Turkic world solidifies unity with major Budapest Declaration

On May 21, an informal summit of the heads of state of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) took place in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. 

The meeting concluded with the adoption of the Budapest Declaration, a comprehensive 71-point document outlining key areas of cooperation and shared positions among the member states, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The declaration was signed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Secretary-General of the OTS Kubanychbek Omuraliev.

The document affirms the contributions of the Turkic peoples to the development of world civilisation and highlights the important role played by Turkic states in global political, economic, and social progress, as well as in ensuring both regional and global security. It reaffirms a collective commitment to the principles, goals, and spirit of the historic Nakhchivan Agreement, which laid the institutional foundation for the OTS.

The declaration recognises the “Charter of the Turkic World” as a central expression of the shared culture, customs, traditions, language, and history of Turkic peoples. It positions the charter as a unifying framework for reinforcing Turkic identity and promoting cohesion among the member states.

The heads of state reiterated their joint commitment to continuing the fight against all forms of terrorism and transnational organised crime. This includes combating the financing of terrorism and addressing cybercrime, which they recognised as growing threats. In this context, the declaration emphasised the constructive role of Türkiye in upholding security and stability in Syria, specifically with regard to maintaining the country’s territorial integrity. It also underlined Türkiye’s efforts to facilitate the lifting of sanctions imposed on Syria.

Serious concern was expressed over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. The declaration reaffirmed support for ceasefire negotiations, the release of hostages and detainees, and the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid. It emphasised the importance of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the two-state solution, in full accordance with United Nations resolutions.

The declaration also emphasised the significance of Novruz as a symbol of shared values and as a cultural bridge between different peoples. In this regard, the OTS Secretariat has been instructed to organise celebrations of Novruz within the framework of the organisation to further enhance cultural connectivity.

Azerbaijan’s readiness to host the 12th OTS Summit in 2025 was positively acknowledged in the document. Additionally, the declaration stressed the importance of adopting a joint statement on Afghanistan, highlighting the need for coordinated action on issues concerning that country.

The Budapest Declaration reflects a broad range of priorities and collective positions adopted by the member states of the Organisation of Turkic States and serves as a roadmap for future cooperation in diverse fields ranging from security to culture and humanitarian issues.

By Tamilla Hasanova