Careful preservation, all-round study and wide popularisation of the richest historical and cultural heritage of Turkmen people, who have brought a weighty contribution to development of world civilisation, acts as one of the priorities of the state policy of Turkmenistan initiated by Hero-Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and consistently realised by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. In this connection, a great significance is attached to cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – UNESCO, a full member of which is our country is since 1993.
Long-term interaction with UNESCO – an integral and important component of strategic partnership of Turkmenistan-United Nations. In the history of this fruitful dialogue, there are a number successfully realised and ongoing present joint projects. With a view of attaching a systematic character to bilateral interaction, the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO was set up and works in Turkmenistan. In recent years, traditional cooperation with this profile establishment of the United Nations was brought to a qualitatively new level, constantly being enriched in its maintenance. An increase in the number of the nominations presented by our country, which were included in the List of the UNESCO World Heritage and Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, can attest to it clearly.
In the given context, the awarding ceremony with the Certificate of inclusion the nomination of Turkmenistan «The Art of Akhal-Teke Horse Breeding and the Traditions of Horse Decoration» in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage humanity, which took place on October 12 of the present year became one of significant events.
Let us remind that the corresponding decision was unanimously adopted during the 18th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO, passed in December 2023 in Kasane of the Republic of Botswana.
It is symbolical that the solemn ceremony was organised within the conference, which took place in the International Academy of Horse Breeding named after Aba Annayev of Arkadag city. In the new «smart» city constructed in one of the most beautiful places of the Turkmen land – the native land of legendary «heavenly» racers all conditions and possibilities for effective cooperation with foreign partners in the field are created.
For a long time and to this day magnificent Akhal-teke, horses are famous all over the world for their refined beauty and outstanding qualities. Throughout centuries of knowledge and skills of horse breeding are transferred in Turkmenistan from generation to generation. Noble stature and grace of «winged» horses even more underlines graceful decoration with jeweller in making of which Turkmen jewellers have reached a great skill. Remarkable books of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, which retell of history and development of this most ancient breed, are devoted to Akhal-Teke racers.
Thus, the award by the certificate filled up the list of important events of the this year which passes under the motto «The Fount of wisdom of Magtymguly Fragi» and marked by the 300th birthday anniversary of the founder of Turkmen classical literature, great poet and thinker of the East. The fact that this anniversary is marked at world level, testifies to a universal value of creativity of the glorified master of poetry.
Inclusion of the 300th birthday anniversary of Magtymguly Fragi in the List of significant dates for joint celebration with UNESCO in 2024-2025 also attest to this fact. This initiative of Turkmenistan was approved at the session of the Executive council of UNESCO, held in Paris in May of the past year. Besides it, the collection of manuscripts of the outstanding poet was included in the International Memory of the World Register aimed at protection and preservation of world documentary heritage of special value, providing of wide public access to it.
Within the large-scale program of celebration of the 300th birthday anniversary of Magtymguly Fragi, on October 11 Ashgabat hosted the international forum «Interrelation of times and civilisations – a basis of peace and development» under the chairmanship of the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and drew the keen attention of the world community. Heads and representatives of international organisations, including the Chairman of General Conference of UNESCO also took part in that high-level forum.
Based upon long-term positive experience of joint work, Turkmenistan is aimed at further active cooperation with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for which there is a solid potential and necessary legal basis. Having joined basic international documents of UNESCO among which – Conventions on protection of the world cultural and natural heritage and protection of intangible cultural heritage, our country shows invariable adherence to its obligations.
Continuing to look into the history of bilateral interaction, it is necessary to note that in the territory of Turkmenistan a great number of unique historical and cultural objects were discovered and registered. All of them are under state protection. Local scientists with the assistance of experts of UNESCO and foreign experts carry out corresponding research works. So, monuments of Ancient Merv and Koneurgench, Parthian fortress of Nisa are included in the List of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. Under the proposal of Turkmenistan together with the Republic of Uzbekistan and Republic of Tajikistan the transnational serial nomination “Silk Road: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor” was also brought in this List.
