Uzbekistan and UNESCO: The Way of Development of Cultural Relations

At present, relations between Uzbekistan and UNESCO are strengthened and gradually developed. It is proved by the Program of Cooperation signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay which provides for the development of relations between Uzbekistan and UNESCO until 2021. Scientific and cultural activities are held on a regular basis in cooperation with the International Organization. These include prestigious scientific conferences with participation of scientists of Uzbekistan and foreign countries, which are held within the framework of “Sharq Taronalari” International Festival, the International Forum of Maqom Art, “Atlas Bayrami” festival, and the International Festival of Folk Applied Arts.

 

In order to develop technical and scientific cooperation, contribute to strengthening peace and security, UNESCO was organized on November 16, 1945, which assumed the functions of cooperation between states and peoples in education, science and culture, as well as the protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The headquarters of the organization is located in Paris, currently its members are 200 states, and there are more than 60 offices and bureaus within UNESCO. 

 

The priority areas of UNESCO activity are the development of cultural and humanitarian ties between peoples and states on the way to ensuring and strengthening peace and security, preservation and bringing to future generations of samples of centuries-old tangible and intangible culture. 

 

Relations between Uzbekistan and this organization, which has gained great prestige in the international arena, are actively developing. 

 

In 1993, Uzbekistan became a member of UNESCO. Recognizing the merits of the country, in 1997 the member countries of the organization elected the Republic of Uzbekistan to the governing body – the Executive Council. An event of historical significance was the holding of the final meeting of the 155th session of the UNESCO Executive Board on November 6-7, 1998 in Uzbekistan, which resulted in the adoption of the Tashkent Declaration “Culture of Peace and the UNESCO’s Activities in the Member States” which provided for the celebration of anniversaries of our ancestors, contributing to world science and culture. Over the past period, under the auspices of UNESCO, the anniversaries of our such great ancestors as Amir Temur, Mirzo Ulugbek, Ahmad Al-Fergani, Imam Al-Bukhari, Kamoliddin Behzod, as well as the world-famous cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Termez, Shakhrisabz, Karshi, Tashkent, Margilan, priceless pearls of literature “Alpamysh”, “Avesto” and Khorezm Academy of Ma’mun were celebrated internationally. Historical and cultural buildings in the cities of Samarkand, Shakhrisabz, Bukhara and Khiva are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This means that the objects of cultural heritage in these cities have acquired the status of property of the whole humanity of the world. In 2001, by the decision of UNESCO, Bukhara was declared a “City of Peace”. Within the framework of the International Convention for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Navruz holiday, cultural space of Boysun district, Shoshmaqom, Katta ashula, Askiya, Uzbek pilaf, atlas and adras production technology, as well as Khorezm dance “Lazgi” are included in the representative list of UNESCO.

 

Under the leadership and with the assistance of UNESCO, the 2500th anniversary of the cities of Bukhara and Khiva, the 2700th anniversary of the cities of Shakhrisabz and Karshi, the 2750th anniversary of the city of Samarkand, the 2200th anniversary of the city of Tashkent were solemnly celebrated. To this day, the International Institute of Central Asian Studies, formed in Samarkand, has successfully operated in accordance with this document and with the direct assistance of UNESCO. 

 

Over the years of cooperation with UNESCO, the following projects have been implemented in the country: 

 

– “Preservation of objects of cultural heritage built of clay bricks, improvement of skills of local specialists, certification of objects of cultural heritage located along the Great Silk Road”; 

 

– “Economic and environmental reform for the rational use of land and water resources in Khorezm region”; 

 

– “Preservation of Buddhist heritage sites in Uzbekistan”; 

 

– “Pottery Art of Uzbekistan”; 

 

– “Preservation and development of “Shoshmaqom” and its transition to the future generation”; 

 

– “The art of production of Uzbek carpets. Opening of centers for education and for production and painting of carpets in the cities of Bukhara and Khiva”; 

 

– “The cultural heritage of Baysun region.” 

 

The organization in Uzbekistan with the assistance of UNESCO of such major international events as “Sharq Taronalari”, Bakhshi art, handicrafts festivals and Maqom art forum testifies to the existence of grounds for continuing the development of relations between Uzbekistan and UNESCO. 

 

When it comes to strengthening and developing ties, preserving and transferring the heritage of culture and art to future generations, it should be noted that bilateral visits and meetings contribute to strengthening cooperation. The official visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to France on October 8, 2018 and his meeting at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris with the Director General of this organization Audrey Azoulay indicate the importance of cooperation with UNESCO in foreign policy and diplomacy of Uzbekistan and the importance of our state for this organization. 

 

The provision of assistance by Uzbekistan to neighboring Afghanistan, the promotion of training for youth and women of the country who are in the grip of many years of war, the establishment of special education centers for them in Termez was highly appreciated by UNESCO and positively reflected on the diplomatic status and image of the country. 

 

In September 2017, the President of Uzbekistan took the initiative to adopt the UN International Convention on Youth Rights and a special resolution of the General Assembly “Education and Religious Tolerance”. The UNESCO Director-General supported the initiatives put forward by the President of Uzbekistan to organize, under the auspices of UNESCO the International Institute named after Mirzo Ulugbek in Samarkand, the Regional Center for Information and Communication Technologies at the University of Information Technologies in Tashkent, and the UNESCO Chair at Silk Road International University of Tourism in Samarkand. At the same time, the projects on opening of such departments as “Comparative Study of World Religions”, “Water Diplomacy, Water Resources Management and Environmental Protection” and “Cultural Tourism” were highly appreciated. 

 

At the high-level meetings held between Uzbekistan and UNESCO, the Joint Plan of Action for 2018-2021 was adopted. This document has acquired strategic importance due to its focus on raising relations to a qualitatively new level, joint innovative solution of the tasks facing the parties and strengthening cooperation. 

 

At the meeting held in Samarkand on August 26 this year with the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, noting the constructiveness of the dialogue and strengthening partnership between Uzbekistan and UNESCO, stressed that such cooperation is a high policy in preserving the cultural and historical heritage – treasury of all mankind.