By Nigar Salamzadeh
On May 3, the Day of Turkism, Baku hosted a significant international event — a panel discussion titled “Unity in Language, Thought, and Action: The Future of the Turkic World.” Organized by the Directorate of Communications of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, the event brought together prominent experts, politicians, and public figures from Turkic countries to discuss strategic directions and the cultural unity of the Turkic world.
The main goal of the meeting was to strengthen dialogue among Turkic peoples — in language, thought, and action. Support for shared values, preservation of historical memory, and the formation of a common information space became the foundation of the discussions, which took place in a rich yet warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Opening speeches were delivered by Alptekin Cihangir İşbilir, Media Advisor of the Turkish Embassy in Azerbaijan; Birol Akgün, Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan; and Aygün Aliyeva, Executive Director of the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations of Azerbaijan. They emphasized the importance of such meetings in fostering collective thinking and strengthening the cultural foundation of Turkic cooperation.
The main panel featured a substantive dialogue between representatives of Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and Hungary. Among the participants were Akif Aşırlı, Member of the Board of the Azerbaijan Press Council; Askhat Kessikbayev, Representative of the Turkish Academy of Kazakhstan; Dastanbek Dzhumabekov, Member of the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan; Gökhan Güler, Advisor to the President of the TRNC; Farrukh Khakimov, Head of the Foreign Policy and Security Reforms Analysis and Monitoring Department at Uzbekistan’s Center for Development Strategy; Balazs Hendrich, Director of the Turkic Council’s Representation in Hungary; and Prof. Dr. Hülya Kasapoğlu, Member of the Scientific Board of the Turkish Language Association.
They discussed many topics: the importance of a common alphabet, the vital role of media in uniting the information space of the Turkic peoples, and the historical significance of Baku — the city where the First Congress of Turkic States was held in 1926. These historical parallels gave the event a special symbolic meaning.
With particular warmth, participants recalled the work of Ismail Gaspralı and his newspaper Tercüman, which once served as the “common voice” of the Turkic world. This historical reference highlighted that the idea of unity is not new — it is deeply rooted in the culture and mentality of Turkic peoples.
Many speakers emphasized that strength lies in solidarity. “Bir yere geldiyimizde aşamacağımız problem yok” (“When we come together, there is no problem we cannot overcome”) was heard from the stage. “Bizim birliyimiz bizim gücümüzdədir” (“Our unity is our strength”) added another participant. These short yet powerful phrases became the motto of the entire panel.
One of the most memorable moments was the gesture made toward the representative from Uzbekistan. He began his speech in English but received warm support from the audience — and continued in Uzbek. Despite linguistic differences, most attendees understood each other well, becoming a living symbol of the linguistic kinship among Turkic peoples.
Advisor to the President of the TRNC, Gökhan Güler, especially highlighted the moral unity demonstrated by the Turkic world during the liberation of Karabakh. Meanwhile, Hungarian representative Balazs Hendrich stressed that Hungary acts as a “bridge” between Europe and the Turkic world, contributing to dialogue and cooperation.
A particularly emotional response was evoked by a story shared by Aygün Aliyeva: about a man who risked his life to rescue his friend from a war zone. The friend’s last words were, “I knew you would come, no matter what.” This story served as a touching metaphor for friendship and brotherhood that transcend all boundaries.
The event concluded with a video message from Prof. Dr. Fahrettin Altun, Head of the Directorate of Communications of the Presidency of Türkiye. He thanked the participants for their contribution to strengthening Turkic unity and emphasized that “only together can we build a sustainable and just future.”
The panel in Baku served as further confirmation that the Turkic world is not just an idea — it is a living reality based on a shared past, a vibrant present, and a confident vision for the future.
