The international conference titled “TURKPA member countries in the last 25 years” took place on 24 November 2016 at the Milli Mejlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan organized by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic-speaking countries (TURKPA) with support of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation.
The conference was attended by the parliamentarians of the TURKPA member countries and ambassadors of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey in Baku, as well as by the representatives of Turkic cooperation institutions and partner organizations, such as the International Turkic Academy, the Union of the Turkic World Municipalities, the Union of Architects and Engineers of Turkic World and the International Organization for Migration.
The event featured discussions on the achievements gained by the Turkic states during the 25 years of their independence, including current state and prospects of social, economic and cultural relations between the countries of the Turkic world.
First Deputy Speaker of the Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan Ziyafat Asgarov welcomed participants in his opening speech and highlighted the history of Azerbaijans independence and the countrys development over the last 25 years. He said that the conference is of vital importance in terms of reviewing the independence history of Turkic-speaking countries. ‘As we all know, the nation-wide leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev attached particular importance to the development of relations among the Turkic nations” – said Z. Asgarov.
President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Gunay Efendiyeva informed participants about objectives and tasks of the Foundation and briefed on the development of cultural relations between the Turkic-speaking countries during the period of their independence.
The Ambassador of Kazakhstan Mr. Beibit Issabayev, Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan Aijigit Buranov and Ambassador of Turkey in Azerbaijan Erkan Özoral have made speeches and talked about basic aspects of multilateral and bilateral cooperation between the Turkic states.
The parliamentarians of the member countries - Mr. Nizami Jafarov of Azerbaijan, Ms. Aliya Saparova of Kazakhstan, Mr. Muzaffar Isakov of Kyrgyzstan and Mr. Feyzullah Kiyiklik of Turkey spoke about achievements of the Turkic states during the last 25 years and also emphasized the support of Turkey in strengthening of national independence and further development of Turkic republics, as Turkey was the first country to recognize independence of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
At the end of the meeting the exhibition of paintings of historic sites of Azerbaijan and Turkey by well-known Azerbaijani artists was organized by the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation.
The conference was held within the framework of series of events carried out this year by TURKPA under the aegis of the 25th anniversary of independence of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
