Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

The International Turkic Academy held the international online conference “Civilization of the Great Steppe: the legacy of Tonyukuk and the modern Turkic world”, dedicated to the 1300th anniversary of the monument to Bilge Tonyukuk - one of the main monuments of Turkic civilization and written culture. The anniversary was included in the list of UNESCO anniversaries for the year 2020.

Prominent scientists and heads of international Turkic centers from the USA, Mongolia, Hungary, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, etc. took part in the conference online.

The president of the International Turkic Academy, Darkhan Kidirali gave the first word to Altay Jengizer, Permanent Representative of Turkey to UNESCO. In his speech, Jengizer noted that Tonyukuk’s legacy is of great importance for world civilization, emphasizing that in this regard he highly appreciates the Academy’s initiatives. He noted that the anniversary of the Tonyukuk monument in the framework of UNESCO is not only an important date for the fraternal peoples, but also a significant event in world culture.

Speaking about the activities carried out by Azerbaijan, Altay Jengizer said that the largest of the cultural centers that are open in Paris belongs to Azerbaijan: “In order to build a common future, the Azerbaijan house in Paris should become a place of unity for all Turkic countries. It would be expedient to conduct all activities related to the Turkic world in this center.”

At the video conference, the first vice president of ANAS academician Isa Habibbayli spoke about the Orkhon-Yenisei inscriptions, calling them the oldest written monuments of the Turkic world and the first example of Turkic written literature.

The scientist said that the cave paintings and written elements found in Azerbaijan, Turkey and Central Asia are ancient Orkhon-Yenisei monuments. These cave inscriptions constitute the beginning of the culture of the Orkhon-Yenisei monuments. Starting in Gemigaya, Gobustan, Issikkul-Kars, the Turkic writing system was supplemented and improved, after which Orkhon-Yenisei monuments were created.

Saying that “ancient Turkic monuments, including the Tonyukuk monument, were studied in Azerbaijan from different angles,” Isa Habibbayli added that valuable books, monographs, dissertations and articles on Orkhon-Yenisei monuments were written in the republic. According to him, the language of the Tonyukuk inscriptions is simpler and clearer, these inscriptions are closer to popular thinking. Noting that the Tonyukuk monument has not been studied enough in literary criticism, the ANAS First Vice-President emphasized that the celebration of the 1300th anniversary of the monument at the UNESCO level is a clear evidence of the respect that is given to literature and national cultures in the world.

At the end of the conference, President of the International Turkic Academy, Darkhan Kidirali, expressed his gratitude to the Turkic scientists of more than 15 countries for their valuable reports on the Tonyukuk monument and the Turkic world as a whole. He told the participants about the events that will be implemented as part of the “Year of Tonyukuk”.

Meanwhile, Darkhan Kidirali called on conference participants to take measures aimed at creating squares, parks, Tonyukuk streets in the countries they represent, as well as erecting monuments.

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