Organization of Turkic States marks 15 years of fostering unity

The Organization of Turkic States (OTS), a prominent international entity focused on unifying the Turkic world, celebrates its 15th anniversary on Thursday.

With a message published on X, the Turkish Foreign Ministry celebrated the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the OTS and the Turkic States Cooperation Day.

"Representing the strong will of the Turkic world for cooperation based on common language, history, and cultural values, the OTS will continue to serve peace and prosperity in its region and beyond," it said.

"Türkiye will continue to work for the realization of the motto 'Unity in language, ideas, and work' among Turkic States," the statement concluded.

Established as the "Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking Countries" (Turkic Council), the organization was founded by the Nakhchivan Agreement signed on Oct. 3, 2009, by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Türkiye.

The OTS aims to integrate the Turkic world by promoting shared historical and cultural values and fostering cooperation across various fields, including economy, politics, education, culture, defense, security, transportation, customs, tourism, and sports.

The organization enhances the geopolitical influence of the Turkic world, with member countries collectively covering over 4.25 million square kilometers (about 1.6 million square miles) and housing a population of around 160 million. Over the past 15 years, the OTS has gained significant regional recognition.

At the 8th Summit of Heads of State in Istanbul on Nov. 12, 2021, the council changed its name to the Organization of Turkic States, starting a new chapter in the integration of the Turkic world on the international stage.

The OTS now includes five full members:...