BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 20.
On April 19, 2026, within the framework of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF 2026), President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, Aktoty Raimkulova, delivered a speech at the panel session entitled “A Century of Language and Identity: From the Baku Turkology Congress to Turkic Integration",TurkicWorld reports.
In her remarks, the President of the Foundation emphasized the key role of the First Baku Turkology Congress in shaping the scientific foundations of Turkology and strengthening a shared cultural identity. Professor Aktoty Raimkulova also highlighted the significance of UNESCO’s decision to proclaim 15 December as World Turkic Language Family Day as an important step toward the international recognition of Turkic heritage.
In this context, she presented the Foundation’s ongoing initiatives, including restoration and museum development projects, international conferences, academic publications, and digital platform. She also underscored the Foundation’s active engagement at UNESCO and its efforts to advance large-scale cultural initiatives.
Aktoty Raimkulova noted: “Many of the ideas we are implementing today were already articulated nearly a century ago by the outstanding scholars and intellectuals of that time". She further added that in December this year, the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation plans to hold a major event at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris to mark the 100th anniversary of the First Turkology Congress, with the support of its member states.
The panel also featured Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States; Sultan Raev, Secretary General of TURKSOY; Shahin Mustafayev, President of the Turkic Academy; Ramil Hasan, Secretary General of TURKPA; and Osman Mert, President of the Turkish Language Association.
The panel session served as an important platform for the exchange of views and discussion of prospects for further development of humanitarian and cultural cooperation across the Turkic world.
