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Kubanychbek Omuraliev, secretary-general of the Organization of Turkic States, on Wednesday underscored the importance of diaspora unity and cultural cooperation, calling diaspora communities vital bridges between societies.
Speaking at a reception hosted by the Azerbaijani Embassy to the United States to mark the Day of Solidarity of Azerbaijanis Worldwide, Omuraliev said the annual observance reflects the “unity, resilience, and strong sense of identity” shared by Azerbaijanis across the globe.
“Within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States, we attach special importance to cooperation with diaspora communities. Diasporas serve as natural bridges between societies, economies and cultures,” Omuraliev said.
Omuraliev said the OTS is working to strengthen coordination among Turkic diasporas through dialogue platforms and joint initiatives, including efforts to promote cultural heritage and people-to-people contact in regions such as the United States.
He noted that the organization has established a cooperation platform among national agencies responsible for diaspora affairs, which he said has already delivered practical results. Omuraliev also announced that a Diaspora Capacity-Building Training Program launched by the OTS could hold its next session in the United States next year.
Omuraliev praised Azerbaijan’s leadership role within the OTS, noting that the country currently serves as chairperson-in-office. He said Azerbaijan has played a key role in advancing solidarity and practical cooperation across the Turkic world while promoting a shared vision of unity, connectivity and prosperity.
Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the United States Khazar Ibrahim said the occasion represented solidarity not only for Azerbaijanis but for all Turks.
“I hope that in years to come, we’ll have more and more members of diasporas from other friendly and brotherly countries coming and joining us,” Ibrahim said.
Omuraliev is visiting Washington, where he held a meeting Monday with ambassadors of OTS member states and observers accredited in the United States.
The OTS, formerly known as the Turkic Council, is an international platform aimed at strengthening cooperation among independent Turkic states across political, economic and cultural fields.
Its members are Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Hungary, Turkmenistan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus hold observer status.
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Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday that Türkiye aims to increase trade with Turkic states to $60 billion in the medium term and to $100 billion in the long term.
“The integration of energy corridors, logistics lines, and digital infrastructure projects will transform the Turkic world into a rising economic powerhouse on a global scale,” Erdogan said at the Justice and Development Party’s Turkic World Vision Document launch program.
He said efforts in language, history and art would help preserve cultural ties, while youth programs, exchange mechanisms and joint academic networks would strengthen long-term relations.
Erdogan also highlighted security cooperation, saying collective action against threats, particularly terrorism, reinforces solidarity among Turkic states.
Marking World Turkic Language Family Day, Erdogan congratulated “our brothers and sisters across the Turkic world and in different corners of the globe with whom we share the same language, the same dreams, and hearts that beat together.”
Earlier this month, UNESCO designated Dec. 15 as World Turkic Language Family Day to promote the shared language, culture and heritage of Turkic-speaking states.
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