The Solidarity Forum of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from member states of the Organization of Turkic States kicks off in Baku (24 November). At Azerbaijan’s initiative as the new rotating chair of the organisation, member-country NGOs are coming together for the first time.
The opening ceremony featured a video highlighting the historical ties, shared values, and close cooperation among the Turkic states, visually demonstrating the development path and future prospects of these relations, AZERTAC reports.
Hikmet Hajiyev, Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, read out President Ilham Aliyev’s address to the Forum participants.
More than 500 civil society representatives from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Hungary and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will participate in the forum. In terms of overall attendance, this is the largest event ever organised through the State Support Agency for Non-Governmental Organisations of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The forum will feature two panel discussions.
The first, titled “The Zangezur Corridor: A Bridge Connecting the Turkic World”, will explore preparations for the new regional situation following the opening of the Zangezur corridor, as well as civil society initiatives across the Turkic world in this direction.
The second panel, the “First Azerbaijan–Kazakhstan NGO Cooperation Forum”, follows previous bilateral exchanges: the Azerbaijan–Türkiye forum in 2022, the Azerbaijan–Uzbekistan forum in 2023, and the Uzbekistan–Azerbaijan forum in 2024.
As the next step in this series, Azerbaijani and Kazakh NGOs will hold bilateral discussions on experience-sharing, knowledge exchange and opportunities for deepening cooperation.
Similar events with Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Turkmenistan are planned in the period ahead.
All delegations have already arrived in Baku. On Sunday (23 November), they visited the Alley of Honour, the Martyrs' Alley, the Turkish Martyrs’ Memorial and the Victory Park, and viewed the Heydar Aliyev Centre.
Today’s discussions at the “Gulustan” Palace will conclude with a cultural and artistic programme.
Tomorrow, the forum will continue in the city of Nakhchivan. It is expected that the Platform of NGOs of the Organisation of Turkic States will be formally established in Nakhchivan.
On Tuesday in Nakhchivan, a panel discussion titled “Towards WUF13 – A First in the Turkic World” will also be held. It will highlight the scale and pace of Azerbaijan’s extensive reconstruction and rehabilitation work in Karabakh and East Zangezur, showcasing it as a model for post-conflict regions worldwide.
In addition, NGOs from Turkic states will be invited to take an active role in the 13th World Urban Forum, to be hosted by Azerbaijan in 2026.
On 26 November, participants of the Solidarity Forum of NGOs of the Organisation of Turkic States will visit several sites in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The forum is expected to conclude with the adoption of a joint declaration.
At least 16 people have been killed and around 40 others wounded after a mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach during a public Hanukkah celebration,...
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Australia’s policies had encouraged antisemitism after a shooting at a Jewish celebration in Sydne...
China’s core artificial intelligence industry is projected to surpass 1.2 trillion yuan in 2025, up from more than 900 billion yuan in 2024, accordi...
Climatologists say Poland has logged its warmest December in 74 years, with 2025 continuing a run of above-average temperatures and repeated national ...
Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova says the Kyiv authorities have still not provided Moscow with a list of thousands of Ukrainian...
Azerbaijan’s post-conflict reconstruction in Karabakh is attracting international attention. The book by British author Graeme Wilson documents this journey, combining first-hand reporting and digital storytelling to highlight both the region’s restoration and the human stories behind it.
Iran’s top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, has welcomed the expansion of ties with neighbouring Azerbaijan, stating that Tehran and Baku are committed to building a ‘shared, secure and mutually respectful’ future, local media reported on Friday.
Energy ministers from the Turkic States have agreed to expand cooperation on key oil, gas, and green energy projects at an event hosted by Türkiye this week. It's a significant move towards regional energy collaboration.
A new proposal in the U.S. Congress aims to remove decades-old restrictions on American assistance to Azerbaijan, reopening a sensitive debate that has shaped Washington’s role in the region for more than thirty years.
The Oligarch’s Design is an investigative documentary exploring how financial power, political influence and carefully constructed narratives can shape conflict and public perception.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his offer to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Ankara, at his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks took place on the sidelines of the international Forum for Peace and Trust in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Friday (12 December).
Iranian authorities have seized a foreign tanker carrying more than 6 million litres of smuggled fuel in the Sea of Oman, detaining all 18 crew members on board.
An explosive device found in a vehicle linked to one of the alleged attackers in Bondi shooting has been secured and removed according to Police. The incident left 12 people dead.
Russian forces struck Ukraine’s southern port city of Odesa for a second consecutive day on Saturday (13 December), deploying Kinzhal hypersonic missiles for the first time in the conflict, Ukrainian authorities said.
Iranian authorities have seized a foreign tanker carrying more than 6 million litres of smuggled fuel in the Sea of Oman, detaining all 18 crew members on board.
The Israeli military said Raed Saed, described as one of the architects of the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, was killed on Saturday when a vehicle was hit in Gaza City.
A flash of light followed by the sound of an explosion was observed over Gaza early on Saturday, according to witnesses, as severe winter storms worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis in the territory.
Hundreds of people gathered for a second consecutive week at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, on Friday (12 December), to support the family of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, the last remaining Israeli hostage whose body is believed to be held in Gaza.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for a closed-door discussion on the sidelines of the International Forum for Peace and Trust in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Friday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment