Vienna: Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Samir Sharifov attended the opening of 'Turkic Week' in Vienna, a collaborative event organized by the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) alongside the permanent missions of its member states to the United Nations Office at Vienna.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the event is taking place from January 12 to 15, featuring an exhibition titled 'The Turkic World on the Silk Road' at the UN Vienna headquarters.
The exhibition's opening ceremony was led by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the International Organizations in Vienna. Key figures in attendance included OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Deputy Foreign Minister Samir Sharifov, and representatives from various international organizations and diplomatic corps in Vienna. During the ceremony, Deputy Foreign Minister Samir Sharifov, representing Azerbaijan as the current chair of the OTS, discussed Azerbaijan's objectives during its tenure. He highlighted the Nakhchivan Agreement, the Gabala Declaration, and the Budapest summit declaration, emphasizing economic cooperation among Turkic states and the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor linking East and West. Sharifov also touched on cultural, scientific, and educational collaboration, noting the upcoming second Turkology Congress in Baku.
Speeches were also delivered by OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev and senior officials from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The exhibition showcases photographs and artifacts that depict the rich cultural heritage and history of Turkic peoples.
During the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Sharifov and OTS Secretary General Omuraliev held discussions with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, UNOOSA Deputy Director-General Driss El-Hadani, and UNIDO Deputy Director General Fatu Haidara about potential cooperation between the OTS and these organizations.
Additional events planned for 'Turkic Week' include a roundtable discussion at the OSCE headquarters on promoting connectivity through transport and trade, a gala concert featuring cultural performances from Turkic states, and a training program aimed at enhancing the diaspora potential of the OTS.