A large-scale event was held in Baku today to mark the 100th anniversary of the First Turkological Congress as part of the "Turkic World Week." The event, which brought together scholars, officials, and representatives of international organizations, focused on fostering scientific, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation among Turkic nations.
In a statement to the Operative Information Center-OMM, member of the Milli Majlis Hikmat Babaoğlu noted that the current commemorations represent the realization of ideas envisioned by ancestors a century ago. He emphasized that this process is being spearheaded by Azerbaijan, which provides the political environment necessary for these goals to flourish.
The First Turkological Congress, originally held in 1926, aimed to unify Turkic languages and alphabets but was largely suppressed during the Soviet era. Today, the Organization of Turkic States (OTS)—which evolved from the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States established in Nakhchivan in 2009—provides the robust political framework required to realize these historical aspirations. The ongoing events, which include sessions in the liberated territories of Garabagh, specifically in Shusha, Khankendi, and Aghdam, underscore the region's liberation and the strengthening of pan-Turkic integration within the new global order.
Babaoğlu highlighted the significance of President Ilham Aliyev's vision, noting that the statement, "The Turkic world is our family, because we have no other family," reflects the modern political reality of these long-held aspirations. He added that Azerbaijan, in coordination with the Organization of Turkic States, is positioning itself as a key power center in the evolving global landscape.
