Speech by A.

Saparbekuly, President of NJSC "Otandastar Qory", at the V

meeting of heads of ministries/institutions dealing with diaspora matters

Bishkek, 22 November 2023.

Dear colleagues! Dear friends!

First of all, we express our sincere gratitude to the organizers of today's

meeting, the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Migration of Kyrgyzstan.

Recently, serious political, economic and social changes in the world have also
affected the Turkic-speaking countries. In this regard, the unity and co-operation of
Turkic-speaking countries is becoming an urgent matter.

The President of Kazakhstan K. Tokayev stressed this at the X summit of

the Organisation of Turkic States called "The Turk Time". K. Tokayev said: "The
main goal of the Turkic world is to preserve unity based on mutual trust, cohesion
and brotherhood in order to pass these values to future generations".

Recently, Turkey celebrated its 100th anniversary. On this significant

anniversary, I hereby congratulate our Turkish brothers and emphasise that this is a
celebration for the entire Turkic world.

The issues on today's agenda are extremely important and relevant. In this
regard, I would like to introduce a number of activities of "Otandastar Qory"
2023 on the way of development, strengthening the current state of Turkic-
speaking diasporas, co-operation and co-ordination with them.

In order to strengthen international relations in 2023, Otandastar Qory signed

memorandum with the international organisation TURKSOY, the Vatandoshlar
Society of Uzbekistan and the State Committee for Diaspora Affairs of Azerbaijan.
In the future, documents on mutual understanding are being worked out with the
Rossotrudnichestvo of Russia, the Committee on International Relations and
Friendly Relations with Foreign Countries of Uzbekistan and China. The
strengthening of ties with German partners is also intended.

This year's regular kurultay, organised by the Kazakhs of Europe and

Otandastar Qory in Cologne (German - Köln), was attended by about 30 Kazakh
organisations from 15 countries, representatives of the Turkic-speaking diaspora
and the Uzbek diaspora in Europe.

At the meeting with the Turkic diaspora in Paris in 2022, the Kazakh side
raised the issue of making it a permanent tradition to invite representatives of the
Fraternal Turkic diaspora to various congresses and national holidays of
representatives of the Turkic-speaking diaspora, which will be held in Europe,
America and the CIS countries. The Secretary of the Organization of Turkic states
also took part in this meeting. Such meetings would be an important factor
contributing to the strengthening of our cooperation and friendship. In this regard, I
propose to inform each other about such meetings in the future.

You can find details about the Otandastar Qory activities in the brochure before
you.

Otandastar Qory representatives also participated in a significant international

conference titled "The Role of Public Diplomacy in Strengthening the
Friendship of Nations" held in Tashkent. Additionally, the representative from
the State Committee for Diaspora Affairs of Azerbaijan joined and endorsed the
discussion of the "Communicative Strategy" project for 2024-2027, focused on
the Kazakhstan diaspora, conducted in Almaty in collaboration with the
International Organization for Migration. I would like to take this opportunity to
extend my appreciation and thanks to our Azerbaijani colleagues and
Secretariat.

This year "Otandastar Qory" has launched the web portal "Qazalem" for our
compatriots abroad. Let me briefly tell you about the Qazalem project.

The Qazalem portal is a unique web service portal that unites compatriots living
outside Kazakhstan, provides them with services, as well as with information about
the recent news and events in the country.

The portal was created within the framework of the President Kassym-Jomart
Tokayev’s assignment to the government to "create and develop a service to
involve Kazakhstanis living outside the Republic of Kazakhstan in the public life
of the country" on 17 April 2023 as an Internet service.
Qazalem portal publishes announcements of both domestic and international
events, news, as well as interviews with successful compatriots who have reached
outstanding success abroad.
A digital encyclopedia about Kazakhstan contains detailed information on 55
topics, and the World Interactive Map includes 111 major associations of Kazakhs
abroad.

The interactive part of the web service portal includes modules for booking to
embassies and consulates of Kazakhstan abroad and requesting assistance at
embassies and consulates in emergency situations, as well as a package of offers
and services for investors and tourists.
The portal provides legal consultations for compatriots, while compatriots abroad
planning to immigrate to Kazakhstan can register in the Qandas database.

Information at the Qazalem portal is available in Kazakh, Russian, English and

Chinese languages.
Qazalem will implement several projects for its users in the future.
They are:
 Virtual Law Office;
 Vacancies module;
 Video lessons section;
 The application for the education section for compatriots abroad;
 International Students Association;
 Documentary films;
 Creative Contests Online;
 National Art Contest;

The portal also provides users with a virtual platform "Qazmetalem".

In the virtual world, users can attend various events, such as film screenings,
concerts, forums, be provided with consultations on various matters related to the
work of NSJC "Otandastar Qory" and the Qazalem portal.
Qazalem is an online service that connects the Government of the Republic
of Kazakhstan with compatriots abroad. This portal is intended to add to the ranks
of social initiatives aimed at solving problems and supporting our compatriots
abroad.

I express confidence that in future "Otandastar Qory" will actively work with
the Secretariat of the Organisation of Turkic States, and colleagues in the direction
of strengthening cooperation and unity between the Diasporas of Turkic-speaking
countries.

In order not to waste your time by coming on stage again and again, I would
like to dwell on some of the issues on the agenda related to the "Joint Action Plan
2023-2024" discussed at the Baku/Shusha International Forum within the
framework of the Organisation of Turkic States.

1) It will take some time to discuss the details of the three programmes
"Exchange of Experience among Diaspora Institutions of Member States",
"Capacity Building of Turkish Diaspora", "Internship among Officials of
Diaspora Institutions". Therefore, in order to save money and time, we
believe that these 3 programmes would be better conducted as one short-
term program training.
2) We believe that holding the "Turkic Week" common for Turkic
countries is the main cultural event that strengthens the unity and co-
 operation of Turkic countries in the world. Therefore, we think that this
kind of events should be co-organized by TURKSOY, the International
Foundation for Turkic Culture and Heritage and the Ministries of Culture of
the Turkic countries.
3) We believe that the organization of "October 3 - Day of Cooperation
of Turkic States" on a rotating principle in the capital of Turkic countries
or in diplomatic missions abroad should be under the competency of the
Ministries of Foreign Affairs.
4) The issue of holding the 3rd OTS Diaspora Forum in 2025 in
Kazakhstan has been successfully resolved. The concept of the Forum, its
time and venue, and the organisation of the event are currently under active
discussion. Further information on this matter will be forwarded to the
Secretariat through the diplomatic channel.
5) We believe, that the strengthening of close cultural and spiritual ties
between the brothers in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the
Turkic diasporas contributes to the enhancement of mutual understanding
and co-operation.

In conclusion, I would like to mention some suggestions from the Kazakh side
in order to improve the activities of Turkic diaspora organizations.

1) We believe that research in the field of history and culture, socio-

economic potential of the Turkic diaspora is important and it is
necessary to submit a proposal to the Turkic Academy and the Ministries of
Science.
2) We believe that holding meetings with diaspora representatives twice a
year with the participation of embassies in countries where the Turkic
diaspora is present is aligned with our objectives.
3) At the moment there is a proposal to create a new web portal "TURK
WORLD" which would be similar to the web portal "Qazalem" in
Kazakhstan on the principle of "one window", to make a list of each Turkic
diaspora abroad and exchange information among each other.
4) Currently, apart from the diaspora residing overseas, there are also our
compatriots who work and pursue education abroad. Consequently,
safeguarding the social rights of Turkic diasporas abroad is an exceedingly
pertinent matter. In this context, we deem the establishment of the
"Association of Lawyers Defending the Rights of the Turkic Diaspora"
to be a crucial agenda item.

Thank you for your attention.