On 21 February 2024, the Iranian Vice Minister for Culture and Deputy for Cultural Heritage, Dr Ali Darabi, hosted a high-ranking delegation from the Republic of Tajikistan composed of HE the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador, Mr Zohidi Nizomiddin Shamsiddinzoda, the First Deputy Minister of Culture, Mr Safarzoda Davlat, and Mr Aidarshozoda Dilovar, Head of the Art Department of the Ministry of Culture.
Other participants to this meeting included Dr Atusa Momeni, Director General of the Tehran ICH Centre and Dr Alireza Izadi, Director General for Inscriptions of Natural, Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Iranian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts as well as staff members from both entities.
The meeting aimed at talks focusing on means of strengthening the already historically well-established, long-term ties between the two nations of Iran and Tajikistan, with special focus on the common language and common culture of the two nations as points of strength in consolidating their relations.
Discussions revolved around the following topics:
The need to bring together the Secretary General of the Tajikistan National Commission for UNESCO, the Director General of the Tehran ICH Centre, the Director General for Inscriptions of the Iranian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handcrafts, the First Deputy Minister of Culture of Tajikistan and other relevant personalities to identify joint elements of cultural origin between the two countries for nomination to UNESCO for joint inscriptions; the possibility of organising the night of Iranian Cultural Heritage in Tajikistan pursuant to the Night of Iran-Tajikistan Cultural Heritage (23 Feb. 2024; the possibility of organising a joint exhibition of Iran-Tajikistan cultural heritage at the side of the 43rd Session of the UNESCO General Assembly in 2025, in Samarkand; the need to enhance cooperation with Tajikistan by organising joint workshops, exhibitions, weeks of Iran-Tajikistan culture, etc.; the necessity to establish a joint committee on the identification, safeguarding and nomination of ICH elements for joint inscriptions; training workshops on the preparation of TCH nomination dossiers; the possibility and the go-ahead from Iran for Tajikistan to join any of the Iranian inscribed elements that they think they share with us, by means of extension to the relevant nomination file; proposal for joint publications in areas related to ICH; etc.
The meeting was wrapped up with the Iranian Vice Minister and Deputy for Cultural Heritage, Dr Ali Darabi, presenting the Tajik delegation with souvenirs of Iranian handicraft and the Tajik delegation presenting the Iranian side with Tajik souvenirs.
