On December 13, 2024, the international conference “Mapping of the World in Lexicography: on the 950th Anniversary of Diwan Lughat al-Turk” was held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
The meeting was timed to the 950th anniversary of the first encyclopedic dictionary of the Turkic language (Diwan Lughat al-Turk), which is a valuable heritage of the Turkic world and world cultural heritage, as well as to honor its inclusion in the List of UNESCO Anniversaries for 2024-2025.
The conference was attended by Ambassadors of Turkic states accredited in France, Secretaries-General of National Commissions for UNESCO, Permanent Representatives of Turkic countries to UNESCO, as well as prominent scientists of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Hungary and other countries.
Representatives of UNESCO and other international organizations, as well as prominent experts of Oriental studies and Turkologists gave speeches at the conference.
In her opening speech, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Ms. Aktoty Raimkulova emphasized the historical significance of this masterpiece and its role in strengthening intercultural dialogue presently.
The Assistant Director-general of the Africa Department and External Relations of UNESCO Firmin Edouard Matoko noted that this work is significant not only for the Turkic world, but also for the entire world cultural heritage.
At the 42nd General Conference of UNESCO, the 950th anniversary of “Diwan Lughat al-Turk” was included in the List of UNESCO Anniversaries for 2024-2025. This decision was based on a joint proposal by Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, with the support of Hungary, Mauritania, Morocco, Qatar and Tajikistan.
The conference was supported by the National Commissions and Permanent Delegations of Turkic States to UNESCO.
