― 19 сентября 2025 г.
Conference on ‘"Chingis Aitmatov and UNESCO: A Shared Heritage that Unites the World" held in Paris
An international conference entitled ‘Chingis Aitmatov and UNESCO: A Shared Heritage that Unites the World’ was held at the Headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Paris, the capital of France.
Hosted by the Permanent Delegation of Kyrgyzstan to UNESCO, in cooperation with TURKSOY and the Ankara-based Chingis Aitmatov Institute, the event comprehensively addressed the contributions of the great Kyrgyz author and philosopher Chingis Aitmatov to the world's cultural heritage.
The conference was attended by TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev, UNESCO Assistant Director-General Ernesto Ottone, Kyrgyzstan's Permanent Representative to UNESCO Ambassador Sadyk Sher-Niyaz, Türkiye's Permanent Representative to UNESCO Ambassador Gülnur Aybet, the President of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan Prof. Dr. Isa Habibbeyli, Kazakhstan's Permanent Representative to UNESCO Ambassador Askar Abdrakhmanov, Uzbekistan's Permanent Representative to UNESCO Kamol Mukhtarov and Turkmenistan's Permanent Representative to UNESCO Ambassador Maksat Chariev along with many diplomats, scholars, authors, and cultural representatives from UNESCO member countries.
Sultan Raev: ‘Aitmatov, a bridge that speaks to the collective conscience of humanity’
In his opening speech, TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev emphasised that Aitmatov holds a special place not only in Kyrgyz literature but also in the collective memory of the entire Turkic World and humanity, noting that: “Chingis Aitmatov is a great humanist who builds bridges between nations. With his pen, he not only made the voice of the Kyrgyz steppe heard around the world, but also gifted humanity with universal values such as human dignity, nature, peace and memory through the language of literature.
The concept of “mankurt” created by Aitmatov sends a powerful warning to societies that have been uprooted and lost their identity. TURKSOY's mission is precisely based on this awareness: to preserve our common culture, carry it into the future, and pass this awareness on to younger generations."
Secretary General Raev also drew attention to the 100th anniversary of Chingis Aitmatov's birthday, which will be celebrated in 2028, stating that TURKSOY will be the forerunner of celebrations across the Turkic World on this important anniversary and that they have prepared comprehensive programmes and joint projects to pass on Aitmatov's intellectual legacy to future generations. Secretary General Raev emphasised that Aitmatov's works not only depict the epic landscapes of the Kyrgyz steppe but also explore profound questions of humanity, highlighting that his messages remain universally significant today.
Comments from participants about Aitmatov
Ernesto Ottone, the Assistant Director-General of UNESCO, drew attention to the contribution of Aitmatov's works to the ideals of universal peace and intercultural dialogue, stating that:
"UNESCO's vision of intercultural understanding and peace coincides with Aitmatov's deep respect for humanity and nature. His pen has created a unique bridge for different cultures to understand each other,"
Ambassador Sadyk Sher-Niyaz, the Permanent Representative of Kyrgyzstan to UNESCO, stated that Aitmatov is a spiritual guide not only for the Kyrgyz people but for all humanity and added that: ‘Aitmatov's ideas are still guiding principles for forming a common conscience in the face of today's global problems.’
Ambassador Gülnur Aybet, the Permanent Representative of Türkiye to UNESCO, emphasised the author's contribution to understanding the common values of the Turkic World and said that: ‘His novels are powerful ambassadors introducing the cultural richness of the Turkic World to the world. The messages of human rights and moral responsibility he conveys in his works retain their universal validity today.’
Prof. Dr. Isa Habibbeyli, the President of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan said: ‘Aitmatov is one of the very few authors who deepened the literary consciousness not only of Kyrgyz literature but of the entire Turkic World and raised it to a universal level.’
Eldar Aitmatov, son of Aitmatov, emphasised that his father's legacy is also a source of inspiration for today's younger generations, saying: ‘My father was always a source of inspiration for people, nature, and his own past.’ and added: ‘My father always reminded us of our responsibility towards other people, towards nature, and towards our own past. This message is more meaningful than ever in today's world of global crises.’
Apart from once again highlighting the unique importance of Chingis Aitmatov's literary and intellectual legacy in fostering international cultural dialogue and preserving humanity's shared values, this meaningful event held in Paris also strongly emphasised that Aitmatov's works continue to be a source of inspiration for the cultural unity of the Turkic World as well as for universal ideals of humanity.