At the same time, our country initiates inclusion of unique natural territories in the List of the UNESCO World Heritage. As known, the transnational nomination « the Turan temperate deserts» was brought in the given List, prepared by Turkmenistan together with the Republic of Uzbekistan and Republic of Kazakhstan. It included the state natural reserves «Bereketli Garagum», «Gaplaňgyr», the state biosphere reserve «Repetek» and its desert ecosystems area «Ýerajy».
A worthy place in the Representative List of intangible cultural heritage of humanity of UNESCO is occupied by the dastan of Gorogly, national art of singing and dance «kushtdepdi», Turkmen carpet making art, dutar making, performing of musical art and art of bagshy, mentioned above Akhal-teke horse-breeding art and traditions of decoration of horses. Besides it, at the proposal presented by Turkmenistan together with friendly countries, in this prestigious List were included Turkmen art of embroidery, silk breeding and traditional manufacture of silk for weaving. Our country actively participated in preparation of other multinational nominations. So, the holiday of Novruz and «Traditions of retelling the parables of Molla Ependi» were brought in the Representative List of intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
The scientific-educational sphere also acts as one of the actual areas of multivector cooperation of Turkmenistan-UNESCO. As a result of efforts of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov this fruitful cooperation constantly deepens, finding new areas. The opening of chairs and UNESCO clubs in a number of higher educational institutions of our country can also testify to this fact. Besides it, six local comprehensive schools were included into the network of UNESCO Associated Schools.
It is remarkable that in 2023 the Youth Organisation of Turkmenistan named after Magtymguly became an official member of the Global Youth Community of UNESCO. It is another evidence of recognition of merits of our country in strengthening the international dialogue of youth, successful implementation of the state policy in the field.
Along with advancement of cultural, scientific and educational diplomacy, Turkmenistan supports effective realisation of possibilities of sports diplomacy. The fact of election of our country to membership of the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO for Physical Education and Sport for 2023-2027 – eloquent acknowledgement of ever growing authority of our fatherland on the world scene, and recognition of its powerful contribution to development of sports and sports movement, wide popularisation of principles of healthy way of life.
Relations established in the sphere of ecology also attest to a growing dynamics of interaction with UNESCO. In the given aspect, election of Turkmenistan as a member of the Intergovernmental Council of the International Hydrological Program of UNESCO for 2021-2025 became one of the significant events. The purpose of this program – assistance to deepening knowledge in the field of hydrology, development of modern methods and approaches to researches in this area, working out of strategy and policy for steady efficient control and rational use of water resources of the planet. Election of Turkmenistan to membership of the given structure of UNESCO – the next achievement of national ecological and water diplomacy.
Moreover, certainly, it is necessary to point out that fact that on October 31, 2023, in the World Cities Day, the decision of the General Director of UNESCO on inclusion of our capital – Ashgabat in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the “Design category” was announced. We will remind that work in the given direction began in 2021 and was conducted by Turkmenistan together with profile structures, committees and international experts of UNESCO. The above-named status was appropriated to Ashgabat by right recognised as one of the most beautiful and comfortable cities of the world, in connection with its development, according to modern international urban tendencies.
Thus, the available versatile potential causes wide prospects for further effective cooperation of Turkmenistan and UNESCO, expansions of its range. Complex activity in the given direction proceeds. Thereupon our country prepares a number of initiatives and proposals.
As President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted in his speech at the meeting of the Khalk Maslakhaty, which took place on September 24, it is necessary to carry out corresponding work for inclusion into the UNESCO Representative List of intangible cultural heritage of humanity the art of cultivation of alabays, traditions of manufacturing of children’s cradle – sallanchak and also art of performance of lullaby.
Besides it, the head of the state underlined that it is necessary to take necessary measures for inclusion in the List of the World Heritage bygone Altyn -depe and Ulug-depe cities developed during the Anau culture, archaeological monument of Dehistan that was settled at the crossroads of routes of the Great Silk road, and mountain ecosystem of Koytendag. It also concerns inclusion of Arkadag city in the Network of Creative Cities of UNESCO, and its educational institutions – in the network of associated schools of the given structure of the United Nations Organization.
Thus, the constructive initiatives put forward by Turkmenistan, undertaken concrete steps on strengthening of fruitful interaction with UNESCO urged to promote preservation of universal cultural heritage, promotion of international humanitarian cooperation as an integral factor of universal peace and well-being, achievement of the goals of sustainable development.
