DUSHANBE, 13.11.2023 (NIAT Khovar) – The delegation of Tajikistan led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the National Commission of Tajikistan for UNESCO Sirojiddin Muhriddin took part in the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris.

This event started on November 7, 2023 and will last until November 22, 2023. It should be noted that heads of state and government, as well as other high-ranking representatives of countries of the world are participating in this session and its side events.

On the first day, the event was inaugurated by the President of the 41st session of the UNESCO General Conference, and the Chairperson of the Executive Board with the Director-General of UNESCO addressed the session at its outset. Subsequently, the elections to the post of the President of the 42nd General Conference took place. During the Conference, the report of the Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay on the activities of the Organization in 2018-2021 was also heard. At the end of the first day, the draft UNESCO program and its budget for 2024-2025 and 2026-2029 were discussed and adopted.

On November 9, the UNESCO Director-General opened the General Policy Debate with the participation of heads of delegations of member countries of the Organization.

On November 10, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Muhriddin addressed at these debates.

During his speech, the Minister informed the participants about the worthy contribution of Tajiks in the development of science and education and the world civilization. It was emphasized that the founders of an extremely valuable spiritual and intellectual world heritage were Tajik scientists, philosophers, poets, writers and thinkers, such as Abuabdullah Rudaki, Abul-Qasem Firdawsi and Abuali Sina, whose unique works are still considered as an effective scientific and cultural link of world civilization.

It was noted that even to this day the Tajik people pay tribute to their customs and other national values, which also have transnational characteristics, and constantly strive to revive and enrich them.

The Chairman of the National Commission of Tajikistan for UNESCO said that the year 2023 marks 30 years since the beginning of bilateral relations between Tajikistan and UNESCO. During this period, Tajikistan became an active member of UNESCO, the author and co-author of a number of cooperation projects in the field of science, education and culture, and made an effective contribution to the protection and popularization of the cultural and natural heritage of the world. In this regard, Muhriddin mentioned the inclusion of the natural site “National Park of Tajikistan”, the ancient city of Sarazm, and more recently the state reserve of Tajikistan “Tiger Gully” and the transnational cultural heritage of the Silk Roads: “Zarafshan-Karakum” in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Tajik side expressed its opinion on the active role of the country in promoting water and climate issues within the UN system, including the initiatives of the President Emomali Rahmon, related to the preservation of glaciers.

At the end of his speech, the Foreign Minister expressed concern about the complex and catastrophic situation in Afghanistan and Palestine.

He reiterated Tajikistan’s call on the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to the suffering people of these two countries as soon as possible and urged for an immediate ceasefire in Palestine to find a solution to this conflict through negotiations.