Cooperation with UNESCO

Since the entry into UNESCO on 22 May 1992, Kazakhstan has an active policy of strengthening cooperation with this international organization and cooperation within its framework with other states. During this time, the Republic of Kazakhstan became a party of eleven international conventions concluded under the auspices of UNESCO (see Annex 1). Currently there held ratification procedures relating to the International Convention against Doping in Sport.

UNESCO Office in Kazakhstan is operating since December 1994. In 1995 it was given the status of regional representation on issues of communication in Central Asia, Caucasus, Iran and Mongolia. In 1999, The UNESCO has also received regional status of education in the countries of Central Asia and Caucasus. In 2001, the status of the Bureau was promoted through the reorganization of the cluster office of UNESCO for the countries of Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The permanent mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations was opened on December 2001. O. Suleimenov is the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to UNESCO.

            The Republic of Kazakhstan was a member of the Executive Board of UNESCO from 1997 to 2001, and is currently a member of its subsidiary bodies: the Intergovernmental Council for the Management of Social Transformations (MOST) and the Committee on the UNESCO headquarters - until 2011, the Intergovernmental Council of International Hydrological Program - until the 35th session of the General Conference of UNESCO in 2009. Elections to these bodies had been the result of active and focused dialogue in Kazakhstan with other countries in the Asia-Pacific selective group of UNESCO, which enabled our country the necessary consensus. In this regard it needs to note the nomination of the Republic of Kazakhstan to membership of the International Coordinating Council of the “Man and the Biosphere "(for the period 2009-2011) and the Intergovernmental Council of the International Program for Development of Communication (for 2009-2013.) Kazakhstan is also a member of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO since 2005.

Kazakhstan is the Chairman of the Russian-speaking Group of the General Conference of UNESCO, established at its 31st session in 2001 and unites 18 countries. The aim of the Group of Russian-speaking education is to promote the expansion of cultural contacts between its members in addition to the UNESCO program activities, without replacing it with this, but the ideals and statutory objectives of UNESCO. The Group carries out activities of cultural and informational nature, in particular - exhibitions, concerts and creative meetings.

Official visit of leaders of UNESCO

In August 1995 took place the first official visit of UNESCO General Director Federico Mayor in Kazakhstan. The sides signed a Memorandum of Kazakhstan's cooperation with UNESCO and the Agreement on the opening of the UNESCO Office in Almaty.

In August 2001 there held an official visit to Astana of the General Director of UNESCO K. Matsuura, timed to the international scientific-practical conference "XXI century - towards a world free of nuclear weapons." During his stay in Kazakhstan, Mr. Matsuura participated in the extraordinary meeting of the National Commission for UNESCO of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In September 2006 took place the second official visit of the General Director of the Organization K. Matsuura in Kazakhstan. During the meeting of Mr. Matsuura and the President H.E. Nursultan Nazarbayev, the ministers of foreign affairs, culture and information, science and education were discussed issues of sustainable development, education reform, preservation of cultural and natural heritage. On September 11, 2006 in Astana there was signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Government of Kazakhstan and UNESCO, providing further steps towards cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture, information and communication. Director-General of UNESCO participated in the II Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, visited Korgaldzhinsky Nature Reserve, met with students and teachers of the Eurasian University and served as its honorary doctorate.

From 30 June to 3 July 2009 in Kazakhstan at the invitation of the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan was the Chairman of the Executive Board of UNESCO Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yai. He participated in the III Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, and met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan H.E. M. Tazhin, which reviewed the progress in preparations for the holding of "International Year of Rapprochement of Cultures" in 2010, proclaimed on the initiative Kazakh side.

On cooperation in the fields of competence of UNESCO

Kazakhstan, adherence to the policy dialogue between cultures and civilizations, initiated the proclamation of the "Year of Rapprochement of Cultures", the resolution was adopted at the 34th session of UNESCO General Conference in October 2007 This decision was supported by the UN General Assembly in December 2007 (resolution 62/90 ). At the 35th session of the General Conference of UNESCO in October 2009 was considered the draft Action Plan for the International Year of Rapprochement of Cultures, prepared by UNESCO on the proposal of Kazakhstan.

In domestic and foreign policy, Kazakhstan has consistently held the vision of the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and Dialogue among Civilizations, maintenance and development of which is one of the main priorities of UNESCO. Three Congresses of World and Traditional Religions held in Astana (2003, 2006 and 2009) cemented the reputation of Kazakhstan active fighter for peace and strengthen international security - the objectives underlying the creation of UNESCO.

Fruitful cooperation links Kazakhstan and UNESCO in the field of cultural heritage. At the 27th session of UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which took place in Paris in June-July 2003, at the suggestion of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the recommendations of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yassaui was included in the List of World Heritage Sites. At the 28th session of UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in the summer of 2004 in China, it was decided to include a monument of Kazakhstan - "Petroglyphs of the archaeological landscape of Tamgaly in the UNESCO World Heritage. In July 2008 the 32nd Session of the World Heritage Committee in Quebec included in the above list a unique monument of nature - the object of "Sary-Arka - Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan", the first natural site in Central Asia in the World Heritage List. In the World register of documentary heritage, UNESCO Memory of the World" on the proposal of Kazakhstan included manuscripts of Khoja Ahmed Yassaui and his students, and archival materials on the activities of the International antinuclear movement “Nevada – Semey”.

