Turkic World Week marking centenary of First Turkological Congress concludes
Baku, July 5, AZERTAC
Turkic World Week, held on the initiative of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to mark the 100th anniversary of the First Turkological Congress, has concluded.
Hosted by Azerbaijan during its chairmanship of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), the series of events focused on re-evaluating the scientific and intellectual legacy of the First Turkological Congress, held in Baku in 1926, promoting the shared cultural heritage of Turkic peoples, and strengthening humanitarian cooperation among Turkic states.
In his message to participants, President Ilham Aliyev described the ideas of the First Turkological Congress as one of the principal intellectual and spiritual foundations for building a common humanitarian space across the Turkic world. He said Turkic World Week would contribute to preserving, studying, and passing on the region's rich historical and cultural heritage to future generations.
The event drew high-level international participation. In addition to President Ilham Aliyev's address, messages from the leaders of five Turkic states were presented, underscoring political support for the anniversary and the enduring significance of the First Turkological Congress. Leading Turkic cooperation organizations—including the Organization of Turkic States, TURKSOY, the International Turkic Academy, and the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation—also took part, contributing to the program and organization of the event.
The week featured international academic conferences, panel discussions, five exhibitions, presentations, concerts, and other cultural events attended by scholars, Turkologists, government officials, cultural figures, and civil society representatives from Turkic states and other countries. The exhibitions highlighted the legacy of the First Turkological Congress, the shared cultural values of Turkic peoples, and their rich heritage. Participants also viewed a specially produced documentary and an artificial intelligence-generated film dedicated to the occasion.
Publication projects also formed an important part of the program. Nearly ten academic publications and books were presented, most of them featuring new research on the First Turkological Congress and Turkology. Among the highlights was a new edition of the Congress's stenographic records published by the Azerbaijan National Library. The inclusion of speeches omitted during the Soviet period represents an important contribution to restoring the Congress's scholarly legacy and preserving it for future generations.
Participants also exchanged views on the historical significance of the First Turkological Congress, preserving the shared linguistic and cultural heritage of Turkic peoples, expanding academic cooperation, strengthening common historical memory, and advancing humanitarian integration.
One of the week's principal outcomes was the adoption of the Khankendi Declaration, which outlines future areas of cooperation among Turkic states in science, education, language, culture, and the preservation of their shared historical heritage. The declaration also reaffirms commitment to the principles of the First Turkological Congress.
The declaration commends President Ilham Aliyev's initiative to mark the Congress's centenary at the state level, his order launching the anniversary events, and his contribution to strengthening cooperation across the Turkic world. It also expresses gratitude to the heads of state, international organizations, and partner institutions that sent congratulatory messages.
As part of the program, participants visited the historic venues in Baku where the First Turkological Congress convened before traveling to Garabagh for the concluding events in Khankendi. According to the organizers, the itinerary reflected the connection between the Turkic world's shared historical memory and Azerbaijan's contemporary development.
Turkic World Week also underscored how the ideas established in Baku a century ago continue to shape humanitarian cooperation within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States. Azerbaijan reaffirmed its commitment to promoting shared values, strengthening cultural integration, and supporting the future development of the Turkic world.
The organizers said the week's events, adopted decisions, and newly identified areas of cooperation demonstrated that Turkic World Week was not only a commemoration of the centenary of the First Turkological Congress but also an international platform for advancing future scientific, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation across the Turkic world.
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