Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 10 November 2022, a meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held in Samarkand.

The event was attended by the heads of the foreign ministries of Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Hungary and Turkmenistan, as well as the Secretary General of the OTS and the heads of affiliated organizations of the OTS - TURKSOY, TurkPA, the International Turkic Academy, the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation.

In a friendly and constructive atmosphere, the ministers discussed the current state and prospects for further development of cooperation within the framework of the Organization, and also exchanged views on topical issues of the regional and international agenda. They noted the productive and successful chairmanship of the Turkish side of the Organization over the past year.

The participants considered and agreed on the draft agenda and documents submitted for consideration during the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the OTS in Samarkand on 11 November 2022, which will be held under the motto "New Era of Turkic Civilization: Together for Common Development and Prosperity".

The Uzbek Foreign Minister briefed the participants on the preparations for the meeting of heads of state, which will be the first summit after the renaming of the Turkic Council into the Organization of Turkic States in 2021.

The upcoming meeting of leaders is designed to open new horizons and prospects for practical cooperation between the Turkic countries. A landmark event of this event will be the adoption of the OTS Strategy for 2022-2026 as part of the implementation of the concept "Vision of the Turkic World 2040". The practical implementation of the document will make it possible to start launching interaction in various areas between the OTS countries.

During the meeting, the heads of the foreign affairs agencies stressed that the rapidity of the events taking place in the world and changes in international relations dictate the need for constant adaptation of the OTS to modern realities. The participants focused on the need to establish a systematic dialogue on strategic issues in order to consolidate efforts to overcome the growing challenges and threats of our time.

The Ministers declared their strong commitment to the principles of openness, equality and mutual respect, as well as to the expansion of multifaceted relations within the OTS. They reaffirmed the position that one of the most important factors in maintaining and strengthening security and stability in the OTS space is the soonest settlement of the situation in Afghanistan.

The Ministers heard the information of the Secretary General of the OTS and the heads of affiliated international structures of the Organization for the past year.

A number of important documents were signed as part of the event.

Other topical issues of the current activities of the OTS were also discussed at the meeting.