President Ilham Aliyev's Commitment To Turkic Unity Idea Provides Solid Foundation For Further Consolidation In OTS Kubanichbek Omuraliyev (Exclusive Interview)

(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's personal commitment to the idea of Turkic unity provides a solid foundation for further consolidation within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Secretary General of the OTS Kubanychbek Omuraliyev said in an exclusive interview with Trend on the occasion of the organization's Informal Summit, to be held in Turkistan, Kazakhstan.

"Azerbaijan plays a very important role within the Organization. Being one of its founding members, it has been involved in shaping the process from the very beginning. Equally important is the strong political will demonstrated by the leadership of Azerbaijan and H.E. President Ilham Aliyev's personal commitment to the idea of Turkic unity, which provides a solid foundation for further consolidation within the OTS," he said.

Omuraliyev recalled that during his inauguration on 14 February 2024, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized:“This [the Organization of Turkic States] is the main international organization for us, because it is our family. We have no other family. Our family is the Turkic world.”

"These words clearly reflect Azerbaijan's determination to further strengthen the OTS and elevate it as an influential and respected actor on the global stage," he added.

The OTS secretary general pointed out that at the same time, Azerbaijan's strategic location between Europe and Asia gives it a natural advantage as a bridge connecting the Turkic world with wider international markets.

"Under the leadership of esteemed President Ilham Aliyev, the country has implemented major energy and transport projects, including the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Southern Gas Corridor, the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway, as well as the modernization of the East–West transport corridor. Today, Azerbaijan is also a central part of the Middle Corridor. The Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway, for example, continues to expand its capacity and plays an important role in East–West transport. In practical terms, the corridor is already helping reduce delivery times between Asia and Europe and making land transport a more realistic alternative," he noted.

Omuraliyev went on to add that energy remains a key area of cooperation within the OTS.

"Taken together, the Turkic states rank as the third-largest energy supplier globally. Joint projects not only strengthen energy security but also create a platform for the green transition. A clear example is the agreement between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan on strategic partnership in renewable energy, which is creating a“green energy bridge” along the Middle Corridor. In addition, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary, and Romania are advancing energy cooperation within the“Green Corridor” project. Its central element is a high-voltage submarine cable across the Black Sea, connecting the South Caucasus with the EU energy system. The project foresees the transmission of several gigawatts of mainly renewable electricity, primarily wind and solar energy from Azerbaijan and Georgia via an undersea interconnector to Romania, with further integration into Hungary and the wider European grid," said the OTS secretary general.

He pointed out that Azerbaijan continues to strengthen its economic ties within the Organization.

"In 2025 alone, trade with OTS countries reached nearly 7.3 billion USD, with Türkiye and Kazakhstan remaining the main partners. One of the key cooperation mechanisms is the Turkic Investment Fund, the creation of which was first proposed by President Ilham Aliyev at the 4th OTS Summit in Bodrum in June 2014. Initially established with a capital of 500 million USD, the Fund has now grown to 600 million USD following Hungary's accession. It supports mutual investments, promotes innovation, and fosters entrepreneurship, especially among small and medium-sized enterprises. At the same time, Azerbaijani direct investments in OTS countries have already exceeded 20 billion USD, forming a strong basis for joint projects and deeper economic integration. So overall, I would say Azerbaijan's role is very practical. It connects regions, supports energy and transport flows, and helps turn cooperation into real projects that actually work. And in today's world, this kind of connectivity is becoming more and more important," added Omuraliyev.

Talking about the Informal Summit of the Organization of Turkic States, to be held under the theme“Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development,” the secretary general said that it represents an important milestone in advancing the organization's shared strategic vision under the Turkic World Vision 2040.

" The selected theme is highly relevant in today's global context, where artificial intelligence and digital development are rapidly reshaping economies, governance models, and international cooperation. Turkistan is a particularly meaningful venue for this gathering. As a spiritual center of the Turkic world, it reflects our shared heritage while we continue to build a common future,” he said.

Omuraliyev pointed out that in recent years, Informal Summits have become a valuable part of the organization's engagement.

“They complement formal meetings by providing a more flexible setting for regular dialogue among our Heads of State. This allows us to stay aligned, strengthen mutual understanding, and ensure steady progress on our joint initiatives. We expect the Summit to result in practical outcomes, including the adoption of the Turkistan Declaration, which will help guide our cooperation in the coming period. The agenda is focused and forward-looking, with an emphasis on strengthening collaboration across key areas,” noted the OTS secretary general.

He noted that the meeting will also give a chance to review progress since the Gabala Summit and maintain momentum in priority areas.

“Overall, we see it as an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation and reinforce the role of the Organization as a relevant and effective regional platform,” Omuraliyev added.

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