Türkiye expresses its firm conviction that Turkmenistan’s full membership in the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) will make cooperation within the Turkic world even more powerful. This statement was made by the Ambassador of Türkiye to Turkmenistan, Ahmet Demirok, during a press conference in Ashgabat.
According to the diplomat, “the accession of Turkmenistan — an important member of the Turkic world family, occupying a strategic position at the intersection of transport routes and energy corridors — to the OTS as a full member will significantly strengthen the existing cooperation within the Turkic world.”
The diplomat noted with satisfaction the consistent rapprochement of Ashgabat with OTS structures. Significant milestones of this process in 2025 included:
- The Gabala Summit (7 October 2025): In accordance with the decisions made, Turkmenistan officially joined the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, as well as the Turkic Academy, as an observer member.
- Trade and Economic Vector: Earlier, Turkmenistan became a full member of the Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the Turkic States.
- Parliamentary Dimension: Ahmet Demirok expressed hope that in the very near future, the country will join the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA).
Particular attention at the press conference was paid to a new occasion — the World Turkic Mother Tongue Day, which was officially proclaimed at the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand in November 2025 and will be celebrated annually on 15 December.
The Ambassador recalled that last week, on 21 January 2026, a solemn event dedicated to this date was held in Ashgabat. It was attended by the Deputy Minister of Culture of Turkmenistan Nursahet Shirimov, ambassadors of OTS member states, and prominent scholars.
“The great interest in this event, which was widely covered in the Turkmen press, was an excellent indicator of the close ties binding the Turkic world. We will continue to celebrate 15 December — World Turkic Language Family Day — together in the future,” the diplomat noted. ///nCa, 29 January 2026