International Organization of Turkic Culture explained

Native Name:	Turkish: Uluslararası Türk Kültürü TeşkilatıRussian: Международная организация тюркской культуры
Conventional Long Name:	International Organization of Turkic Culture
Membership Type:	Members^[1]
Admin Center Type:	Headquarters
Admin Center:	Ankara, Turkey
Languages Type:	Working languages
Languages:	English Russian Turkish
Leader Name1:	Sultan Raev^[2]
Established:	1993

The International Organization of Turkic Culture or TÜRKSOY is an international cultural organization of countries with Turkic populations, speaking languages belonging to the Turkic language family.

The General Secretary of Türksoy is Sultan Raev, the former Minister of Culture of Kyrgyzstan and deputy General Secretary of Organization of Turkic States. Türksoy has its headquarters in Ankara, Turkey.

Name

TÜRKSOY was initially established as the Common Administration of Turkic Culture and Arts (Turkish: link=no|'''Türk''' Kültür ve '''S'''anatları '''O'''rtak '''Y'''önetimi), and was later on renamed as International Organization of Turkic Culture. Its acronym nevertheless remained the same.^[3]

History

The organization has its roots in meetings during 1992 in Baku and Istanbul, where the ministers of culture from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan declared their commitment to cooperate in a joint cultural framework. Türksoy was subsequently established by an agreement signed on 12 July 1993 in Almaty.

In 1996, an official cooperation between Türksoy and UNESCO was established, involving mutual consultations and reciprocal representation.^[4]

Since its establishment, the Turkic Council has acted as an umbrella organization for Türksoy and a number of related organizations.^[5]

Member and observer states

As of 2022, Türksoy has six founding and 8 observer members.^[1]

Members

Member state	Official language(s)	Accession date	Area (km²)	Demographics
^[6]	Azerbaijani	1993	86,600	91% Azerbaijanis, 3% Lezgins, 2% Russians, 1,5% Armenians, and others
^[7]	Kazakh, Russian	1993	2,724,900	64% Kazakhs, 24% Russians, and others
^[8]	Kyrgyz, Russian	1993	199,951	77% Kyrgyz, 15% Uzbeks, 5% Russians, and others
^[9]	Turkish	1993	783,562	70–75% Turks, 19% Kurds and 6–11% others
^[10]	Turkmen	1993	488,100	85% Turkmens, 5% Uzbeks, 4% Russians, and others
^[11]	Uzbek	1993	448,924	80% Uzbeks, 5% Russians, 5% Tajiks, and others

Observers

Observer state	Official language(s)	Accession date	Area (km²)	Demographics
(Russian Federation)^[12]	Bashkir, Russian	1993	143,600	29% Bashkirs, 36% Russians, 24% Tatars, and others
(de facto)^[13]	Turkish	1993	3,335	98% Turks, 0,5% Greeks, and others
(Russian Federation)^[14]	Tatar, Russian	1993	67,836	52% Tatars, 39% Russians, and others
(Russian Federation)^[15]	Khakas, Russian	1996	61,900	13% Khakas, 79% Russians, and others
(Russian Federation)^[16]	Tuvan, Russian	1996	170,500	64% Tuvans, 32% Russians, and others
(Moldova)^[17]	Gagauz, Romanian, Russian	1999	1,832	82% Gagauz, 7,8% Moldovans, 4,9% Bulgarians, and others
(Russian Federation)^[18]	Altay, Russian	2003	206,168	31% Altaians, 61,4% Russians, Kazakhs and others
(Russian Federation)^[19]	Yakut, Russian	2003	3,062,100	40% Yakuts, 60% Russians, Tatars and others

Activities

Since its establishment, Türksoy has been "carrying out activities to strengthen the ties of brotherhood and solidarity among Turkic peoples, transmit the common Turkic culture to future generations and introduce it to the world."^[20]

Activities and events include:

• Gatherings of artists, photographers, painters, opera singers, poets, journalists, theatre, dance and music ensembles of the Turkic World
• Monthly journal published in three languages
• Publishing works written in various Turkic languages and dialects
• Commemoration of artists, authors, poets and scholars in recognition of their valuable contribution to Turkic culture
• Symposia and conferences covering topics on the common history, language, culture and art of Turkic peoples
• Nevruz Day celebrations including concerts and events held in the UNESCO Headquarters in 2010, the United Nations General Assembly Hall in 2011, and various other countries including Germany, Austria, and the United Kingdom.^[21]

