Baku, February 14, AZERTAC

The International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation and the International Institute for Central Asian Studies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Bern, the capital of Switzerland.

With the support of the Society for Central Asian Studies and the Institute for Archeological Studies of the University of Bern, the International Institute for Central Asian Studies (IICAS) held the 22nd meeting of the IICAS Academic Council and a conference on the theme “Cultures in Contact - Central Asia as Focus of Trade, Cultural Exchange and Knowledge Transmission” in Bern.

Opening the event with introductory speech, Director of the International Institute for Central Asian Studies Dmitriy Voyakin spoke about the activities of his structure in the past year, as well as about projects that will be implemented in 2020. Stressing the importance of the work of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation in preserving the historical and cultural heritage of Turkic-speaking people, he noted that the Institute attached great importance to cooperation with the Foundation and conveyed the floor to the honorary guest of the event, President of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Gunay Afandiyeva.

In her speech Gunay Afandiyeva spoke in detail about the creation and goals of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, the relevance of propaganda the history, customs, culture of Turkic-speaking people and conducting research in this area, as well as importance of strengthening cultural dialogue between countries. Ms Afandiyeva also shared information on the activities of the Foundation over the past years. At the same time, noting the importance of the theme of the Great Silk Road, she mentioned the importance of mutual influences about its interaction with the Turkic-speaking countries, as well as about the projects implemented by the Foundation in this direction.

At the end of the conference, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two parties. The purpose of the Memorandum is to create cooperation between organizations in the field of culture, history, archeology, geography, literature and linguistics spheres, as well as research related to the Great Silk Road, and the implementation of academic programs and research projects of mutual interest.

The Memorandum of Understanding also provides for joint activities in the field of preservation and study of the common culture and heritage of Turkic-speaking countries.

Along with the diplomatic corps accredited in Bern, the event was also attended by Azerbaijan`s Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation Khanim Ibrahimova.