Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov attended and addressed the 13th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Ankara, the capital of Türkiye.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided the information to “Operative Information Center-OMM”.
At the start of his speech, Bayramov thanked Türkiye for organizing the summit at a high level and for its hospitality, and once again congratulated the Turkish people on the 103rd anniversary of the Republic.
Bayramov said that “Regional peace and security” had been Azerbaijan’s main priority during its year-long chairmanship of the OTS. He stressed the importance of this priority amid escalating international conflicts, growing security threats and violations of the norms and principles of international law.
He noted that Azerbaijan had fully restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty and brought the conflict to an end. The text of a peace agreement based on principles proposed by Azerbaijan was initialed last year, and Armenia must take the necessary political and legal steps for the agreement to be signed, he said.
Large-scale reconstruction and development work is underway in the Garabagh and East Zangezur regions, where modern infrastructure is being built. About 100,000 people live, work and study in these areas, the statement said.
During Azerbaijan’s OTS chairmanship, meetings were held among foreign ministers, secretaries of security councils and heads of defense industry bodies. A Cooperation Roadmap for the defense industry for 2027 was adopted, it said.
Expanding economic cooperation within the OTS was identified as a key priority. The development of the Middle Corridor, implementation of the Zangezur corridor, expansion of transport links, mutual investment and joint projects are creating new opportunities for cooperation in trade and industry, the statement said.
Azerbaijan continues to serve as a reliable supplier of traditional energy resources while also contributing to the development of green energy and digital links between Central Asia and Europe.
During Azerbaijan’s chairmanship, meetings of the Council of Central Bank Governors and heads of Financial Monitoring Services were also held in Baku, and a relevant cooperation platform was established.
Highlighting the importance of preserving shared history, language and cultural heritage, the statement noted that Baku hosted Turkic World Week dedicated to the centenary of the First Turkological Congress, as well as a meeting of the Council of Heads of Muslim Religious Administrations this year.
Bayramov emphasized the importance of the OTS+ format in strengthening the organization’s international standing and said efforts to secure observer status for the OTS in the UN General Assembly should continue.
At the end of his speech, Bayramov thanked member states for their support during Azerbaijan’s chairmanship and wished Türkiye success during its term.
He also expressed gratitude to outgoing Secretary-General Kubanychbek Omuraliev for his contribution to the organization’s development, congratulated newly appointed Secretary-General Mirvokhid Azimov and wished him success in his work.
The Ankara Declaration was adopted at the end of the summit.
