Baku hosts 3rd Meeting of Presidents of OTS Councils of Judges
Baku, June 19, AZERTAC
The 3rd Meeting of the Presidents of the Councils of Judges of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held in Baku on June 19.
The event was attended by Inam Karimov, Chairman of the Judicial-Legal Council of Azerbaijan and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the OTS; Aida Seidakmatova, Chairperson of the Judicial Council of Kyrgyzstan; Fuzuli Aydoğdu, Acting President of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors of Türkiye; Kholmumin Yodgorov, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Judges of Uzbekistan; Yernar Begaliyev, Member of the Supreme Court Council of Kazakhstan; and Bertan Özerdağ, President of the Supreme Court and the Supreme Council of Judicature of Northern Cyprus.
Addressing the meeting, Inam Karimov provided an overview of the Statute of the Network of Judicial Councils of the OTS member states, which was expected to be signed during the event. He said,
“The initiative was initially proposed at a meeting in Istanbul last May and received positive feedback. Today, this initiative represents a crucial step towards institutionalizing our concrete legal interaction. I believe that signing the Statute will serve as a legal foundation for multilateral and sustainable cooperation, particularly in the judicial and legal fields among partner states.”
Karimov emphasized that within this framework, a reliable platform will be established to implement joint projects, organize scientific and educational programs, provide ethical and professional training for judges, conduct joint legal research, and facilitate continuous exchange of experience.
Highlighting the breadth of collaboration within the organization, Kubanychbek Omuraliev noted that the OTS and its observer states are currently engaged in effective cooperation across more than 35 areas. “One of these important areas is law enforcement and the judicial system,” he said.
He recalled that during last month’s informal meeting of the OTS held in Budapest, the heads of state called on member countries to continue joint efforts in addressing challenges to peace and security, both within the region and beyond.
“These issues remain central to the agenda of legal cooperation. Since the establishment of our organization, steady progress has been made in the field of judicial authority,” Omuraliev added.
Aida Seidakmatova emphasized that the Statute of the Network of Judicial Councils opens new horizons for cooperation and creates opportunities for exchanging legal experiences.
Highlighting judicial collaboration among the member states, Fuzuli Aydoğdu stressed that bilateral visits to Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in November 2023 played a significant role in reviving cooperation in this crucial area.
In his remarks, Kholmumin Yodgorov highlighted key steps taken to develop dialogue and interaction within the OTS, noting that in the digital era, cooperation within the organization is entering a new phase in law and justice.
“Within this framework, the first intergovernmental congress titled ‘Turkish Digital Initiative’ will be held in Türkiye this year. This initiative will increase knowledge exchange in electronic law and create opportunities to share participating countries’ experiences online. This is a significant step,” he emphasized.
Commending the effective cooperation among the OTS member states, Yernar Begaliyev said that the Statute to be signed would give impetus to creating new cooperation initiatives and further developing the judicial system.
In his address, Bertan Özerdağ emphasized that the recent OTS meetings are of great importance in helping states with a shared history get to know each other better and contribute to cooperation.
Following the speeches, the Statute of the Network of Judicial Councils of the OTS member states was officially signed.
The document was signed by Inam Karimov, Chairman of the Judicial-Legal Council of Azerbaijan and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the OTS; Aida Seidakmatova, Chairperson of the Judicial Council of Kyrgyzstan; Fuzuli Aydoğdu, Acting President of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors of Türkiye; Kholmumin Yodgorov, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Judges of Uzbekistan; Yernar Begaliyev, Member of the Supreme Court Council of Kazakhstan; and Bertan Özerdağ, President of the Supreme Court and the Supreme Council of Judicature of Northern Cyprus.
Other news in this section
