OREANDA-NEWS. February 03, 2010. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who was on an official visit to the French Republic, met with the Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Ms. Irina Bokova. In the morning the Turkmen leader arrived in the Paris-based UNESCO headquarters, where the head and representatives of this largest agency of the United Nations Organisation heartily greeted the distinguished guest.

Greeting the honorary guest, Mrs. Irina Bokova expressed sincere gratitude to the Turkmen leader for Turkmenistan’s active position on cooperation with UNESCO on preservation of the national and universal cultural heritage. The leader of the authoritative international organisation noted that the particular steps taken by the President of Turkmenistan and the reforms initiated in the spheres of education and science were welcomed by the international community promoting the growing prestige of the country on the world arena.

Thanking for the heartfelt wishes Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that the revival, preservation and promotion of the unique cultural heritage of the Turkmen people was a priority of the policy of the Turkmen state. In this regard the President noted that Turkmenistan attached great importance to partnership with UNESCO – the largest international organisation dedicated to promoting global humanitarian cooperation. The leader of the Turkmen state said that fruitful collaboration with UNESCO was a critical aspect of Turkmenistan-UN strategic partnership aimed at strengthening peace, stability and achieving common progress.

Reaffirming the mutual willingness to enhance and intensify versatile cooperation that had resulted in implementing a number of joint projects in recent years, the President of Turkmenistan and Director-General of UNESCO exchanged views on the prospects for further cooperation in compliance with its priorities. The head leader of the largest UN agency stated that UNESCO stood ready to further traditional constructive partnership with the Government of Turkmenistan, in particular, in the sphere of education and science, in which the impressive results had been achieved through the fundamental reforms initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Touching upon the results of collaboration on preservation of the unique historical and cultural monuments, the sides focused with satisfaction on the effectiveness of collaboration. This was clearly illustrated by such fact as the inscription of Ancient Merv, the legendary city of Kunya Urgench and the capital of Parthia – Nisa on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the sites of outstanding universal value.

The key priorities of the policy of Turkmen state included the environmental aspect, the concern for preserving the rich and diverse nature of the country as an integral part of the national heritage. In this context emphasis was put on the real possibility to replenish the UNESCO World Heritage List with the historical, architectural and natural monuments of Turkmenistan, where a special place, of course, was given to the greatest desert of the continent – the Karakum Desert as a unique ecological system that had been forming over centuries. At present, UNESCO is considering the number of relevant proposals submitted by Turkmenistan.

It was also noted that culture, music, folklore, rich literary heritage of the Turkmen people were of profound interest in the context of preservation, study and popularization.

In conclusion evaluating highly the fruitful dialogue the President of Turkmenistan and Director General of UNESCO expressed belief that traditional cooperation would be further developed successfully in the interests of common wellbeing and sustainable development.