Meeting of the CIS Council for Cultural Cooperation Held in Ashgabat
Ashgabat, November 6 | ORIENT. A regular meeting of the Council for Cultural Cooperation of the CIS Member States took place in the Turkmen capital. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Culture of Turkmenistan, Gurbanmyrat Myradalyyev, and brought together delegations from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives from the Commonwealth’s core organizations and the CIS Executive Committee.
The primary focus of the discussion was the development of cultural and humanitarian dialogue and the practical implementation of initiatives outlined in the concept for Turkmenistan’s 2026 CIS chairmanship. Participants highlighted the high effectiveness of multilateral cooperation and acknowledged Turkmenistan’s significant contribution to promoting a shared historical and cultural heritage—including the legacy of the great poet and thinker Magtymguly Pyragy and the traditions associated with the breeding of Akhal-Teke horses.
During the meeting, the parties reviewed the implementation progress of the action plan dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the CIS and discussed expanding cultural ties between the Commonwealth and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (in its capacity as an observer). Significant attention was devoted to the preparation of landmark projects for 2026–2028, including the concept for the "Days of Culture of the Commonwealth of Independent States" and the regulations for the "Commonwealth" International Film Festival.
The participants also assessed the interim results of the "Cultural Capitals of the Commonwealth" program in the Armenian city of Meghri and approved a draft plan for the Belarusian city of Molodechno, which will take on the role in 2027. Furthermore, the Council members endorsed a schedule for youth initiatives, designating Minsk as the "Youth Capital of the CIS" for 2027 and Karaganda for 2028—a move set to provide fresh momentum for creative exchange across the entire Commonwealth region.
