with SAM. Besides this, what elseis present in the Eurasian formation? We see the EurasianEconomic The Turkic Council lies within the Eurasiangeography. What isEurasia? We are talking about Esteemed ambassadors, dear guests, we have listened to very valuable views. I would like Mr.Thank you behalf of General Secretary.FirstlikeAVIM,all, on tothank would I of Turkic D i r e c t o A r

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TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION West through communication, and for the Eastand the West to be united through Turkey. and the East Central between the Asian orthe gap Republics,closing ofthe Turkish for the place. country in the Eurasiangeography. In this respect, the Turkic Council iscoming to have acentral of the power distribution that isexpanding or shifting to the east, Turkey isbecomingacentral were acountry that more so took itsplacein the circle of the West, of Europe. Today, in terms the other on isin Asia. In terms of the economicandglobal developments upuntilnow, we European and Asian. Nothing to the contraryhasever beensaid. One of our footings inEurope, a periodin which anewpoliticalandeconomicpoweris being formed in China? Turkey isboth in aperiod which the economicandpoliticalpowerisshifting to the East, towards the Pacific, effect of we questionthe is the following: a twilight, pass throughWhat Turkeywe truly which I very muchliked Prof. Usul’s are “we passing through a expression.twilight” Inaperiodin corner countries of Asia. This creates agapin the Eurasiain the way we understandit. Atlantic cooperation with Europe, andaPacific cooperation with especially the geographically two different units. The US, instead of having the concept of Eurasia, wishes to pursuean Pacific. This ishighly important. That is to say, there isa US that puts forth Asia andEurope as the US hasa different set of trade andinvestment partnershipprojects in the Atlantic and the recentattention tothis. especially times, likeWein draw to would see that I terms ofthe US. contrary, itisincreasing. the forefront. We see that Europe’s generalinterest inEurasiaisno way decreasing, on the Eurasian Union’s view of Eurasia, we see that cooperation,Imean trade andinvestment, isat the Turkic Council, itsMember States andall Turkic Republics. lookedby out must for region, isonethat think thatthisforemostinterests,Turkey, for our million square kilometerarea andaregion with apopulation of 140-150millionpeople. We that we refer to as the Central Asian Republics or Turkic Republics. We are talking abouta5 China, there isalsoaEurasiaaccording to Russia,butamidstall of these isalarge piece or area Thus, accordingly, itbrings the concept of Silk Roads on our agenda. the landand the sea while mentioning the Silk Roads, as the previous speakers have mentioned. issue, the Silk Road, on the agendaisespecially attention-grabbing. China incorporates both China paidhis first visits to the Central Asian Republics and that all these visits put for asingle geography oftheoldSoviet Union. former limited Eurasia,and what we seeisRussiaaiming to establishanarea that encompasses the As such, for us, the Eurasian formation carriesimportance in terms of usreaching the From this view, I would like to briefly come to apoint that I define as the dilemma of Turkey. In this samerespect, we take alookat the United States. We seea different situationin In terms of new formations, we take alookat the way the Eurasian Union views Eurasia.In From this perspective, we come to the following conclusion: There isaEurasiaaccording to Later on, we see China asanimportantplayer inEurasia. The fact that the newPresident of [ 20 ] beneficial. Union, with the Atlantic cooperationand with Central Asia are equally necessary and even more globally than ever for the Eurasian Union and Turkey, relations with the European it becomesstronger, it will reinforce the Eurasianimperative. It will berevealed andgrasped Council. the Turkic to break off from Asia. In other words, it does not want to break itsrelations with Asia and Eurasia asa whole, Turkey will be faced with a dilemma in this context. Turkey does not want comes to goina direction in which it will separate Asia andEurope and thus ceases to see Atlantic trade and investment cooperationshouldnothappen.However, if this approach gains ithasmade from the Customs Union. That is to say, Turkey’s beingleft out of the Trans- all the loses cooperation. be onethat A and Atlanticwill left outofthis trade is Turkey that this new formation, the European Union isheading towards direct integration with the sense mean that itsrelations with the European Union isheading towards beingended.In Partnership agreement foreseen by the US with the European Union, then it would in one becomes left out in the Atlantic cooperation, which is the Trans-Atlantic Trade andInvestment that isincommunication with the European Union. solely an Asian formation, insteaditissomething that canbe transformed intoacooperation Organization. Turkey has the vision in which the Shanghai Cooperation Organization isnot body oftheShanghai Cooperation within the as well as Eurasia, geography,in thetermsof have anequalsayalongside the Turkic Council countries-the Central Asian republics- inits and legitimate. This issobecause,asacountry, Turkey isinaposition which it wishes to the European Union and Asia. for the future isbeingacommunicationbridgeincentrallocationEurasia,namely between and negotiations for full membership to the European Union iscontinuing. Turkey’s expectation place isno doubt the European Union. We have a Customs Union with the European Union shown almostasanalternative to the European Union. This isabsolutely not the case. Turkey’s sometimes wrongly interpreted in the Turkish press. That is to say, this organization isbeing a unioninEurasia. defined assuch:Instead of conflictandcompetition,itisRussia’s and China’s initiative to form be the ShanghaiCooperation Organization.also may The ShanghaiCooperation Organization is attention see today? wish todraw West.we I what do But The otherorganizationwhich to that are to fill agap,initiatives which will fill this gapin way that will balance the Eastand the Council Member States and the Central Asian Republics. These canbe qualified asinitiatives Economic Cooperation Organization contains10countries, which includesall of the Turkic of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, which hasanideainitscore. Furthermore, the In this sense, this is the gist of my words: the moremywords: the the gist of moreis the Turkic advances,the Councilsense, this In this Here, I would like to touch upon one Is final point. Turkey faced with a dilemma? If Turkey Accordingly, Turkey’s interest in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization isunderstandable Here,we observe that Turkey’sin theShanghai Cooperationinterestis Organization This view of Turkey isnot very old. Here, I would like to briefly mention the Organization [ 21 ]

TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION are ready and open for cooperation with allinstitutionsandstates desiring peaceandserenity. for cooperationrather than exclusivist as our esteemedseniorshave pointed Hence, out. we against any partyas Ambassador Aydın hasjustunderlined,and we have aninclusive approach of Turkey as the current chairman-in-office. We are aninternational organization which isnot ForeignMinistry of Republic and the Affairs ofthe Member States contributions ofour common RepresentativesEuropeanExternal efforts ofthe Action ofthe Union Servicethankstothe comprehensive consultations with DeputyForeign Minister of RussianFederation and Senior Foreign Affairs of RussianFederation and the European Union. In the past few days, we made are competing with each other. sure, are innormalcontact with all of the countriesin the region, even with the ones which Turkic Council asDeputy Undersecretary Ambassador Ali Kemal Aydın hasstated. prevalent. For the materialization of these targets, activitieshave beenconducted within the areForeignMinistries and Heads ofState thetargetscontext, ofour In this pointed out. union of the world, as our esteemedseniorsandpresidents of the research institutionshave As amatter of fact, we are currently incollaboration with many internationalinstitutions In this regard, as the Turkic Council, we continue our contacts with both the Ministry of As aninternational organization desiring peace,stability, economy andprosperity, we, for Distinguished friends, the Turkic Council takes really importantsteps for itsregion and S e A c r m e t b a a r s y s

