Tag: UNESCO

Atatürk, the father of modern Turkey

The birth of a modern nation amid the ruins of the Ottoman Empire

Mustafa Kemal Atatiirk, father of modern Turkey, was born one hundred years ago. To mark the centenary, the Turkish permanent delegation to Unesco organized a series of cultural events in Paris earlier this year, including exhibitions, concerts and dancing displays. It was through the educational and cultural reforms brought about by Atatürk that the Turkish people, especially young people and women, were introduced to the twentieth century world, as will be seen in the following three articles published in this issue of the Unesco Courier.

Unesco Courier November 1981 İndir

January 27, 2022
Atatürk on the Records of UN General Conference
In the decision dated 27 November 1978,

The General Conference,
Convinced that eminent personalities who worked for international understanding, co-operation, and peace, should serve as an example for future generations,
Recalling that the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Mustafa Kemal Atatûrk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, will be celebrated in 1981,
Bearing in mind that he was an exceptional reformer in all the fields coming within Unesco’s competence,
Recognizing in particular that he was the leader of one of the earliest struggles against colonialism and imperialism,
Recalling that he set an outstanding example in promoting the spirit of mutual understanding between peoples and lasting peace between the nations of the world, having advocated all
his life the advent of ‘an age of harmony and co-operation in which no distinction would be made between men on account of colour, religion or race’,
1. Decides that Unesco shall co-operate on the intellectual and technical planes with the Turkish Government for the organization in 1980, at that Government’s financial expense, of an international symposium designed to bring out various aspects of the personality and work of Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, whose action was always directed towards the promotion of peace, international understanding and respect for human rights;
2. Requests the Director-General to take the necessary steps for the implementation of this resolution.
Source: https://treaties.un.org/doc/source/docs/unesco_res_5_9.2_1-E.pdf
January 27, 2022
How did Turkey, Azerbaijan manage to intimidate or bribe UNESCO?

PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkey and Azerbaijan are using every chance to advance their doubtful version of truth about Armenia or anything linked to it. Recent unpleasant occurrence at Paris-hosted Khachkar Craftsmanship exhibit proves it.

On June 15, a photo exhibition titled Khachkar Craftsmanship opened in Paris in the framework of scientific conferences organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

On the opening day of the exhibition hosting the Armenian Deputy Minister of Culture and Armenian Ambassador in France Vigen Tchitetchian, the guests faced an unpleasant surprise. The attendees were embarrassed to see that the quotations indicating the place of origin of each Khachkhar (cross-stone), had been removed without any clarification on the part of organizers of the event. Only dates were indicated under the photos. Armenian organizations of France and Switzerland vigorously protested against attempts to deny the cultural heritage of Armenia.

Hay Dat French Bureau expressed outrage over the unpleasant occurrence at Paris-hosted Khachkar Craftsmanship exhibit. As Hay Dat stressed in its statement, the “civilized vandalism” of UNECSO, inconsistent with the Organisation’s mission, aroused strong protest in France’s Armenian community. As the statement said, such attitude will be responded by the community accordingly. “The incident proves the involvement of Azerbaijan and Turkey. By yielding to political pressure, UESCO stained its good name,” the statement stressed.

It’s not excluded that the incident was Armenia’s neighbors’ act of revenge for UNESCO’s decision to inscribe Armenian Cross-Stones Art, symbolism and Craftsmanship of Khachkars on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Taking into consideration the fact that Khachkar is the acting tradition for all Armenians, its inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage provides grounds for maintenance and transition of knowledge, rituals, traditions and craftsmanship connected with Khachkars to next generations.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan attempted to protest the decision and claimed that Kachkars “are not Armenian.”

One might only wonder over why UNESCO, which in November 2010 ignored the Azeri hysterics, decided to back out now. How did Armenia’s neighbours manage to intimidate or bribe UNESCO?

Marina Ananikyan / PanARMENIAN News

via How did Turkey, Azerbaijan manage to intimidate or bribe UNESCO? – PanARMENIAN.Net.

June 17, 2011
UNESCO accepts Mimar Sinan’s Mosque in Edirne for new list

The mosque was considered by Sinan to be his masterpiece and is one of the highest achievements of Islamic architecture.

