Esteemed Ministers, Distinguished Statesmen,
Representatives of International and Diplomatic Organizations,
Dear Scholars and Cultural Figures,
Honorable Participants,

 

It is a great honor to welcome you on behalf of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation and to take part in this special event — Bakhshi International Art Festival — held in the ancient and beautiful city of Khiva, a truly magical place and a cultural treasure of the Turkic world.

I express my sincere gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Culture of Uzbekistan, in particular Minister Mr. Ozodbek Nazarbekov, and the local authorities of the Khorezm Region for the high-level organization, warm hospitality, and kind welcome extended to all participants.

Uzbekistan has a long history and rich culture, making it a true treasure of both the Turkic world and the world as a whole. It has played an important role in preserving, studying, and promoting both the tangible and intangible heritage of Turkic civilization on the international stage.

We are sincerely proud that Uzbekistan will soon become the fifth full member of the Foundation. The announcement of this decision by His Excellency President Mirziyoyev at the recent Summit of the Heads of Turkic States is a great honor and a strong sign of our shared commitment to the cultural unity of the Turkic world.

This forum is an important platform for preserving and developing the cultures of Turkic peoples. It brings us together to strengthen our cultural ties, explore new opportunities for cooperation, and present our shared heritage to the world.

Our cultural heritage is not only a link to the past, but also a guide to the future. It inspires us, shapes our identity, and unites us spiritually. It is our responsibility to protect and promote this heritage for future generations and for all of humanity.

Following the strategic goals outlined in the documents “Vision of the Turkic World – 2040” and “TURKTIME”, and in line with the guidance of our leaders, the Foundation is carrying out many projects to safeguard the cultural heritage of Turkic states and share it globally.

We have organized conferences in Baku, Tanbaly, and Paris, and established the Association of Restorers, Historians and Architects of the Turkic World.

The Foundation is honored to present the completed restoration and museification of the House-Museum of Alykul Osmonov in Bishkek — an important cultural milestone and the first project of its kind implemented by the Foundation.

In Azerbaijan, we will soon begin restoration at the Gochahmadli mosque, Fizuli District. Experience sharing programs have taken place in Istanbul, Tanbaly, and Kulan. Also among our priorities is the museumification of the ancient Turkic site of Kulan.

In Kazakhstan, the Foundation is launching a new cultural initiative titled “Caravan of the Turkic World” on the sacred territories of Kazakhstan. Within the framework of this project, we will organize a scientific seminar titled “Botai and Turan” featuring workshop. We will also hold the 2nd International Symposium of Architects in Turkistan and a conference in “Berel”, as part of the “Altai – Cradle of the Turkic World” festival.

In Kyrgyzstan, we will begin restoration work on the Karakhanid Palace and the “Krasnaya rechka” monument. In Hungary, we will initiate the digitalization of Turkic cultural heritage, creating a digital archive of historical documents.

In Aktau, we will hold a conference marking the 275th anniversary of Beket Ata, with the aim of promoting heritage sites for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

We are also working on international nominations for elements of intangible heritage such as Gurama and epic traditions, and have organized a conference on the Alpamys epic.

Through our TurkDiscovery video series on YouTube, we continue sharing the rich culture of the Turkic world with a global audience.

I would also like to highlight our important work with Uzbekistan. In 2024, with scholars from across the Turkic world, we began developing a Multilingual Catalogue of Turkic Cultural Heritage, which will serve as the basis for a new digital platform called TurkicHeritage — open to people worldwide.

It is with great respect and a deep sense of responsibility that we have commenced work on the Anthology of Turkic Folklore, in line with the valuable initiative proposed by His Excellency President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. A specialized working group, consisting of leading scholars from the Turkic world, has been established to prepare this comprehensive collection, which will reflect the richness and diversity of of traditional folklore genres.

These projects are only a part of our overall efforts.

In conclusion, I am pleased to inform you that the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, together with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), is organizing a special session at this forum titled “Digital Transformation of the Culture of Turkic States.” We kindly invite you to take part in this session.

Dear Participants,

Culture is a bridge that connects nations and builds friendship. The Turkic peoples have created a rich and lasting legacy through language, literature, music, and traditions. This shared past is also the foundation of our common future.

As mentioned earlier, forums like this are vital for strengthening cultural ties and promoting our shared values. It is our duty to preserve and present these values to the world.

My sincere gratitude to all who contributed to the organization of this event— the government institutions of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Culture, and local authorities.

I would like to extend my best wishes for the successful outcomes of this esteemed forum and express my sincere hope for the further strengthening of unity and cooperation among the Turkic states.

Thank you for your attention.