Turkic world leaders convene for the first time in Europe

On May 21, an informal summit of the Presidents and Heads of Government of the Organization of Turkic States was held in Budapest, Hungary. The event was hosted by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The summit brought together President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, and Secretary General of the Turkic States Organization Kubanichbek Omuraliev.

Officials from the two countries with observer status in the organization—Turkmenistan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus—did not attend the meeting.

Organized under the theme “Meeting Point of East and West,” the summit served as a key platform for strengthening cooperation among member states and exchanging views on regional and global matters of mutual concern.

Several important documents were signed and adopted during the summit. The Council of Heads of State approved the following:

• Budapest Declaration of the Informal Summit of the Turkic States Organization
• Resolution on the Participation of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the Turkic Culture and Heritage Fund
• Resolution on the Extension of the Term of Office of the Secretary General
• Statement of the Council of Heads of State on Afghanistan

Additionally, the Council of Foreign Ministers adopted:

• Resolution on the Appointment of the Executive Director of the Hungarian Office of the Turkic States Organization
• Resolution on Granting Observer Status to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus at the Turkic Academy

A highlight of the summit was an award ceremony during which Nobel Prize-winning Turkish molecular biologist Professor Aziz Sancar was presented with the “Alisher Navoi International Prize” by the Turkic States Organization for his contributions to the unity of the Turkic world.

A cultural program in honor of the visiting leaders was held at the Hungarian State Opera House.

The Budapest summit marked the first time such a high-level gathering of Turkic leaders has been hosted by an observer member state of the organization.

Following the summit, Secretary General Kubanichbek Omuraliev and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó held a joint press conference, providing detailed information on the outcomes and decisions made during the meeting.