Tokyo, 7 July, /AJMEDIA/
The increasing recognition of the power factor as a key indicator in the modern world highlights the importance of the development and further strengthening of friendly and brotherly relations between the Turkish states as an important condition. As President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev emphasized, one of the main priority directions of our country’s foreign policy serves this purpose.
In this regard, the unofficial summit meeting of the heads of state of the Organization of Turkic States held in Shusha on July 6 is highly appreciated as the next important step taken in the direction of the development and further strengthening of the Turkic world. The unification of the Turkic world is extremely important for the future of all Turkic-speaking peoples. Currently, all countries that are members of the Organization of Turkic States are making great efforts in this direction. Along with all other international organizations of which Azerbaijan is a member, it is of special importance in this regard that it takes important initiatives in the Organization of Turkic States. The informal Summit held in Shusha is notable as one of these initiatives.
Speaking at the summit, President Ilham Aliyev pointed out that Azerbaijan has always made serious efforts to unite the Turkic world, increase its political, economic and military power, and become a power center in the global arena, and noted that the 21st century should be the century of the development of the Turkic world. It is of particular importance that the President of Azerbaijan noted that the current budget and structure of the Organization of Turkic States are not sufficient for the realization of the intended goals, and therefore that Azerbaijan has recently transferred funds in the amount of 2 million US dollars to the account of the Secretariat.
Of course, holding the Summit in Shusha has a great symbolic meaning. The city of Shusha has been one of the important centers of the cultural and socio-political life of both Azerbaijan and the region for many years. As mentioned in the speech of President Ilham Aliyev, this Summit held in Shusha after Azerbaijan fully restores its territorial integrity and sovereignty on September 20, 2023 has a symbolic meaning. On November 8, 2020, after the liberation of Shusha from occupation, Armenia was forced to sign the act of capitulation and thus the Second Karabakh War ended.
Starting from 2021, November 8 is celebrated as Victory Day in Azerbaijan every year. According to the Decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev in 2021, the city of Shusha was declared the “cultural capital of Azerbaijan”. The city of Shusha was declared the “Cultural Capital of the Turkish World” by TURKSOY for 2023, and the “Cultural Capital of the Islamic World” for 2024 by ICESCO. The Shusha Declaration, which laid the foundation of the official alliance between Azerbaijan and Turkey, was signed in Shusha in 2021. Today, it has been almost 4 years since Shusha was liberated from occupation, and restoration and construction works are being carried out rapidly there. The “Great Return” Program is being implemented in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, life is returning to these lands. During the past period, the leaders of the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States visited Shusha and personally got acquainted with the restoration and construction works carried out here, and contributed to this great work of their brother countries. Presidents of Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan visited Agdam and Fuzuli. The visits of the leaders of the Turkish states to the liberated lands are a real example of fraternal solidarity. It is as a result of this brotherhood that Azerbaijan aims to complete the huge restoration and construction works in the territories freed from occupation and to put the “Great Return” program to shame.
Vugar Aghayev
