История/4. Этнография

Tobylov A. S.,  Amirov E. Sh.,  Bogdanova A.A.

The Karaganda state university named after E.A. Buketov

To the question of interaction of UNESCO

and the Republic of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is the country with rich cultural and historical heritage. In heart of our homeland there is "yellow steppe" - Sary Arka, and to the west – the Turgay Plateau. The territory of Kazakhstan is so huge that it takes the Ural Mountains in the West both the Altai and the Tarbagatai in the east. In the south-west the Ustyurt Plateau and the coast of the Caspian Sea is located. The Eastern part of Kazakhstan borders with the northern Tien Shan. And each site of our land has its history. Since the most ancient times there were cultures of oases in foothill plains and in basins of the large rivers and the original culture of nomads-cattle-farmers at wide open territories of steppes and semi-deserts here. Despite the separate periods of decline and desolation, irreversible violations of the environment did not occur. The people loved and knew their land, they were able to protect and revive its natural wealth.

The international recognition of value of cultural heritage of Kazakhstan was expressed in inclusion of the Kazakhstan monuments in the list of the World heritage of UNESCO.

The Republic of Kazakhstan entered UNESCO on May 22, 1992 [1]. In the list of the World heritage of UNESCO in the Republic of Kazakhstan 5 names appear (2017), it makes 0,5% of total number (1073 for 2017). 3 objects are included in the list by cultural criteria, and one of them is recognized as a masterpiece of the human genius (criterion i) and 2 objects are included by natural criteria. Besides, according to the condition for 2017, 13 objects in the territory of Kazakhstan are in number of candidates for inclusion into the list of the world heritage [2]. The Republic of Kazakhstan ratified the Convention on protection of the world cultural and natural heritage on April 29, 1994 [2].

The mausoleum named after Hodzha Akhmet Yassaui [3] is enrolled in the list in 2003 at the 27th session of the Committee of the world heritage of UNESCO and it is the first monument of Kazakhstan in this list.

The petroglyphs of the archaeological landscape Tamgaly is the first monument of petroglyphic art of Kazakhstan and Central Asia included in the List of the world Heritage UNESCO [4]. The committee of the World Heritage at the 28th session which took place in the Chinese city Suzhu from June 28 to July 7, 2004, made the decision to include "Petroglyphs of an archaeological landscape of the Tamgaly" in the List of the World Heritage of UNESCO according to the offer of Kazakhstan and taking into account the recommendation of the International Council for protection of monuments and historical places (ICOMOS).

The object of natural heritage of Saryarka - Steppes and lakes of the Northern Kazakhstan make two protected territories – the Nauruzumsky national natural park and the Korgalzhynsky national natural park [5].

It was registered in the list of the World heritage UNESCO at the meeting of the Committee of the world heritage of UNESCO on July 7, 2008, Quebec, Canada.

The objects of the Great Silk way in the Chanjan-Tian-Shan corridor

33 objects representing the network of routes Chanjan – Tian-Shan corridor of the Silk way, include the cities and palace complexes of various states and empires, trade settlements, buddhist cave temples, ancient ways and passes, watchtowers, sections of the Great Chinese Wall, strengthening, tombs and religious buildings [6].

The included object represents the network of routes of Chanjan-Tian-Shan corridor (China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan). 33 components of the object (22 of which – in China, 8 – in Kazakhstan and 3 in Kyrgyzstan)

The silk way was included into the List of the world heritage of UNESCO as the nomination "The silk way: network of routes Chanjan-Tian-Shan corridor", presented by Kazakhstan, China and Kyrgyzstan. This decision was made by the Committee of the world heritage on June 22, 2014 at the 38th session which is taking place in Doha, Qatar from June 15 to June 25, 2014.

The western Tien-Shan abounds with various landscapes for which exclusively rich biodiversity is characteristic. The region of the Western Tien Shan has world value as is the place of origin of a number of species of fruit trees and differs in a big variety of types of the woods and unique flora, it is said in the statement of the press service of UNESCO. [7]

The transnational serial nomination "The Western Tien Shan" presented by three countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, is included in the list of the world heritage of UNESCO. Such decision was adopted on July 17, 2016 at the 40th session of the committee of the world heritage of UNESCO in Istanbul.

It should be noted that there are also problem points at interaction of Kazakhstan and UNESCO. In June, 2016 the conflict between UNESCO and Kazakhstan, all because of construction of the highway for conducting the winter Universiade in Almaty erupted. In this territory the ancient settlement Talgar included in the list of the world heritage of UNESCO among 33 cities of the Great Silk Way is located. After this event in our address the criticism poured down. At first we actively asked to include our cities in the list of the world heritage of UNESCO, and later we begin to destroy them and by that fueling tension with UNESCO. UNESCO has powers to exclude the Talgar that will complicate the situation with China and Kyrgyzstan as many cities on the Great Silk way are on territories of our neighbors. According to the norms of UNESCO if one object does not conform to requirements of protection of this organization, then the other objects of the nomination will be excluded. However at the end of 2016 all construction works were stopped. It is a private example which shows some immaturity of our society in respect of preservation of historical and cultural heritage.

The second problem is the fact that the list of the world heritage of UNESCO included so insignificant number of the objects located in the territory of Kazakhstan. The Netherlands with the area of 41543 sq.km is presented by 10 monuments. The Netherlands is twice less than the North Kazakhstan area (97 993 sq.km) and besides it is in the number of 30 leaders in quantity of objects of the world heritage.

2 above designated problems are somewhat interrelated. The facts of deviation from UNESCO norms on protection of monuments of the world heritage can complicate nominating of new Kazakhstan objects. For solutions of these problems, Kazakhstan is faced by the problem of standardization of the legislation in the field of protection of cultural heritage with norms of UNESCO. And of course, promoting the objects of cultural heritage among the population. We should inform people about the importance of natural and cultural monuments for ourselves, for our state, for the universal peace. Having solved these problems, Kazakhstan can safely walk in necessary direction and try to achieve progress. Definitely Kazakhstan sets the tasks, to bring as much as possible objects in the world heritage. Our country diligently works at concerning the nomination in the List of the World heritage "The silk way: network of the routes Fergana – Syr Darya corridor. The Scientists of Kazakhstan actively cooperate with researchers, archeologists, historians of China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and continue collaboration in studying of the Middle Ages on territories of the Central Asia.

In this way we can claim that Kazakhstan and UNESCO have not exhausted the potential of mutually beneficial cooperation. UNESCO has already included 5 objects located in the territory of Kazakhstan in the list of the world heritage and there are all reasons to believe that the number of the Kazakhstan objects will grow. And we have to be proud of it, to use the best efforts for protection of the world heritage and transfer to its future generations. For preservation and development of the world cultural and natural heritage it is necessary not only for experts, but also for all people to be aware of the Convention and the efforts made in this sphere by UNESCO, as we ourselves are true keepers of this heritage. As we - youth inherit these unique values, it is very important that for us to take the most active part in the process of its preservation and enhancement.

References:

[1]- http://old.unesco.kz/

[2]- The States Parties – Kazakhstan. http://unesco.org