Cultural Capital of the Turkic World

See main article: Culture and Arts Capital of the Turkic World. Every year, Türksoy selects one city in the Turkic world to be the "Cultural Capital of the Turkic World". The chosen city hosts a number of events to celebrate Turkic culture.^[22]

The cities that have been awarded this title are:

• 2012: Astana, Kazakhstan
• 2013: Eskişehir, Turkey
• 2014: Kazan, Tatarstan
• 2015: Merv, Turkmenistan
• 2016: Shaki, Azerbaijan
• 2017: Turkistan, Kazakhstan
• 2018: Kastamonu, Turkey^[23]
• 2019: Osh, Kyrgyzstan
• 2020: Khiva, Uzbekistan^[24]
• 2022: Bursa, Turkey^[25]
• 2023: Shusha, Azerbaijan^[26]
• 2024: Anau, Turkmenistan^[27]
• 2025: Aktau, Kazakhstan^[28]

Commemorative years

Since 2010, Türksoy has selected at least one figure from Turkic culture every year to dedicate their activities to.

Year	Person	Description
2010	Zeki Velidi Togan^[29]	Bashkir historian, 120th anniversary of his birth
2011	Ğabdulla Tuqay^[30]	Tatar poet, 125th anniversary of his birth
2012	Nikolai Katanov^[31]	Khakas Turkologist, 150th anniversary of his birth
	Mirza Fatali Akhundov^[32]	Azerbaijani writer, 200th anniversary of his birth
2013	^[33]	Kazakh musician, 100th anniversary of his birth
2014^[34]		Turkmen poet
		Kyrgyz poet
2015^[35]		Turkish writer, 100th anniversary of his birth
		Khakas dastan writer, 130th anniversary of his birth
2016	Yūsuf Balasaguni^[36]	Turkic philosopher and poet, 1000th anniversary of his birth
2017	Molla Panah Vagif^[37]	Azerbaijani poet, 300th anniversary of his birth
2018^[38]		Azerbaijani composer, 100th anniversary of his birth
		Kazakh poet, 125th anniversary of his birth
		Kyrgyz writer, 90th anniversary of his birth
2019^[39]		Azerbaijani poet, 650th anniversary of his birth
		Turkish folk singer, 125th anniversary of his birth
2020	Abai Qunanbaiuly^[40]	Kazakh poet and intellectual, 175th anniversary of his birth
2021^[41]		Turkish sufi and poet, 700th anniversary of his death
		Persian poet, 880th anniversary of his birth
2022		Kyrgyz writer, 100th anniversary of his birth
		Azerbaijani composer, 100th anniversary of his birth
		Turkish sufi, 600th anniversary of his death
2023^[42]		Kazakh poet, 125th anniversary of his birth
		Kyrgyz actress, 100th anniversary of her birth
		Turkish poet, 150th anniversary of his birth
		Persian scientist born in modern-day Uzbekistan, 1050th anniversary of his birth
		Northern Cypriot painter, 100th anniversary of his birth
2024		Turkmen poet and philosopher, 300th anniversary of his birth (2nd commemoration)
2025		Azerbaijani poet, 100th anniversary of his birth
		Kazakh conductor and composer, 100th anniversary of his birth
		Kyrgyz composer, 125th anniversary of his birth
		Turkish composer, 125th anniversary of his birth
		Northern Cypriot folk singer, 230th anniversary of his birth

Funding

Türksoy is funded by contributions paid by individual member states, local governments, universities and NGOs.

Related organizations

The Organization of Turkic States, the Turkic Academy and the Foundation of Turkic Culture and Heritage are organizations which TÜRKSOY works in coordination with. TÜRKSOY also carries out cooperation activities with the UNESCO, the ISESCO and the International Foundation for the Humanitarian Cooperation (IFESCCO) of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

As part of the XV International Tashkent Film Festival "Pearl of the Silk Road", the "World Turkic Filmmakers Forum" was held, at which it was decided to create the Union of Cinematographers of the Turkic World. The head of the Cinematography Agency of the Ministry of Culture of Uzbekistan, Firdavs Abdukhalikov, was elected the chairman of the organization.^[43]

List of secretaries-general

No.	Name	Country of origin	Took office	Left office
1	Polad Bülbüloğlu^[44]	Azerbaijan	1994	2008
2	Düsen Kaseinov (tr)^[45]	Kazakhstan	29 May 2008	31 March 2022
3	Sultan Raev (tr)	Kyrgyzstan	31 March 2022	incumbent