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N C o O u V n , c i l Countries-TÜRKPA. Moreover, the Turkic Council and TURKSOY (International Organization of Hungaryis officially an observer member of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic Speaking flag. to join the Turkic Council, we will definitely find a way for their representation on this common Thus, bothbrother countrieshave crescents on their own flags. Furthermore, when they decide membership tothe Council.possible consideration their into and took attention tothis fact and Uzbekistan becomea member of the Council. While designing the flag we alsopaid Republicstar onthe refersflag ofthe tothe Azerbaijan. star octangular the Kyrgyz Republic. The crescent refers to the crescent symbol on the Turkish flag and the know.as youEmpire, refersThe sunontheto figureflag of ofthe color ofthe flag of Gokturk also the RepublicKazakhstan. was blue Also turquoiseof the adopted. referswas 2012, ourcolorofthistothe flag in The his termofoffice, during formation of this flag isahistoricalissueas well. Ambassador Halil Akıncı knows this betteras Azerbaijan will alsoattend this program aslecturers. Republic of Turkey andH.E.HasanHasanov, Former Foreign Minister of the Republic of with his deep knowledge on this issue.H.E.Hikmet Çetin, Former Foreign Minister of the Halil Akıncı will alsoparticipatein the program and will offer aninsight to young diplomats the secondproject of Young Diplomats Training Program to beconductedinBaku. Ambassador Kazakhstan in Ankara, on this occasion, asheaccepted our invitationand will participatein within upcoming20 years later. reinforce their personal ties, the relations between our countriesandsocieties will bestronger origin, samebrother nationality;if they acknowledge that they have similaritiesandif they awarecome same from ofthe become factthattheythe in theIfouryoungfuture. diplomats important thing. Because we consider this project, repeated every year asastaunchinvestment about their dialects andmore importantly strengthen their friendship bonds. That is the most receive training on various subjectsincludingprotocol issues during 15 days andalso they learn and program,come together youngsaid diplomatsMember States fromscope ofthe our four Member States butIhope we will besix-seven countriesin the near future. Within the This isa very significantproject signifyinganinvestment in the future. Why? Today, we have organization that ispaidattentionby internationalsocietyina very shortperiod of time. all over the world are ongoing. In this regard, the Turkic Council hasbecomeanimportant European Union andRussiaas well as other several international organizations andprocesses UN World Tourism Organization are as continuing, well. That’s to say; our contacts with the Customs Organization inBrussels,last week. Our endeavors for the samepurpose with the and programs. For instance, we signedaMemorandum of Understanding with the World I want to share also this information the following information with you. The Parliament We comeup with the question what changescanbe done on the flag when Turkmenistan Furthermore, I find itnecessary to inform you about the flag of the Turkic Council. The Mr.H.E. like tothank Canseyit would I Tüymebayev,Republic Ambassador ofthe Moreover, I would like talk alittlebitmore about the Young Diplomats Training Program. [ 23 ]

TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION Halil Akıncı. valuable support to us. to the Turkic World and then hehanded over sucharesponsibility to us.Hestillprovides his exhorted extensive efforts for 4 years for the implementation of several projects with regards main lecturer for today. Starting from the establishmentperiod of the Turkic Council, he mentioned before, Ambassador Halil Akıncı, first Secretary General of the Turkic Council is our meeting butalso the support that heconveyed to the Turkic Council. opportunity, I would like to reiterate my gratitude to himnot only for hisparticipationin the Aydın needs to leave the meetingafterashort time due to hisbusyschedule. Taking this Deputy Undersecretarymeeting onthisoccasion. KemalAmbassador attend this Ali time to brothers andsisters with us today and wish to take jointmeasures in our upcomingactivities. also works actively with Hungary. Inparallel with this, we are pleased to have our Hungarian of Turkic Culture) desire to enhancecooperation with Hungary. Currently, the Turkic Academy I would like to givelike the floor tothe first Secretary to would I General ofthe Turkic Council, Ambassador With your permission,let’s continue.Now we will go on with the presentations. As Ihave Distinguished friends, I would like to thank once more to allguestsspending their valuable [ 24 ] After searching which word with Turkic origin mayreplace “council”, we have noticed that inappropriate.have personallyfound this I name oftheorganization. end ofthe at the “council” Türk Keneşi, Turkic Shura. You say Turkic but then you adda word with French origin suchas the Turks). If you lookat our legal documents, our institutionisreferred to as Turkic Council, frequently. This word appearsin the Diwan-u Lugatal-Turk (Compendium of the Languages of regard to much debate, and today, itisembracedby everyone. West and West to East. We have a flag storyassuch. This flag was adoptedimmediately without North isblack. These colors alsoindicate that the Turkic World extends from the East to the Blue represents the East inamong Turks, and white represents the West. The South isred, the fruit with us today in this regard. Council isalsoserving to raisenewgenerations working for the Turkic World. We have our first us. She iscurrently working at the Embassy of Kyrgyz Republic in Ankara. Therefore, the Turkic I begin. One of the participants of the first Young DiplomatsProgram, Aija Tabaldiev isamong Second issueisaboutamatter of terminology. We hear the word “Keneş” (Council) Secondly, I want to give additionalinformation about the flag. Itscolorsare white andblue. Thank You Mr. Secretary General. If you allowme,I would like to touch on a few issuesbefore F i r s t

