The agreement on establishment of the Geographical Council of Turkic States (GTCS) was signed on May 8 in Tashkent by representatives of geographical societies of Azerbaijan, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan.
The main purpose of the initiative to create GGTS is further deepening of comprehensive cooperation between Turkic scientific research institutions and public associations, as well as making a joint contribution to the study and preservation of historical and cultural heritage (tangible and intangible) of Turkic peoples, the implementation of environmental agenda (achieving carbon neutrality by 2060), and in general, this council can become a platform (non-governmental organizations) for public diplomacy.
The headquarters of the Geographical Council will be located in the capital of Uzbekistan - the city of Tashkent. Oybek Norinbaev, head of the Geographic Society of the Republic of Uzbekistan, was elected Secretary General of the Council for a three-year term.
The newly-established Geographical Council is expected to focus on inter-country projects, including the expansion of cooperation in science, education, environmental education and frugality, culture and tourism, development of common scientific positions on Turkic history, environmental agenda and carbon neutrality.
The Kazakhstan Republican Public Association "QazaqGeography" initiated the creation of the Geographical Council.
"We see serious prospects in the creation of the Geographical Council of Turkic States and have high hopes for the joint work and its result. In turn, Kazakhstan is ready to share its accumulated experience to achieve both regional and global goals," says Orman Nurbayev, Chairman of the Board of QazaqGeography.
A representative of the Geographical Society of Turkey Kaan Kapan thanked the Kazakh side for the timely initiative.
"I am very grateful to "QazaqGeography" for the proposal to gather the geographical societies of Turkic states and I am glad that today we are signing this agreement and open a great road to the future," he emphasized.
In the near future the structure, a number of projects and concrete steps on the work of the Geographical Council will be approved.
