Bishkek, Jan. 20, 2026. /Kabar/. The Turkic Week in Vienna, held from 12 to 15 January 2026, constituted one of the important events of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), significantly enhancing the multilateral visibility and international engagement of the Organization. Bringing together OTS Member States, Vienna-based international organizations, diplomatic missions, experts, cultural figures, and representatives of the Turkic diaspora, the Turkic Week presented a holistic reflection of the Turkic World’s shared heritage, strategic vision, and cooperative agenda.
Exhibition Opening: The Turkic World’s Civilizational Role in Global Connectivity Highlighted in Vienna
The Turkic Week in Vienna commenced with an Opening Working meeting, bringing together representatives of the Organization of Turkic States and Vienna-based diplomatic missions, providing an opportunity for informal exchange of views and coordination ahead of the week’s intensive program.
As the opening public event of the Turkic Week, the photo exhibition “Turkic World on the Silk Road”, jointly organized by the Organization of Turkic States and the Turkic Academy, was inaugurated at the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV). The ceremony brought together senior officials of Vienna-based international organizations, heads of diplomatic missions, and distinguished guests.
Addresses were delivered by Bo Mathiasen, Officer-in-Charge and Director of the Division for Operations of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the OTS; Samir Sharifov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, representing Azerbaijan’s Chairmanship-in-Office of the OTS; Fatou Haidara, Deputy Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); Driss El Hadani, Deputy Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA); and Luis Longoria, Acting Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The speakers underlined the historical role of the Turkic World in connecting civilizations across vast geographies, emphasizing the Silk Road as a lasting symbol of global connectivity. The exhibition offers a visual narrative of the Turkic World’s historical depth, cultural diversity, and enduring civilizational contribution, presented to the international community in Vienna.
Throughout the day, Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev held a series of high-level bilateral meetings with senior officials of Vienna-based international organizations. These included meetings with Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); and Driss El Hadani, Deputy Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA); Fatou Haidara, Deputy Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The meetings focused on deepening institutional dialogue, identifying concrete and results-oriented areas of cooperation, and strengthening the Organization of Turkic States’ engagement with the international community across sectors such as industrial development, innovation, science, and advanced technologies.
High-Level Round Table: Strategic Importance of the Middle Corridor Discussed in a Multilateral Setting
On 13 January, within the framework of the Turkic Week, the Secretary General of the OTS held a meeting with Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu, Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), further underscoring the close and constructive dialogue between the OTS and major multilateral institutions based in Vienna.
One of the central policy events of the Turkic Week was the high-level Round Table entitled “From the Silk Road to the Middle Corridor: Promoting Connectivity through Transport and Trade Facilitation”, held at the OSCE Hofburg.
The opening remarks were delivered by Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu, Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the OTS. The round table was moderated by Ambassador Bakyt Dzhusupov, OSCE Co-ordinator of Economic and Environmental Activities.
The discussion brought together senior officials of transport and trade authorities of OTS Member States, representatives of international organizations including the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and the World Bank, financial institutions, and private-sector stakeholders. Participants addressed the growing strategic relevance of the Middle Corridor for East–West connectivity, trade facilitation, infrastructure integration, and sustainable economic development. The event highlighted the OTS’s proactive role in advancing regional and global connectivity agendas.
Gala Concert of Turkic Artists
As part of the Turkic Week in Vienna, a Gala Concert of Turkic Artists was held on 13 January 2026 at the MuTh Concert and Theater Hall. The event brought together an audience of over 400 guests, including representatives of Vienna-based international organizations, diplomatic missions, members of the Turkic diaspora, and invited guests.
The performances by artists from the Turkic States were warmly received, reflecting the richness and diversity of the Turkic World’s cultural heritage and underscoring the unifying power of culture.
Diaspora Program: Strengthening Institutional Capacity and People-to-People Ties
On the sidelines of the Turkic Week, the 3rd OTS Diaspora Capacity Building Training Program was held at the Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Vienna, co-organized by the OTS and the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan, bringing together heads of diplomatic missions of OTS Member States, leaders of diaspora institutions, and representatives of Turkic diaspora organizations from across Europe.
The opening remarks were delivered by Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the OTS and Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of OTS Member States in Vienna. The sessions focused on strengthening institutional capacity of diaspora organizations, enhancing coordination among diaspora networks, and reinforcing people-to-people ties, underlining the important role of the Turkic diaspora in promoting the Turkic World internationally.
Overall Impact of the Turkic Week
The Turkic Week in Vienna concluded with a Closing Reception hosted by the embassy of the Republic of Türkiye, marking the successful completion of the second edition of the Turkic Week, following its inaugural edition held in Geneva.
The Secretariat expressed sincere gratitude to the Governments and diplomatic missions of the OTS, the United Nations Office at Vienna, the OSCE, affiliated institutions, and diaspora organizations, particularly Chair in office - Azerbaijan for their strong support and valuable cooperation.
The Vienna edition further demonstrated that the Turkic Week is evolving into a sustainable and institutionalized platform for dialogue, cultural exchange, and partnership.
Overall, the Turkic Week in Vienna served as a high-impact diplomatic initiative that effectively promoted the Turkic World’s strategic vision, cultural heritage, and cooperative agenda at the heart of the multilateral system. It reaffirmed the Organization of Turkic States’ growing role as a constructive international actor and laid a strong foundation for continuing this initiative as a tradition in other major diplomatic hubs worldwide in the years ahead.