On the 2nd of November 2020, the first meeting of the National Commission for UNESCO of Turkmenistan was held in the premises of the MFA.  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.

As is known, the President of Turkmenistan has signed the relevant Resolution confirming the composition and standing of the given Commission on the 23rd of October of current year.  

Opening the session, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R.Meredov underlined that due to unfolding new vectors of partnership in such areas as the digital technologies, climate change, water management, sport and tourism, the adoption of the measures on the enhancement and raise of the efficiency of the work of the National Commission for UNESCO of Turkmenistan is gaining more relevance.       

The main vectors of the UNESCO activities, in particular education, science, culture and communication have been embedded in concrete large-scale projects in Turkmenistan.  It is pertinent to note the effective cooperation of Turkmenistan with the Organization in the area of preserving cultural and natural heritage.  

Presently, three large historic-cultural reserves – “Ancient Merv (1999),” monuments of Kunya Urgench (2005), the Parthian Fortresses of Nisa - containing immense cultural and scientific value are entered into the UNESCO World Heritage List. The folk epic “Gyorogly” (2015), the singing and dance art “Kushtdepdi” (2017), as well as the Turkmen national carpet weaving (2020) are entered into the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.  A few more objects of cultural heritage are awaiting to be entered to the List.

At the first session of the Commission, the participants thoroughly considered the draft of the Joint Action Plan for 2021-2023 and touched upon the issue of adding the “Dutar making craftsmanship and traditional music performing art combined with singing” into the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which is already registered by the UNESCO Secretariat.    

As is known, today, the nomination process of Ashgabat into the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, including the sending of appropriate documents is completing.  This Network is expected to develop the international cooperation between the cities which are ready to invest in art – the driving force of the development of cities, social integration and advancement of culture’s impact in the world.       

In addition, today the work continues on the preparation of nominations for entering the art of the Akhalteke horses training and breeding of Turkmen Alabay dogs, which are part of the national heritage of Turkmen people into the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

It is worthwhile to note that presently the work has been intensified in Turkmenistan aimed at strengthening the international legal basis in the area of science, education and culture.  The work is underway on Turkmenistan’s joining the Convention against Discrimination in Education and the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, as well as the recognition of qualifications related to higher education.      

Turkmenistan attaches great importance to cooperation with the UNESCO.   The regular meetings at the highest levels in the regional and international formats serve as a vivid proof of this. The strive of the Organization to enhance the intellectual and moral solidarity of the humankind, democratic values, respect for human rights serve as a lever for efficiency of cooperation between Turkmenistan and UNESCO.