Prime Minister Ünal Üstel has travelled to Baku, Azerbaijan, to attend the official opening ceremony of the international conference titled “Turkish States: Towards New Strategic Goals in the Context of Geostrategic Realities and Global Disasters.”
During the conference, Üstel will deliver a speech and engage in discussions with political party leaders and representatives from other member countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).
Prime Minister Ünal Üstel’s agenda on Thursday includes visits to the mausoleum of Azerbaijan’s national leader Heydar Aliyev and the Turkish martyrs’ memorials.
He will also meet with members of the press in Baku before travelling to Shusha tomorrow to participate in the conference.
The conference, set to begin in Shusha on Friday, will feature two sessions: “The Organization of Turkic States: Regional Contribution to Global Security” and “Party Diplomacy as a New Dialogue Platform in the Context of Modernity and Shared Values.”
Before he departed for Azerbaijan, Üstel spoke to the press, highlighting the significant progress in relations with Turkic states since the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) became an observer member of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).
“Our relations with Azerbaijan have reached an unprecedented level. Azerbaijan’s sincere efforts to foster connections between the Turkish Cypriots and the world bring us great joy. The cooperation protocol signed between the National Unity Party (UBP) and the New Azerbaijan Party exemplifies the kind of partnership that this conference aims to promote. Strong inter-party cooperation has positively impacted inter-state relations.”
Üstel emphasized the importance of strengthening ties with all member countries of the Organization of Turkic States, not only at the governmental level but also through party and civil society collaborations.
“I am delighted to be in liberated Shusha. Holding this conference in Shusha, a territory reclaimed by Azerbaijan, is highly significant. Our goal is to establish Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Groups with all member countries of the Organization of Turkic States. Following Azerbaijan’s lead in forming the Azerbaijan-TRNC Friendship Group, we aim to see similar groups established by other member countries. Full membership in the Organization of Turkic States is not far off. Recently, President Aliyev openly supported TRNC’s full membership. We salute him and believe that in the not-too-distant future, we will become a full member of the Turkish States.”
Addressing a question related to the conference’s theme, Üstel stressed the importance of coordinated and effective collaboration in response to potential disasters in the Turkic geography.
“We must establish concrete mechanisms to stand by each other during difficult times, in addition to our existing emotional bonds. The consensus on creating the ‘Organization of Turkic States Civil Protection Mechanism’ is crucial. We are ready to contribute with our capabilities, experience, and resources,” he said.