Hero-Arkadag made a working visit to Hungary

On November 29, the National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, paid a working visit to Hungary to participate in the 16th meeting of the Council of Elders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) as a member of this structure and an honorary guest, at the invitation of the Chairman of the Council of Elders, Binali Yıldırım.

After flying to Budapest, the Hero-Arkadag’s aircraft landed at the Ferenc Liszt International Airport in the Hungarian capital, where Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was greeted by officials.

The National Leader of the Turkmen people then proceeded to the venue of the 16th meeting of the Council of Elders of the OTS – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary.

It is worth recalling that the previous, 15th meeting of this structure took place in March of this year in Ashgabat, chaired by Hero-Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The Council of Elders is a consultative body of the OTS, comprising distinguished public figures from member states. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has been a member of this Council since April 2022. The Secretary-General of the OTS, as well as representatives from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, arrived in Budapest for this meeting. The agenda included pressing issues related to the activities of the Council of Elders and the OTS. Discussions focused on prospects for further joint efforts by the member countries and the implementation of recommendations adopted at the 15th meeting in Ashgabat.

Before the meeting began, a joint photo session of the delegation heads participating in the meeting was held.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Council of Elders, Binali Yıldırım, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the attendees for accepting the invitation to participate in the 16th meeting of the Council.

Particular emphasis was placed on the important role of this structure within the OTS, fostering effective, multifaceted cooperation among Turkic states. The high level of organization of the previous meeting in Ashgabat under the leadership of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was also noted. In this context, the significance of constructive proposals put forth at the 15th meeting aimed at enhancing joint efforts for further expanding mutually beneficial partnerships was highlighted.

The floor was then given to the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Hero-Arkadag.

Welcoming the participants, the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty expressed gratitude to Binali Yıldırım and Atilla Tilki, the Council member from Hungary, for their hospitality and the high level of organization of the meeting in Budapest.

Hero-Arkadag emphasized the significant contributions of the Council’s chairman, Binali Yıldırım, in strengthening the authority of the OTS Council of Elders.

"Today, we are meeting based on the guidance of our countries’ leaders, and our task is also to discuss general political, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian issues," he said.

The heads of the Turkic states consistently propose important initiatives, he continued, stressing the necessity of jointly advancing public diplomacy, rooted in principles of prosperity, peace, mutual respect, and neighborliness. Above all, he noted, prioritizing a philosophy of peacefulness is essential, implementing the policies put forth by the leaders of our states.

Highlighting Turkmenistan’s wealth of hydrocarbon resources, Hero-Arkadag affirmed the nation’s intention to continue cooperation in this area through diversified approaches. He proposed presenting specific recommendations from Council members to the OTS heads of state aimed at successfully addressing partnership development challenges.

Touching upon the cultural-humanitarian domain, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted the unifying role of the literary legacy of writers and poets, as well as national musical and artistic traditions. Hero-Arkadag extended his heartfelt appreciation to all Council members for their contributions to fostering collaboration in this sphere.

The 15th Council meeting, held in March of this year in Ashgabat, coincided with the holy month of Ramadan. Sharing meals together, we wished success in our noble endeavors, Hero-Arkadag recalled, expressing satisfaction with the achievements made over the past year.

"With your blessing, we commemorated the 300th anniversary of the birth of Magtymguly Pyragy," he stated, adding that, with the Council’s support, the year was declared "The Year of the Great Poet and Thinker of the Turkic World – Magtymguly Pyragy," and Anau was named "The Cultural Capital of the Turkic World."

As proposed, next year marks the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutrality. Highlighting the importance of cultural-historical landmarks like Anau, Hero-Arkadag expressed readiness to host the Council’s meeting next year in Ashgabat, coinciding with this anniversary.

In conclusion, the Chairman proposed several initiatives, including renaming the Council of Elders to the Council of Seniors, instituting an honorary award, and creating a dedicated Council newspaper or journal, as well as a website. He highlighted the longstanding cooperation with Turkish colleagues in publishing and the significance of shared literary and cultural heritage.

The meeting ended with mutual expressions of support for constructive proposals and recognition of the role of the OTS and its Council of Elders in strengthening political, economic, and cultural ties among Turkic-speaking nations.

Following the completion of his working visit, Hero-Arkadag returned to Turkmenistan, where he was greeted by officials at the Ashgabat International Airport.

Source: State News Agency of Turkmenistan