SAMARKAND, November 5. /Dunyo IA/. In the ancient city of Samarkand, long celebrated as a cradle of culture and science in the Turkic world, a historic event took place. The Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation presented a series of unique projects and formally announced the adoption of UNESCO’s resolution establishing a World Turkic Language Family Day, reports Dunyo IA correspondent from the scene.

On 3 November 2025, the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference unanimously approved the initiative to designate 15 December as World Turkic Languages Day.

The initiative was jointly proposed by Uzbekistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, with the co-sponsorship of 26 UNESCO Member States.

The date was chosen deliberately: on 15 December 1893, Danish scholar Vilhelm Thomsen announced the decipherment of the Orkhon inscriptions, one of the oldest monuments testifying to the origins of the Turkic languages.

The UNESCO resolution notes that Turkic languages are native to more than 200 million people living across an area of approximately 12 million square kilometers. The proclamation of World Turkic Languages Day is aimed at strengthening linguistic and cultural diversity, fostering international cooperation, and preserving the oral traditions of Turkic peoples.

On 4 November 2025, in Samarkand, a celebratory event was held by the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation as part of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, highlighting the implementation of the initiative and presenting a range of cultural projects.

The event brought together Permanent Delegates of the OIC Member States to UNESCO, members of the diplomatic corps, leading scholars, cultural figures, and representatives of the media.

Gülnur Aybet, Permanent Representative of Türkiye to UNESCO, emphasized in an interview with Dunyo IA correspondent:

"The UNESCO General Conference sets the organization’s policies and priorities for the coming two years. We are particularly pleased that, for the first time in many years, it is being held in a brotherly country — Uzbekistan. The adoption of the decision to establish World Turkic Languages Day is a historic event for the entire Turkic world", - she said.

She also highlighted the symbolic significance of Samarkand:

"This city holds immense historical importance for both the Islamic and Turkic worlds. We thank the authorities of Uzbekistan for the excellent organization of the conference".

As part of the event, the President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation presented:

The Catalog of the Turkic World’s Cultural Heritage, "Cultural Code of the Turkic World", developed in accordance with the strategic documents "Vision of the Turkic World – 2040" and "TURKTIME";

The multilingual, multi-volume edition "Heritage of Turkic Folklore", implemented under the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan with the support of leaders of Turkic states.

Aktoty Raimkulova, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, stated in an interview with Dunyo IA correspondent:

"We have been working on this initiative for six to seven years. We are united by our language, history, and culture. The proclamation of 15 December as World Turkic Languages Day is a symbol of our recognition of a shared heritage and our commitment to presenting it to the world", - she said.

The project brought together leading scholars from Turkic countries to systematize and preserve centuries-old cultural and scientific heritage. The first volume of the anthology "Heritage of Turkic Folklore" was presented in Samarkand, with the project set to continue in the coming years.

The event was accompanied by a performance from the ethno-folklore ensemble "TURAN", an official Ambassador of Turkic Culture and Heritage. The artists showcased musical pieces reflecting the richness and diversity of Turkic traditions.

The celebratory program also featured presentations, lectures, exhibitions, and literary evenings, designed to highlight the cultural and social significance of Turkic languages and their contribution to the world’s cultural heritage.

The adoption of the decision to establish World Turkic Languages Day and the presentation of the Foundation’s projects mark a new milestone in the history of the Turkic world, serving as a vivid testament to the international recognition of the cultural and linguistic unity of Turkic peoples.

These initiatives promote the development of humanitarian cooperation, intercultural dialogue, and the preservation of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.

Samarkand has once again become a meeting point of the past and future of Turkic civilization, where culture, language, and history converge to be presented to the world.