In her speech, the President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, Aktoty Raimkulova, highlighted Uzbekistan’s unique role in preserving and developing Turkic cultural heritage.
With its centuries-old history, rich traditions, historical monuments, and spiritual values, Uzbekistan is rightfully regarded not only as a treasure trove of Turkic civilization, but also as a cultural gem of global significance. She proudly noted that Uzbekistan’s accession as a full-fledged member of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation marks a significant step toward strengthening cooperation.
The Foundation’s President emphasized that the International Bakhshi Art Festival, along with other such cultural forums, plays a vital role in preserving, promoting, and advancing the spiritual traditions of Turkic peoples. These platforms help reinforce fraternal ties, open new avenues for cultural exchange, and offer the international community an opportunity to explore the rich legacy of the Turkic world.
She emphasized that cultural heritage is not merely a memory of the past, but a powerful guide for the future – a source of inspiration, a foundation of identity, and a spiritual core that unites the Turkic peoples. In this regard, the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation assumes, with a deep sense of responsibility, the mission of preserving, developing, and passing on this priceless legacy to future generations and the global community. The Foundation’s work is guided by the strategic documents Turkic World Vision 2040 and TURKTIME and the directives issued by the heads of Turkic states.
She elaborated on the Foundation’s ongoing and planned initiatives. Among them is the establishment of a unique professional body – the Association of Restorers, Historians, and Architects of the Turkic World. Under the Foundation’s auspices, international conferences on preserving and restoring cultural monuments have been held in landmark locations such as Baku, Tanbaly (Kazakhstan), and Paris. In accordance with the Astana Declaration of the summit, restoration and museification works have been completed at the house-museum of Alykul Osmonov in Bishkek. This project became the first of its kind in the Foundation’s activities and serves as a vivid example of the careful and respectful approach to the cultural heritage of the Turkic world.
In Azerbaijan, the Foundation is preparing to begin restoration work on a mosque in the village of Gochahmedli, Fuzuli district – an architectural site of historical and cultural importance to the region. Experience-sharing programs are also being successfully implemented, including in Istanbul, Tanbaly, and Kulan. One of the Foundation’s priority areas is the museification of the ancient Turkic settlement of Kulan, a significant archaeological site. A large-scale initiative titled “Caravan of the Turkic World” is also being launched. As part of this program, a scientific seminar titled “Botai and Turan” will be held on the sacred lands of Kazakhstan, including a series of workshops. Additionally, the initiative will feature the Second International Symposium of Architects in Turkistan and a conference within the “Altai – Cradle of the Turkic World” festival.
Aktoty Raimkulova also announced that in Kyrgyzstan, projects will be carried out to restore the Palace of the Karakhanids and the Krasnaya Rechka (Red River) monument, both of which hold great historical significance. The Foundation plans to launch a digital archive of historical documents in Hungary, marking a new step toward digitalizing Turkic cultural heritage. In Aktau, a major international conference will commemorate the 275th anniversary of Beket Ata, with a special focus on promoting Turkic heritage sites for potential inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation expressed confidence that such initiatives contribute to bringing people closer together, deepening mutual understanding, and strengthening the cultural unity of the Turkic world. She emphasized that only through awareness of their shared culture and history can the Turkic peoples confidently look toward the future, preserving their uniqueness while contributing to the development of global civilization.
The Foundation’s President also noted that the organization is actively working to nominate elements of the Turkic peoples’ intangible cultural heritage for international recognition. As examples, she cited projects related to the “gurama” tradition and epic oral narratives, stressing their importance in reinforcing identity and ensuring cultural continuity. In this context, special attention was given to organizing a dedicated international conference focused on the epic “Alpamysh” – one of the foundational works of Turkic heroic oral literature.
It was also emphasized that the Foundation has launched a video program called TurkDiscovery on the YouTube platform. This media project serves as a modern tool for promoting the rich heritage of the Turkic world – its traditions, cultural artifacts, historical monuments, and achievements in art and science. The program is aimed at a broad international audience, including young people, researchers, students, and all those interested in the Turkic cultural sphere.
The President of the Foundation gave special attention to projects being implemented in cooperation with the Republic of Uzbekistan. In 2024, she noted, the Foundation launched work on preparing a Multilingual Catalogue of Turkic Cultural Heritage – a large-scale initiative carried out in collaboration with scholars from across the Turkic world, including representatives of Uzbekistan’s academic community. This catalogue will serve as the foundation for a digital platform titled TurkicHeritage. It will provide global access to information and materials reflecting the richness of Turkic culture – its history, intangible traditions, and spiritual values. With great enthusiasm, the Foundation has also begun implementing the directives given by the esteemed President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr. Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev, at the Bishkek Summit, particularly regarding the preparation of an Anthology of Turkic Folklore. A dedicated working group has been established for this purpose, involving leading academic experts from Turkic states. The anthology work encompasses all folklore genres, including epic tales, legends, myths, songs, ritual poetry, and other forms of oral tradition.
The initiatives mentioned represent only part of the Organization’s broad efforts to strengthen cultural unity, promote shared values, and foster a sustainable dialogue among Turkic peoples.
In conclusion of her address, Aktoty Raimkulova announced that the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, in cooperation with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), will organize a session as part of the forum titled “Digital Transformation of Culture in Turkic States.” She invited all participants to take an active part in the discussion. Culture, she emphasized, is a bridge that strengthens dialogue and friendship among nations. Over the centuries, the Turkic peoples have created a vast heritage of language, literature, music, traditions, and a shared past that continues to shape their common future. This culture is not only a source of strength, but also a window to the world through which Turkic civilization presents itself to all humanity.
Aziza Alimova, UzA