DUSHANBE, November 4, 2015, Asia-Plus – On Tuesday November 3, UNEECO Director-General, Ms. Irina Bokova, received a Tajik delegation comprising Abdujabbor Rahmonzoda, Presidential Adviser for Social Development Issues, Shamsiddin Orumbekzoda, Tajik Minister of Culture also Chairperson of Tajikistan’s National Commission for UNESCO, and Rustamjon Soliyev, Tajik Ambassador to Belgium also Permanent Delegate to UNESCO.

According to the Tajik Ministry of Culture (MoC), the meeting focused on state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and UNESCO.

The meeting participants reportedly exchanged views on issues related to inclusion of the Dushanbe-based Kokhi Navrouz (Navrouz Palace) and ancient settlement Karon located in the Darvoz district of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) on UNECO’s World Heritage List and inclusion of Tajik pilaf and chakan on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

UNESCO Director-General handed over the certificate documenting the inclusion of Tajikistan National Park (Mountains of the Pamirs) on UNESCO’s World Heritage List to the Tajik delegation, an official source at a MoC told Asia-Plus in an interview.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations.  Its purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through education, science, and culture to further universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the United Nations Charter.  UNESCO has 195 member states and nine associate members.  Most of its field offices are “cluster” offices covering three or more countries; national and regional offices also exist.  Tajikistan joined UNESCO on April 6, 1993.