Bishkek to host Council of Turkic-speaking states

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is already in Bishkek to participate in a meeting of the foreign ministers of member nations, which will kick off before the launch of the second summit of the CCTS, Turkey's Anatolia news agency reported on Wednesday. Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbayev, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Kazakh Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov will be participants in the meeting.

The CCTS summit, the second highest level meeting of the Turkic speaking states' council, will take place on Thursday. Heads of the Turkic-speaking states, including the presidents of Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, will take a leading role in the summit. Leaders of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan will not participate.

Turkish President Abdullah Gül is due to travel to Bishkek on Wednesday to participate in the Bishkek CCTS summit. CCTS Secretary-General Halil Akıncı will also attend.

The first CCTS summit was held on Oct. 20-21 in Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan, to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the independence of the Turkic republics in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Speaking with Kyrgyz reporters in the capital Bishkek, Akıncı said Turkey and Kyrgyzstan are looking to deepen their bilateral relations in different spheres through high-level cultural and educational councils.

Noting the preparations for the launch of the CCTS summit, Akıncı informed reporters of the agreements to be signed at the conclusion of the summit between Turkey and Kyrgyzstan. Akıncı noted that an academic agreement will be signed by both foreign ministers in the presence of the both countries' presidents, adding: “The union between Turkey and Kyrgyzstan will advance greatly in all spheres. Cultural and financial agreements will be reached. The summit's declaration will be signed by both presidents.”

He also said that a Turkic World Movie Makers Union, a Turkic World Writers Union and a Turkic World Inter-Universities Union will be established in the foreseeable future.

Expressing his belief in the bright future of the CCTS, Akıncı said, “We believe that the unions that are planned to begin work will be an asset to the strengthening of inter-state integration in different areas.”