Inter-MFA consultations on “Cooperation between the CIS Member States within UNESCO and Other Issues of Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation in the Context of Participation in Relevant International Projects and Events” were held at the CIS headquarters on 3 September.
Representatives of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and the CIS Executive Committee participated in the consultations. They discussed:
- coordination of the activities of the CIS member states within UNESCO;
- cooperation between national commissions on UNESCO affairs;
- participation of UNESCO’s representatives in CIS events related to UNESCO;
- promoting the initiatives of the CIS countries;
- promoting the preservation of the intergovernmental, depoliticized nature of the organization’s activities;
- joint events, including on Russian Language Day.
The participants also shared their views on the outcomes of the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee and discussed the possibility of submitting joint nominations for inclusion on the World Heritage List.
They also raised the issues of strengthening dialogue through UNESCO’s various networks and programmes, including:
- developing cooperation within the UNITWIN programme;
- establishing working contacts between UNESCO chairs across the Commonwealth;
- joint participation in events held through these networks and coordination of work within the UNESCO Associated Schools Network;
- cooperation on expanding and developing the network of biosphere reserves and global geoparks;
- cooperating within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
In addition, the participants discussed humanitarian cooperation in the CIS countries, including the activities of the CIS Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation and the International Organisation for the Russian Language.