Turkic states’ 13th leaders’ summit begins in Ankara

The 13th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) began in Ankara on Friday, Anadolu Agency reported.

Hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan under the theme “Turkic Century: Unity in Language, Thought and Deed,” the summit opened with leaders gathering for a family photo. Erdogan welcomed the visiting leaders as they arrived at the Bestepe National Exhibition Hall.

The photograph featured Erdogan, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Tufan Erhurman, representing observer states. OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev also took part.

At the entrance to the hall, soldiers carrying flags representing the 16 historical Turkic states greeted the visiting leaders, alongside soldiers dressed in traditional janissary uniforms.