External links

• Türksoy Website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Members. Turksoy.org.
2. Web site: Mr. Sultan Raev took over the function of Secretary General of TURKSOY :: TÜRKSOY . www.turksoy.org . 6 May 2022.
3. Web site: FAQ. Turksoy.org.
4. Web site: UNESCO Web Site. Relations with the Joint Administration of the Turkic Culture and Arts (TÜRKSOY), and Draft Agreement between that Organization and UNESCO. 2009-12-04. 1996. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222241/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0010/001035/103511E.pdf. 2016-03-03. live.
5. Web site: Organization Chart . Türk Keneşi . 20 March 2021 . Turkic Council also functions as an umbrella organization for existing cooperation mechanisms such as the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY)....
6. Web site: Republic of Azerbaijan. Turksoy.org.
7. Web site: Republic of Kazakhstan. Turksoy.org.
8. Web site: Kyrgyz Republic. Turksoy.org.
9. Web site: Republic of Turkiye. Turksoy.org.
10. Web site: Turkmenistan. Turksoy.org.
11. Web site: Republic of Uzbekistan. Turksoy.org.
12. Web site: Republic of Bashkortostan (RF). Turksoy.org.
13. Web site: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Turksoy.org.
14. Web site: Republic of Tatarstan (RF). Turksoy.org.
15. Web site: Republic of Khakassia (RF). Turksoy.org.
16. Web site: Tuva Republic (RF). Turksoy.org.
17. Web site: Gagauzia (Moldova). Turksoy.org.
18. Web site: Republic of Altai (RF). Turksoy.org.
19. Web site: Republic of Sakha (Yakutia, RF). Turksoy.org.
20. Web site: About :: TURKSOY. www.turksoy.org. 2016-05-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20160424202322/http://www.turksoy.org/en/turksoy/about. 2016-04-24. live.
21. Web site: Nevruz Celebration – Once in a lifetime show, Nowruz USA . 13 July 2022 . tr-TR.
22. Web site: Türksoy Official Web Site. Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2016: Sheki :: TURKSOY. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160601015534/http://www.turksoy.org/en/news/2016/04/29/cultural-capital-of-the-turkic-world-2016-sheki. 2016-06-01. 2016-05-17. www.turksoy.org.
23. Web site: The Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2018: Kastamonu :: TURKSOY. Türksoy Official Web Site. www.turksoy.org. en-US. 2017-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20171215221629/https://www.turksoy.org/en/news/2017/12/05/the-cultural-capital-of-the-turkic-world-2018-kastamonu. 2017-12-15. live.
24. Web site: Özbekistan'ın Hive şehri 2020 Türk Dünyası Kültür Başkenti seçildi . 2019-12-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191206134149/https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/ozbekistanin-hive-sehri-2020-turk-dunyasi-kultur-baskenti-secildi/1659787 . 2019-12-06 . live .
25. Web site: Osmanlı'nın ilk başkenti Bursa 2022 Türk Dünyası Kültür Başkenti seçildi :: TÜRKSOY . www.turksoy.org . 16 September 2021.
26. Web site: Azerbaycan'ın Şuşa kenti "2023 Türk Dünyası Kültür Başkenti" ilan edildi - Avrasya'dan - Haber . TRT Avaz . 31 March 2022.
27. Web site: Türkmenistan’ın tarihî Anev kenti 2024 Türk Dünyası Kültür Başkenti seçildi . www.turksoy.org . 12 November 2022 . tr.
28. Web site: Koordinatörlüğü . TRT Yeni Medya Kanal . TÜRKSOY, 2025 yılına ilişkin kararlar aldı - Avrasya'dan - Haber . TRT Avaz . 14 October 2023.
29. Web site: 2010 Ahmet Zeki Velidi Togan Yılı :: TÜRKSOY . www.turksoy.org . 10 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191110160035/https://www.turksoy.org/tr/news/2010/04/10/2010_ahmet_zeki_velidi_togan_yili . 10 November 2019 . live .
