Minister Aydarbekov welcomed the Secretary General and congratulated for his appointment to this highly important post. He expressed confidence that the Turkic Council will increase its role in boosting the cooperation among the Member States in the coming period. The Minister reassured the Secretary General that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic will continue supporting the activities of the Turkic Council to the full extent.
Secretary General expressed his appreciation to the Minister for the warm reception and strong support he provides to the Turkic Council. He also emphasized the important role of Kyrgyzstan as the current Chairman-in-Office of the Turkic Council in fostering political collaboration among the Turkic Councils member countries.
Putting a special emphasis on the 6th Turkic Council Summit held in Cholpon-Ata on 3 September 2018, Foreign Minister expressed that that Hungary’s obtainment of observer status both at the Turkic Council and at the Turkic Academy as well as the participation of the Uzbek President to the Summit for the first time after 10 years were the major achievements of this historical Summit. They also discussed the date of the next Summit scheduled to be held in Azerbaijan where the Turkic Council celebrates its 10th anniversary.
In addition, Secretary General informed the Foreign Minister on the events organized by TURKSOY in Japan in the framework of Cultural Week of the Turkic World held by TURKSOY and the special dedication given to the 90th anniversary of ChingizAitmatov. Foreign Minister said that organization of these kind of events that introduce our common culture and values as well as our important figures to the rest of the world is pleasing and the Turkic Council as well as other cooperation organizations of the Turkic world should continue their efforts to organize such events.
Having been briefed by the Secretary General on the details of the Turkic Council’s pending observer status in the UN General Assembly as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as well as the current and prospective initiatives of the Secretariat in that regard, Foreign Minister reassured that Kyrgyzstan as the Chairman-in-Office of the Turkic Council for the period of 2018-2019, will provide necessary support on every platform possible to finalize these issues.
Expressing his appreciation to Kyrgyzstan for the successful organization of the latest (8th) Turkic Council Meeting of Ministers in charge of economy held on 16 October 2018 in Bishkek, Secretary General pointed out that as one the important outcomes of this meeting, the Member States will start the necessary technical study for the establishment of a Joint Fund that will lay the groundwork of establishing the Turkic Bank in the future. Minister Aydarbekov welcomed the initiative and stressed that Kyrgyzstan encourages each and every project that contribute to the economies of the Member States.
In the framework of his visit, Secretary General also met with the Chairman of the State Customs Service under the Government of Kyrgyz Republic, H.E. Almaz Onolbekov.
Chairman Onolbekov congratulated the Secretary General for his appointment to this important position. Highlighting his long-continued career as diplomat and important experience of the Secretary General, Chairman expressed confidence that he would develop and consolidate cooperation in every cooperation field including customs cooperation.
Secretary General emphasized that as highlighted by the Heads of States at the last Turkic Council Summit, economy, transport and customs are an indivisible whole and the Customs Administrations of the Turkic Council Member States should carry on their cooperation with this vision. Chairman Onolbekov said that as the current Chairman-in-Office of the Turkic Council, Kyrgyzstan is ready to fully support future endeavors in that regard.
At the meeting the Parties addressed in length the aspects of the upcoming 7th Turkic Council Meeting of Heads of Customs Administrations to be held on 13 December 2018 in Astana and wished that the meeting will yield tangible outcomes that will further the customs cooperation among the Member States.
