Minister Çiftçi Proposes ‘Türkpol’ and Joint Passport Control for the Turkic World
Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi, who attended the 3rd Meeting of the Interior Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Astana, announced that he had proposed the establishment of a “Türkpol” organization among the Turkic States, similar to Interpol. While the meeting addressed cooperation in combating cross-border crime, the participants also discussed establishing joint passport control points at airports and enabling citizens of Turkic States to travel using national identity cards.
Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi stated that important issues aimed at strengthening cooperation in the field of security were discussed during his visit to Kazakhstan.
Çiftçi spoke to journalists about his meetings in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, which took place as part of the 3rd Meeting of the Interior Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).
Çiftçi said that they were received by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana and subsequently held a meeting with the interior ministers of OTS member states.
He stated that the meeting covered efforts to combat cross-border crime, new-generation criminal organizations, terrorist and drug trafficking networks, irregular migration, illegal betting, and gambling, as well as opportunities for greater cooperation in these areas.
“I proposed the establishment of Türkpol”
Describing the meeting as productive and successful, Çiftçi said that the Organization of Turkic States Police Academies Platform, established in November last year, was also discussed and that the mechanism had now become operational.
Çiftçi added that the establishment of a Council for Combating Crime was also discussed at the meeting. He noted that the council would cover key areas including the fight against new-generation criminal organizations, drug-related and terrorist crimes, irregular migration, illegal betting, and gambling.
Çiftçi said that, as the next stage of this mechanism, he proposed the establishment of a “Türkpol” organization among the Turkic States.
“Just as there is Interpol and Europol, I put forward the proposal to establish a similar organization called Türkpol,” he said.
Çiftçi stated that the interior ministers of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan responded positively to the proposal, adding that the establishment of Türkpol would further strengthen cooperation in combating cross-border crime and criminals.
Joint passport control points for citizens of Turkic States
Çiftçi said that, in addition to security issues, the meeting also addressed measures aimed at facilitating travel for citizens of the Turkic States. He noted that work is underway on establishing joint passport control points at airports specifically for citizens of Turkic States.
He said that the possibility of implementing a system among the Turkic States similar to the one used within European Union countries was being considered.
Çiftçi also stated that allowing travel between Turkic States using national identity cards was on the agenda. He noted that similar arrangements already in place between Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, as well as between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, could beneficially be extended to other Turkic States.
Emphasizing that his visit to Kazakhstan was important not only for strengthening security cooperation but also for reinforcing mutual understanding and solidarity among the Turkic States, Çiftçi said:
“We are striving to be the present-day heirs of the blessed understanding expressed on the Kül Tegin Monument, erected thirteen centuries ago: ‘I did not sleep at night, nor did I sit idle during the day.’”
Çiftçi stated that, as interior ministers, they were fully aware of their responsibilities and expressed confidence that cooperation among OTS countries would grow even stronger in the coming period.
He also recalled that the OTS Leaders’ Summit will be held in Ankara next month, hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and said that the meeting in Astana constituted one of the preparatory stages for the summit.
Çiftçi said that the issues discussed at the meeting would also be evaluated at the leaders’ level.
“I wholeheartedly believe that cooperation among the Turkic States will continue to increase in the coming period and that our cooperation will grow even stronger,” he said.
Çiftçi thanked Kazakh President Tokayev for receiving the delegation, the Kazakh Interior Minister for hosting the meeting, and the interior ministers of the other OTS countries who participated in the gathering.