With UNESCO in 2001-2004 and financial support from Japan, a project preserving ancient city Otrar aimed at establishing scientific documentation, presentation and use of the monument, as well as the development of unique methods of preservation and conservation was realized. Candidacy of Otrar-tobe can be proposed for inclusion in the List of World Heritage in 2011 under the serial nomination "Monuments of the Silk Road in Central Asia”.

            UNESCO serves as an effective channel for propaganda among the world's cultural values and achievements of Kazakhstan, the creativity of its outstanding representatives, to ensure international recognition of the prestige and contribution to world culture, representatives of Kazakhstan. At different times in the Headquarters there were held such events as the Festival of Cultural Diversity and Dialogue in Central Asia "(May - June 2005), a presentation of the State Program of Kazakhstan "Cultural Heritage"(April 2006), the celebration of anniversaries: 150 years of Abai, 100 anniversary M. Auezov, 500 years of Mohammad Dulati, 1500 anniversary of the city of Turkestan, 100 anniversary K. Satpayev, 2000 anniversary of the founding of Taraz, 100 anniversary S. Mukanov, 100 Anniversary G. Musrepov 200 years Makhambet Utemisov 100 years Abylkhan Kasteev 100 years Alcaeus Margulan, 100 anniversary Ahmet Zhubanov. In the calendar of memorable dates and events of the 2008-2009 UNESCO's General Conference of UNESCO included the 500-anniversary of the epic "Kyz Zhibek”.

The development of cooperation with UNESCO in the field of education contributed to a visit of the Minister of Education and Science J. Tuimebayev to Paris in July 9, 2009 in Education Leaders Forum on the theme: "Higher education: re-evaluation of values to recover," organized by UNESCO in collaboration with the company “Microsoft”.

Giving the importance of establishing uniform standards of training programs in higher education, the development of inter-university relations for the mutual recognition of diplomas, improving access to education and retraining for people of all ages and professions, UNESCO has supported Kazakhstan's initiative on the opening of the University faculty or distance-learning based on one of the universities of Kazakhstan (KazGNU named after Al-Farabi or Eurasian University named after Gumilev). UNESCO also welcomed the establishment of International Scientific-Educational Center "Management in Education", in Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi recommending him to establish close contact with the International Institute for Educational Planning in Paris.

Kazakhstan is an active participant in the UNESCO Associated Schools Project and Program UNITWIN / UNESCO Chairs, allowing specialists from Kazakhstan to give the young generation of our country's world-class education, given the challenges of our time through the prism of the values espoused by UNESCO - mutual respect, tolerance, solidarity, human rights, education for all and sustainable development. Twenty one schools, a lyceum, a gymnasium the Republic of Kazakhstan have certificates of Associated Schools of UNESCO, becoming, thus, the participants of the World Movement of secondary schools under the auspices of the Organization. From March 2006 there is acting an Agreement between UNESCO and UNITWIN Network on the establishment of UNITWIN cooperation program on interreligious dialogue for intercultural understanding. Among its participants there are UNESCO Chairs from 13 countries, including Kazakhstan - from the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi, the National Pedagogical University named after Abay, the International Academy of Ecology and humanitarian as well as the Kazakh National Music Academy were opened four UNESCO Chairs - in journalism, education sciences, continuing education in the field of ecology and music. In 2004 opened another UNESCO Chair on Science and Spirituality at the Kazakh Institute of Oriental Studies named after Suleimenov in Almaty, which is particularly relevant in the context of dialogue among cultures and civilizations. Currently, there are going works on preparations for the conclusion of the Agreement on the establishment of regular, the sixth of the UNESCO Chairs "New Materials and Technologies” in the Eurasian National University named after L. Gumilev.

Students from Kazakhstan periodically become holders of scholarships available with the assistance of UNESCO foreign funds to study at universities in Japan, China, Israel, France and Russia.

            Our country actively participates in the global process of sustainable development, the promotion of which is also one of the priorities of UNESCO. Since 1995, when a memorandum "For the revival and sustainable development of the Fatherland” was adopted, the code by the policy of Kazakhstan introduced the principles of sustainable development, providing a comprehensive solution of social-economic problems. Kazakhstan gave up the military nuclear arsenal, and closed the world's largest Semipalatinsk test site. Due to success of the reform poverty and unemployment were reduced. World Summit in Johannesburg (September 2002) reiterated that the Republic of Kazakhstan is a staunch supporter and guide sustainable development policies at national, regional and international level.

