OTS 13th Summit opens in Ankara: Erdoğan says there is no room for division in the Turkic world's family photo

On 30 October the 13th Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States met at the Beştepe National Exhibition Hall in Ankara. The summit's theme is “Turkic Century: Unity in Language, Thought and Action”. Host President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed the visiting heads of state and government, after which the leaders gathered for the traditional family photo.

The photo included Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and TRNC President Tufan Erhürman as observers, a delegation led by Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov representing Azerbaijan, and OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev.

In his address Erdoğan said there is no room for division or discord in the Turkic world's family photo and voiced hope that all members will remain brothers forever. He said he expects the OTS to step up its contacts with Northern Cyprus, praised Turkmenistan's contribution to the organization and hoped it will soon become a full member.

Erdoğan also stressed that peace and stability would open major opportunities for the South Caucasus and the wider Turkic world, adding that Türkiye backs Azerbaijan's talks with Armenia and will keep supporting lasting peace. Details of the other leaders' speeches and the summit's final documents will follow as they are published.