One of the greatest works of the Ottoman architect Sinan is now set to become a UNESCO world heritage site.

The Selimiye Mosque, an Ottoman mosque in the northwestern province of Edirne, was commissioned by Sultan Selim II and built by Sinan between 1568 and 1574, will be the second Turkish mosque to enter the list after the Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği.

The mosque was considered by Sinan to be his masterpiece and is one of the highest achievements of Islamic architecture.

UNESCO will reveal a new list on June 19.

Selimiye Mosque stands at the center of a külliye (a complex consisting of a hospital, school, library and/or baths around a mosque) that comprises a madrassa, a dar-ül hadis (hadith school), a timekeeper’s room and an arasta (row of shops). For the mosque, Sinan employed an octagonal support system that was created through eight pillars cut into the walls. The four semi-domes at the corners of the square behind the arches that spring from the pillars are intermediary sections between the huge encompassing dome and the walls.

While conventional mosques were limited by a segmented interior, Sinan’s effort at Edirne was a structure that made it possible to see the mihrab from any location within the mosque.

Hürriyet Daily News

June 3, 2011
Three Turkish traditions added to UNESCO heritage list

PARIS – Anatolia News Agency

November 19, 2010

Three additional Turkish traditions, including the centuries-old sport of oil wrestling, were added Tuesday to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.

The “Kırkpınar oil-wrestling festival,” the “semah, Alevi-Bektaşi ritual” and “traditional sohbet meetings,” all from Turkey, were among the 46 new elements inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The Kırkpınar oil-wrestling festival takes place in the northwestern province of Edirne, where thousands of people from different age groups, cultures and regions travel every year to see wrestlers (pehlivan) fight for the Kırkpınar Golden Belt and the title of Chief Pehlivan.

“Semah” can be described as a set of mystical and aesthetic body movements in rhythmic harmony and constitutes one of the 12 main parts of cem rituals, religious practices performed by adherents of Alevi-Bektasi, a belief system based on admiration for Ali, the fourth caliph after the prophet Mohammed. Semah is performed by semah dancers, accompanied by devout musicians playing the saz, a long-necked lute.

Traditional “sohbet” (conversation) meetings play a crucial role in transmitting Turkish folk literature, folk dances and music, village plays and societal values. Turkish men meet regularly indoors, especially in winter, to discuss local social and cultural issues, safeguard traditions, and encourage solidarity, mutual respect and a sense of community.

In recent years, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, responding to proposals by the Turkish Ministry of Culture, has inscribed Karagöz (a traditional shadow play), the Mevlevi semah ritual (the performance of whirling dervishes), the “aşıklık” (minstrelsy) tradition and the art of “meddah” (public storytellers) on its Intangible Heritage List, which aims to safeguard traditions from around the world.

November 20, 2010
Three Turkish Traditions On UNESCO List Of World Cultural Heritage

Three more Turkish traditions were added to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.

“Kirkpinar oil wrestling festival”, “Semah, Alevi-Bektasi ritual” and “traditional sohbet meetings” are among the 46 elements inscribed Tuesday on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The Kirkpinar oil wrestling festival takes place in Edirne, Turkey where thousands of people from different age groups, cultures and regions travel every year to see wrestlers (pehlivan) fight for the Kirkpinar Golden Belt and the title of Chief Pehlivan.

Semah can be described as a set of mystical and aesthetic body movements in rhythmic harmony. Semah constitutes one of the twelve main services found in Cem rituals, religious practices performed by adherents of Alevi-Bektasi, a belief system based on admiration for Ali, the fourth caliph after the prophet Muhammed. Semah is performed by semah dancers, accompanied by devout musicians playing the saz long-necked lute.

Traditional Sohbet Meetings play a crucial role in transmitting Turkish folk literature, folk dances and music, village plays as well as societal values. Turkish men meet regularly indoors, especially in winter, to discuss local social and cultural issues, safeguard traditions, and encourage solidarity, mutual respect and a sense of community.

In recent years, the UNESCO, upon the proposal by Turkish Ministry of Culture, inscribed Karagoz (shadow play), Mevlevi Sema ritual (performance of whirling dervishes), asiklik (minstrelsy) tradition, and the art of meddah (public storytellers) on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List which aims to safeguard traditions from around the world.

AA

November 18, 2010