UPDATE - Turkish president urges Turkic states to strengthen role in regional security

UPDATES WITH TURKISH PRESIDENT ATTENDING OFFICIAL BANQUET, DEPARTING FOR AIRPORT

By Gizem Nisa Demir and Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday urged Turkic states to play a more active role in maintaining stability and security in the region.

“We believe the Turkic world can take a more active role in the stability and security of our region in many ways,” Erdogan said, speaking at the 12th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in the northern Azerbaijani city of Gabala.

Criticizing the international system, he said: “We are facing an international system in which the UN Security Council remains indifferent to many issues that wound the conscience of humanity.”

Highlighting developments in Syria, the president said: “Despite many challenges, the Syrian government’s progress over the past nine months gives us reason to look to the future with hope.”

He called for deeper engagement, saying: “As Turkic states, we must advance our engagement with the Syrian government.”

On the Southern Caucasus, Erdogan said: “We are not merely following developments; we sincerely support the steps taken in the region to establish peace and stability.”

He also condemned Israel’s attack on Qatar, saying they show that “the greatest threat to our region’s stability comes from that country’s current leadership.”

Erdogan also highlighted cultural initiatives among Turkic countries, saying: “Regarding the common alphabet, Türkiye is taking the first step, publishing a work on (world-renowned Kyrgyz author) Chinghiz Aitmatov and the Oghuznameh (legendary accounts of Central Asian Oghuz Turks) in the common alphabet.”

Erdogan later proceeded to the Nohurgol State Guesthouse to attend an official banquet hosted by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Following the closed-door event, he concluded his official visits in Azerbaijan and departed for Türkiye aboard the presidential aircraft.

Erdogan was seen off by Azerbaijani Science and Education Minister Emin Emrullayev, Gebele Regional Governor Sebuhi Abdullayev, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Ankara Reshad Mammadov, and Turkish Ambassador to Baku Birol.

Accompanying Erdogan during his visit were Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, Trade Minister Omer Bolat, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu, Justice and Development (AK) Party Deputy Chair Hayati Yazici, AK Party Deputy Chair and relations with Turkic states chief Kursad Zorlu, AK Party Deputy Chair and health policies chief Halit Yerebakan, AK Party Deputy Parliamentary Group Chair Leyla Sahin Usta, Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Secretary-General Ismet Buyukataman, Türkiye-Azerbaijan Interparliamentary Friendship Group Chair Samil Ayrim, and AK Party Istanbul Deputy Derya Ayaydin, and Presidential Chief Foreign Policy and Security Adviser Akif Cagatay Kilic.