Former Turkish ambassador hails Ilham Aliyev’s vision at OTS summit in Gabala

Former Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan and representative of the İMZA Public Union for Social Development in Türkiye, Hulusi Kılıç praised Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s address at the 12th Turkic Council Summit in Gabala.

Speaking to AZERTAC, Kılıç described the summit as highly organised, noting the special significance added by Gabala’s scenic surroundings. He highlighted that over the past 16 years, the Turkic Council has played a crucial role in fostering dialogue and consolidating cooperation among member and observer states, while promoting regional security and development.

“Modern Turkic Council is not merely a cooperative structure but a key geopolitical and strategic hub. The Gabala Summit reflects a commitment to collaboration and progress in the Turkic world,” Kılıç said, stressing that the Council’s dialogue is not directed against other countries but serves as a platform for promoting neighbourliness, peace, and prosperity.

Kılıç gave particular praise to President Aliyev’s proposal for joint Turkic Council military exercises in 2026, calling it a significant step in strengthening inter-state security. “Without security and a strong army, building a powerful state and achieving sustained development is impossible,” he noted.

He also highlighted Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s comments on the “Great Turkic Language” model and the Common Turkic Alphabet, adopted in 2024, as generating considerable interest. Kılıç further noted Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s initiative to establish a Cybersecurity Council aimed at coordinating digital cooperation among member states.

“The speeches by leaders from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Hungary, and Kyrgyzstan were also substantive, demonstrating commitment to enhancing cooperation within the Turkic world. Political will and the drive for collaboration formed the basis of the 12-point Gabala Declaration,” Kılıç said, expressing hope that the summit would advance the interests of all Turkic states.

By Aghakazim Guliyev