A delegation of Azerbaijan led by Samir Sharifov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, joined the Turkic Week in Vienna, Austria.
Running from January 12 to 15, the event is organized by the Organization of the Turkic States (OTS), as well as the representation of the OTS member states at the United Nations (UN) Office in Vienna.
The Turkic Week kicked off with a solemn opening ceremony of the photo exhibition titled “Turkic World on the Silk Road”, organized by Azerbaijan’s Permanent Mission to the OSCE and other international organizations.
In attendance were Samir Sharifov, Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kubanychbek Omuraliev, OTS Secretary General, members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Vienna, and other officials.
Addressing the event, Samir Sharifov highlighted Azerbaijan’s priorities during its OTS Chairmanship, the importance of the Nakhchivan Agreement on the establishment of the organization, the Gabala Declaration adopted during the 12th Summit of OTS Council of Heads of State, as well as the Budapest Declaration adopted during the Informal Summit of OTS Heads of State.
The Deputy FM touched upon the economic potential of the Turkic states, also highlighting the crucial role of the Middle Corridor in linking East and West. He further pointed the topical items of cooperation among the Turkic states in culture, science, and education.
OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev, as well as officials from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also delivered speeches.
Additionally, Deputy FM Sharifov and OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev held bilateral meetings with Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director General; Driss El Hadani, UNOOSA Deputy Director; and Fatou Haidara, UNIDO Deputy Director General. The meetings explored cooperation between OTS and the abovementioned organizations.
The Turkic Week will also feature the high-level Round Table titled “From the Silk Road to the Middle Corridor: Promoting Connectivity through Transport and Trade Facilitation” held at the OSCE headquarters, the Diaspora Capacity Building Training Program, and the Gala concert featuring distinguished Turkic artists.