Astana, Kazakhstan - 12 June 2025 - His Excellency Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), delivered remarks at the 14th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA), convened under the theme “TURKTIME: The Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy.”
Addressing distinguished parliamentarians and high-level officials, Ambassador Aryn expressed appreciation to the Parliament of Kazakhstan and TURKPA for the opportunity to contribute to this important gathering. Framing parliamentary diplomacy as a powerful tool for regional advancement, he emphasized its capacity to mobilize legislative will and foster multilateral responses to shared challenges, including food insecurity, climate vulnerability, and disruptions in agri-food systems.
He highlighted the unique responsibility and influence of legislative bodies in elevating the collective voice of the Turkic world and reinforcing the IOFS’s shared agenda for food resilience. The Director General further stressed the strategic importance of the Turkic States—not only as agricultural producers and innovation hubs—but as essential partners in the development of sustainable, climate-resilient food systems.
Ambassador Aryn noted that the IOFS, headquartered in Astana, stands ready to serve as a dynamic platform complementing the cultural and economic integration goals of the Turkic world. Through agricultural cooperation, scientific exchange, and capacity-building, the Organization can catalyze shared progress, while also addressing the impacts of climate change on sustainable development, conserving biodiversity, building resilience to natural disasters, and protecting vital water resources.
This vision, he underlined, aligns closely with the Astana Declaration, expected to be adopted during the Session—affirming a collective political will to deepen regional cooperation in these critical areas.
In closing, Ambassador Aryn extended a formal invitation to those Turkic States not yet members of IOFS to consider joining the Organization. He noted that the upcoming 51st Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, to be held on 21–22 June in Istanbul, presents a timely and symbolic opportunity to sign the IOFS Statute.
