A landmark event bringing together the ethnocultural roots of Turkic-speaking countries was held in the capital of Turkmenistan. The Cultural Center of the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye hosted a solemn ceremony dedicated to UNESCO’s official proclamation of 15 December as the World Turkic Language Family Day.
The initiative to establish this international day was put forward by the President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and was officially endorsed during the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, held in Samarkand.
The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, heads of diplomatic missions of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Türkiye, as well as media representatives, public figures, and residents of the capital.
In his address, Ahmet Demirok, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Türkiye to Turkmenistan, emphasized the need for joint efforts to preserve the historical continuity of language, safeguard cultural memory, and transmit heritage to future generations. In this context, Turkmenistan’s significant contribution was particularly noted.
“Today, here in Ashgabat—the capital of independent and permanently neutral Turkmenistan—we are discussing the unique beauty of the Turkic languages, our shared heritage, the depth of the poetry of Magtymguly Fragi, and the unifying power of all Turkic dialects. Turkmenistan represents one of the most significant and oldest branches of this language family. Since gaining independence, Turkmenistan has shown special care in preserving and developing its national language, literature, and culture, and has always maintained strong ties with the Turkic world,” stated the diplomat.
The significance of the Turkic language family is immense. According to UNESCO data, the number of native speakers exceeds 200 million people, and the geographical area of its distribution covers approximately 12 million square kilometers. The linguistic family includes the Turkmen, Turkish, Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Uzbek languages.
This UNESCO initiative is aimed at preserving intangible cultural heritage and supporting global linguistic diversity. The new commemorative date is intended to highlight the importance of the shared cultural and linguistic heritage of Turkic peoples and to strengthen their role in the global humanitarian sphere.
Guests of the celebration were presented with video materials showcasing the rich history and unique cultural diversity of the Turkic world. The annual celebration of the World Turkic Language Family Day will become an important platform for promoting the culture of Turkic-speaking countries and strengthening ties among fraternal peoples.
