Turkmenistan's Minister of Culture A. Shamyradov participated in the plenary session of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, which is taking place in Samarkand on October 31, according to a report on the social media page of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in France.

In his speech, the minister noted the symbolism of holding the conference outside Paris for the first time in over 40 years. The choice of Samarkand as the venue, according to the minister, reflects UNESCO's commitment to strengthening mutual understanding and cultural dialogue among peoples.

A. Shamyradov emphasized that cooperation with UNESCO is a priority area of Turkmenistan's foreign policy, which is based on the principles of permanent neutrality, openness, and equal partnership.

The minister praised Turkmenistan's long-standing collaboration with UNESCO in the fields of culture, education, science, and digital technology. He reported that the country has over a thousand registered historical and cultural monuments, three of which are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List: Ancient Merv, Kunya-Urgench, and the Parthian Fortresses of Nisa.

A. Shamyradov announced Turkmenistan's candidacy for the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for the period 2026–2030. He also noted the development of cooperation within the framework of UNESCO's UNITWIN, Man and the Biosphere, Memory of the World, and Creative Cities Network programs.

In conclusion, the Minister confirmed Turkmenistan's readiness to continue its active participation in UNESCO's mission to strengthen peace, mutual understanding, and humanistic values.