ISLAMABAD: Monitoring Desk – Hosted by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Ilham Aliyev, the Twelfth Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held on 7 October 2025 in Gabala under the theme “Regional Peace and Security.”
The Summit gathered the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev; the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, H.E. Sadyr Zhaparov; the President of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan; the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev; the Prime Minister of Hungary, H.E. Viktor Orbán; the National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, H.E. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov; the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, H.E. Ersin Tatar; and the Secretary General of the OTS, H.E. Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev.
The Chairman and Members of the Council of Elders of the OTS, as well as the Heads of the Turkic Cooperation Organizations, were also in attendance.
Prior to the Summit, the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the OTS convened to finalize the documents to be submitted for signature by the Heads of State and to discuss key issues on the Organization’s agenda.
Held against the backdrop of the historic Joint Declaration between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia signed on 8 August 2025 in Washington D.C., the Leaders welcomed this milestone as a major step toward lasting peace, stability, and prosperity in the South Caucasus and beyond.
The Heads of State reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the shared vision of a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Turkic World. They emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation in political affairs, foreign policy, security, economy, and people-to-people relations under the OTS framework.
Key Decisions Adopted at the Gabala Summit
Documents signed by the Heads of State:
- Declaration of the Twelfth Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (Gabala Declaration);
- Decision on the Establishment of the “OTS+” Format as a flexible framework for cooperation with external partners in areas of mutual interest;
- Decision on the Development and Strengthening of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY).
The inclusion of Turkmenistan as an Observer in both the Turkic Academy and the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation marked an important step in strengthening the institutional framework of Turkic cooperation. The Leaders also underscored the significance of further reinforcing the roles of Turkic Cooperation Organizations.
In his address, the Secretary General of the OTS, H.E. Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev, noted that the Organization now coordinates multilateral cooperation in over 40 sectors, ranging from economic integration and security to education, innovation, and space. He highlighted that this growing dynamism reflects the increasing convergence among Member States and the rising international recognition of the OTS.
At the conclusion of the Summit, the Chairmanship-in-Office of the Organization was transferred from the Kyrgyz Republic to the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Heads of State expressed deep appreciation to the Kyrgyz Chairmanship for its successful tenure—during which more than 120 eventswere organized in differerent fields—and extended best wishes to the incoming Azerbaijani Chairmanship for a fruitful and productive term.
The Leaders agreed that the next Regular Summit of the OTS will be held in Türkiye in fall 2026, while the Informal Summit will be hosted by Kazakhstan in 2026.
On the occasion of the Summit Leaders of the Member States and Observers as well as the Secretary General attended the live online ceremony laying the foundation stone for a mosque to be built in Fuzuli by Turkmenistan.
Following the Summit, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Jeyhun Bayramov, and the Secretary General of the OTS, H.E. Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev, gave statements to the media representatives on the outcomes and key decisions adopted during the Gabala Summit.
Member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) have committed to enhancing collaboration in the areas of sustainable urban development and innovation, according to the Gabala Declaration adopted following the 12th Summit of OTS leaders in Azerbaijan.
The declaration highlights the countries’ support for signing a statement on the establishment of the Sustainable Cities Forum under the OTS framework, The Caspian Post informs via local media.
This initiative is expected to be launched during the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13).
The third Cultural Forum of the Turkic World is scheduled to take place in one of the Turkic states in 2027.
The declaration expressed gratitude for the successful hosting of the Second Cultural Forum of the Turkic World held in Khiva, Uzbekistan on April 27-28, 2025, highlighting its significant role in strengthening cultural integration among Turkic countries.
The forum was recognized as a vital platform for cultural dialogue within the Turkic world, with emphasis placed on the importance of holding the Third Cultural Forum in one of the Turkic states in 2027.
The OTS member states have agreed to intensify their joint efforts to secure observer status for the organization at both the United Nations General Assembly and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The declaration also highlights the Turkic states’ welcome of growing interest from third countries and international organizations in expanding cooperation with the OTS.
The OTS member states have called for enhanced coordination in organizing the upcoming “Turkic Week.”
The declaration emphasizes, “We urge effective coordination among OTS member and observer states, as well as Turkic Cooperation structures, in conducting the ‘Turkic Week’ scheduled for January 2026 in Vienna. This event will contribute significantly to raising the international profile of the Turkic world.”
Authorized bodies of the OTS member states will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in urban planning, spatial development, and sustainable urban growth.
The memorandum aims to promote knowledge exchange led by Azerbaijan, support sustainable recovery, advance smart city solutions, and ensure coordinated participation on regional and global platforms.
The OTS member states have expressed strong support for the commissioning and development of the Zangezur Corridor.
The declaration states: “We express support for the ongoing efforts of member states to commission and develop the Zangezur Corridor, reaffirm our commitment to fully utilizing the potential of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, and emphasize the importance of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route East-West [Middle Corridor] and the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway in strengthening interregional connectivity and diversifying trade routes between Europe and Asia.”
Additionally, the OTS member states welcomed the agreement reached on August 8, 2025, in Washington between Azerbaijan and Armenia regarding the reopening of regional communications.
The declaration noted that this agreement “will ensure uninterrupted connectivity between the main territory of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, unlocking the transit potential of the region and fostering peace, stability, and prosperity.”
The OTS member states have announced plans to jointly develop and launch a satellite in 2026.
The declaration expresses full support for the outcomes of the first meeting of member states on space cooperation, held in Istanbul on July 23, 2025.
It highlights the goal of accelerating the development and launch of the 12U TDT-SAT Küp satellite, which will be produced under the OTS flag as a major technological milestone achieved through the combined expertise and capabilities of the Turkic states.
The OTS member states are set to sign a landmark Treaty on Strategic Partnership, Eternal Friendship, and Brotherhood.
The declaration underscores the importance of this treaty in reinforcing the political and institutional foundation of the OTS. Member states have called for the accelerated negotiation and finalization of the agreement, which aims to solidify unity, strengthen cooperation frameworks, and advance joint initiatives across the Turkic world.
