At the event, participants first visited the Alley of Honorary Burials, where they honored the memory of the national leader Heydar Aliyev, as well as paid tribute to the heroes who gave their lives for the independence and territorial integrity of the country by visiting the Alley of Martyrs and the monument "To the Martyrs of Turks".
At the beginning of the meeting, the president of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society, Novruz Aslanov, emphasized that the country not only speaks of its commitment to the Turkic community but also demonstrates it in practice. According to him, thanks to the policy of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan has become an important geopolitical and economic player, as demonstrated at the recent summit in Gabala. "These initiatives strengthen our cultural, scientific, and humanitarian ties," he added.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Samir Sharifov, noted that in the context of current geopolitical changes in the region and the world, the creation of mechanisms based on joint activities and strategic thinking is becoming particularly relevant.
He stated that the Turkic Red Network was established to strengthen humanitarian solidarity in the CSTO region, respond to emergencies promptly, and coordinate actions. He emphasized that the network's activities should go beyond merely responding to crises and also serve as a platform for promoting the humanitarian values of Turkic states on the international stage.
The Secretary-General of the CSTO, Kubanychbek Omuraliev, noted that an important achievement was the creation of a civil protection mechanism, which is a turning point in the humanitarian cooperation of the Commonwealth countries.
Fatma Merich Yilmaz, president of the Turkish Red Crescent Society, highlighted the need for organizing joint training, implementing special exchange programs, and developing educational modules. In her opinion, such measures will enhance operational potential and strengthen institutional ties.
The president of the Kyrgyz Red Crescent Society, Chingiz Dzhaikipov, also noted the importance of creating the "Red Network" platform.
During the meeting, plans for activities in 2025 were discussed, and strategic directions for 2026 were defined.
In Baku, as part of this annual meeting of the Council of Presidents of the national societies of the Turkic Red Network, the Declaration of the Turkic Red Network was signed. This document confirms mutual cooperation and humanitarian solidarity among the national societies of the participating countries.
The Declaration includes the expansion of information and experience exchange, the implementation of joint humanitarian projects, as well as strengthening coordination in responding to emergencies and further enhancing regional solidarity.
The Turkic Red Network, established in 2024 in Bishkek, represents a regional humanitarian platform uniting the Red Crescent and Red Cross societies of the CSTO member states. This year, the presidency of the organization was transferred from Kyrgyzstan to Azerbaijan.
