Secretary General Halil Akinci, accompanied by a delegation consisting of Gismat Gozalov, Deputy Secretary General and Project Directors Zamin Aliyev and Hatice Tuğba İkizler, paid an official visit to Baku, Azerbaijan on 21-26 January 2013 on the occasion of the First Meeting of the Ministers and Heads of Institutions in charge of Diaspora Affairs of the Turkic Council held on 24-25 January 2013 hosted by the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan. During the visit Secretary General Akinci met Senior Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The main issues discussed at the meetings are summarized below:
H.E. Elmar Mammadyarov, Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Minister Mammadyarov agreed to hold the meeting of Foreign Ministers of Turkic Council within the framework of the upcoming OIC Summit in Cairo.
- Secretary General Akıncı conveyed the request of Duisen Kaseinov, Secretary General of TURKSOY, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of TURKSOY during the Third Summit of the Turkic Council. Minister Mammadyarov supported the idea.
- Minister Mammadyarov noted the growing interest in the Baku-Tblisi-Kars railway project. He also mentioned that Azerbaijan has plans to construct an additional railway line to connect Kars to Nakhcivan via Igdir province of Turkey.
- Supporting the idea of financing projects in underdeveloped regions of member countries through international financial institutions, Minister Mammadyarov proposed to consider establishing a joint Investment Fund/Bank of the Turkic Council which would support projects not only in member countries but also in other countries around the world. He argued that while making profit such a mechanism would also help promote the image and strengthen the soft power of the Turkic world.
H.E. Araz Azimov, Deputy Foreign Minister
- The Parties discussed a number of issues regarding fight on terrorism.
H.E. Khalaf Khalafov, Deputy Foreign Minister
- Deputy Foreign Minister Khalafov praised the organization of the First Meeting of the Ministers and Heads of the Institutions in charge of Diaspora Affairs of the Turkic Council.
H.E. Mahmud Mammad-Guliyev, Deputy Foreign Minister
- Deputy Foreign Minister Mammad-Guliyev emphasized the importance of focusing on concrete projects within the Turkic Council.
H.E. Hafiz Pashayev, Deputy Foreign Minister, Rector of Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy
- Secretary General paid a brief courtesy visit to Rector Pashayev before addressing the students of ADA.
- Secretary General Akıncı addressed the students of ADA and talked about the general history of the Turkic world, the process of establishment of the Turkic Council and present and planned activities of the Secretariat.