30. Web site: TÜRKSOY 27.Dönem Bakanlar Konseyi Toplantısı'nda Önemli Kararlara İmza Atıldı :: TÜRKSOY . www.turksoy.org . 10 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191110153538/https://www.turksoy.org/tr/news/2010/05/16/turksoy_27donem_bakanlar_konseyi_toplantisinda_onemli_kararlara_imza_atildi . 10 November 2019 . live .
31. Web site: TÜRKSOY Türk Dünyasını Astana'da Buluşturdu :: TÜRKSOY . www.turksoy.org . 10 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191110153539/https://www.turksoy.org/tr/news/2011/09/20/turksoy_turk_dunyasini_astanada_bulusturdu . 10 November 2019 . live .
32. Web site: 2012 Mirza Fatali Ahundzade Yılı Açılışı Töreni Ve 2012 Türksoy Basın Onur Ödülleri Töreni :: TÜRKSOY . www.turksoy.org . 2 October 2021.
33. Web site: 2013 MUKAN TÖLEBAYEV YILI :: TÜRKSOY . www.turksoy.org . 10 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191110153546/https://www.turksoy.org/tr/news/2013_mukan_tolebayev_yili_acilisi___turksoy_basin_odulleri-08-05-2013 . 10 November 2019 . live .
34. Web site: TÜRKSOY Daimi Konseyi 31. Dönem Toplantısı ve TÜRKSOY'un 20. Kuruluş Yıldönümü Kutlamaları Sonuç Bildirisi :: TÜRKSOY . www.turksoy.org . 10 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191110154020/https://www.turksoy.org/tr/news/2013/10/09/turksoy_daimi_konseyi_31_donem_toplantisi_ve_turksoyun_20_kurulus_yildonumu_kutlamalari_s . 10 November 2019 . live .
35. Web site: 32. DÖNEM TÜRKSOY DAİMİ KONSEYİ SONA ERDİ :: TÜRKSOY . www.turksoy.org . 10 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191110153814/https://www.turksoy.org/tr/news/2014/11/22/32-donem-turksoy-daimi-konseyi-sona-erdi . 10 November 2019 . live .
36. Web site: Türk Dili konuşan ülkeler Kültür Bakanları Daimi Konseyi 33. Dönem Toplantısı, 2015 Türk Dünyası Kültür Başkenti Merv'de yapıldı :: TÜRKSOY . www.turksoy.org . 10 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191110153559/https://www.turksoy.org/tr/news/2015/12/07/turk-dili-konusan-ulkeler-kultur-bakanlari-daimi-konseyi-33-donem-toplantisi-2015-turk-du . 10 November 2019 . live .
37. Web site: Azerbaycan'da Büyük Buluşma - TURKSOY Daimi Konseyi 34. Toplantısı :: TÜRKSOY . www.turksoy.org . 10 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191110154143/https://www.turksoy.org/tr/news/2016/12/01/azerbaycan-da-buyuk-bulusma-turksoy-daimi-konseyi-34-toplantisi . 10 November 2019 . live .
38. Web site: Kültür Bakanları Türkistan'da Bir Araya Geldi :: TÜRKSOY . www.turksoy.org . 10 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191110153540/https://www.turksoy.org/tr/news/2017/12/07/kultur-bakanlari-turkistan-da-bir-araya-geldi . 10 November 2019 . live .
39. Web site: TÜRKSOY Daimi Konseyi 36. Dönem Toplantısı Kastamonu'da Yapıldı :: TÜRKSOY . www.turksoy.org . 10 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191110153802/https://www.turksoy.org/tr/news/2018/12/18/turksoy-daimi-konseyi-36-donem-toplantisi-kastamonu-da-yapildi . 10 November 2019 . live .
40. Web site: TÜRKSOY Daimi Konseyi Oş'ta Toplandı. :: TÜRKSOY . www.turksoy.org . 14 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191214214022/https://www.turksoy.org/tr/news/2019/12/01/turksoy-daimi-konseyi-os-ta-toplandi . 14 December 2019 . live .
41. Web site: Geleneksel Etkinlikler . www.turksoy.org . 3 March 2024 . 2021, vefatının 700. yılında Yunus Emre, doğumunun 880. yılında Nizami Gencevi.
42. Web site: TÜRKSOY Daimî Konseyi 39. Dönem Toplantısı Sonuç Bildirgesi . www.turksoy.org . 12 November 2022 . tr.
43. Web site: Создан Союз Кинематографистов Тюркского Мира . 2023-12-04 . www.turksoy.org.
44. Web site: Polad Bülbüloglu CV . 22 December 2021.
45. Web site: About :: TURKSOY . www.turksoy.org . 22 December 2021.