UNESCO Foundation Day
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The main goals of UNESCO is providing world peace and security through the expansion of cooperation between the countries and people in the area of education, science and culture. It works to create the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, based upon respect for commonly shared values.
UNESCO was founded on the 16th of November 1945. The head office is located in Paris, the French Republic. It has 194 member states and 12 associate members. UNESCO has 53 regional field offices and 199 national commissions that facilitate its global mandate. UNESCO is a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, a coalition of UN agencies and organisations aimed at fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals.
Turkmenistan has become a full-fledged member of UNESCO on the 17th of August 1993 by ratifying the relevant document in London. In 1994 with the acquiring Turkmenistan to the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Currently more than 1000 historical and cultural monuments were found and registered on the territory of the country . In the framework of the Convention The State Historical-Cultural Park “Ancient Merv” in 1999, The State Historical- Cultural Park “Kunya-Urgench” in 2005, The State Historical-Cultural Park “Parthian Fortresses of Nisa” in 2007 was added to the World Heritage List of UNESCO.
The Mission of Turkmenistan to UNESCO was opened in 1995.The coordination of actions between UNESCO and Turkmenistan are carried out by the Cluster Office located in Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran.
On November 25, 2011 Turkmenistan joined the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and since then our country acts as one of its most active parties. By joining this Convention a numeral of our national and cultural heritages of Turkmenistan were included in the World Heritage List. The epic art of “Gorogly” in 2015, ” Nowruz” holiday in 2016 , “Kushtdepdi rite of singing and dancing” in 2017, ” Dutar making craftsmanship and traditional music performing art combined with singing” in 2021 , “The Traditional Turkmen Carpet Making Art in Turkmenistan” in 2019 and in 2023” Turkmen-style needlework art”, “Sericulture and tradition production of silk for weaving” and “The telling tradition of Apendi/Afendi Kozhanasyr Anecdotes” were entered into the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangibl Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Turkmenistan continues active collaboration with UNESCO, in particular on the enrichment of the World Heritage List.
Moreover, UNESCO chairs were established at the Turkmen State University named after Magtymguly and the Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute named after Seyitnazar Seydi, also UNESCO clubs like “Language of World” at the Institute of Turkmen National World Languages named after Dovletmammet Azadi,”Culture of Peace” at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, “Environmental protection an important concept of sustainable development” at the Turkmen Agricultural Institute and “Ahal-Teke Horses-Ambassadors of the World” was opened at the Aba Annayev International Horse Breeding Academy. Also the UNESCO Corner was created at the Local History Museum of Lebap velayat. In this year 6 secondary schools of our country were included in the UNESCO Associated Schools Network.
In addition to these, on the 31st of October 2023, on World Cities Day by decision of UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, the city of Ashgabat officially included the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the “Design category”. Ashgabat’s inclusion in the Creative Cities Network is a testament to its commitment to developing a vibrant and creative urban environment. The designation is also expected to boost the city’s profile as a global cultural destination.
As known, one of priorities of the international agenda of Turkmenistan is the overall expansion of collaboration between our country and UNESCO. The Organization plays a key role in the preservation of worldwide cultural and natural heritage of the humankind. The representative lists of UNESCO retain unique objects and phenomena of material and spiritual culture of Turkmen people.
Aylar REJEPOVA,
the 2nd year student
of the Faculty of International Relations
of the Institute of International Relations
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.