Turkmenistan, a country with a rich history and centuries-old traditions, is a treasury of cultural wealth recognised by UNESCO. At present, at the suggestion of Turkmenistan, thirteen objects of historical and natural heritage and ten objects of intangible cultural heritage have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. By 2030, it is planned to include more than five objects of tangible cultural heritage and up to ten objects of intangible cultural heritage as candidates.
As is known, the 18th regular meeting of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was held in Kasane, Republic of Botswana, on December 4-9, 2023, during which a unanimous decision was made to include the art of Akhal-Teke horse breeding and horse decoration traditions in the UNESCO List of Outstanding Examples of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which recognised the achievements of Turkmen horse breeders in breeding purebred Akhal-Teke horses as part of the world intangible cultural heritage. As UNESCO emphasises, “traditions associated with breeding this breed are an important part of the cultural identity of Turkmenistan, which contributes to the unity of the Turkmen people.” This is also an honourable duty to humanity to preserve the phenomenon of the Akhal-Teke breed as a phenomenon of world culture.
