-I would like to start by extending our warmest congratulations to Kazakhstan on the assumption of CICA Chairmanship and express our special thanks to Ambassador Ilyassov and all our dear colleagues at the Kazakhstan Mission for organizing this virtual briefing today. Our appreciation also goes to Tajikstan as the former Chair.

-I also express our gratitude to HE Mr. Shakhrat Nuryshev, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, HE Mr. Kairat Sarybai, Executive Director of CICA for their valuable insights. Also our warm greetings to all our colleagues at the MFA of Kazakhstan and CICA Secretariat.

-As you well know, Türkiye has been a staunch supporter of this process since its inception.

-We value CICA as an important platform for dialogue towards regional stability, security and prosperity. We have seen from the briefings today the continuing relevance and importance of CICA activities.

-Over the past two decades, CICA has taken responsibility to strengthen mutual trust and coordination as well as to promote Asia’s security and stability, as the largest intergovernmental forum in the continent.

-The Forum has followed the principle of consensus building and made important contribution to increasing understanding, seeking common ground and deepening cooperation, which we highly appreciate.

-Within CICA, Türkiye is the coordinator of the “New Challenges and Threats” dimension, as well as the co-coordinator of the “Developments of Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)”.

-Our contributions to CICA include providing trainings on combatting terrorism and fight against narcotics.

-During our Chairmanship between 2010 and 2014 we made concrete contributions on all the five dimensions of CICA.

-We believe that making CICA more relevant in addressing common challenges can be achieved by deepening cooperation in all CICA’s five dimensions and promoting a stronger sense of ownership.

-Solution to our common challenges, including the pandemic, lies in our ability to act jointly.

- Even before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, CICA had already made it a priority to share experience and strengthen cooperation to cope with the emerging infectious diseases and epidemics. This is yet another proof to CICA’s potential to tackle current challenges. We need to duly utilize this potential.

-With its unique composition and broad agenda, CICA has also the added-value and potential to further contribute to peace and security in a wide geography.

-In doing so, we highly appreciate Kazakhstan’s role in the establishment of CICA as well as its current leadership as Chair.

-Taking this opportunity, I would like to express our support to Kazakhstan’s priorities to enhance the work of CICA. If the pandemic situation allows, we look forward to the Ministerial meeting in October, which will certainly further highlight the achievements of CICA.

Before I conclude, I would like to emphasize that Kazakhstan has our full support in all their important endeavours during their CICA Chairmanship.

I thank you.