The Informal Summit of the Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) will take place from May 20 to 21 in Budapest, Hungary, marking a historic first as the summit convenes in an Observer State.
Hosted by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the summit will bring together leaders of the five member states—Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan—alongside officials from observer states and the OTS Secretary General.
Held under the theme “Meeting Point of East and West,” the summit aims to strengthen regional ties, deepen multilateral cooperation, and address shared challenges amid an evolving global landscape.
ALSO READ | The Organisation of Turkic States: What you need to know about organisation
The choice of Hungary as host underscores its expanding role within the Turkic cooperation framework and highlights the Organization’s growing geographic and strategic outreach.
Strategic Agenda
The summit will provide a platform for the participating heads of state to:
A key outcome of the gathering will be the adoption of the Budapest Declaration, which is expected to reaffirm the OTS’s collective vision, unity, and roadmap for future collaboration.
In preparation, the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OTS convened in Budapest to finalize the summit’s agenda and accompanying documents for the leaders’ approval.
Budapest Declaration Signed Following Informal OTS Summit
On 21 May, the heads of state of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) convened for an informal summit in Budapest, where they signed the Budapest Declaration, a comprehensive document consisting of 71 points.
Key Highlights of the Declaration:
▪️ Commitment to the Nakhchivan Agreement was reaffirmed, recognising it as the founding document of the OTS. Leaders praised the historic contribution of Turkic peoples to global civilisation and the growing role of Turkic states in fostering peace, security, and sustainable development worldwide.
▪️ The declaration emphasised the significance of the “Charter of the Turkic World” as a unifying framework of shared identity, language, culture, and traditions. The Kyrgyz chairmanship and Hungary’s active involvement were both commended.
▪️ Solidarity and coordination among Turkic states were prioritised, including greater engagement with observer states — Hungary, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The need for a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus issue was underlined.
▪️ Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism, terrorist financing, organised crime, and cybercrime. Türkiye’s contributions to stability in Syria were acknowledged, alongside a call for lifting sanctions against Syria.
▪️ Deep concern was expressed over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with renewed calls for a sustainable ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the delivery of aid.
▪️ Intentions to deepen defence industry cooperation and combat Islamophobia, racism, xenophobia, and disinformation on international platforms were confirmed.
▪️ The success of the Baku Process and Azerbaijan’s leadership in intercultural dialogue were praised. Support was expressed for the 7th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, to be held in Baku in 2026.
▪️ Leaders agreed on the need to increase the OTS budget and launch the Turkic Investment Fund, the Organisation’s first joint financial institution. They welcomed green energy initiatives, sustainable infrastructure development, and the entry into force of the Simplified Customs Corridor Agreement.
▪️ Azerbaijan was commended for hosting COP29 in November 2024, particularly its Baku Climate Pact initiative.
▪️ Specific sections of the Declaration addressed cultural heritage, youth and sport policies, humanitarian cooperation, and the protection of cultural heritage during armed conflicts. Leaders also supported celebrating Nowruz across the OTS.
▪️ OTS members backed each other’s candidacies for leading positions in the UN, UNESCO, and ECOSOC, and welcomed the awarding of the Alisher Navoi Prize to Nobel Laureate Aziz Sancar for strengthening Turkic unity.
▪️ In conclusion, the heads of state thanked Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian government, and people for their warm hospitality and support for Turkic solidarity.
The Declaration was signed in Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkish, and Uzbek.
The younger son of Hollywood filmmaker and political activist Rob Reiner was formally charged on Tuesday (16 December) with first-degree murder in the...
Police in Australia said on Wednesday (17 December) they had charged a man who allegedly opened fire on a Jewish event on Sydney's Bondi Beach with 59...
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a "blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela on Tuesday (16 December), in Washing...
Austria’s public broadcaster ORF, which is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest next year, has said it will not block Palestinian flags in the audien...
Citizens from an additional seven countries, including Syria, are being banned from travelling to the U.S. from the 1st of January next year. Presiden...
Thousands of Hungarians marched to the offices of Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Saturday (13 December) in protest over a physical abuse scandal at a state-run juvenile detention centre. The demonstration was led by opposition leader Peter Magyar, who called on Orban to resign.
Baku and Budapest strengthen diplomatic relations as Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, began a working visit to Hungary on, Wednesday, 10 December.
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has begun an official visit to Budapest, strengthening Georgia’s diplomatic outreach and expanding cooperation on European urban development.
Ukraine is preparing a contract to buy 25 Patriot air defence systems, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, in what would be a huge boost to Kyiv's abilities to defend against Russia's aerial bombardments.
At least 37 people have been killed in flash floods triggered by torrential rain in Morocco's Atlantic coastal province of Safi, Moroccan authorities said on Monday (15 December).
Fighting along the Thailand–Cambodia border has entered a fifth consecutive day, despite U.S. President Donald Trump claiming he had brokered a ceasefire between the two sides.
Authorities discovered the lifeless bodies of renowned filmmaker Rob Reiner, aged 78, and his wife, Michele Reiner, 68, in their upscale Brentwood home in Los Angeles on Sunday. The police investigation has labeled the incident an apparent homicide.
Schools across Cambodia and Thailand were forced to close on Monday (15 December) as border clashes between the two countries escalated, with the death toll reaching at least 40 and hundreds of thousands of people displaced, according to officials and local media.
Cambodia must be the first to declare a ceasefire in the ongoing border conflict, Thailand said on Tuesday (16 December), as fighting continued despite earlier claims that hostilities would stop and at least 52 people have been killed on both sides.
The younger son of Hollywood filmmaker and political activist Rob Reiner was formally charged on Tuesday (16 December) with first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of his parents, who were found slain in their Los Angeles home over the weekend.
Police in Australia said on Wednesday (17 December) they had charged a man who allegedly opened fire on a Jewish event on Sydney's Bondi Beach with 59 offences, including a terror charge. It was Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in more than 30 years.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a "blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela on Tuesday (16 December), in Washington's latest move to increase pressure on Nicolas Maduro's government, targeting its main source of income.
Austria’s public broadcaster ORF, which is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest next year, has said it will not block Palestinian flags in the audience or suppress crowd reactions during Israel’s performance.
Citizens from an additional seven countries, including Syria, are being banned from travelling to the U.S. from the 1st of January next year. President Donald Trump made the annoucement on Tuesday (16 December) now has a total of 39 countries banned from entering the States.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment