THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO OF TURKMENISTAN CONSIDERED THE ISSUES OF EXPANDING ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA OF CULTURE AND EDUCATION

Today, on the 30th of January 2021, upon the instructions of the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the successive session of the National Commission for UNESCO of Turkmenistan was held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Deputy Chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, as well as the heads and representatives of profile ministries and departments of the country took part in the meeting.   

During his opening remarks, the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R.Meredov has once again underlined the importance of widening cooperation of Turkmenistan with UNESCO.

This is especially consonant with principles and events embedded in the Roadmap of the International Year of Peace and Trust. As known, the Opening event to launch the International Year of Peace and Trust was held the day before in Ashgabat in participation of the high-ranking representatives of the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as other respected international and regional organizations.  It is worthwhile to note that senior representatives of UNESCO have underlined during their speeches the significance of cooperation with Turkmenistan from the standpoint of strengthening peace, friendship and trust between states and peoples.     

The agenda of today’s session was very rich.  The process of further inclusion of numerous historic and cultural objects and arts of Turkmenistan to the representative lists of UNESCO was discussed. The importance of the nomination of Turkmenistan - “Dutar making craftsmanship and traditional music performing art combined with singing” was highlighted.  Also, the work continues on nominating the native Turkmen arts to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, in particular the Akhalteke horse breeding and rearing of the Turkmen Alabays.

At the meeting, the participants also discussed the issues of expanding cooperation between Turkmenistan and UNESCO within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network project. In particular, the process of inclusion of the capital of Turkmenistan to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the art sphere “Design” was considered.  

One of the important fields of partnership with UNESCO is education.  The participants of the session highlighted the importance of widening collaboration with UNESCO in the area of education and science.  The opportunities of establishing the UNESCO departments in a number of institutions of higher education of Turkmenistan were discussed; including the inclusion of a number of comprehensive secondary schools of the country to the UNESCO Associated Schools Network.   

The participants of the meeting also spoke about the importance of multilateral cooperation on the platform of UNESCO. The significance of the “Agreement between the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the joint promotion, management and protection of the components of the Serial transnational nomination “Silk Road: Zaravshan-Karakum Corridor” signed the day before was highlighted.

The Action Plan of the National Commission for UNESCO of Turkmenistan for current year was also regarded at the meeting.