AKIPRESS.COM - The 7th Meeting of the Ministers and Heads of Institutions in Charge of Diaspora Affairs of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held in Budapest on December 2, marking the first time this high-level diaspora meeting has taken place in Hungary, the OTS press service reported.

The meeting was chaired by Secretary General of the OTS Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev and State Secretary for Hungarian Communities Abroad Lőrinc Nacsa. In his speech, the Secretary General highlighted Hungary's active participation across nearly all OTS cooperation areas and emphasized that Hungary has become "more than an observer state" through its consistent and meaningful contributions to joint initiatives.

The meeting addressed key issues related to the current state of Turkic diasporas worldwide. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation among diaspora institutions, deepening coordination among Turkic communities abroad, and enhancing the visibility and engagement of the OTS diaspora through joint initiatives.

Participants reviewed progress made since the previous meeting and welcomed the momentum created by recent OTS Summits in Budapest and Gabala, where diaspora issues were strongly emphasized by the heads of state.

Delegations discussed ongoing projects, including scholarship and internship programs, youth engagement platforms, and mechanisms to support the cultural, social, and educational ties of Turkic communities. At the end of the meeting, the parties adopted OTS Joint Diaspora Action Plan for the year 2026.

The meeting concluded with a reaffirmed commitment to advancing joint programs and strengthening collaboration among OTS diaspora institutions.