Cooperation among Turkic-speaking states to intensify
By Aynur Karimova
Integration between the multi-million-strong Turkic-speaking nations, spread across northern, eastern, central, and western Asia, northwestern China, the Caucasus, Russia, Turkey, and parts of Eastern Europe, is becoming even more intense.
The Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States, a new union of countries bound together by ethnicity and a common history and culture, has the potential to become a more successful union than ever before.
Statements made at the 5th Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States in Astana on September 11 reaffirmed their interest in an even closer partnership.
Based on a shared history and culture, the Turkic-speaking countries of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, and Kyrgyzstan are successfully cooperating within many organizations such as TurkPA, TURKSOY, alongside the Turkic Council in the humanitarian, cultural, economic and trade fields.
"The humanitarian sphere is the main area that unites us. From this point of view, I want to specifically praise the work of TURKSOY," said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in his remarks. "TURKSOY unites not only our states but also all Turkic peoples. I am convinced that we will continue to support the activities of this organization."
Today, the Turkic-speaking countries take various steps toward the revival of common roots and are implementing joint projects in this regard. The Turkic Academy, which gained international status in 2014, successfully coordinates and promotes research on the history of the Turkic world, as well as Turkish language, literature, and culture.
Given the fact that the Turkic-speaking countries enjoy deep historical roots, a rich and colorful culture, and significant prospects for tourism, the creation of the first international Turkic news channel is of great importance to promote this unity.
"The creation of a common TV channel also manifests our intentions and demonstrates our policy," President Aliyev noted. "I believe that our culture, history, and national values, including our present life, will arouse a lot of interest among our peoples and the whole world. I am sure that the common TV channel will soon be accessed by international audiences and become a channel of great interest that reflects our policy."
Also, the establishment of the Foundation of Turkic Culture and Heritage will create an excellent opportunity to devise various projects in the future.
Security important for Turkic-speaking countries
Azerbaijan has suffered for many years under Armenia's aggressive belief in a "Great Armenia," an idea that dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. The occupation of 20 percent of an integral part of Azerbaijan -- Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions -- was the continuation of this policy. Even the present-day Armenia, a region known as Zangezur, is a part of ancient Turkic lands.
President Aliyev stressed that Zangezur’s separation from Azerbaijan in the early 20th century and its transfer to Armenia essentially disrupted the geographical continuity of the Turkic world.
"Not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also Zangezur, an ancient Turkic region, is our historical land," President Aliyev said. "Naturally, our relationship is strengthening with each passing day, but from a geographical point of view, we are separated from each other."
Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding seven districts, recognized by the international community as an integral part of Azerbaijan, are under Armenian occupation. Armenia has violated all legal norms, conducted a policy of ethnic cleansing in these regions, and more than a million Azerbaijanis have become refugees and IDPs in their native land.
Despite the injustice that Azerbaijan always seems to face, Baku supports a peaceful resolution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of the norms and principles of international law, sovereignty, inviolability of borders, and the territorial integrity of states. Baku objects to lack of enforcement of the UN Security Council's four resolutions demanding an unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian Armed Forces from occupied Azerbaijani lands.
"Unfortunately, Armenia ignores them, continues the occupation and acts insincerely and unconstructively in the talks," President Aliyev said.
Economy in focus
Turkic-speaking countries enjoy great potential for economic interaction. Covering a vast area, these countries possess an abundance of natural resources and great prospects for transit and infrastructure. Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan, in particular, have significant hydrocarbon resources and are interested in exporting them to European markets. Azerbaijan, which has an excellent geographical position and developed infrastructure, serves as a direct route to gas-hungry Europe. Complex approach and smart organization is of great importance in this regard.
Turkic-speaking states have been historically strategic trade partners for centuries, having traditional transportation means such as caravans of camels and horses. Turks traversed the sun-scorched steppes and deserts of Central Asia along the Great Silk Road from China to Europe to exchange silk for medicines, perfumes, and precious stones.
The strategic unity of the Turkic-speaking countries have enabled a revival of the Great Silk Road, taking only 15 days for trains to transport containers carrying electronic goods, construction materials, and other cargo to their final destination in Europe. Beginning in Chongqing in southwest China, this road passes 10,800 kilometers to reach Duisburg in Germany's industrial Ruhr region.
Azerbaijan, which is located at the crossroads of East and West, also plays a crucial role in these international transport routes. The country ferries hydrocarbons from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and seeks to contribute even more to this transportation corridor by creating a modern infrastructure. A new international trade seaport is currently under construction in Baku. The total capacity of this port will be 25 million tons. At the same time, the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is underway.
"I am sure that after the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is completed, tens of millions of tons of new goods will pass through our territory, thus meeting both economic and political interests," President Aliyev noted.
Turkic-speaking countries have great energy potential
Today the security of any country is directly related to its energy security. Thanks to a bounty of energy resources, there are extensive opportunities for cooperation of the Turkic-speaking countries in the energy sector.
"We have already established a multi-format cooperation here. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are engaged in successful operations in the Caspian Sea. At the same time, our main export routes pass through Turkey. Thus, these factors connect us to each other even more closely," the Azerbaijani president said.
The Turkic Council was established in 2009 as an international intergovernmental organization, with the overarching aim of promoting comprehensive cooperation among Turkic-speaking countries. Its four founding member is Azerbaijan.
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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova
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