The Turkic world was among the many first to assist after the lethal Feb. 6 earthquakes in southern Türkiye, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan mentioned on Thursday.
“We called for international help. The Turkic world was among the first to help. You did not leave us alone in our most difficult moment. Our beloved nation will never forget your support,” Erdoğan mentioned on the opening speech of the extraordinary summit of leaders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on the presidential advanced within the capital Ankara.
On Feb. 6, the magnitude 7.7 and seven.6 quakes struck 11 provinces — Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Hatay, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Şanlıurfa, claiming the lives of practically 50,000 folks.
More than 13.5 million folks in Türkiye have been affected by the devastating quakes, in addition to many others in northern Syria.
“We will once again show at the highest level that the Turkic world is of one heart and band together,” Erdoğan mentioned.
During the assembly, whose theme is Disaster-Emergency Management and Humanitarian Assistance, the leaders will elaborate on multilateral cooperation and coordination mechanisms within the combat in opposition to disasters, and maintain consultations on present challenges within the area.
The OTS, previously known as the Turkic Council, is a world group comprising distinguished impartial Turkic nations that work collectively to raise relations and union amongst themselves.
Its members are Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, whereas EU state Hungary, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have observer standing.
OTS BECOMES ‘EVEN STRONGER’ WITH TRNC PARTICIPATION
Erdoğan mentioned the group took necessary steps to extend commerce and financial integration throughout final yr’s summit in Uzbekistan.
“The establishment of the Turkish Investment Fund, whose foundation agreement will be signed today, is one of these steps,” Erdoğan mentioned on the Ankara summit.
Turkic states have attained a “key position” in vitality safety, he added, saying: “Until today, we have successfully implemented comprehensive projects in the fields of oil, natural gas, and electricity with the countries of the Turkic world in the Caspian basin.”
The president mentioned he believes that the Organization of Turkic States will assume a “strategic role” in guaranteeing vitality safety, in addition to growing regional transportation and provide chains.
Turning to the TRNC, which obtained an observer standing throughout final yr’s summit in Uzbekistan, Erdoğan mentioned after the participation of the TRNC, the group has grow to be “even stronger.”
“As the Organization of Turkic States, we have embodied our strong and determined support to the Turkish Cypriot people. We will continue to fight for the recognition of the TRNC and the lift of restrictions,” Erdoğan mentioned.
About the continuing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Erdoğan mentioned Türkiye will proceed efforts to deliver the events again to the negotiating desk.
“I am in regular contact with Russian President (Vladimir) Putin and Ukrainian President (Volodymyr) Zelensky. The Black Sea Grain agreement we mediated and the prisoner exchange showed that the parties could meet on common ground,” he added.
At the closing speech of the extraordinary summit, Erdoğan mentioned: “I believe that we will overcome this difficult process, in which we are healing the wounds of the earthquake disaster, with solidarity and cooperation.”
He added that Thursday’s consultations might be helpful when it comes to rising the preparedness degree of the Turkic world for disasters and strengthening cooperation on this discipline.
After the summit, the leaders signed the Ankara declaration.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