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TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION members of the international arena. international members ofthe process hasnot beencompletedinall the Turkic World States, they eachare nowrespected states have become truly indispensableparts of the world family. Although the state-building Therefore, there was amaterialandmoralside of this issue. Within the last20 years, these these statesrichinnaturalresource andas Turkey we hadamoral debt to these countries. independence states. of these eventuallyrecognizerationale was the wholeworldwould The later wrote a detailed report reflecting apositive stance on the issue of the recognizing the and CentralRepublicsin the Caucuses Asia. went tothe The delegationthat RepublicsTurkic non-Turkicmember,Republics.a went tothe Soviet was I Turkic which The otherdelegation,of ground.went tothe going onthe One ofthesedelegations Westernwas what Republics, Soviet the dissolutionofSoviet Union, understand region to sent twodelegationstothe Turkey unexpected. Frankly, it was anabrupt development even for Turkey. In September 1991,before independence ofthe want todo? was we geographyThe within theformerSoviet Turkic States Agreementsigned. was founded by the decision taken in2009at the Nakhchivan Summit where the Nakhchivan among usambassadors who actively participatedin these activities. The Turkic Council was this effort did notbearany results. Since 2006, these effortspicked upspeed. Today, we have Process, noconsiderableprogress hasbeenunfortunately made. Therefore, no words were leftunspoken. However, in the meantime, throughout the Summit in thesedeclarations. mentioned achievewereare today tryingto we cooperation that areasmany of ofthe show that Processwill theSummits at thedeclarationsof look A immense contributionsin the founding of the Turkic Council andgenerally in the Turkic World. they see our success. join once would sense thatothers with the attend willing to with those meetings continue the Summit meetings.However, in the end,in2006 Antalya a Summit, decision was taken to Turkic States to joinin the Summit Process. Therefore, there was ashortbreak inconvening the State level consistently. A debate started on whether to continueasit was or to wait for all the level. Afterwards, indeed,eventually, Uzbekistan stoppedparticipationcompletely. However, aftera while, Uzbekistan startednot to attend the Summits at the Head of State held inIstanbul1993. Then subsequent Summits were heldina variety of countriesin order. in the film ofthe saw meeting second Turkic at the Worldbalconywas taken leaders onthe establishment ofthe led tothe that Turkic Council. comes to mind when itissaid“keneş”. accordingly we started to use this term. Itisagreat pleasure for us that only our organization “keneş” has the exactmeaning of “council” asindicatedin the Diwan-uLugatal-Turk, and All right, All right, what is the goal? What is the founding philosophy of the Turkic Council? What do At the Tashkent Summit in1996, there was anattempt to establisha Secretariat. However, As Mr. Secretary General mentioned,Elbaşı(Father of the Nation)H.E.Nazarbayev has In the 2000s, Turkmenistan alsostarted to notparticipatein the Summits at the Head of In 1992, we held the first Turkic World Head of States Summit in Ankara. The picture you Mr. Secretary General, if you would allowme,nowI would like to describe the process [ 26 ] not soeasy. Now, maybe you will regard itasgossip,butI want to share with you. The decision regional cooperation. larger a likewe deservecontrary,within the place framework of tooccupywould the we the not foreigners. than us on this issue.Furthermore, Iheard that they even have schools. In this regard, they are as so foreign? Because we have commonancestorsand the Hungariansare more knowledgeable among usarepresentative of the Embassy Isitpossible of Hungaryasaguest. to count them concerned started However,to meet. Ineed to share with you, it was noteasy. Finally, there is ministers were notable to meet. related Heads ofState,the level of at the meetings conduct of ministers together.Despite the open upnewareas of cooperationand deepening our cooperation. regard, our approach isas follows. Firstlet’s remove any obstacles in front of us,and then let’s mentioned during the Summit Process. Our goalisconcrete result-oriented cooperation.In this earlier todevelop. alluded to I nationalism kind of any drawbacks for that identity based on the basis of sovereign equalityprinciple. know Turkic-ness ashis/hercommonidentity. Therefore, our goalis to strengthen our common identity, an Azerbaijani doesn’t knowhis/her Azerbaijani identity, then s/he will notbeable to identities. IfaKyrgyz doesn’t knowhis/herKyrgyz identity, aKazak doesn’t knowhis/herKazak the principle of sovereign equalitybutalso the principle of recognition andacceptance of for years to besensitive about their sovereignty. The Turkic Council was founded not only on Itis important. very normal for communities that have lived under the control of different states this reason, the principle of sovereign equalityin the functioning of the Council isextremely this stepby step with conviction. among the achieve this pursuing accept the Turkic fact of is to Worldmatters leaders. All that Turkic Council, soithaspolitical weight in this geography. There isconvictionin our ability to political weight oriented to the Turkic World. Likewise, we would like to hear, Iraqisbeside the weight. We would like to hear, for example, Afghanistan isnext to the Turkic Council, soithas in. was it situation parameters ofthe according tothe was determined weight strategic during that period was to beNATO’s outpost asacountrybordering Russia. As aresult, Turkey’s in the internationalarena: this is the issue of strategic weight. The strategic weight for Turkey Now, Imentioned the meeting of the ministers. Was this easyat the beginning? No,it was In line with our founding principles, we do notaim to blockany regional cooperation. On establishment ofthe With the cooperation areaTurkic ministersof for the Council, the all ofthe bring together able to not wereProcess,we beginning oftheSummit Since the What kind of cooperationshould we aim for? Ihadsaid that all types of cooperation were Surely, we do not want the development of radicalnationalism,butIpersonally do notsee Except Turkey, allcurrent and future members have gained their independencerecently. For Now, our goalinestablishing the Turkic Council is for the Council to have its own strategic All right, what is the goal of the Turkic Council? There isanissueattributedutmostattention [ 27 ]

TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION establishment ofthe history for the first time. write ourown Turkic started to Academywe we have copiedit. We have noteven found our own documents ourselves. With the write itmyself”. So far, we have not written our history ourselves, others always wrote itand that iscurrently being worked on. Churchill says that “History will bekind to me,becauseI will regardwith studies tothe Turkic World.project Book is theHistory CommonAmong the first one founded after the Turkic Council. Council were alsosignedat this Summit. The Academy and the Fundare our two key institutions operating inBaku were signed. The complementaryagreements of the Secretariat of the Turkic as aninternational organization and the Turkish Culture andHeritageFund that will start result? was the What The founding treaties ofthe Turkish currentlyin AcademyAstana operating cooperation in the economic field, we dealt with the culturalcooperationin the Second Summit. probably need to addsomelettersas well. each stateis free to adoptit In or not. fact, Naturally,this isalogicalalphabet. Turkey would Turkic Alphabet Symposium hostedby Marmara University in1991. We put forth this alphabet, alphabet acceptedat the 1926Baku Turcology Congress andat the International Contemporary Terminology Committee of the Turkic Council, we acceptedandstarted to use the Turkic used in Turkey corresponds to eachsound. Therefore, there are someshortcomings. At the letters were removed to beparsimonious.However, itishard to say that the alphabetcurrently adopted. However, laterin1929, the current alphabet of Turkey was adoptedandsome of the at the Turcology Congress heldinBaku,analphabetsuitable for all Turkic languages was and we started working towards acommonalphabet. The alphabetissueisaproblem. In1926, University Union consisting of 15universities, we heldameeting of the Ministers of Education, achieve great successes. break the unbreakable. When we unite our energies in the Turkic Council, we saw that we can in the Turkish, when Turkic-Mongolianfivelegends, orten able to gets together,are Turk we channeling this commonenergy to aparticularpath. When we get together, justasitappears meet. We camealong way inashortperiod of time. to be obtained since the committees within the scope of the Ministers of Economy started to cooperation in this field to the Secretariat. Indeed, the tangible benefitshave beenandcontinue the Council about when the nextmeetingisgoing to beheld? They are proposing newissues of but we brought them under duress. if “what we met?” We had to contact the Heads of State to beable to holdaministerialmeeting, Madrid, another one said they did nothave any allowanceleft. There were even some who said together. However, this was notsoeasy. One ministersaidhehadanimportantmeetingin economic cooperation.Before the summit, we needed to bring the Ministers of Economy hold the made to Turkic was Council’sin with thethemeof Almaty 2011 first Summitof My personal opinion is that the Turkic Academy will make importantcontributions to the Then what have we done in the second Summit heldinBishkek? After starting the Later on, we expanded our cooperation to other areas. For example, we founded the Turkic aroundand then energy thisorganization bring outthe is to Weissue main thinkthe Do you know that now the Ministers of Economy are working closely with the Secretariat of [ 28 ] Council, arecoming together for the voluntarilyfirst time. Turks does inhisspare time, he wages war againstanother Turk. Under the umbrella of the Turkic work. support ofour in Heads ofState will ofthe political the the Ministers for approval. We connect absolutely every issue to a document. We always feel Meeting. Senior Officials Committees make the necessarypreparations andpresent them to we start, we establisha Senior Officials Committee andamechanism of Ministeriallevel support allefforts on this route. Sea, using the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway andpassing through the Turkish Straits. Therefore, we truck loadleavingKazakhstan would goall the way to Europe by passing through the Caspian consists geographicalbarriersas well. Now, thanks to container technology, when acontainer Caspian. The historical Silk Road has one mainpathandalarge number of capillaries. This path passing throughRoad the revive section oftheSilk is to the goal steps our While takingthese built in the Caspian Sea. Our goalis for ferries in the Caspian Sea to operate on aregular basis. operate in the Caspian Sea betweenBakuand Aktau portsandalsonewport facilities are being teaming up on aregular basis.Inparallel with our work, Azerbaijan has ordered two ferries to Transportation, DeputyMinistersandRepresentatives of the Working Group in Transport are Council for Transport was establishedat the level of DeputyMinisters.Now, the Ministers of Ministers of together the Transporta CoordinationMember States. meeting, At ofthe this through the Caspian Sea. Before the Summit heldin Gabala, Azerbaijan,in 2013, we first brought and opportunities. We highlighted the importance of integratedmulti-modal transportation through its organizing business forums. the umbrella of the Turkic Council isalso deepening the cooperationin the Turkic business world is doing alot of very important work inits field. Inaddition, the Turkic Business Council under parliamentary cooperationin the Turkic World asanotheraffiliated organization of the Council TURKSOY asitsaffiliatedinstitution. On the other hand, TURKPA which forms the pillar of as the umbrella organization of cooperationin the Turkic World isinclosecooperation with Russian Federation are participatingactively in the work of TURKSOY. Thus, the Turkic Council covers nowand will ever beable to cover. Today, all of the Autonomous Turkic Republics in the cultural field atpresent. Indeed TURKSOY, appeals to more countries that the Turkic Council common institutions of the Turkic World founded in1993,continuesitscooperation in the level. international at the a expert. foreignexperts is totrainthereafterTherefore, ourown goal our archaeological research in Tuva. Think about this, even Orkhon inscriptions were deciphered by Culture andHeritageFund,Ishouldnever forget, hesaid that we should beable to do situation will beeliminated. When President H.E. Aliyev acceptedme with regard to the Turkish resources,based onourown this history writing our start historians the truth. When ourown Now, there isa feature of the Turks, and that is to fight each other. So, if you ask what a Turk The method we use when implementing our work isas follows. For every field of cooperation challenges both Atcarries the issue oftransportationthat addressed the we Third Summit, hand, On theother TURKSOY(International Organization of Turkic Culture), theoldest Indeed, these days you seesomespeculationsput forth about World War I that do notreflect [ 29 ]

TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION our events on our web-site. Thank you very much for your patience and your attention. eventsweb-site. onour and your our patience much Thank youfor your very time constraints,Icannotmentionall of our work. You cangetexhaustive information on all Turkic World to becomeacenter of gravity. Our field of activityhasbecome but vast, due to complementing each other. During the last5 years, we have gainedmomentum inenabling the our Heads of State. at great speed.During this process, our Secretariat is working hard to fulfil the instructions of is Al Jazeera, MIR, why should we nothave ajoint television? Our work inallareas isprogressing project. Now, the Joint Television Working Group meets in Istanbul. What, for example? There for the strengthening of Turkic consciousness.For this, we have alsostarted our “Joint Television” know our Turk heroes, ManasandKoroglu. Our goalisnot to re-create history, but to bea vessel consciousness. Howcan this be done? Through consciousness of history. So our youth should says. what theother understand difficult to while our young diplomats began talking with one anothereasily. So, actually itisnot that the Kipchak dialect and the Kipchak dialect speakers to learn the Oguz Indeed,aftera dialect. groups. into two Wespeaking the Oguz dialect learn and those speakerswanted to Oguz dialect is replaced itbecomeseasy with “Y” to understand what issaid.Isn’tit very difficult? dialects there isasimilarity. For example,aKazakhsaysjol, when we say yol (road). When “J” poet was easily read inIstanbulat that time. In fact, when we lookat the root of all Turkish was easily read in19thcenturyat the Ottoman Empire. Alisher Navoi, the 15thcentury Turk of the majorpens of the Turkic world of the 19thcentury. However, Sabir was a Turk poet who history.changed throughout Today,in those understand Sabir,Turkeynot or one Azerbaijan do from this perspective, itispossible to benefit from each other’s vocabulary. The dialects have examined carefully, agreat similaritybetween the dialects canbe found inessence.Indeed, Kazakh Turkish iscloser to the Gök Turkish (Old Turkic language) than Anatolian Turkish. When States were different from Turkish. Butunfortunately, these voices were notaware of this: independent newly stating thatthedialectsof Turkic emerge started to dissenting voices State, suddenly five siblingsemerged. So we gotrid of our loneliness. After a while, some period dominated by great excitement in Central Asia and Turkey. When we were the only Turkic then I worked at the capital on Central Asian affairs.I would like to say frankly that it was a UN that the Turkic stateshave started to vote inaccordance. region intocooperation, our weight in the world will surely increase. Indeed,itisknownat the at the beginning of the 1990s. When we transform the existing potential for conflictin the Wars in1912andlasteduntil1922. The other Turkic Republics were able to win full independence in 1707. The Republic of Turkey was founded afteralongstruggle which started with the Balkan defeat of the Ottoman Empire in Vienna and with the death of the lastgreat MughalEmperor All organizations in the All organizations Turkic Worldcoordination ofthe under the Turkic areCouncil Together with bringing to light these issues, our goalis to refresh the Turk-ness At the Young Diplomats Training Program, we separated those speaking the Kipchak dialect I was stationedinMoscow the 1990’s when the Turkic States becameindependentand There have beenimportant developments atbothends of the Turkic World following the [ 30 ] President of Azerbaijan, Dr. Farhad Mammadov. givelike thefloorto under the Chairman of Center to would forStrategic Studies I Now are able to work together in this way for peaceand tranquility. does notmatter, Iam describing all-is this particularcharacteristics. Itis for this reason, we national origin. What distinguishes the Turkic Empires inhistory-West-East Hun, GokTurk, other hadalways been tolerant. They have never ever attacked anyone’s culture, language, today, justas Ambassdor Akıncı hasmentioned, Turkic Empires though having fought each say aFrench studiescommonEuropean historyalong with French history. along with nationalhistories. This essentially isasystemavailablein the European Union. Let’s common history to be taught atschoolsinKazakhstan, Azerbaijan, in Turkey, inKyrgyzstan at the Summit to beheldinKazakhstan September 2015. So, it will beapossibility for our Heads ofState Member Statestoour schools ofour in be taught book to present this is to goal Academy containing the commonhistories of the Turkic Republics until the 15thcentury. Our an agreement was reached on this project of commonhistory book to beprepared by the Turkic point. The Ministers of Education of our Member States metlastNovember. At the meeting, meeting. portion ofthe answer and at thequestion with ourdear friends elders together doubt we couldlisten to him with pleasure for two, three days. Indeed, we are very fortunate. experience andhisrole as the first Secretary General of the Turkic Council; that without a Thank you very muchMr. Akıncı for sharing valuable information with the participants. In the widest sense, we are anation that have endowed the world astrong culture. Until Ambassador Akıncı mentioned the project of commonhistorybook.Ijust want to adda I believe, we will have agreat session with the participation of Mr. Akıncı and our valuable his both dueto many topicstotellyou so has Dear Halil friends, Akıncı Ambassador S e A c r m e t b a a r s y s

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TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION However, we canshow with our own experienceand our work that competing organizations each other. Hence, the Turkic speakingcountriesare members of the competing organizations. these organizations where Turkic speakingcountriesare represented are incompetition with is actingaccording to its own geographicalconditions.Recent developments showed that Kazakhstan andKyrgyzstan are within the EurasianEconomic Union. On this issue,eachstate Organization. Turkey isapplying the samecustoms rules with the European Union, and a member of NATO, KazakhstanandKyrgyzstan are members of the Collective Security Treaty strategies andpursuing our commoninterests in the internationalarena. in the field of economy. Our goalispoliticalandeconomicco-operation, coordination of political cooperationbetween the Member States. Potential opportunities are availablealso Turkic Speaking Countries- TURKPA, have created anew opportunity for the development of history.based onourdeep-rooted economic andcultural fields. Also, we are in deeper cooperationin the cultural field that is Turkic speakingcountriesare represented at various military-political structures. Turkey is The Cooperation CouncilParliamentary of and the Assembly of Turkic SpeakingStates Thank you, Mr. Secretary General. Our countriesare incooperation the political, C h a i r m a n

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later inform the Secretariat on this issue. inform theSecretariat onthis later Thank you. on May8, we hope to convene ameeting of foreign policyresearch official centers. We will New Silk Road EconomicZone” organized by SAM Azerbaijan inBaku. After the conference, will beheld on 7th of Mayentitled“South Caucasus and Central Asia in the Context of the but alsoinclude other Turkic speakingpeoples. the two peoples. Cooperation of civilsocietycanincludenot only Turkic speakingcountries, Azerbaijani Elnur winning the “The voice of Turkey” TV showstrengthened further ties between diplomacy are very important. Turkey hasmuchmore experiencein this regard. For example, fields cooperationamongacademicsandpublic of politicsandeconomics.Informationsharing, countries interests and the commoninterests of the Turkic world. economic cooperation. With these projects, we cancreate acommon vision for both our integration between our countries. These projects are essential for the development of in terms of quality. The completion of infrastructure projects will enableincreased trade and Turkic speakingcountries,canbring our historicalandeconomicrelations to a whole newlevel Road EconomicBeltProject” hasaparticularsignificance. This project which covers all the the future.vision for talks are beingheldat the Foreign Ministers’level and work isbeing done to create acommon 100th anniversary of Çanakkale (Dardanelles) Naval War. Armenian genocide.In this respect itisimportant to attend the ceremony in Turkey of the so-called anniversary ofthe 100th issue ofthe cooperate thisyear onthe us to important for “Turkey isnothere ,butIam”are eachindicators of the current cooperation.Itis very against Summit, the President of Armenia’s so-calledgenocideallegationsagainst Turkey, against Armenia, andPresident H.E. Aliyev’s words at the European Union’s EasternPartnership Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan on the issue of Nagorno-Karabakhand the border sanctions can beamember of the Union only with itsinternationally recognized borders. Likewise, Kazakhstan, statedafterreading the letter to President of Azerbaijan H.E. Aliyev, that Armenia membership of Armenia to the EurasianEconomic Union, H.E.Nazarbayev, President of competition. hardeningrather thantoofthis further softening leading to road can come to amutualagreement. At the same time, we cancreate anenvironment for the To continue today’s discussions, Iamglad to invite you to aninternationalconference that We shouldalso deepen cooperationbetweencivilsociety organizations along with the We mustalso take intoaccountnew trends in the region. In this context, China’s “New Silk New formats of cooperationare on the agenda. Azerbaijan -Turkey- Turkmenistan trilateral Turkish speakingcountriescanprovide For mutualsupport. example, on the issue of the [ 33 ]

TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION states will beactively involved in the preparations in this matter. Mr. Farhad andIgave the necessaryinstructions to Ms.Bakiin this regard. Ibelieve, our sibling of our statesandpeoples. With my beliefinstrength inunity, I fully support the proposals of Memorandum. scope ofthis under the cooperation multilateral. We would like to invitelater on Hungary, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to this bilateral cooperationbetween these centersuntil now, but our goalis to make this cooperation Understanding in this regard at the meeting that will beheld on 8th of May. There hadbeen office. We are planning to conclude this process a document andsignaMemorandum of Researchstarted during Ambassador Official Member States CentersAkıncı’s ofthe termof coming. There isalready an ongoing process to develop the cooperationamongForeign Policy to the Project Directors of the Turkic Council Assen Mazhitov andPelin MusabayBakibefore Diplomats, scientists,and think tanks are working for the happinessandbetterlivelihood Mr. Farhad, I would like to extendmy thanks for the kindinvitation.Igave my instructions S e A c r m e t b a a r s y s

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N C o O u V n , c i l For this reason, the Turkic Council’s role isgoing to bemuchgreater from now on. Thank you. history, the Turkic Speaking peoples’historyiscommon, our future shouldbecommon too. Council are undertakingis very helpful to the development of cooperationin the Turkic World. Ataturk saidin1923comes true today. Today, the work that TURKSOY, TÜRKPA and the Turkic homeland. Therefore, if they cannotafford to come to us, we need to go to them”. What relationship with them, because they speak the Turkic languageand Central Asia is our sisters in Central Asia. There are two reasons for usnot to forget them and to establisha effective projects inashortperiod of time. very achieved has Council meeting. TheTurkic this organizing for Secretariat Council the Turkic permission, I would like to give the floor to Mr. Matis. and brother country Hungaryin Ankara, Mr. Victor Matisis with us today. With your Youus. sharedChargésincere d’Affaires yourwith very thoughts Embassy ofour friend ofthe We did very important work with Ambassador Akıncı erstwhileinKyrgyzstan. Since our In aspeechin1923, Ataturk hassaidsomethinglike this: “Never forget our brothers and Mr. President, all the participants,I would like to thank on behalf of myself andmy Embassy S E C R E T A R Y

G E A N m E R b A a L

s A A s M m a B d b A o S a r Q S s

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E d O t S h o R T e

r H

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Y S Dear Ambassador,much. veryyou Thank e W U p u N E b R U l i S c O

t o V

T , u r k e y

TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION Ankara. Cooperation andactive relations betweenHungaryand Turkey does notmerely consist Member Statesofthe with the and the other Turkic Council.institutions, Turkic academics andpeople of culture are always open to collaboration with the Turkic Council, with I least, think andacceptassuch. Hungarian. This does not only mean friendship. This probably meanskinship, brotherhood. At language Icanspeakin the easiest way. Becauseif you lookat itslogic,italmost the sameas Council Meetingis taking place there at this moment. formal talks inHungaryand the secondHungarian-Turkish HighLevel Strategic Cooperation of Turkey and8members of the Ministerial Commission accompanying himare conducting I feel Iamnotan ordinary Iam guest, one of you and for this Iamgrateful. V Thirdly, I want to express this pointinline with my work at the Embassy of Hungaryin Second, ina very simple way I want to express that the Hungarian Government, scientists, I would like to apologize first. Turkish isa foreign language for me.However, itis the foreign My Ambassador isnotin Turkey this week, because today, the PrimeMinister of the Republic It isanhonor for me to behere as Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Hungaryin Ankara. Dear Secretary General, Dear Ambassadors, DearPresidents, i c t o r

