Ashgabat hosted 10th meeting of National Commissions for UNESCO of TURKSOY Member States

On 16 May 2024, Secretary General Mehmet Süreyya Er attended the 10th meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the TURKSOY Member States co-organized by Turkmenistan’s National Commission for UNESCO and the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY) in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The meeting brought together delegations from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Hungary and Mongolia. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and Chairman of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO Rashid Meredov, Secretary General of TURKSOY Sultan Raev, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Aktoty Raimkulova, Vice-President of the Turkic Academy Askhat Kessikbayev, President of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO Öcal Oğuz, Secretary General of the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO Seymur Fataliyev, Director (Officer-in-Charge) of the UNESCO Almaty Regional Office Amir Piric, Responsible Secretary of the National Commission for UNESCO of the Republic of Kazakhstan Janar Shaymenova, Responsible Secretary of the National Commission for UNESCO of the Kyrgyz Republic Sabira Soltongeldiyeva, as well as other guests took part at the event. The opening speeches were delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the Chairman of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO Rashid Meredov, the Secretary General of TURKSOY Sultan Raev, the Secretary of the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO Seymur Fataliyev and the Executive Secretary of the National Commission of Turkmenistan to UNESCO Chinar Rustamova. Secretary General Mehmet Süreyya Er also delivered a speech at the meeting. Secretary General expressed conviction that the meeting dedicated to the protection of cultural heritage and the development of education, would contribute to the promotion of the importance of education, values of cultural diversity, tolerance, mutual respect and understanding. The participants discussed issues pertaining to tangible and intangible heritage as well as prospective joint projects and expressed confidence that the joint efforts and cohesive actions of relevant organizations and national commissions would contribute to the development of cultural tourism between Turkic countries. During the meeting, the chairmanship of the platform was handed over from Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan. A seminar entitled “Cooperation within the framework of the Convention for the Protection of the Cultural Heritage of the Turkic World” was also organized within the frame of the event. The seminar was moderated by the President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Aktoty Raimkulova.