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On October 7, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev welcomed the heads of state and government participating in the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) held in Gabala, Azernews reports.

The heads of state and government posed for a group photograph.

On October 7, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in Gabala, Azernews reports.

A thrilling rock climbing tournament, “Follow the Path of Heroes,” has taken place in Shusha, commemorating the 5th anniversary of Azerbaijan’s historic victory in the 44-day Patriotic War, Azernews reports.

The two-day event featured a hiking trip on the first day, where participants walked from Mukhtar village to Jidir Plain, familiarizing themselves with the paths once traversed by the national heroes.

On the second day, the rock climbing competition at Jidir Plain turned into an intense and exciting sporting battle.

Both professional and amateur teams competed, and the winning teams were awarded diplomas.

The tournament was not only a sports competition but also a significant expression of respect for our martyrs, a commemoration of our Victory history, and an important event for instilling a spirit of patriotism in the youth.

The sports event was organized by the Azerbaijan Mountaineering Federation, with support from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Shusha district, the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency, and the Shusha State Historical and Architectural Reserve Administration.

The Organization of Turkic States (OTS), founded on shared language, history, and traditions and rooted in the Nakhchivan Agreement, has developed cooperation in more than 35 areas, including political, economic, and cultural sectors.

Azernews reports that Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov made the remarks at a meeting of the OTS Council of Foreign Ministers in Gabala.

Bayramov emphasized that in a time when confidence in international institutions is shaken, the dynamic cooperation within the OTS-built on brotherhood and mutual trust-is not only a source of pride but also a solid foundation for hope in the future. He stated: ‘Today, we will hear proposals from member states on further strengthening our organization. On the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev, the number of annual OTS Summit meetings has been increased to two, creating an opportunity for flexible, in-depth, and comprehensive discussions on our cooperation potential.’

Traffic restrictions will be applied on certain roads in the city of Ganja on the official closing day of the third CIS Games, Azernews reports.

On October 8, the date of the closing ceremony, traffic will be fully restricted at the intersections of Heydar Aliyev Avenue, Muhammad Fuzuli Street, Ataturk Avenue, Turgut Ozal Street, Behram bay Akhundov, Faiq Nemanzade, Ilham Mz?ff?roglu, and Chingiz Mustafayev streets.

Due to the traffic restrictions on Ataturk Avenue, routes 6 and 7 will be rerouted through Heydar Aliyev Avenue during the event.

Route 12 will have a change in its final stop, which will be Bilal Qahramanov Street instead of the Ganja Railway Station due to the restrictions on Ataturk Avenue.

Routes 1, 4, 6, 7, and 8 will continue to operate along Heydar Aliyev Avenue.

Spectators attending the closing ceremony will be able to use public transportation passing near the Ganja City Stadium area.

Azerbaijan is hosting the third Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Games from September 28 to October 8, 2025, marking a significant event in the region’s sports calendar.

This multi-sport competition brings together athletes from CIS member states and invited countries, aiming to promote friendship, cooperation, and athletic excellence.

For the first time in the history of the CIS Games, competitions are being held across seven cities in Azerbaijan: Ganja, Mingachevir, Gabala, Shaki, Goygol, Yevlakh, and Khankandi.

Each city hosts events in different sports, with the second-largest city, Ganja, serving as the main hub and officially designated the CIS Sports Capital for 2025.

Around 23 sports are being contested across 12 venues, highlighting a broad and inclusive athletic program.

A total of 1,624 athletes from 13 countries are participating in the third CIS Games.

Event mascots Babir and Leyla are helping to generate enthusiasm among young fans.

‘One of the key outcomes of the Washington summit was the opening of the Zangazur Corridor,’ said President Ilham Aliyev during his address at the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States.

‘The Zangazur Corridor is significant as a new transport artery and serves as a second route within both the Middle Corridor and the North-South Corridor,’ the head of state added.