M A T I S ,

C h a r g é

d ’ A f f a i r e s

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A n k a r a invitation. and we have very intensive efforts on this issue. Thank you very much once again for the high level. Of course, we also want to further strengthen our bilateraleconomicrelationship Hungarian Parliament Speaker was here. In the time ahead, we will continue our contactsata President of Hungary will payan official visit to Turkey in two weeks. Three weeks ago, the brotherhood shouldbepresent. As I said,PrimeMinisterH.E.Davutoğluis today inHungary, of cooperationbetween two countries that view each other with sympathy. Again, kinship, Assembly, Dr. Sinan Oğan. Parliament ofthe Member of givelike the floor to Now, to National would I Turkish Grand The bestexampleis the inclusion of our Hungarian our brothers andsisters in this cooperation. without discriminating based on religion or race for fraternal peaceandeconomicstability. who desires to walk with us,hasa tolerant approach, andseeks to strengthen cooperation it with here.you matter will becommunicated to the Hungariansideassoonpossible.Iampleased to share the commonconsiderationandapproval of the Heads of State of our Member States. This to bea formal guestat the Heads of State Summit to beheldin September inKazakhstan on Hungary President of invitation of cooperation. directionworking onthe Westarted ofour also approvalsParliament ofthe of Chairmen of Azerbaijan, Turkey,Kyrgyzstan.and shows the This for hispresence here and for hisspeechin fluent Anatolian Turkish. S Therefore, what are we trying to tell in this context? We are ready to work with everyone The HungarianParliament was unanimously granted observer statusat TURKPA with the E C R E T A R Y

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H [ A 37 S A N ] O V - I would like to thank Mr. Viktor Matis

TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION Council? This ismy first question. invited to this exhibition.Is there ajointstatement on today’s meaningandimportanceby the National Assembly. Dear Ambassadors, especially Mr. Secretary General andall our friends are of pictures andgoods will beheld today at5pm the Cultural Center of the Turkish Grand activities are carried out inconnection with Khojaly Massacre. On this occasion, anexhibition wounds ofthe bleeding that oneofthe Turkic Massacre.WorldKhojaly is the Today,many because what we have seenis far from allpolitical thought. in Hungary, Mr. Secretary General, I do notknow, couldbe organized within the Council, most importantparts of the Turan, Hungary, in this ring.I wish Turan Congress heldevery year Secondly, I would like to express my further happiness on hearing the inclusion of one of the Secondly, many Turkmen brothers are livingin Ankara, inmany parts of Turkey, butingreat The reason I wanted to speak was Mr. Secretary General, to ask you a question. You know I First, would like to express that I was happy to see the Turkic World coming together. I amhere among you bothasachair of strategy centerandasamember of parliament. Thank you. D r . R

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I Ü n t R e K r S n A a t M i o ) n a l respects. tragedy. Is there astepin this regard that the Turkic Council isintending to take? I offer my number in Ankara. Our Turkmen brothers living outside our borders are facing ahumanitarian we need the establishment of aninternationalhumanitarianaid organization under the on behalf of humanity. its work in order for our brothers to live inpeaceregardless of how far or near they mightbe Council isaninternational organization establishedafterastruggle of 20 years, andcontinues on this issueand other issues that fall within the scope of our mission. As aresult, the Turkic peoples isamatter that canberealized inalong time. We will continuelending our support in the framework of UN parametersassoonpossible.Delivery of the legitimaterights of all mission of the UN Secretarygood office General resolvedcontext ofthe be within the should withheld andstrive for this end. brothers are living. We would like peace for all oppressed peoples whose humanrightsare duty to informandmobilize the internationalcommunityabout the drama our Turkmen necessary steps within the framework of internationallegalnorms.However, we allhave a States’ mechanismsat the level of Senior Officials andMinisters will beable to take the importance to us.In this regard, inline with our operating principles,Ibelieve that our Member everyone. to Member States ofthe go outsideofthis Thus, frame. not Turkic Council do There are legal frameworks within internationallawinline with the UN resolutions acceptable Our top priorityprincipleismutualrespect. Give value to us,so that we alsogive you value. accurate detectionofthe and sharing Turkic World’ssensitivities. own Customs Union was being discussed. The Turkic Council isalsoservingasa vehicle for mutual shown anexample of precious brotherhood while issue of Armenia’s application to the Eurasian Mr.Farhad justmentioned that President of the Republic of KazakhstanH.E.Nazarbayev, has regardparties. all thirdin this to Member States common thoughtsofour our Republic of integrity ofthe protectingAzerbaijan. theterritorial necessity of Wethe convey Nagorno-Karabakh. Numerous decisions have beenadoptedby the UN Security Council about Karabakh conflict. There are already official statementsacceptedby our Heads of State on not see the Khojaly Massacre asaseparateissue. Khojaly Massacre ispart of the Nagorno- and we also wished all our friends who becamemartyrsamercy from God. Of course, we do your permission,letmeanswer. S A On the other hand,I think the current situationin the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus The sustenance of our Turkmen brothers on strong foundations isamong the issues of It isclear that as the Turkic Council, we are notan organization founded againstanyone. PresidentialRepublic CenterChairman ofthe of forStrategicStudiesofthe Azerbaijan We hadanexchange of ideasabout the Khojaly Massacre at the beginning of the meeting, E

P C A R R E T T I A C R I P Y A

G N E T N : Although I do notknow ifit fits this organization’s structure, butI think E R A L

A M B A S S A D O R

H [ A 39 S A N ] O V - Thank you very muchDr. Sinan. With

TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION World.Thank you. and sistersalongsideus today, this isaslanderaimednot only at Turkey but the whole Turkic allegations of so-calledgenocide. Of course, we as Turkey would like to seeall our brothers of stain on black a Turkey,Turkey.put are tryingto they 100th year ofthe is the This year in front big obstacle sentence. Sir,morea know,add one youbring are thisyear tryingto they an initiative not only on politicalissues,butalsoin the field of humanitarianassistance.Imust useful for thisorganization totakea be umbrellawould ofthe it I think Turkic Because Council. permission. Friends, letscontinuesharing our thoughts. I will nowgive the floor in order with your progress in this regard as well. homeland throughHopefully,haveabroad this in the totheir framework. futurewill living we ethnic commitment of protecting the Turks’ is defending ourselves.goal same time,the At the related unitsand the Secretariat to ensure coordination. The problem isnot just amatter of 500 thousand associations for Turks. Wepreventarecenters. tryingto thisthrough thediaspora 650 thousand bringing togetherthe areexample, there Because for Turkic diaspora? in need toorganizehave thediaspora. difficulty we Whywe as thediaspora, do the diaspora centers inParis, Washington andBerlin. our first diaspora centerinKievlastDecember. We are working for the establishment of similar regard from our Heads of State upon the approval of the responsible Ministers. We established cooperate, where centers of diaspora will beestablished. We alsoreceived instructionsin this will how thediaspora strategies for put downour practice. we regularOn thesedocuments, and heldalarge congress inBaku. We connectedall this to documents in accordance with our within the framework ofthe bring togetherthediaspora workedwe obstacle, to Turkic Council number, butit is debatable whether itseffectisat the samemagnitude. To overcome this take. Secretariat isalso on the table. However, we need to putin order the additionalsteps we will umbrella ofthe under the Member States assistance ofour humanitarian organizations of idea of sharedwith thedecision-makingorgans,not yet the though bringing togetherthe to bring together similar organizations in the Turkic World ineacharea of cooperation.Likewise, S A How will these Diaspora centers operate? Diaspora How will these Member both States the They willworkwith in the field ofdiaspora? cooperation Youpurpose of with contend is the have to what So, I need to mention this on the issue of 1915events. Turkic diaspora reaches millionsin S E E M C C B R R A E E S T T S A A A R R D Y Y

