Turkic states discuss closer religious cooperation at meeting in Shusha PHOTO

Representatives of member states of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) have discussed ways to improve state-religion relations and strengthen institutional cooperation during a meeting in Azerbaijan's city of Shusha.

The discussions took place during meetings between the chairman of Azerbaijan's State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations, Ramin Mammadov, OTS Secretary-General Kubanychbek Omuraliev, and the heads of the relevant religious affairs authorities of Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The meetings were held as part of the first gathering of the heads of state bodies responsible for religious affairs of OTS member states.

The participants discussed the protection of shared spiritual values, coordination in religious affairs, efforts to combat religious radicalism and extremism, and the exchange of experience between the relevant state institutions.

The delegations said that regular contacts and joint projects help strengthen the spiritual unity of the Turkic world. They added that the meeting in Shusha marked an important step towards developing sustained dialogue and expanding cooperation within the OTS.

The participants also praised the organisation of the event and said the communiqué signed at the meeting would give fresh impetus to multilateral cooperation.