― 13 мая 2022 г.

National Commissions of TURKSOY Member Countries to UNESCO came together in Bursa

The 8th Meeting of National Commissions of TURKSOY member countries to UNESCO organized in cooperation of TURKSOY with the Metropolitan Municipality of Bursa and the National Commission of Turkey to UNESCO took place on May 13th, 2022 in Bursa, the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2022.

The meeting aiming at the preservation of the cultural and historical heritage of the Turkic World  was hosted by the National Commission of Turkey to  UNESCO  and gathered the Chairmen and representatives of National Commissions of  Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, the TRNC and Mongolia to UNESCO along with representatives of international organizations such as IRCICA, TURK-PA, the International Turkic Academy and the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation.

In the opening speech he delivered at the event, TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev expressed his pleasure to have come together with representatives of the Turkic World in Bursa, the city which used to be the capital of the Ottoman Empire  and is known for its beautiful nature and rich cultural heritage.

Secretary General Raev who stressed the important role played by representatives of UNESCO National Commissions when it comes to the worldwide promotion, preservation and transmission of our tangible and intangible cultural heritage to future generations further said: “TURKSOY pursues its activities to explore, foster and transmit Turkic culture, language, history, art, traditions and customs to  future generations. In line with this commitment, TURKSOY further carries out its activities to preserve these cultural values  and support our National Commissions to UNESCO.”

Secretary General Raev who added that the International Organization of Turkic Culture  will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of its establishment in  2023 further said: “The 30th anniversary of TURKSOY will unoubdtedly be a major moment for the Turkic World and Turkic peoples in terms of cultural events. As a matter of fact, TURKSOY gathers all fields of culture and art of Turkic peoples and brings them all together. Hence, its 30th anniversary celebrations will be of great importance not only for our peoples, artists and intellectuaşs but also for institutions and organizations which carry ouot activities in the Turkic World. I therefore suggest that we carry out events in UNESCO Headquarters in Paris within the framework of our 30th anniversary celebrations and I do believe that National Commissions of our member countries to UNESCO will support this suggestion of ours and contribute to it.”

Secretary General Raev who expressed his belief in the fact that an increase in the number of annual meetings of UNESCO National Commissions would being about more efficiency in activities carried out to assess the situation of cultural heritage suggested that the next meeting to be held in 2022 shall take place in the city of Osh which shines with its rich historical heritage and is home to Mount Suleiman, the “Sacred Mountain” mentioned as such in the World Heritage List of UNESCO.

The Chairman of the National Commission of Turkey to UNESCO Prof. Dr. Öcal Oğuz who delivered a speech at the meeting said that National Comssisions of TURKSOY member countries to UNESCO come together and carry out major activities in the interest of their region and country as well as of humanity.

Prof. Dr. Oğuz further said that Turkic peoples are the heirs of a culture of universal tolerance which has been existing on these territories without excluding anyone.

Prof. Dr. Oğuz who also touched upon the current status of cooperation activities undertaken in previous years, added that UNESCO National Commissions could support eachother in many fields including the submission of multinational files, joint files, cooperation and exchange of experience.

Prof. Dr. Oğuz further expressed his gratitude to the former Chairman of the National Commission of Turkey to UNESCO Prof. Dr. Nabi Avcı as well as to the former Secretary General of TURKSOY Prof. Dusen Kaseinov and the former Deputy Secretary General of TURKSOY Prof. Dr. Fırat Purtaş for their contribution to the development of the cooperation which started in  2010.

The Term Chairman of UNESCO National Commissions of TURKSOY member countries and Secretary General of the National Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic to UNESCO Sabira Soltongeldieva who also took the floor at the meeting touched upon  the importance of joint activities carried out by  UNESCO National Commissions. Mrs. Soltongeldieva who further said that since the Kyrgyz Republic assumed the term presidency of UNESCO National Commissions of TURKSOY member countries in Osh, the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2019  no meetings could be organized due to the pandemic, stressed her happiness to have come together again to resume activities aiming at the preservation of the cultural heritage of the Turkic World.  Mrs. Sabira Soltongeldieva concluded by congratulating Mr. Sultan Raev on the occasion of his election as Secretary General of TURKSOY and wishing him success in his new duty.

The Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality of Bursa Murat Demir expressed his pleasure to have come together with participants from various regions of the Turkic World in Bursa, its Cultural Capital 2022 wished them success in their activities aiming at the preservation of the cultural heritage of Turkie peoples.

The opening speeches were followed by the handover ceremony of the Term Presidency of National Commissions of TURKSOY member countries to UNESCO which went over from the National Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic to the National Commission of Turkey to UNESCO.

The ceremony was followed by a handover of souvenirs to the participants.

In recognition of their participation in and contribution to activities of UNESCO National Commissions, TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev and the Chairman of the National Commision of Turkey to UNESCO Prof. Dr. Öcal Oğuz handed over plaquettes and souvenirs to the Secretary General of the National Commission of Azerbaijan to  UNESCO Seymur Fataliyev, the Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to UNESCO, Ambassador Elman Abdullayev, the Secretary General of the National Commission of Kazakhstan to UNESCO and ICESCO Aliya Baisabayeva, the Secretary General of the National Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic to UNESCO Sabira Soltongeldieva, the Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan to UNESCO, Ambassador Umid Shadiev, the Deputy Secretary General of the National Commission of Uzbekistan to UNESCO Sayidafzal Mallakhanov, the Former Chairman of the National Commission of Turkey to UNESCO Prof. Dr. Nabi Avcı, the Secretary General of the National Commission of Turkmenistan to UNESCO Chinar Rustamova, the Member of the Board of the Ministry of National Education of the TRNC Nazım Nuri, the Secretary General of the National Commission of Mongolia Boldsaikhan Sambuu, the Chairman of the International Turkic Academy Prof. Dr. Darhan Kydyrali, the Deputy Secretary General of TURK-PA Fuad Allakbarov,  the Director General of IRCICA Prof. Dr. Mahmut Erol Kılıç, the Former Secretary General of  TURKSOY Prof. Dusen Kasseinov, the Former Deputy Secretary General of TURKSOY Prof. Dr. Fırat Purtaş and Dr. Şule Ürün from the National Commission of Turkey to UNESCO.

The first session of the meeting ended with a group photograph of participants taken as a remembrance of the day.

In the second session of the meeting, participants came together in seminars on various fields of cultural heritage as set by  UNESCO such as Intangible Cultural Heritage, Cultural and Natural Heritage, World Memory and Education and discussed the status of various items of cultural heritage, current issues and future activities foreseen to be carried out in this respect.

The 8th Meeting of National Commissions of  TURKSOY member countries to UNESCO ended with the presentation of activity reports.