Organization of Turkic States 13th Heads of State Summit Begins

The 13th summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) began in Turkey under the theme “Turkic Century: Unity in Language, Thought and Action.” Before the summit, leaders gathered for a family photo at the Beştepe Millet Exhibition Hall, hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Visiting heads of state were greeted by Erdoğan as they arrived.

The photo included Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Ceyhun Bayramov. Observer states Turkmenistan, represented by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and the TRNC, represented by President Tufan Erhürman, also took part, along with OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev. Tokayev stood to Erdoğan's right and Mirziyoyev to his left.

As guests entered the hall, flags representing the 16 Turkic states in history were displayed, and soldiers, including troops in Janissary costumes, were on hand.