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By Trend

The work carried out within the 7th Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States (Turkic Council) in Baku contributes to the integration of politics and economy of the countries of the Turkic world, Turkish expert Murat Akan told Trend on Oct. 16.

“The important steps have been taken over the past 10-15 years in terms of strengthening relations among the Turkic countries,” the expert said.

"This summit will play an important role in strengthening ties among the Turkic-speaking countries,” Akan said. “It is already time to demonstrate the unity of the Turkic peoples to the whole world."

The expert added that the meeting in Baku is an event of not only political, but also economic unions.

Akan expressed hope that the issue of organizing a unified army protecting the Turkic peoples may be raised within the summit.

"Turkish ex-President Turgut Ozal has done a great job to strengthen relations among the Turkic peoples,” he said. “I hope that Turkish incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attach even more importance to this issue."

“During Azerbaijan’s chairmanship in the Turkic Council, the development of economic ties and the promotion of the cultural heritage of the Turkic world will be the priority spheres,” Azerbaijani MP, political analyst Elman Nasirov told Trend on Oct. 16.

“The development of cooperation among peoples and countries in the cultural, social and economic spheres is considered an important basis for implementation of political integration,” the political analyst said.

“The formation of collective national self-awareness among young people is also important here,” Nasirov said. “First President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev’s statement made during the meeting with the Azerbaijani president “I want to continue to help strengthen the relations between our states, develop Turkic-speaking states. We now need to change the word “Turkic-speaking” to something else, to Turkic states" testifies that the issue of national self-awareness is considered at a very high level.”

“The cooperation among the Turkic-speaking countries, which is considered one of the priorities of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy, turns member-states into more independent players in the region and on the world political arena,” the political analyst said. “Strengthening of the political integration of the countries within the organization amid regional threats and new challenges will soon expand the opportunities for maneuver in the system of international relations."

“The summit of the Turkic Council in Baku will create new opportunities for cooperation among Turkic-speaking countries,” Editor-in-chief of the Turkish newspaper Bolge Postasi Ufuk Coskun told Trend.

“The union of Turkic-speaking countries will develop day by day and will cover even more spheres in the future and will also play an important role in ensuring security in the region,” the editor-in-chief said.

“Otherwise, the Turkic-Islamic world will always be exposed to external threats,” Coskun said.

The 7th Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States (Turkic Council) was held in Baku. Uzbekistan for the first time participated in the summit as a full member. Moreover, the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also attended the summit.

The Turkic Council was established on October 3, 2009 in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan city. The purpose of the council is to develop comprehensive cooperation among member-states. Seven meetings have been held with the participation of leaders of member-states of the Council since the day of its establishment.

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