"We are taking a responsible and systematic approach to the development of cooperation with UNESCO," President Serdar Berdimuhamedov said during a meeting on Monday with the head of the UNESCO Cluster Office in Tehran, UNESCO representative in Turkmenistan and Iran Golda El-Khoury. The guest also noted the desire of the UN educational, Scientific and Cultural Institution to develop cooperation with Turkmenistan.

Golda El-Khoury presented the President with certificates on the inclusion of three elements in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mankind last year, in the application of which Turkmenistan made – the art of Turkmen hand embroidery, sericulture and traditional silk production for weaving, traditional stories about Khoja Nasreddin.

Serdar Berdimuhamedov exchanged views with the head of the UNESCO Cluster Office on the status and prospects of partnership, emphasizing the active role of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO. It was noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's membership in UNESCO.

During this time, a number of unique historical sites on our territory have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The epic "Gerogly", the Novruz holiday, the ceremony of singing and dancing "kushtdepdi", Turkmen carpet making, the craft of making dutar and the art of bakhshi were recognized as the values of the intangible cultural heritage of mankind.

The President of Turkmenistan and Golda El-Khuri also reviewed the activities to include other types of art and customs of the Turkmen people in the UNESCO Heritage List in the future, as well as to include Ashgabat in the UNESCO Network of Creative Cities.

A new step in the development of contacts was the creation of UNESCO chairs at the Magtymguly Turkmen State University and the Seyitnazar Seydi Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute. Work has been carried out to include a number of secondary schools in the network of UNESCO Associated Schools, UNESCO clubs have been opened in two Turkmen universities.

During the visit of Golda El-Khuri, who arrived in Ashgabat on Sunday, a number of meetings and negotiations are planned, including with the Executive Secretary of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO, at the Ministry of Culture, at the TSU named after Magtymguly at the UNESCO Department, the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

The accompanying program of the guest includes a visit to the Museum of the Turkmen Carpet, the Museum of Fine Arts and the State Museum of Turkmenistan, acquaintance with the sights of Ashgabat.

UNESCO's Cluster office in Tehran aims to cooperate with Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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