The Turkic Week has started in Vienna

The Turkic Week began in Vienna on January 12, 2026.

As reported by representatives of the Organization of Turkic States, the opening ceremony took place at the United Nations headquarters and was timed to coincide with the photo exhibition "The Turkic World on the Silk Road."

Several high-ranking guests delivered welcoming speeches at the event: Acting Director of the Department of Operational Activities of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime Bo Mathiasen, representing the host side; Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Samir Sharifov, representing the chairing country in the OTS; Deputy Director General of UNIDO Fatou Haidara; and Deputy Director of UNOSAT Driss El Hadani.

In his speech, the Secretary General of the OTS emphasized that the Silk Road has united the cultures, economies, and societies of Eurasia for many centuries, serving as a common historical and civilizational space. He also noted that the modern initiatives of the Organization of Turkic States in the areas of transport connectivity, trade facilitation, and humanitarian exchanges are a continuation of this historical legacy.

The photo exhibition, organized jointly by the Secretariat of the Organization of Turkic States and the Turkic Academy, presents a visual narrative highlighting the cultural heritage, historical significance, and geographical continuity of the Turkic world along the routes of the Silk Road.

The opening ceremony concluded with a reception hosted by the Embassy of Azerbaijan.