The 2nd Azerbaijan Halal Business (AZHAB) Forum has officially opened in Baku, bringing together government officials, international experts, academics, and business representatives from across the world under the theme ‘Halal industry as a source of sustainability in a rapidly changing world’, Azernews reports.

The two-day forum, organized by the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMEDA) with the support of the Ministry of Economy, aims to strengthen cooperation in investment and trade, foster knowledge exchange, and attract foreign investment to Azerbaijan and the wider region.

The opening ceremony features addresses by local and foreign officials, the signing of documents, panel discussions, and the launch of an exhibition. Over the course of the event, six panel sessions will be held focusing on themes such as Islamic finance, halal business management, and strengthening partnerships between institutions supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

This year’s forum is organized in partnership with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), SESRIC, SMIIC, the Islamic Chamber of Commerce Halal Services, and Caspian Event Organisers LLC, and is sponsored by ATENA LLC and Bilge Group.

An exhibition showcasing halal products and services also opened today as part of the ‘AZHAB Forum 2025.’

The inaugural AZHAB Forum was held in October 2024, attracting around 350 participants, including 100 international guests from regions such as Australia, America, Eurasia, and Africa. The event was supported by a resolution of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.

The 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) got underway in Gabala, Azernews reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev delivered a speech at the event.

Speech by President Ilham Aliyev

Distinguished heads of state and government,

Dear friends,

Welcome to Gabala, the ancient city of Azerbaijan. Gabala served as the capital of Caucasian Albania, spanning a vast geographical area, which was established in the 4th century BC and thrived until the 8th century AD.

At the outset, I extend my gratitude to the Kyrgyz Republic for its successful leadership in presiding over the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).

Today, the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) has evolved from merely a platform for cooperation into one of the significant geopolitical centers. It is gratifying to see our Organization’s prestige grow on the international stage. Our shared historical and ethnic roots, along with common national and spiritual values, bring us together as a family.

To support the work of the Organization, our country has contributed 2 million U.S. dollars to the account of the OTS Secretariat.

Internal political and economic stability, a strategic geographical location, positive demographics with a young population, vast potential in transport and logistics, rich natural resources, and growing capabilities in the military and defense technology sectors position the OTS as a significant actor on the global stage.

It is gratifying that the Organization of Turkic States has established the practice of holding informal summits alongside official ones. Last year’s inaugural informal summit in Shusha, as well as our meeting in Budapest this year, are both remembered for the significant decisions.

Dear colleagues,

Today, peace and security are essential foundations for the development of any country.

The Nakhchivan Agreement, the founding document of our Organization, highlights the safeguarding of peace and security as primary goals. Given the current geopolitical and security challenges worldwide, it is crucial that the Turkic states unite as a single center of power, in line with the Garabagh Declaration adopted at last year’s informal summit in Shusha and following the ‘Regional peace and security’ theme of today’s summit.

It is well understood that development cannot be achieved without ensuring security. In a time when the norms and principles of international law are being gravely violated, cooperation among our countries in military and defense-technical fields becomes one of the crucial factors. In this regard, we maintain strong cooperation with our ally, Trkiye. Just in the past year, over 25 bilateral and multinational military exercises have been carried out jointly with Trkiye.

Considering the extensive cooperation between our countries in military, defense, and security areas, we propose holding joint military exercises for the member states of the Organization of Turkic States in Azerbaijan in 2026.

In today’s world, military strength is a crucial element in safeguarding the independence and territorial integrity of any country.

Our historic victory in the 44-day Patriotic War of 2020, along with resolute counter-terrorism measures in 2023, ended the 30-year occupation of Azerbaijan’s territories. This restored our country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over our ancient lands. This historical achievement represents not only the triumph of Azerbaijan’s national will and determined struggle but also a vital contribution to the establishment of justice, peace, and stability in the region.

The initialing of the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia two months ago at the White House in Washington is set to transform the South Caucasus into a region of peace. Following the joint call to dissolve the OSCE Minsk Group and related structures during the Washington summit, the decision made by the OSCE on 1 September also ended these remnants of the former conflict.

