First Forum of Turkic Diaspora Organisations was held in Baku on 21 June 2013 with the participation of more than 600 representatives from 50 countries, including heads of state agencies and diaspora organisations of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey. The messeges from the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkey were read out at the opening ceremony of the Forum.
The forum focused on areas of cooperation between Diaspora organizations of Turkic-speaking countries, prospects of joint activities to address the problems of the Turkic world, implementation of the "Strategy of joint activities of Diaspora organizations of Turkic Speaking States" signed on May 14 in Ankara. The agenda of the Forum was also comprised of important items like promoting cultural values of Turkic states and peoples, promoting their positive image, and defending their national interests as well as increasing Turkic diasporas’ level of participation in socio-political life of the countries of their citizenship, promoting and supporting joint candidacies of prominent representatives of Turkic diasporas for representative organs and elected offices.
The previously adopted Turkic Speaking Diaspora Joint Action Strategy of the Turkic Council was made public during the forum.
Baku Declaration as well as an appeal to the Presidents were adopted at the end of the meeting.
1st Forum of Turkic Diaspora Organizations in Press