O

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- A M I will first refer to the issue of internationalaidagencies. We aim M B B A A S S S S A A D D O O R R

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Please AmbassadorAkıncı. Thank you Ambassador Akıncı. Dear you AmbassadorAkıncı. Thank My first question is this. My first question position of assess the how doyou TRTprocess?wonder I in this Avaztelevision, issue, onthis important tools will be the massmedia.In this context, for example, you mentionedajoint most course, our so, of In doing we dothat? How do societies. and our countries between our in the field and the relevant peopleand institutions to take place on the rightground. much work we do within a theoretical framework, itisnecessary for the cooperation of experts important part of the efforts towards the Turkic World is the work in the field. Nomatterhow beneficial to the normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. Of course, the most active role through the joint diaspora center. Ialsobelieve that similarefforts would be context of the embargo, Iconsider it would beuseful for the Turkic Council to playamore global developments at the moment, the relations with Russiaand the Ukraine and within the activities in other Turkic Republics is our heartfelt wish. The matterI want to mention secondly is this. We need to make the bestuse of not only For example,Ibelieve, most importantly, we need to eliminate the perceptual differences I would like to addsomethingasacontribution to the Armenian issue.In inlight fact, of such implementation of Yes, the In fact, event. beautiful all thankyou for this first of A s s o c .

P r o f .

K ü r ş a t

Z O R L U ,

F a c u [ l 41 t y

] M e m b e r

o f

A h i

E v r a n

U n i v e r s i t y

TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION we are doing our best to speed up the process. and members ofthe condition thattheydeterminethetime probable onthe Turkic as Council invitation of the hostcountryKazakhstan.I see Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan becoming full for the Turkic Council. Also, Uzbekistan’s participationin the Summit isexpectedat the Republic of Turkey ispredicted. Ibelieve the visit in question will alsobe apositive contribution result yet. The recent developments are promising. A visit to Uzbekistan by President of the Uzbekistan. In the case of Uzbekistan, Icannot tell you frankly that we have achieved agreat Meeting. time in2014, Turkmenistan’s representatives have participatedin the Ministers of Education Bodrum Summit at the level of the Head of State as the guest of the hostcountry. For the first tends to pursueamore active stance on this issue.Indeed, Turkmenistan participatedin the countries in question have beeninvited to almostall Turkic Council meetings. Turkmenistan Mr.Halil Uzbekistan. Since Akıncı’s as the brotherGeneral Secretary, termsofoffica both ofthe issues of where andhow the joint TV station will besetup will beclarified. work, the stages ofour later In the issue. cooperation onthis implementation ofthe proper Heads of State at the Summit. There are already instructionsby our Heads of State for the affairs will bemeetingsoon. The results of the MinisterialMeeting will bepresented to our result by utilizing the existing potential.In the nextstage, the Ministersincharge of media discussing the details of our joint television project. I firmly believe that we will reach agood internationally suchas CVS in Azerbaijan, HabarinKazakhstanand TRT Avaz in Turkey are Istanbul .In this context, the representatives of the television channelsbroadcasting TRT at the level of DeputyDirector General in our ongoing meeting on the subjectmatterin of recent developments. Later, we will take Ambassador Akıncı’s contributions. Uzbekistan? Thank you. Uzbekistan? Thank member of the Council, but what sort of process isstipulated for the participation of Uzbekistan in the Council this year? Itseemsmore plausible for Turkmenistan to becomea give anaccurateresult. our unityandsolidarity to amore solidground correctly, we cannotexpect our activities to including our own country, in other words, if we do notuse our humancapital that will carry media studies.If we cannotbring together the rightpeople, our peoplein the Turkic Republics especially in the last few years, someactivities which brought people together suchascommon our economicresources, butalso our humancapital. We have seenin Turkey at various times, S I would like to givelike the floor to to would now.I Ambassador Akıncı We are carrying out bilateralandmultilateralmeetings with both Turkmenistan and On the other hand,I would like to add the following regarding Turkmenistan and With regard to the joint TV channelsand TRT Avaz, there iscurrently participation from the Lastly, what are the latest developments regarding the inclusion of Turkmenistan and E C R E T A R Y

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H A [ S 42 A N ] O V - I will answer your questions on the basis answer your questionsonthe will I recommend you to read it. it. recommendread you to by Ambassador Altay Cengizer called“Just Memory of Light.” He touches on this issue,I may. After all, we are Inrecenttalking abouthistoricalpast. days, aninteresting bookappeared persistently. We need to grasp though that this policy will notbearany results. Come what with contact Armenia. Wewith the something wereArmenians theonestryingtodo of Armenia and the Diasporamustbeseen. We were always the one continuously looking for transportation viatheCaspianSea. expectation that the port of Turkmenbashi will becomemore effective within the context of meetings. Turkmenistan ismore interested, becauseitsawbenefits.For example, there is the in this regard. In the first stage, we inviterepresentatives of bothcountries to technical outside the Council. Ibelieve that as our successgrows, they alsocould take considerablesteps depends on the course of itsinternalconditions.Itisnot worthy of desire for them to remain in addition to notjoining the organization asamember. began to take acoldstancein the Summit Process. Itstartednotparticipatingin the summits A S As Republicfor the Armenian question;betweenthedynamics ofthe first thedifferences Uzbekistan’s cooperation with the Council, its willingness to join the Council largely E M C B R A E S T A S A R Y D

O G E R N

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A A M K I B N A C S I S : A Since hosting the Tashkent summitin1996, Uzbekistan D O R

H A [ 43 S S A ] N O V : Yes, goaheadplease.

TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION as oneofthe Turkic efforts ofthe Council’sapplauding the institutions. While Turkic associated and to increase the level of collaboration. I want to particularly mention the Turkic Academy has been working with allitspower to improve relations with a young Turkic World perspective are very importantservices. common massmedia outlets, and the increase of Turkic World studies within the universities very importantstepin this direction. The establishment of the Turkic Academy andsome and issues.Particularly, the establishment of the Turkic Council inNakhichevan in2009isa At no time initshistory had the Turkic World metso often, andhadspoken aboutitsproblems participate. When we lookat the bigpicture, we canalsoseesome very nice developments. Soviet Union. For example,somecannotjoinus,but we hope that in the future they may a historicalsituation. We cannotice that there are someproblems since the collapse of the square kilometerscancommunicatein Turkish andcome together. Coming together isperhaps over this wide area. Indeed, today apopulation of over 200millioninanarea of 11 million Sea Research Center. We heard today the Turkic Council, we alsoknowit from itsactivities. The Turkic Council I think that atno time initshistoryhad Turkic language found an opportunity to spread First, I would like to thank you for inviting me to this meeting as the Chairman of the Black as the Chairman ofthe meeting me to this likeinviting tothankyouwould I for First, P r o f .