In May 2006 at the initiative of Kazakhstan, there held the Regional Ministerial Conference of the member countries of UNESCO "The strategic role of renewable energy in sustainable development in Central Asia”. The conference was attended by Deputy Director General of UNESCO for Natural Sciences Walter Erdelen. In the conference agenda was a review of national programs for the development of renewable energy in Central Asia, the problem of human resource development and technology transfer, as well as regional priorities and action plan. The Forum concluded with the adoption of the Almaty Declaration and the Final Document of the "Regional Action Plan and priorities, perspectives and ways of solving problems in the field of renewable energy in Central Asia"; with the inclusion of the proposal of the UNESCO Central Asian head of the Global Renewable Energy. Educational and training programs (GREET) ».

34th session of UNESCO General Conference in October 2007 adopted a resolution approving the outcome of the Almaty Conference aimed at promoting renewable energy in Central Asia, and the 179th session of the Executive Council in the spring of 2008, the General Director of the Organization assured that UNESCO will continue to play an active role in this process.

In cooperation with Kazakhstan and other Central Asian States, the Organization has for several years been involved in seeking solutions to the Aral crisis. Under the auspices of UNESCO the Scientific Advisory Board for the Aral Sea Basin (SABAS) was created in 1997. Essential feature of UNESCO's approach is to encourage an optimistic, but at the same time, and real vision of the future of the Aral Sea and its basin. With the assistance of countries in the region, UNESCO has developed a long-term vision of the Aral Sea Basin, aimed at the organization of water management to achieve by 2025 a significant improvement in the situation.

In the scientific field of cooperation with UNESCO, is also carried by the three national scientific committees, working in the context of global programs - the Man and the Biosphere, the International Hydrological Program and the International Geosciences Program.

An important aspect of cooperation with UNESCO is its involvement in the implementation of national and regional projects being developed in Kazakhstan and implemented in the areas of competence. In June 2008 the 18th Session of the Intergovernmental Council of the International Hydrological Program, UNESCO supported the proposal of Kazakhstan to establish under the auspices of the UNESCO Regional Glaciological Center in Almaty to study the effects of glaciers on ground water and their behavior in terms of global climate change.

In February 2005, the first UNESCO Club in Kazakhstan, established with the full cooperation of the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan on base of Almaty children's art school named after Kasteyev, was adopted as an active member of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs (FMACU-WFUGA). At present in Kazakhstan established the National Federation of UNESCO Clubs.

A significant contribution of Kazakhstan to UNESCO's activities in the humanities and social sciences was held in June 2008 in Paris under the official patronage of the international conference "The First Great Migrations", organized by the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to UNESCO.

On this conference had the floor the most prominent scholars in the field of genetics, anthropology, archeology, paleography, and linguistics from Kazakhstan, France, Italy, Russia, the United States, Britain, Holland, China, India, Peru, to talk about how, when, why, there were first migration People on Earth, and what routes they were going. Outlined hypothesis settlement of Europe, Central Asia, the Americas, addressed the contribution of nomadic civilizations in the Great Migration, an exchange of views on the homeland of modern nations. The International Forum called in UNESCO opened the way for new research in this area, including in the national universities in different countries.

In June 2009 in Paris, there was released a collection of scientific materials of the conference "The First Great Migrations" in English and Russian languages. He received positive feedback in the diplomatic and academic circles related to the UNESCO as a useful tool in studying the migration aspects of the development of human civilization.

In 2009, Kazakhstan continued to be the venue for important international events under the auspices of UNESCO, including round-table discussion on the use of trans boundary water resources in Central Asia (Almaty, March), the 5th sub-regional workshop on preparing serial nomination in the List of World Heritage Monuments of the Silk Road in Central Asia (Almaty, May), a seminar for the countries Eastern Europe and Central Asia to improve national strategies to combat HIV / AIDS (Almaty, June).

Annex 1

List of international conventions concluded under the auspices of UNESCO, which the Republic of Kazakhstan has joined

1. Agreement on the Importation of educational, scientific or cultural character (Florence, 17 June 1950). Joined on December 21, 1998.

2. Protocol to the Agreement on the Importation of educational, scientific or cultural character (Nairobi, November 26, 1976). Joined on December 21, 1998.

3. World Copyright Convention (Geneva, 6 September 1952) Joined August 6, 1992.

4. Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (The Hague, 14 May 1954). Joined on March 14, 1997.

5. Protocol to the Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (The Hague, 14 May 1954). Joined on March 14, 1997.

6. Convention on the Protection of Producers of Phonograms Against Unauthorized Duplication of their Phonograms (Geneva, 29 October 1971). Joined on May 3, 2001.

7. Convention on the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (Paris, November 16, 1972). Joined on April 29, 1994.

8. Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas of higher education and degrees in the countries of the region of Europe (Paris, December 21, 1979). Joined on March 14, 1997.

9. Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas of higher education and degrees in the countries of Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok, December 16, 1983). Joined on March 14, 1997.

10. Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European region (Lisbon, 11 April 1997). Ratified on October 7, 1998.

11. The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar, February 12, 1971). Joined on January 2, 2007.