UZBEKISTAN'S COOPERATION WITH UNESCO: SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF PRESERVING CULTURAL HERITAGE

Аннотация

This article discusses the cooperation of the Republic of Uzbekistan with UNESCO, its legal framework, accession to international conventions on the preservation of cultural heritage and its practical results. In particular, the historical cities of Uzbekistan included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and elements of intangible cultural heritage are analyzed. Also, the initiatives implemented within the framework of cooperation in the fields of restoration, digitization, education and tourism are considered based on an analytical approach. The article provides in-depth scientific conclusions about Uzbekistan's cultural policy in the international arena and its role in the preservation of global heritage. Keywords:UNESCO, cultural heritage, intangible cultural heritage, World Heritage List, historical monuments, archaeological sites, heritage protection, restoration, digitization, intercultural dialogue, international conventions, cultural diplomacy. Annotation. This article analyzes the scientific foundations of the Republic of Uzbekistan's cooperation with UNESCO, the legal and regulatory framework, the processes of accession to international conventions and the practical results of this cooperation. The study systematically studies the historical cities of Uzbekistan and elements of intangible cultural heritage included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Also, projects implemented in the fields of restoration, digitization, education and tourism are considered on the basis of an analytical approach, and their socio-economic impact is assessed. The article scientifically highlights the role of Uzbekistan in preserving global cultural heritage and its place in international cultural policy. 54 SCIENCE AND INNOVATION IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM International scientific-online conference Cultural heritage, as an important component of human civilization, is not only of historical and aesthetic importance, but also a strategic resource in the formation of national identity and ensuring global integration. The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, identified cooperation with UNESCO as one of the main directions of state policy, emphasizing the following idea: “Our cultural heritage is the pride of our people, the basis of our national identity. Its preservation, in-depth study and introduction to the world are our top priorities. To this end, it is necessary to further strengthen cooperation with UNESCO, because this cooperation will allow us to demonstrate the rich historical and cultural heritage of Uzbekistan on a global scale” (Sh. Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan). This statement indicates that cooperation with UNESCO is not limited to listing monuments, but covers a wide range of areas, such as scientific research, modern restoration technologies, promotion of national heritage in the education system, and development of international tourism. In recent years, projects implemented by Uzbekistan - digitization of historical monuments in Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand, modernization of museum activities, organization of international cultural forums and preparation of new candidate sites - serve to strengthen the country's position in the global cultural landscape. Uzbekistan's cooperation with UNESCO began with its accession to the organization in 1993 and has today significantly expanded in the cultural, scientific and educational spheres. This article is devoted to a systematic analysis of the legal framework, main areas of Uzbekistan-UNESCO cooperation, the socio-economic impact of projects and the country's place in the preservation of global cultural heritage. The study examines Uzbekistan's cultural policy in a global context, based on international and domestic scientific sources. The issue of preserving cultural heritage occupies an important place in modern international discourse. UNESCO documents such as the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage provide a normative framework for the protection of cultural heritage on a global scale (UNESCO, 1972; UNESCO, 2003). Researchers, such as Smith (2006), emphasize that the preservation of cultural heritage is not only a means of protecting historical monuments and traditions, but also a means of strengthening national identity, ensuring social stability and developing international cooperation. The rich historical and cultural heritage of Uzbekistan 55 SCIENCE AND INNOVATION IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM International scientific-online conference is of particular importance in this context, as the country is located at the crossroads of Central Asian civilizations. There are a number of important works in the scientific literature on Uzbekistan’s cooperation with UNESCO. Adams (2010) notes that Uzbekistan’s inclusion of cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva on the World Heritage List has serv