BAKU (Eurasianet)–Lawmakers from six Turkic countries convened in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku on September 28 to discuss ways to expand political, economic and cultural ties.
“Today, we speak different languages. However, I believe that the time will come when we will speak the same language, and will not need interpreters,” Azerbaijani Parliamentary Speaker Oqtay Asadov told attendees, Azerbaijani media reported.
Originally the initiative of Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-Speaking Countries brought together representatives from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan did not send delegates.
The assembly decided to set up its general secretariat in Baku, the Today.az news service reported. Access to the event was given only to foreign journalists and to Azerbaijani television reporters, the APA news agency reported. Azerbaijani opposition views are largely restricted to print media outlets.
