Zorlu recalls language rule for Russia’s TDT bid, urges TÜRKSOY revival

AK Party Deputy Chairman and Head of Relations with Turkic States Kürşad Zorlu assessed Kazakh President Tokayev’s proposal for Russia to join the Organization of Turkic States as an observer. Recalling that an observer must recognize a Turkic language as an official language across the country, Zorlu proposed reassessing the TÜRKSOY cooperation involving Russia’s Turkic republics, which has been frozen since 2015.

Ankara has issued its first assessment of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s proposal for Russia to join the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) as an observer. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, AK Party Deputy Chairman and Head of Relations with Turkic States Kürşad Zorlu described the issue as “a very sensitive and important matter” and recalled that the organization has a clear language criterion for observer membership. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had previously said that Russia’s participation in the OTS would be “natural and appropriate.”

Zorlu said that under a regulation adopted at the 2021 Istanbul Summit, observer membership is open “only to states that have recognized one of the Turkic or related languages” as a state or official language, not at the regional level but “as the language of official correspondence throughout the entire country.” Since languages such as Tatar, Bashkir and Yakut have official status only in the respective republics within Russia, Russia does not appear able to meet this requirement under the current rules.

Rusya ve Türk Devletleri Teşkilatı bayrakları

“OTS Plus” model for third countries

Noting that a separate mechanism exists for flexible cooperation with countries outside the observer category, Zorlu said, “The OTS Plus cooperation model was adopted last year.” Under this model, all member states must give their joint approval for a high-level meeting to be held with a third country. Zorlu stressed that if Russia submits an official request, it “will certainly be assessed appropriately” with the organization’s strategic objectives and the common interests of the Turkic world in mind, subject to the approval of all members.

“Let us reassess the frozen situation at TÜRKSOY”

Zorlu noted that the main platform for cultural ties between Russia and the Turkic world is the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TÜRKSOY), founded in 1993. The Russian Federation’s republics of Altai, Tuva, Chuvashia, Bashkortostan, Yakutia (Sakha) and Tatarstan hold observer status at TÜRKSOY. However, Zorlu said that following a decision taken by Russia in 2015, “the cooperation of these republics with TÜRKSOY was effectively frozen,” and no joint meetings or events have been held since then.

Suggesting that Russia’s interest in the OTS could provide an opportunity to restart this cultural cooperation, Zorlu called for action, saying, “Let us reassess this frozen situation at TÜRKSOY.” The discussion emerged after the 13th Summit of the OTS Council of Heads of State and Government, hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, where the 163-article Ankara Declaration was adopted.

Photos: AA, social media

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Zorlu recalls language rule for Russia’s TDT bid, urges TÜRKSOY revival