Kazakhstan to Pay $50,000 Annually to Turkic States' Civil Protection Fund

The Senate of Kazakhstan has ratified an agreement to establish a common civil protection mechanism for member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). Under the terms of the document, Kazakhstan, like other participating nations, will make an annual mandatory contribution of $50,000 to the budget of the new structure.

According to Senator Andrey Lukin, the ratification will allow member states to combine efforts in saving lives and protecting citizens' property, providing medical and humanitarian aid, as well as monitoring and analyzing risks related to natural and man-made disasters.

Necessary assistance will be provided on a voluntary basis upon request from an affected party. Decisions on providing such aid will be made by consensus among the members.

The highest governing body of the agreement will be the Council of Ministers and a Secretariat headquartered in Istanbul. Turkey has committed to providing premises and assisting with organizational matters for the secretariat.

"The Civil Protection Mechanism of the Organization of Turkic States will have its own budget, formed from annual mandatory contributions from participants. Until a separate international treaty on the budget comes into force, an annual mandatory contribution of $50,000 is stipulated for each party," stated Senator Lukin. "Expenses exceeding the total amount of these contributions during the first two years after the agreement enters into force will be covered by Turkey."

Lukin clarified that the collected funds are intended for maintaining the secretariat, conducting training events, and organizing joint exercises. Training will primarily utilize digital platforms but will also include practical drills and seminars conducted both in-person and remotely. A dedicated base for training rescuers from OTS countries is also planned.

The Organization of Turkic States currently comprises five full members: Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. Hungary, Turkmenistan, and Northern Cyprus hold observer status.