Solemn events were held in Mary on the occasion of the significant dates of the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's accession to UNESCO and the 20th anniversary of adoption of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
A festive exhibition was held in the square in front of the Mary Regional Library. The exhibition featured art canvases, portraits of the classic of Turkmen literature Magtymguly Pyragy, jewelry, and symbols of the national heritage of the people such as Turkmen carpets, wool products, handmade embroidery, musical instruments.
Turkmenistan became a full member of UNESCO on August 17, 1993, having ratified the relevant document in London. Our country joined the UNESCO Convention "On the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage " in 1994. To date, more than 1,000 historical and cultural monuments have been identified and registered on the territory of Turkmenistan.
Many Turkmen national values, such as Turkmen carpet weaving, the art of making dutar, and the art of bakhshi, are included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
In 2022, the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity was supplemented on the initiative of Turkmenistan with such types of intangible heritage as "Turkmen embroidery art", "Silk weaving and traditional silk production for weaving" and "Traditions of retelling the parables of the Molla Ependi".
This year, it was unanimously decided at the 216th session of the UNESCO Executive Council to include the collection of manuscripts of the Turkmen philosopher and poet Magtymguly Pyragy in the International List "Memory of the World".
This and other events were discussed during the conference held in the assembly hall of the Velayat library.
Deputy Governer of Mary velayat Arzygul Orazova, Head of the Intangible Heritage Department of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan Gozel Makhtumkuliyeva, editor of the Velayat newspaper "Maru–Şahu jahan" Sulgun Shadyeva, Deputy Director of the Mary Museum of Local History Yazgul Tirkishova read their reports on the topic "Turkmenistan is a stronghold of universal values".
The speakers stressed the special importance of the contribution of the Turkmen people to the formation of civilization and world culture. The meeting was followed by an excursion to the halls of the Historical and Local Museum of Mary velayat and a conference on the topic of Ancient Merv.
The events are organized by the Ministry of Culture of the country and the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO. In the future, participants will visit the State Historical and Cultural Reserve "Ancient Merv".
