TASHKENT, December 15. /Dunyo IA/. Today, the international community is observing the first-ever World Turkic Languages Day, reports Dunyo IA correspondent, citing “UN News”.

The decision to establish World Turkic Languages Day was made at the UNESCO General Conference held in Samarkand in November.

UNESCO emphasizes that creating this observance is an important step toward recognizing linguistic diversity, which enriches the shared human heritage.

The choice of December 15 carries symbolic significance: on this day in 1893, Danish linguist Vilhelm Ludwig Thomsen announced the successful decipherment of the Orkhon inscriptions, among the oldest known written sources. His discoveries provided invaluable insights into a linguistic tradition that today unites dozens of communities across Eurasia.

UNESCO notes that Turkic languages, including Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkish, Turkmen and Uzbek, are native to more than 200 million people across approximately 12 million square kilometers. The rich documentary heritage in Turkic languages, together with vibrant oral traditions, spans over ten countries, reflecting the deep cultural and historical significance of these languages.

The initiative to establish World Turkic Languages Day was led by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan and received support from 21 countries. UNESCO emphasizes that the day aims to strengthen linguistic cooperation, promote cultural rapprochement, and foster dialogue between civilizations.

Starting in 2025, World Turkic Languages Day will feature a range of cultural and academic events, including exhibitions highlighting linguistic heritage, lectures and public discussions as well as literary and poetry evenings.

“World Turkic Languages Day is an important step toward recognizing linguistic diversity, which enriches our shared human heritage”, - notes “UN News”.