No:004/26, Press Release on the Participation of Deputy Minister Samir Sharifov in the Opening of “Turk Week” in Vienna
13 January 2026 14:46
From 12 to 15 January, the “Turkic Week” is being held in Vienna, jointly organized by the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and the Permanent Missions of its member states to the United Nations Office in Vienna.
The “Turkic Week” began with the ceremonial opening of the exhibition entitled “The Turkic World on the Silk Road” at the United Nations Office in Vienna.
The opening ceremony of the exhibition, organized by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to International Organizations in Vienna, was attended by the Secretary-General of the OTS, Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Samir Sharifov, heads of several international organizations at the UN Vienna offices, and representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Vienna.
At the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister Samir Sharifov, representing Azerbaijan—the current chair of the OTS—delivered a speech. S.Sharifov outlined the priorities of Azerbaijan’s chairmanship in the OTS, referred to the Nakhchivan Agreement establishing the organization, the Gabala Declaration adopted at the 12th Summit of the Heads of State of the OTS, and the declaration adopted during the informal summit in Budapest. He highlighted the economic potential of Turkic states’ cooperation and the strategic role of the “Middle Corridor” linking East and West. In his remarks, Deputy Minister Sharifov also addressed current issues in cultural, scientific, and educational cooperation among Turkic states, noting that the first Turkological Congress, dedicated to the study of shared Turkic culture and language, was held in Baku 100 years ago, and that the 2nd Turkological Congress will also take place in Baku this year.
During the opening of the exhibition, speeches were made by the Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, Kubanychbek Omuraliev, as well as leaders of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The exhibition featured photographs and exhibits reflecting the rich cultural heritage and ancient history of Turkic peoples.
Within the framework of the visit, Deputy Minister Samir Sharifov and OTS Secretary-General Kubanychbek Omuraliev held meetings with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, UNOOSA Deputy Director Driss El Hadani, and UNIDO Deputy Director Fatou Haidara to discuss potential areas of cooperation between the OTS and these organizations.
In addition, during “Turkic Week,” the following events are planned: a roundtable at the OSCE headquarters titled “From the Silk Road to the Middle Corridor: Promoting Connectivity through Facilitation of Transport and Trade,” a gala concert with the participation of cultural representatives of Turkic states, and the third training program on enhancing the diaspora potential of the OTS.