B i l g e h a n

G Ö K D A Ğ ,

C h a i r [ m 44 a ] n

o f

B l a c k

S e a

R e s e a r c h

C e n t e r every kind of appreciation. With these words, Igreet you all with respect. encompassing all the Turkic World at the BakumeetinginMayshouldbeapplaudedbeyond important step that civilsociety organizations are invitedhere today. The effort to do this some more information on this subject?Finally, I want to finish my words with this. Itisa very in Kazakhstan. Turkic Academy needs to deepen its work in the Turcology field. Can we get scientists and Turcologists are notinvited to meetings andanunderstanding of justbeingstuck Academy untilnow, I think itremains within anarrow framework. The reason is that both Turks livingin Turkey and outside Turks. The Britishalsostart and to use“Turkish Turkic” to 1924, a distinction started and to bemadeinRussianbetween“Turski Türetski” to differentiate another issue. When we focus on the words and “Turkish Turkic”, asituationarisesassuch.In Future scientific work will continue on this subject. Taking the opportunity, I would like to raise scientists isHalaçoglu,comes from Itisa that. Turkic tribe that dominates inIndia. Turcologist Doerfler. You know that the Khalajpeople isa Turkic tribe. The name of one of our being done in this regard?in this being done wonder what kind of policiesare followed by the Turkic Council and what kinds of work are Tehran, this is obvious. Besides this, the Khalaj Turkic languageisspoken in the best way. I it seems that afterIstanbul the city with the most Turkic-speaking populationin the world is for work done in this area. Ialso want to mention one final thing. On the Iran Turkic community, mythological storiesand tales, Iseenomoves towards I’m suchacompilationeffort. waiting and fairy tales, andcreated acommonculture with their compilation. Although we have many Grimm toured all over Europe in the 17thand18thcenturiescollectingEuropean publicstories but I think we are alittlebehindinbenefiting from this in terms of building the future. Brothers history andliterature booksbeing written. We commemorate the historyinacommon way, together the scienceandresearch potential of the Turkic nations. will becomeacompletecenter of science.Inasense,it will beaninstitution that brings undertake Turcology andhistory-related projects and will deal also with other sciences. So, it Academy will beable to work ina way that couldanswerexpectations. The Academy will are resolved, the establishmentandcomplementary agreements are completed; the Turkic issues Member States. AcademyAfter thefinancial throughcontributions ofour thevoluntary expand theopportunitiesof Now,areworking to international organization. we an Turkic as efforts with the grantmadeby the Kazakhs. Only in the periodahead will they begin to operate the agreements related to its financial issuesare at the signingstage. They are continuing their not yet completed.In this context, the Academy’s work today isjust to prove their presence, signed at the Bishkek However,Summit. the legalinfrastructure of the Academy structure is Kazakh institutionbecameaninternational organization beginningin2012 with the agreement A Naturally, they fall within the field of scientificstudy, they are citizens of anotherstate. V S A E O M M C L B B R K A A E A S S T N A S S A A R

B D Y D U

O O G D E R R A N

K H H E : A A R I amaninternat SAM Turkey. We talked about the projects of common L L A İ İ L L L

A A A M K K I I B N N A C C S I I S : : A The Turkic Academy which was establishedasanational Khalaj Turkic people was discovered inIranby German D O R

H A [ 45 S A N ] O V : Thank you very much. Thank you very

TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION who would like to aska question? since 1998. We have been witnessing the establishment of the Turkic Council and the meetings accomplished that would notnormally fit five years. Ihave beenarepresentative at TURKSOY activities in the last five years. As Ilistened, witnessed that great works have been important andIlistenedHalilHodja with muchcuriosity telling usabout the Turkic Council’s be more accurate to say. Russian and Turkish. “Türkdildeş (thosespeaking Turkic languages)countries” would perhaps translation from Russian. We were preparing the Delarations of the Summits in the 1990sin to call the brother Republics”.Turkic statesas“Turkic Turkic-speaking statesisactually a directly “Türktili”. accommodate this distinction. In fact, there isnoconcept of Turkic. Poet Alisher Navoi says Mr. Secretary General, Mr. Ambassador, Mr. MP, dear participants, the meeting today is very S A decision was made by the Ministry of ForeignMinistry of byRepublic the made Affairs ofthe was 1990s A decision in the Turkey E C R E T A R Y

G E E l N ç E i n R A

G R L

e A A p M F u F B A b A l R S i c S L A

I o , D

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H e n [ r A t b 46 S r a A y i N

] j R a O e n V p

a : r Please, goahead. Are there any others t e

s T e Ü n R t K a t S i O v e Y

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encouragement. TV personalities,inshortmembers of the media who work on the Turkic World for song contestevent continues. TURKSOY also distributes every year press awards to journalists, 2015, we chose the pearl of Turkmenistan, Mervas the culture capital.Inaddition, Turk Vision Autonomous Republic of Tatarstan in2014 were declared Turkic World Culture Capital. For practice in2012.In this framework, Astana in2012,Eskişehir2013,Kazan, the capital of year to the 70thanniversary of UNESCO. Inaddition, we started Turkic World Culture Capital 100 and120performers from the Turkic World to Paris, and we will dedicate our concert this the Turkey Turkish. with and Republics five countries. We hadKöroğlu Opera performances from Almaty to Istanbul,inall Turkic instance, ss TURKSOY, we brought together 250performersandplayed the Köroğlu Opera in and the artsis TURKSOY. In this regard, I wanted to give someinformation on TURKSOY. For that canunify our civilization,culture, arts,literature andhistory within the fields of culture geographyBalkans. fromlarge Wesay thattheonly Siberiatothe organizationwithin the can we work in the fields of culture and the artsand we encompassall the Turkic speakingpeoples larger geography in the field of culturalcooperation.Because without beinginvolved inpolitics, first organization establishedin1993 oriented towards the Turkic World. We canaddress a the field of culture like anarm of the Turkic Council. As our HalilHodjasaid, TURKSOY is the Heads of State Summit with agrand TURKSOY concert. TURKSOY isaunifyinginstitutionin at Nakhichevansince then. We celebrated the 20thanniversary of TURKSOY at the Gabala its Ministry of Foreign Affairs for itssupportprovided to usuntilnow and for the future. Akıncı for being with us today. platform. I would like to thank all our speakers and the first Secretary General Ambassador now developed this platform. Our commonactivitiesmightbecarried out through this the results of the meetingasareport. Our productive activities will continuesince we have Usul and AVİM Director Ambassador Alev Kılıç for their cooperation. today as Turkic Council, SAM and AVIM. I would like to thank SAM Chairman Prof Dr. Ali Resul work of support the wholeheartedlywe TURKSOY.meeting we organizedguests, our Dear S On 24th of March we will celebrateNowruzat UNESCO inParis and we will take between I would like to repeat my gratitude to the Republic of Turkey, our Chairman-in-Office and I would like to thank you for your participationandcontributions. We are planning to publish E C R E T A R Y

G E N E R A L

A M B A S S A D O R

H A [ S 47 A N ] O V - Dear participants,as the Turkic Council

TURKIC COUNCIL AND COOPERATION IN EURASIA IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION