OTS religious affairs chiefs conclude first meeting in Shusha, Azerbaijan PHOTO / UPDATED

The first meeting of the heads of government agencies responsible for religious affairs in the member states of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) concluded in Shusha, Azerbaijan, with the adoption of an 11-point communique on future cooperation.

The document outlines cooperation between the participating institutions and their future joint activities, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The communique also stresses the importance of supporting the restoration of Azerbaijan's historical, religious and cultural heritage in the liberated territories, promoting interfaith understanding and Islamic solidarity across the Turkic region.

It also advances Turkic-Islamic cultural heritage internationally and strengthens joint efforts to combat religious radicalism, extremism, terrorism, Islamophobia and other destructive manifestations.

The participants also agreed to hold the next meeting in Kazakhstan in 2027.

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Azerbaijan is hosting the inaugural meeting of the heads of state institutions overseeing religious affairs from the member states of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) in Shusha.

The gathering has brought together delegations from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Participants are discussing ways to deepen cooperation in areas including relations between the state and religious communities, education, legislative policies, and the training of religious administration personnel.

They are also exploring opportunities for joint initiatives aimed at preserving, restoring and promoting the religious and cultural heritage sites shared by Turkic nations on the international stage.

The agenda also covers the promotion of intercultural understanding, interfaith dialogue, Islamic solidarity, the exchange of knowledge and information in combating religious radicalism and extremism, as well as closer coordination among the relevant institutions.

One of the central issues under consideration is the creation of a permanent cooperation mechanism within the OTS to unite government agencies responsible for religious affairs.

The meeting is scheduled to conclude with the adoption of a joint communiqué.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov