Messages delivered by Secretary General Sultan Raev on the Future of the Turkic World at the 15th General Assembly of TURKPA in Bishkek
Mr. Sultan Raev, the Secretary General of the International Organisation of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY) attended the 15th General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA), held on October 20th, 2026 in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
In his address to the General Assembly, Secretary General Raev highlighted the future of artificial intelligence, the preservation of the cultural heritage of the Turkic World in the digital sphere, and the responsibilities to be assumed by parliaments in this process.
Hosted by the Jogorku Keneş of the Kyrgyz Republic, the General Assembly convened under the theme ‘Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation in the Turkic World in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and Technological Progress’.
The meeting, chaired by Mr. Marlen Mamataliev, the Speaker of the Jogorku Keneş of the Kyrgyz Republic, was attended by Mrs. Sahiba Gafarova, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan, Mr. Aibek Dadebay, the Speaker of the Kurultay of Kazakhstan, Mr. Numan Kurtulmuş, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, Mr. Tanzila Narbayeva, the Speaker of the Senate of the Supreme Assembly of Uzbekistan and Mr. Ziya Öztürkler, the Speaker of the Republican Assembly of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Also present at the General Assembly were TURKPA Secretary General Ambassador Ramil Hasan and representatives of international organisations.
Addressing the participants at the General Assembly, TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev emphasised that, alongside opportunities which technological developments offer to humanity, the risks they entail must also be carefully assessed. Stressing that artificial intelligence should be viewed not merely as a technological advancement but as a significant transformation shaping the future of humanity, Secretary General Raev reiterated the call he had previously made at the Conferebce of the Alliance of Civilisations organised within the framework of the General Assembly of the United Nations.
“We must be a nation which governs artificial intelligence, not a nation governed by it.”
Highlighting the importance of information security and access to accurate information in the age of artificial intelligence, Secretary General Raev drew particular attention to the spread of misinformation and the impact of content created in the digital sphere on societies. Secretary General Raev further stated that technological progress cannot be considered in isolation from humanity’s shared values and ethical responsibilities.
Dedicating a significant portion of his speech to the cultural memory of the Turkic World, Secretary General Raev stressed that language, literature, epics, music and traditions are fundamental elements of a shared civilisational heritage formed over the centuries and noted that the adequate and accurate representation of this heritage in the digital world is of vital importance for its transmission to future generations.
Secretary General Raev who said that “If our national languages do not find sufficient space in the digital environment, they may fail to attain the status they deserve even in the age of artificial intelligence” further added that as artificial intelligence systems draw on existing knowledge, it is crucial for cultural values of the Turkic World to be represented in the digital environment in a reliable and comprehensive manner.
Touching upon the responsibilities that parliaments must assume in this process, Secretary General Raev highlighted the importance of establishing a legal and ethical framework for technological developments and said tha: “It is the law that will protect us in the digital age.”
Noting that parliaments not only define the legal boundaries of technological developments but also shape the future of societies’ cultural and spiritual values, Secretary General Raev emphasised the need to establish a legal framework to ensure the preservation and transfer of the shared memory of the Turkic World into artificial intelligence.
Drawing attention to the mission of TURKSOY to preserve, develop and pass on the shared cultural memory of the Turkic World to future generations, Secretary General Raev concluded his speech by expressing his gratitude to all those who contributed to the organisation of the General Assembly.
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