Baku Hosts the 2nd Solidarity Forum of NGOs from OTS Member Countries

The 2nd Solidarity Forum of NGOs of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) member states was held at the Marriott Hotel Absheron Baku on May 16, 2026. The event brought together representatives from 8 countries: Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Hungary.As a reminder, the inaugural Forum took place in Nakhchivan last November, leading to the establishment of the OTS NGO Platform. The initial leadership of the Platform was entrusted to Azerbaijan, with its permanent headquarters established in Baku.Reflecting on the platform’s first six months of operation, Mr. Azer Allahveranov, Secretary-General of the NGO Platform of OTS Member Countries, noted that the platform—established in Nakhchivan in November of last year—works toward mobilizing and strengthening bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral engagement among NGOs across the OTS member states.

The 2nd Solidarity Forum of OTS Member States’ NGOs, which gathered around 400 participants from over 40 countries, was held on the eve of the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) week. Participants drew special attention to the fact that WUF13 marks the first time this global event is hosted in the Turkic world.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Fuad Mammadov, Chairperson of the Supervisory Board of the Agency on State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan, emphasized: “Today, the Turkic world is experiencing a period of profound development, and opportunities for cooperation continue to expand. Nations united by common ethnic roots, history, language, culture, and traditions are increasingly seeking new forms of interaction, ranging from humanitarian projects to joint initiatives.”

The event continued with addresses from heads of numerous organizations across the OTS region, including:

Ms. Aygun Attar, Chairperson of the Türkiye-Azerbaijan Friendship, Cooperation and Solidarity Foundation;

Mr. Bobur Bekmurodov, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of Uzbekistan, Deputy Secretary-General of the Global South NGO Platform for the Asian Region, and Chairman of the “Yuksalish” Nationwide Movement (Uzbekistan);

Ms. Banu Nurgaziyeva, President of the Civil Alliance of Kazakhstan;

Mr. Rizvan Nabiyev, Member of the Supervisory Board of the Agency on State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan;

Mr. Vusal Gasimli, Executive director of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication;

Mr. Muhammet Alper Hayali, Deputy Secretary-General of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA);

Ms. Tanzila Rustamkhanli, Chair of the Working Group for the Azerbaijani-Turkmen Interparliamentary Relations, Member of the Working Groups on Interparliamentary Relations between Azerbaijan and Türkiye, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

All statements carried a strong call to scale up multifaceted cooperation among OTS countries, thereby contributing to the unity of the Turkic world. Ms. B. Nurgaziyeva proposed the creation of an OTS Volunteer Network under the auspices of the NGO Platform of OTS Member Countries. This initiative aims to unite volunteers, strengthen friendships, enhance the mutual understanding of OTS languages, and promote volunteerism through the lens of the rich culture and history of the Turkic world.

Following the conclusion of the main plenary session, the Forum hosts arranged a performance by a dance troupe showcasing popular traditional dances from the OTS member states. In line with a heartwarming tradition, the forum participants joined hands at the end, dancing alongside the performers to the organization’s melody.

For the first time within the framework of the second solidarity forum, three targeted bilateral sessions were held: Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan-Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan-Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus cooperation.The Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan Cooperation Session featured key addresses by Berkeli Atayev, Director of the Public Association Enterprise (PAE) “Tebigy Kuwwat” and Representative of the Aarhus Centre in Turkmenistan; Mubarak Kurbanova, Chairperson of the “Tyaze Zaman” Public Association (Turkmenabat city); and Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the CAREC (Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia) Project Office in Turkmenistan.In his speech, Mr. B. Atayev highlighted that the issue of urbanization is highly relevant. As cities and villages grow, it is crucial to modernize them to ensure comfortable living conditions, making them more environmentally sustainable through the integration of renewable energy sources. As a prime example, he highlighted Arkadag Smart City, a project incorporating all the latest technologies and innovative approaches into its development.

In the afternoon, the main hall hosted the Young Leaders Forum of OTS Member States’ NGOs. Orazgul Isgenderova, Assistant at the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan, spoke on behalf of Turkmenistan. She outlined the youth policies being implemented in the country and emphasized the active participation of young NGO leaders at both local and regional levels.

Berkeli Atayev.