Turkic states to gather in Türkiye for extraordinary summit

Ankara will host the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) leaders on March 16. The extraordinary summit at the Presidential Complex will focus on the aftermath of the February 6 earthquakes that shook Türkiye.

"Devoted to the theme of 'Disaster-Emergency Management and Humanitarian Assistance,' the summit will serve as a high-level platform for the discussion of the extraordinary agenda of the organization aroused due to the recent earthquake disaster in southern and southeastern regions of Türkiye," the organization said in a statement.

It added that the leaders would elaborate on solid multilateral cooperation and coordination mechanisms as part of the organization in the fight against disasters and hold consultations on current challenges in the region. "The Member and Observer States of the Organization of Turkic States have shown great solidarity and extended their helping hand to Türkiye in this difficult period and strengthened the brotherhood ties with the search and rescue teams and humanitarian aid they have provided throughout this time," the statement read.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a working visit to Ankara on March 16, at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Following the summit, the leaders are expected to sign the Ankara Declaration.

Early Thursday, the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OTS will meet to carry out the final work on the agenda items to be discussed by the heads of state.