Interaction between the OTS and the OSCE that was started in 2011 continued in an intensive way from 2014 onwards.
OTS Relations with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Institutional Relations and Overview
Through its growing institutional relations with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) contributes to the development and prosperity of Eurasia.
OTS Participation in OSCE Ministerial Council Meetings
The OTS Secretariat participated in OSCE Ministerial Council meetings held in:
- Belgrade (2015)
- Hamburg (2016)
- Vienna (2017)
- Milan (2018)
During these meetings, the Member State assuming the OTS Chairman-in-Office voiced joint expectations to further enhance OTS-OSCE relations.
High-Level Engagements and Addresses
2015 OSCE Permanent Council
Former Secretary General Ramil Hasanov, invited by the OSCE Serbian Chairmanship, addressed the Council in Vienna on 23 July. He emphasized the significance of collaboration across all three OSCE dimensions, particularly during the 40th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act. Hasanov also met with then OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier on 21 July at the OSCE Headquarters.
Participation in OSCE Conferences
2015:
- OSCE Asian Conference in Seoul on 1-2 June focused on multilateral security cooperation.
- OSCE Security Days on migration and security held on 4 March in Rome.
2016:
- OSCE Asian Conference on comprehensive security on 6-7 June in Bangkok.
- OSCE business conference on Connectivity for Commerce and Investment on 18-19 May in Berlin.
2017:
Anna-Katharina Deininger, OSCE Chairmanship’s Special Representative on Youth and Security, participated in the GSSD EXPO 2017 held in Antalya on 27-30 November as a guest of the OTS.
OTS and OSCE Collaboration Highlights
Role of Youth Conference (2016):
OSCE youth representatives and experts participated in the international conference on the Role of Youth in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, co-organized by the Turkic Council and UNAOC. This initiative contributed to the OSCE’s “United in Countering Extremism” campaign.
Ministerial Engagements
- Milan (2018):
Secretary General H.E. Baghdad Amreyev participated in the 25th OSCE Ministerial Council meeting. Kyrgyz Foreign Minister H.E. Chingiz Aidarbekov, in his capacity as OTS Chairman-in-Office, expressed Member States' collective expectations for closer OTS-OSCE cooperation.
- Tokyo (2019):
The Secretariat attended the OSCE Asian Conference co-hosted by Japan and the OSCE on 2-3 September.
- Bratislava (2019) and Stockholm (2021):
Secretary General Amreyev attended OSCE Ministerial Councils as a special guest. In Stockholm, Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan addressed the OSCE agenda, with Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu highlighting the importance of OTS’s participation in achieving shared objectives.
Recent Engagements
- Antalya Diplomacy Forum (2022):
OTS and OSCE Secretaries General discussed regional issues, particularly the conflict in Ukraine, its economic repercussions, and security concerns. The exchange included ways to alleviate negative effects on OTS Member States.
- Vienna (2023):
OTS Secretary General met his OSCE counterpart to discuss:
- Institutional cooperation in energy, climate change, and connectivity.
- Regional and global security challenges.
- Both parties expressed readiness to explore avenues for collaboration.