Accordingly, these steps have reconfirmed the peace agenda championed by Azerbaijan.

We will never forget the occupation by Armenia. We will forever hold the memory of our Martyrs close to our hearts. We avenged their blood on the battlefield. We expelled the occupiers from our ancestral lands, achieved a brilliant victory, and secured a just peace.

Dear friends!

Transport and communication links hold strategic significance within the Organization of Turkic States. Efforts to harness the potential of the Turkic world in transport, communication, transit, and related fields have resulted in the realization of projects with global impact.

Azerbaijan is an active player in the East-West and North-South transport corridors, serving as a vital bridge between Trkiye and Central Asia across geographic, economic, transport, and other domains.

Since 2022, cargo traffic through the Middle Corridor has increased by approximately 90%. Transit time along the route has significantly decreased. Assets such as the Caspian Sea’s largest trade fleet, the International Trade Port of Alat, which is expected to reach a capacity of 25 million tons per year in the coming years, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, 9 international airports, the region’s largest cargo airline, and other factors have contributed to establishing Azerbaijan as a major international transport hub.

In this context, one of the key outcomes of the Washington summit was the opening of the Zangazur Corridor. This corridor is significant as a new transport artery and serves as a second route within both the Middle Corridor and the North-South Corridor.

Another key area closely tied to peace, regional connectivity, and economic development is energy security. Our country plays an active and strategic role in advancing these objectives on a global scale. Azerbaijan has proven itself as a reliable and indispensable partner in ensuring the energy security of many countries.

We serve as a strategic link between the Caspian region and international markets through a network of diversified oil and gas pipelines. At present, Azerbaijan exports natural gas to 14 countries. In terms of geographic coverage, Azerbaijan ranks first among nations exporting natural gas via pipeline.

Azerbaijan is also attracting significant investments in renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and hydropower. By 2030, approximately 40% of our energy production is expected to come from renewables.

Currently, we are developing a green energy corridor connecting Central Asia, Azerbaijan, Trkiye, and Europe.

Azerbaijan and the member states of the OTS have carried out numerous significant investment projects. To date, over 20 billion U.S. dollars have been invested in the economies of our fraternal countries. The majority of these investments have been made in the Turkish economy. Additionally, Azerbaijan has established joint investment funds with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Through these funds, many future projects will be realized.

Overall, these initiatives serve to deepen economic integration within the Turkic world, strengthening cooperation among our friendly and brotherly nations in energy and transport, and sustainable development of our region.

As I mentioned, our common history and ethnic roots, our languages unite us like one family. Hereby, I would like to emphasize the historic significance of the First Turkological Congress organized in Baku in 1926.

I propose that the 100th anniversary of the First Turkological Congress next year be solemnly organized within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States.

I am confident that our Summit will further strengthen the position of the Organization of Turkic States through the decisions we make, contributing even more to the well-being and security of our peoples.

At the end of my speech, I would like to once again express my gratitude to our fraternal countries for their support in the restoration of Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur. School named after Mirzo Ulugbek, the Kurmangazy Children’s Creativity Center in Fuzuli, and the school named after Manas in Aghdam are already operational. These are gifts from our Uzbek, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz brothers. A school built in Jabrayil is a gift of our Hungarian brothers. Fuzuli Mosque, the foundation of which is laid today, is a gift from our Turkmen brothers. Brotherly Turkish companies are constructing numerous tunnels, bridges, and roads. Azerbaijanis will never forget this brotherly support.

The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) convened in Gabala on October 7, ahead of the 12th Summit of the OTS Council of Heads of State, Azernews reports.

The meeting focused on strengthening unity, enhancing cooperation, and addressing regional and global challenges through closer coordination among the member states.

In his opening remarks, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized that the dynamic relations based on brotherhood and mutual trust among the Turkic states stand out at a time when global confidence in international organizations is declining.

