Uzbekistan’s entry into the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) has become a significant event in strengthening the unity of the Turkic world. As an integral part of the Turkic world, Uzbekistan has always participated in the formation of the organization before its formal entry into the OTS It has always been and remains a country whose spiritual heritage is one of the fundamental foundations, the economic and cultural cradle of the Turkic-Islamic civilization.
Thanks to specific initiatives put forward by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the summits in Baku in October 2019, April 2020, in Turkestan in March 2021 and in Istanbul in November 2021, previously untapped opportunities for mutually beneficial partnership between member states are opening up.
Thus, 2021 has become a productive year for the Turkic world with important events. It is impossible to overestimate the role of Uzbekistan in this. In June 2021, the 6th meeting of the ministers of tourism was held in Kokand, during which they discussed the implementation of the Tabarruk ziyorat project, previously initiated by President Mirziyoyev. The sides fully supported this project, agreed to form a working group for its implementation and create a tourist map of pilgrimage sites of the participating countries. In this regard, the city of Kokand was declared for the first time the Tourist Capital of the Turkic World.
In September 2021, the Forum of Young Entrepreneurs was held in Uzbekistan for the first time, initiated by the Uzbek leader, in which more than 250 young entrepreneurs from Turkic countries took part. Within the framework of the forum, the organization also held the 5th meeting of the Ministers for Youth and Sports.
In honor of the announcement of Khiva as the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World, the International Cultural Forum “Central Asia at the Crossroads of World Civilizations” was held in Khiva in September 2021, as well as the 38th meeting of the Permanent Council of Ministers of Culture of the TURKSOY Member States.
At the same time, a landmark event was the establishment of the International Prize of the Organization of Turkic States named after Alisher Navoi “For Contribution to the Unity of the Turkic World on the initiative of the president of Uzbekistan, which once again confirms the recognition of his special role and contribution to the unification of the Turkic peoples.
Conventionally, the process of formation and development of the Organization of Turkic States can be divided into three stages.
The first stage of development began immediately after the collapse of the USSR and the Summit of the heads of Turkic-speaking states held in 1992 in Ankara, which was attended by the presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan. Later, such meetings of the presidents were held in Istanbul in 1994, 2001 and 2010, Bishkek in 1995, Tashkent in 1996, Astana in 1998, Baku in 2000, Antalya in 2006.
The second stage can be called the legal formalization of the cooperation mechanism. In 2009, the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States was established in Nakhichevan. In subsequent years, it was possible to institutionalize sectoral cooperation and create affiliated platforms, such as the TurkPA, the Turkic Academy and the Turkic Foundation for Culture and Heritage. This stage of the formation of the structure ended with its expansion due to the entry of Uzbekistan as a full member.
With the historic Istanbul Summit for the Turkic Family in November 2021, the third phase has began, which will be remembered as a major turning point for the organization, as relations between member states entered a new era of closer and more comprehensive cooperation. During the summit, the presidents of the Turkic states decided to change the name of the Turkic Council to the Organization of Turkic States, which will help realize its real potential, increase its significance and strengthen its role in the international community. The chairmanship in the organization moved from Azerbaijan to Turkey.
The organization is based on a common Turkic identity, only sovereign states belonging to the Turkic can become its full members. Currently, five countries (Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Kazakhstan) are full members of the organization, and two states (Hungary and Turkmenistan) have observer status.
It should be noted that, unlike other regional organizations, observers have a wider range of powers to participate in the activities of the OTS. As a rule, they are represented in almost all formats of interaction, from expert meetings to summits of heads of state. The only significant difference is that the observer does not participate in the decision-making of the organization, that is, in voting. In particular, the nature of the OTS will not allow an unlimited expansion of the composition, and only those countries that have one of the Turkic languages as one of the official languages can also be observers.
To date, about 15 countries have expressed a desire to establish different formats of cooperation with the OTS. This indicates a good reputation of the organization, and that its international image is steadily growing.
The organization attaches priority to the development of cooperation in the field of transport and logistics. This direction occupies a special place in the recently adopted strategic document “Vision of the Turkic world – 2040”. At the center of all efforts is to ensure the transport interconnectedness of countries. In this context, the issue of turning the Trans-Caspian International Middle Corridor into the shortest, safest and most competitive transport link between East and West is of particular importance.
Another task is to improve the legal foundations of transport cooperation. In particular, within the framework of the organization, a draft intergovernmental agreement on combined transport is being developed, which is aimed at creating favorable conditions for transport operations through the Caspian Sea.
The organization plans to maintain effective coordination of efforts between direct transport operators – these are sea and dry ports, logistics centers. For this, the Sister Ports mechanism has been created. This year, along with the Turkish port of Mersin, three Uzbek logistics centers – Universal Logistics Services in Tashkent, Akhtachi in Andijan and Termez Cargo Center in Surkhandarya joined this process.
With regard to preferential trade in goods, countries are moving towards concluding such agreements on a bilateral basis. For example, an agreement on preferential trade was signed between Azerbaijan and Turkey in February 2020. It undoubtedly contributes to an increase in mutual trade by reducing customs tariffs and creating favorable conditions for export-import operations. An active study of a similar document between Uzbekistan and Turkey is also underway. The creation of the first Turkic economic zone “Turan SEZ” in Turkestan is also on the agenda. At the same time, the activities of the Turkic Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Business Council will be intensified.
First of all, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for the citizens of the member states temporarily staying on the territory of the Turkic countries. This is the simplification of the visa regime, obtaining a work permit and their social protection through the provision of insurance and affordable medical care.
An appropriate legal basis for a simplified migration order between countries is already in place. For example, citizens of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan can stay in Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days. Turkish citizens can also stay in Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan for up to 90 days, and in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for 30 days.
In general, the main topic of the upcoming summit of the Organization of Turkic States, scheduled for November 2022 in the city of Samarkand, will be support for youth initiatives, including issues of expanding cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, green economy, digital technologies, transport and communications, as well as education and culture.
Avesta.tj,
August 11, 2022