Capital of Azerbaijan hosted first Forum of Diaspora Organizations Heads from Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States on Friday, June 21.
Dr. Faruk Taban participated in that event as a representive from the Turkic American Alliance.
This one-day program was full on various events. Early in the morning guests of the Forum visited Heydar Aliyev Memorial, later they also visited Martyr’s Lane cemetery and memorial to honor Turkish troops as a part of a tour of common historical key sites in Baku.
Participants later moved to Gulustan Palace, main state convention center of the Azerbaijani government, to continue with the set of panels to discuss areas of cooperation between Diaspora Organizations of Turkic-speaking countries.
Ambassador Halil Akinci, Secretary General of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, delivered a keynote speech at the forum. He thanked the Azerbaijani government for taking the initiative to bring the heads of various Diaspora organizations together from all around the world. During his speech Secretary General emphasized the growing importance of mutual cooperation between Turkic-speaking countries, especially after the fall of the Soviet Union and he said Diaspora organizations played a vital role in the recognition of these countries on the international level.
Nearly 550 representatives of Diaspora organizations representing Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan attended the program.
“I believe this is one of the important steps towards unification of the Turkic world. Henceforth, diaspora organizations of the four states will multiply their strength through demonstrations of unity, then voice of these states will sound louder. This issue is of great importance for our countries, because as newly independent states, we need to be recognized in the world. In this regard, support for Diaspora organizations of the countries with which we share common roots and common blood is of great value,” said Nazim Ibrahimov, head of the State Committee for Work with Diaspora in Azerbaijan.
Panel discussions were also very intense as well. Panelists such as Talgat Mamashov, first deputy chair of the Board of directors of the World Association of Kazakhs, Alisbek ALymkulov, Minister of Labour, Migration, and Youth of Kyrgyz Republic, Kemal Yurtnac, Head of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities, Dusen Kaseinov, Secretary General of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), and Ramil Hasanov, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic Speaking Countries (TURKPA), discussed issues of the Turkic world and their joint activities to solve them, cooperation between Diaspora organizations, and issues on the implementation of the Common Activity Strategy of the Diaspora Organizations of the Turkic-Speaking Countries signed earlier in Ankara on May 14, 2013.
During the event Dr. Taban had a chance to talk to Dusen Kaseinov, Alisbek Alymkulov, and several other highly ranked state officials and heads of organizations. He also was also interviewed by the Azeri state TV station, where he explained programs and activities of the Turkic American Alliance.
First Forum of its kind wrapped up with a Gala concert and dinner at the Buta Palace, a banquet complex of Premium class.