‘The dynamics of cooperative relations established on the basis of brotherhood and mutual trust between OTS member states at a time when trust in international organizations is shaken is not only a source of pride for all of us, but also a solid basis for us to look to the future with hope,’ Bayramov said.

He added that the decision, initiated by President Ilham Aliyev, to hold two OTS Summits annually has created greater flexibility for in-depth discussions and more effective coordination among member countries.

Highlighting the importance of solidarity and political alignment in addressing current global and regional security challenges, the minister underlined that the Turkic world has the potential to play a stronger role in shaping the evolving international security architecture.

Bayramov also reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s commitment to lasting peace in the region, noting that Baku’s efforts toward normalization with Armenia aim to ensure sustainable stability and cooperation.

Touching upon the organization’s strategic role as a bridge between Europe and Asia, the minister stressed that the OTS continues to develop its potential in transport, logistics, and transit connectivity.

‘The organization has enormous potential in this direction. This line is also an integral part of the Middle Corridor. The declaration of the TRIPP route within the framework of the Washington Summit, which will provide unhindered movement between the western regions of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan through the Zangezur corridor, is an important step in terms of diversifying connections in our region,’ Bayramov said.

The meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers continued with discussions on ways to further enhance cooperation within the Turkic world and strengthen the organization’s institutional capacity.

Gabala is hosting a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Azernews reports.

The session is taking place within the framework of the 12th Summit of the Heads of State of the OTS, which will also be held in Gabala.

The gathering brings together foreign ministers from member states to discuss regional cooperation, economic partnerships, and cultural ties, setting the stage for high-level discussions at the upcoming summit.

On October 7, 2025, the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) convened in Gabala, Azerbaijan, ahead of the 12th Summit of the OTS Heads of State, Azernews reports.

The meeting brought together Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Yermek Kosherbayev, Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeenbek Kulubayev, Trkiye’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov, and Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto. Also in attendance were OTS Secretary-General Kubanychbek Omuraliev, representatives of member governments, and heads of international organizations.

Among the distinguished participants was Aktoty Raimkulova, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, who addressed the gathering.

Ms. Raimkulova expressed her gratitude to the Azerbaijani side for its warm hospitality and for hosting the Summit at such a high level. She emphasized that peace and security remain key priorities for strengthening cooperation among Turkic states and for preserving the region’s shared cultural heritage for future generations.

In her detailed presentation, Ms. Raimkulova reviewed the Foundation’s activities during 2025.

‘This year, we have implemented 65 projects covering restoration, museification, digitization, and cultural exchange programs. Across all our initiatives, we prioritize integration, cooperation, and unity. In line with the Vision of the Turkic World – 2040 document and the Astana Charter, we published the first Multilingual Catalogue of Turkic World Cultural Heritage. This publication will serve as the foundation for the upcoming digital platform Turkic Heritage,’ she noted.

She went on to highlight several key achievements, including the multi-volume Anthology of Turkic Folklore Heritage, implemented under the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and with the support of Turkic leaders.

The Foundation also organized an international conference at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris to mark the 950th anniversary of Divani Lughat at-Turk, the monumental lexicon of Turkic languages.

Ms. Raimkulova noted that the Foundation continues to strengthen its partnerships with UNESCO, ICESCO, and other Turkic cooperation organizations, guided by the Vision of the Turkic World – 2040 and TURKTIME documents.

She further underlined that at the informal OTS Summit held in Budapest in May, a historic decision was made to admit Uzbekistan as a full member of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation-a development that has further enriched the Turkic family.

The Foundation’s head also welcomed Turkmenistan’s intention to join as an observer, describing it as an important step and expressing hope that the country would soon become a full member of the organization.

Ms. Raimkulova concluded her address with a call for greater cultural solidarity and unity among Turkic states, underscoring that shared heritage remains the cornerstone of the Turkic world’s collective identity and future.