TURKSOY Charts a Course for Enhanced cultural Cooperation and Institutional Growth
A recent meeting of TURKSOY’s Permanent Council underscored a strong commitment to deepening cultural ties and bolstering the organization’s future. Secretary general Dusenbek Raev highlighted the pivotal “Decision on the Development and Strengthening of TURKSOY,” adopted at the Organisation of Turkic States’ Gabala Summit, as a cornerstone for enhancing the organization’s effectiveness, visibility, and long-term sustainability. A complete plan to address institutional capacity, governance, digital change, and financial stability is currently under development.
Looking ahead, TURKSOY intends to broaden its activities to encompass emerging areas such as digital culture platforms, collaborative heritage inventories, documentary film projects, a dedicated Turkic World Film Fund, the global promotion of shared cultural holidays, and initiatives specifically geared towards youth engagement. Raev emphasized that TURKSOY’s role extends beyond event organization, positioning it as a vital “cultural family” fostering trust, solidarity, and a unified vision for the future among Turkic peoples.
Delegation heads echoed this sentiment, reaffirming their dedication to strengthened cultural cooperation. Turkmenistan’s Minister of Culture, Atageldi Shamyradov, emphasized the power of culture and art to forge lasting friendships. Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Minister of Culture, A. Ş. Madaminov, proposed hosting the World Nomadic games in 2026, recognizing Aktau 2025 as a valuable platform for celebrating shared heritage.
Uzbekistan’s Minister of Culture, Ozodbek Nazarbekov, expressed confidence that the institutional strengthening measures would elevate TURKSOY to a new level of operational effectiveness. azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Culture, Murad Huseynov, highlighted the unifying impact of Shusha’s tenure as Cultural capital of the Turkic World and the meaning of commemorating the 100th anniversary of the First Turkology Congress in 2026. Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Serdar Çam, anticipated robust collaboration surrounding Ankara’s role as the Tourism Capital of the Turkic World in 2026, alongside events honoring Ziya Gökalp throughout the year.
A key outcome of the meeting was the unanimous welcome of Andijan, Uzbekistan, as the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World for 2026. Council members expressed strong belief in Andijan’s ability to successfully fulfill this role, citing its rich history and embodiment of the Turkic World’s shared cultural heritage. A collaborative calendar of events for 2026 will be developed by the TURKSOY Secretariat General, the Ministry of culture of Uzbekistan, and the Andijan local administration. The next meeting of the permanent Council is scheduled to be held in Andijan in 2026.
The decisions made at this meeting collectively aim to fortify TURKSOY’s institutional foundations, expand the impact of the cultural Capital initiative, and further cultivate cultural solidarity amongst its member nations. The transition from Aktau to Andijan as the Cultural Capital signifies a continued and invigorated commitment to the Turkic World’s shared cultural journey.
