Relationship with UNESCO, the most influential UN specialized institution, world’s biggest intergovernmental forum of cooperation in the sphere of education, science and culture, is important in international cooperation of Azerbaijan. Among a number of significant international and regional organizations the Republic of Azerbaijan has been pursuing the policy of partnership with since 1991, when independence was restored, relations with UNESCO are specific and characterized with high speed of development. Great leader Heydar Aliyev played an undeniable role in the formation and enhancement of these ties and identification of their outlooks. 

Today, Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, the President of the Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, MP, perform enormous work in the field of the UNESCO-Azerbaijan relations and function as guarantor of these relations. The Foundation’s intensive actions towards the realization of the purposeful policy of culture provided, within the cooperation with UNESCO, a logical basis to Azerbaijan’s taking its worthy place in the global cultural community, leaving a number of countries behind for the rate of development, integration of our national culture into the universal one.

The 8th Session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was held in Baku on December 2-8 under the chairmanship of Azerbaijan. This event is of special importance for the global promotion of Azerbaijani cultural and moral heritage. It also plays a significant role for the characterization of the causes to conflicts of civilizations, demonstration of painful consequences of existing regional conflicts, evaluation of sense and necessity of intercultural dialogue. Insertion of Chovqan, a traditional Karabakh horse-riding game, in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in the Session created a favorable base for the protection of our national and moral values, as well our rich historical heritage our evil-wisher enemies always stain with “Armenian stigma”.

The successful organization of the Session in Baku insured the cultural influence of Azerbaijan, which enjoys the status of a reliable partner, tolerant society, historically cultural country. The event adorned the dynamic development of relations between UNESCO and Azerbaijan. Justifying the international image of Azerbaijan, which has enriched the universal heritage with its national and cultural values and become a centre to dialogue of civilizations, the Session once again confirmed its contributions to the universal culture.