General Information

The Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (CCTS) was establihed in 2009 as an international intergovernmental organization, with the overarching aim of promoting comprehensive cooperation among Turkic Speaking States. Its four founding member States are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey. 

According to the two main CCTS documents, the Nakhcivan Agreement of 3 October 2009 and the Istanbul Declaration of 16 September 2010, member States of CCTS embrace the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, along with other universally recognized principles of international law. Established norms related to the maintenance of peace, security and development of good-neighbourly relations lay the foundation for cooperation to be promoted under CCTS. 

CCTS builds upon the common political will that has evolved through the “Summits of the Heads of Turkic Speaking States” that have convened since 1992. Ten such summits have been held to date, most recent of which was the İstanbul Summit of 16 September 2010, where CCTS was promulgated and its priorities were mapped out. With the establishment of CCTS as a permanent body, the summits are renamed as CCTS Summits. 

Objectives

Preamble of the Nakhcivan Agreement reaffirms the common will of its member States to adhere to the purposes and principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter and encapsulates the objective of CCTS as further deepening the comprehensive cooperation among Turkic speaking states, as well as making joint contributions to peace and stability in its region and the world. Member states have stated their commitment to the basic principles of democracy, respect for human rights, rule of law and good governance. Cooperation under CCTS is based on the particular solidarity stemming from the unity of common history, culture, identity and language of Turkic speaking peoples. 

Article 2 of the Nakhcivan Agreement sets out the main purposes and tasks of the Organization as follows: 

- Strengthening mutual confidence among the Parties;
- Maintaining peace in the region and beyond;
- Promoting common positions on foreign policy issues; ( Cyprus and Karabahk )
- Coordinating actions to combat international terrorism, separatism, extremism and trans-border crimes;
- Promoting effective regional and bilateral cooperation in all areas of common interest;
- Creating favourable conditions for trade and investment;
- Aiming for comprehensive and balanced economic growth, social and cultural development;
- Discussing questions of ensuring rule of law, good governance and protection of human rights;
- Expanding interaction in the fields of science, technology, education and culture;
- Encouraging interaction of the mass media and wider communication;
- Promoting exchange of legal information and enhancing legal cooperation.

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Members   Possible future members   Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

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