President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent an address to the participants of the Solidarity Forum of NGOs from OIC member countries

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent an address to the participants of the Solidarity Forum of non-governmental organizations of member countries of the Organization of Turkic States.

As reported by AZERTAG, the address states:

"Dear forum participants!

I cordially welcome you to the Solidarity Forum of non-governmental organizations of member countries of the Organization of Turkic States.

The growing potential of Turkic states and their increasingly strengthening positions on the global arena dictate the need to set more ambitious goals, increase joint efforts, deepen cooperation in all spheres, and create flexible mechanisms for it. The first-ever Solidarity Forum of non-governmental organizations of member countries of the Organization of Turkic States is an important step in this direction.

Our friendly and brotherly peoples, committed to the ideas of peace, security, stability, and progress in the region and the world, are united as a strong family by common ethnic roots, history, language, culture, traditions, and values, which determines the emergence of Turkic states as a unified center of power.

Azerbaijan, as the country currently chairing the Organization of Turkic States, also strives to strengthen public communication between civil society institutions of member countries. The meeting of the Council of Presidents of Red Crescent Societies of member countries of the Organization of Turkic States being held these days in Baku, the current NGO solidarity forum, and following this - the meeting of ministers and high-ranking officials of the OTS responsible for media and information, demonstrate the scale and versatility of work in this field.

Today, the Turkic world is experiencing a period of its rise. The Victory in Karabakh achieved five years ago is a source of common joy and pride for Turkic peoples. I am convinced that the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions currently being reconstructed, the upcoming opening of the Zangezur corridor will play an important role in developing and strengthening cooperation between Turkic states.

Azerbaijan, on a bilateral and multilateral basis with member countries of the Organization of Turkic States, is ready to announce joint grant competitions for NGOs in the fields of history, culture, ecology, climate policy, and other areas, to support projects that strengthen mutual communication.

It is also particularly relevant to continue, in accordance with modern challenges and with the active participation of NGOs, work related to issues of cultural integration of Turkic peoples. This work was initiated by the First Turkological Congress, the 100th anniversary of which will be celebrated in 2026.

Joint, coordinated activities of NGOs of the Turkic world within the UN and other international institutions, their unification on a single platform can make a great contribution to our common work and achievement of our common goals.

I am confident that the cooperation you will establish during the forum will serve to further strengthen solidarity, unity in the Turkic world, and relations between our countries.

Once again, I welcome you to Azerbaijan and wish you success in the forum's work".