Turkic states' think tanks discuss present, future of Turkic world

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) – Participants from member and observer countries of the Organization of Turkic States (TDT) discussed the present and future of the Turkic world Thursday, addressing various topics, including northern Cyprus.

The two-day Forum of the Turkic World Think Tanks, organized in cooperation with Türkiye’s Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and the Diplomacy Foundation, is being held in Istanbul.

“As you know, we are facing many crisis areas around the world. Palestine is one, and the Russia-Ukraine war is another. Different crisis zones exist in various parts of the world, and we are living through days when the global media discusses the possibility of a Third World War,” said Oguzhan Bilgin, director of the Diplomacy Foundation.

“It is precisely in such times that we can talk about the importance of the Organization of Turkic States as it emerges as a global actor and a global peacemaker and stabilizer,” Bilgin added.

Pointing out that the TDT faces two major challenges, he said the European Union emerged as an economic union, adding that economic integration is the first challenge and institutionalization is the second one.

- Informal Summit of TDT Heads of State can send message on recognizing TRNC

Aygun Attar, chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Türkiye-Azerbaijan Friendship, Cooperation and Solidarity Foundation (TADIV), underlined the significance of Turkic states coming together, finding common ground and conducting joint activities in political and cultural diplomacy.

Attar expressed gratitude to everyone involved in paving the way with the Nakhchivan Agreement.

She underscored the importance of the Karabakh victory, which resulted from joint efforts between Ankara and Baku, for the unity of the Turkic world.

Pointing to the informal summit of TDT heads of state to be held later this month in Shusha, Azerbaijan, Attar said they anticipate significant news on the recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as a member of the TDT by other Turkic states.

Attar highlighted the role of think tanks in providing crucial insights to policymakers and underlined the importance of guiding rather than just influencing politics.

Yerkin Tukumov, director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, noted that Turkic states share a common heritage and many share values with Türkiye and post-Soviet countries.

He underscored the need to reflect on the values they share and consider how to build a joint future together.

-Hungary is bridge between Europe, Turkic states

Zoltan Egeresi, a research fellow from the Institute of Strategy and Defense Studies at the Ludovika University of Public Service in Hungary, said that Hungary, as an EU member state, can contribute to the TDT with the experience gained here.

“Hungary is currently an observer member of the TDT, and we are proud of this status, seeing it as a great opportunity. Hungarian diplomats, politicians and companies have recently increased their interest in the TDT and are striving to be active,” Egeresi said.

He underlined that Hungary's geographical location in Central Europe presents an opportunity to serve as a bridge between Europe and the Turkic world

Csaba Moldicz from the Mathias Corvinus Collegium, a private educational institution in Hungary, noted that the EU has achieved highly productive results in terms of economic cooperation, which could serve as an example for the TDT.

Asan Kenzhebaevich Akhmatova from the National Institute for Strategic Studies of the Kyrgyz Republic said the Russia-Ukraine War and Israel's attacks on Palestinians pose dangers for the TDT.

-Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus cannot exist without Türkiye, Turkic world

Ulvi Keser, a professor from Cyprus University, said the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is under immense pressure.

Keser said the TRNC cannot exist without Türkiye and the Turkic world.

“For 110 years, we have been striving to prove our legitimacy at the diplomatic table through negotiations. Until 1974, we were trying to demonstrate our physical existence through armed struggle. No one recognizes us outside of the Republic of Türkiye, and we still suffer from this problem,” he said.

Noting that the TRNC is under great pressure from the West, Keser underlined that his country cannot withstand this pressure alone.