Baku: A high-level delegation led by Krsad Zorlu, Deputy Chairman of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and Head of Relations with Turkic States, met with Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA), Ambassador Ramil Hasan, in Baku. The meeting, which took place at the TURKPA International Secretariat, constituted a return visit following earlier consultations held in Ankara after Ambassador Hasan assumed office as Secretary General.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the delegation accompanying Zorlu included Mahmut Ridvan Nazirli, Deputy Head of Relations with Turkic States and Member of the TURKPA Commission on Economic Cooperation; Naim Makas and Temel Akyrek, Deputy Heads of the Relations with Turkic States; and Advisor Muhammet Tolga Besen. Secretary General Hasan conveyed his appreciation for the visit and emphasized the strategic significance of the newly established Department for Relations with Turkic States within the AK Party.
Zorlu highlighted their past cooperation and TURKPA's role in facilitating structured parliamentary dialogue. He mentioned that under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Department for Relations with Turkic States had prepared a comprehensive 'Vision Document of the Turkic World' within a year. The delegation expressed readiness to allocate a dedicated session to TURKPA at the upcoming 1st Politics Forum.
Ambassador Hasan briefed the delegation on TURKPA's recent activities, emphasizing the Assembly's work on model laws and its legislative responsibilities. He announced TURKPA's formal application for observer status with the OSCE PA and mentioned an Informal Summit of TURKPA Member Parliament Speakers planned for 2026.
A key highlight of the meeting was the announcement of an upcoming international conference titled "New Cooperation in Eurasia: The Role of TURKPA in Developing Strategic Relations - Parliamentary Diplomacy," to be held in Istanbul in May 2026. Secretary General Hasan extended an invitation to Zorlu to attend.
Both parties agreed on the importance of unity among Turkic States for regional prosperity and international peace. They emphasized that Turkic cooperation aims to contribute to the well-being of all humanity. The meeting concluded with expressions of support for the upcoming referendum process in Kazakhstan and the exchange of commemorative gifts.
The meeting was attended by officials from the TURKPA International Secretariat, including Deputy Secretaries General Talgat Aduov and Muhammet Alper Hayali; Commission Secretary Kadir Yaman; Head of Protocol Department Yadigar Mammadov; Assistant to the Secretary General Takhmina Bakieva; and Public Relations Officer Fidan Majidli.