The Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), held on October 7, 2025, in Gabala, Azerbaijan, opened a new page in the political and spiritual history of the Turkic world.
This Summit remained in memory as both a format for cooperation among member states and a real manifestation of the strategic and spiritual integration of Turkic unity.
The Gabala Summit, hosted by Azerbaijan, under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, became an important step towards further strengthening solidarity, cooperation in the field of security, and common values among Turkic states.
One of the most impactful and memorable events of the Summit was undoubtedly the laying of the foundation of a new mosque in Fuzuli city with the joint participation of the leaders of Turkic states.
This ceremony held special significance from several perspectives.
Firstly, this step was an indicator of solidarity around the international legitimacy of the restoration process of the liberated territories.
The participation of Turkic leaders in this process also demonstrated the spiritual power of the Turkic world by emphasizing the unifying essence of our common value – Islam.
Emotionally, this ceremony was a demonstration of a joint response to threats directed against our national and spiritual values.
Therefore, the joint laying of the foundation of this mosque, which will be rebuilt in place of our places of worship destroyed during the years of occupation, became a symbol of the revival, faith, and spiritual brotherhood of the Turkic world.
This event should also be regarded as the spiritual completion of the path to freedom initiated by National Leader Heydar Aliyev, under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev.
It is no secret that the name Fuzuli is accepted as a symbol of victory and rebirth in Azerbaijani history.
In January 1994, the famous Horadiz battles, conducted under the command of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, went down in history as a successful operation that ensured the “Small Return” to the liberated part of Fuzuli district.
This was the first military and political victory achieved during a very difficult period for the then Azerbaijani state and people, marking the beginning of the revival of the spirit of the state, the army, and the people.
In 2020, under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Fuzuli city regained its freedom as a result of the first successful operations achieved in the Second Karabakh War.
Now we can say with great confidence that this victory achieved in this direction, in turn, laid the foundation for the “Great Return” and became the beginning of the path leading to the full restoration of sovereignty in Karabakh.
In 2025, the joint foundation-laying ceremony of Turkic leaders in Fuzuli within the framework of the "Gabala Summit" transformed into the spiritual completion of this historical series – the “Spiritual Return” stage.
Even after the well-known "April battles" of 2016, at the initiative of Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, an exact replica of the Shusha mosque was built in the village of Jojug Marjanli, and the first blessing for the population returning to the restored village to reclaim their homeland was given with the sound of the adhan rising from this Mosque.
This emphasized that for us, the spiritual return to our homelands and our physical return are equally important.
One of the important initiatives put forward and accepted by Azerbaijan at the Gabala Summit was the holding of joint military exercises of Turkic states.
This decision is unequivocally aimed at forming a unified security philosophy within the framework of the OTS.
Therefore, these exercises to be held in Azerbaijan will primarily serve to protect regional stability and security, exchange modern technological and tactical experience, and strengthen military-political trust among Turkic states.
Azerbaijan's modern combat experience and innovative defense model once again confirm our country's leading position in this cooperation. And as a result of President Ilham Aliyev's farsighted policy, relations among Turkic states are now transforming from unity of word to unity of action.
As proof of this, the Middle Corridor, Zangazur connection, green energy projects, and cultural-humanitarian cooperation programs formed at Azerbaijan's initiative are making practical contributions to the unity of the Turkic world.
Today, Azerbaijan acts as the central role of the Turkic world, both economically and spiritually.
The 2025 Gabala Summit laid the foundation for a comprehensive strategic concept aimed at the future of the Turkic world.
The laying of the mosque's foundation in Fuzuli, in turn, became the spiritual symbol of this unity.
Azerbaijan's initiatives, the historical memory formed over Fuzuli, and the policy implemented under the leadership of Ilham Aliyev once again demonstrated that the foundation of strategic plans aimed at the great future of the Turkic world, with Azerbaijan currently as its locomotive, is being laid in the ancient capital Gabala, and its spiritual foundation in Fuzuli...
May our path be open !!!
Bahar Muradova
Chairwoman of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs
