(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) convened in Gabala, Azerbaijan, on Tuesday, ahead of the 12th Summit of the OTS Council of Heads of State.

The meeting discussed ways to enhance political, economic and cultural cooperation among member states, as well as coordinating common positions in confronting current regional and international challenges, according to Azerbaijan State News Agency (AZERTAC).

Addressing the opening ceremony, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized that, amid shaken confidence in international institutions, the dynamic cooperation within the OTS - built on brotherhood and mutual trust - is a solid foundation for hope for the future.

"On the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev, the number of annual OTS Summit meetings has been increased to two, enabling flexible, in-depth, and comprehensive discussions on our cooperation potential," Bayramov underlined.

"In the face of current global and regional security challenges, comprehensive political coordination and demonstration of solidarity are extremely vital," he added.

Bayramov highlighted the geographical significance of OTS member states as natural transport, logistics, and transit lines bridging Europe and Asia, noting that the Zangezur corridor represents a vital step in diversifying regional connections.

The Organization of Turkic States, initially known as the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (Turkic Council), was established in 2009. Its members are Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan and Hungary have observer status.

The OTS aims to strengthen cooperation among member states in the fields of politics, economy, education, transportation, and culture, as well as to promote regional connectivity within the shared Turkic space.

OTS Foreign Affairs 12th Summit AZERTAC

MENAFN07102025000067011011ID1110162007