Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- At the first summit of the Organization of Turkic States, held in one of the historical cities of Uzbekistan, Samarkand, on 11 November, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the decision of our country to become a full member of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY).

The activities of this organization, established in 1993, are aimed at reviving cultural and humanitarian ties between the Turkic countries and peoples, strengthening brotherhood and friendship, promoting their spiritual rapprochement, cooperation to preserve, develop and pass on to future generations the common material and cultural monuments of the Turkic peoples.

TURKSOY occupies an important place among the pan-Turkic institutions serving the integration of the Turkic world. To date, this structure has established cooperation with such international organizations as UNESCO, ISESCO, the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation of the CIS Member States, etc.

Uzbekistan attaches great importance to the development of relations with the International Organization of Turkic Culture. On 10 November 2022, the law on ratification of the agreement "On the structure and principles of activity of TURKSOY" was adopted.

Our country always adheres to the principles of preserving, studying and passing on to future generations the invaluable heritage of the ancient Turkic civilization. This is confirmed by the promotion and implementation by Tashkent within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States of such initiatives as:

- Establishment of the "Alisher Navoi International Prize" for contribution to unity in the Turkic world. As part of the first OTS summit, the world-famous writer Chingiz Aitmatov was posthumously awarded this award;

- implementation of the Tabarruk ziyorat (Holy Pilgrimage) project, which involves visiting sacred places, historical and religious sites of the OTS states. In order to launch this project, a “Road Map” was adopted, and in June 2022, Uzbekistan organized the first visit of a Turkish delegation of historians and journalists to sacred places (memorials and mausoleums of Imam Al-Bukhari (Samarkand), Bahauddin Naqshband (Kazakhstan). Bukhara), Imam At-Tirmizi (Surkhandarya region), etc.);

- holding international events dedicated to the historical and cultural heritage of the Turkic countries. The first conference of this cycle has already taken place in June 2021 in Kokand, when this city was declared the "Tourist Capital of the Turkic World". Also, Khiva received the status of the cultural capital of the Turkic world for 2020-2021.

At the same time, TURKSOY links are being established with the regions of Uzbekistan. In August of this year, during the tour "Inspiration of the Turkic World", a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the International Organization of Turkic Culture and the Fergana region.

In order to further develop and deepen ties in the cultural and humanitarian sphere, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, within the framework of the Samarkand OTS summit, initiated the holding of the “Festival of the Culture of the Turkic Peoples” next year in Uzbekistan. The event is timed to coincide with the celebration of the 30th anniversary of TURKSOY.

In addition, the announcement of 2023 as the “Year of the Development of Turkic Civilization” at the initiative of the leader of our country will undoubtedly contribute to the solidarity of peoples based on a common history, language, culture and traditions.

In view of the foregoing, it can be stated that Uzbekistan is aimed at further active interaction with the Turkic countries in all areas of cooperation. At the same time, the International Organization of Turkic Culture serves as one of the important institutional structures, on the basis of which Tashkent is connected and promotes integration processes, including political and economic rapprochement with the OTS member countries.

Aziz Salikhov,

chief researcher at ISMI

under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan