17.02.2020-23.02.2020 • No: 247

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COMMON TURKIC HISTORY IS A SHARED HERITAGE OF THE TURKIC WORLD The Turkic people sharing common ances- tory, geography, and literature, will eventu- It is also important that the textbook covers try began to achieve concrete results in the ally become citizens who will serve to en- the period until the 15th century. Because way of progress towards unity. This is evi- hance the unity of the Turkic nations. The there were no separate nations and states at denced by the fact that a new course called authors of the Common Turkic History text- the time, the main emphasis is put on the Common Turkic History began to be taught book also believe that the book will further common heritage, historical figures and at schools of the member countries of the promote the unity of the entire Turkic world events of the Turkic Council states and all Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking through teaching common history. Turkic peoples. Therefore, the authors say States (Turkic Council). The textbook of Although the Turkic peoples know that they that writing the first textbook was not that this course was developed by the Interna- are historically and culturally close, long- difficult. The second book, which would be tional Turkic Academy (ITA) and was ap- term disconnections between them have had written for 9th grade students, covers the 15th proved and adopted by the Turkic Council a negative effect on their mutual relations. to 21st centuries. This textbook will be based and the ministries of education of those In this sense, a comprehensive historical on undeniable, historically proven facts re- countries. Currently, 30,000 students in Tur- textbook would be useful. The academicians garding the establishment of the Babur state, key, 10,000 in Azerbaijan, and 15,000 in from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the rise of the Ottoman state and the estab- Kazakhstan are studying Common Turkic and Turkey came together to prepare the lishment period of the Kazakh Khanate. History as an elective course. The textbook, textbook which took four years to complete. The Common Turkic History textbook is covering the period from the earliest times As a result, the Common Turkic History was published in the Turkic languages like Azer- to the 15th century, gives a lot of information first introduced as an elective course at Ka- baijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Turkish as well zakhstani schools. On October 15, 2019, fol- as in Russian language. The reason it is writ- about the Turkic states and their epoch. th Apart from the common history of Turkic lowing the 7 Summit of the Turkic Council ten in Russian is because there are still so in Baku, the Ministry of Education of Azer- many Russian-language schools in the for- peoples, the textbook covers their shared mer Soviet Union countries. In addition to traditions and national games that have sur- baijan announced that the Common Turkic History textbook would be included in the that, there are also Turkic people residing in vived to the present day. Without doubt it is country’s educational program. As of today, the Russian Federation, which was a deci- expected to positively contribute to the inte- the textbook is used at 157 schools of Azer- sive factor in translating the book into the gration of Turkic youth who reside in differ- baijan, and by 2020, Baku plans to introduce Russian language. Talking about the Turkic ent regions. the Common Turkic History course into the Council, it is important to emphasize the de- The first step towards the establishment of educational process at all schools of Azer- veloping relationships between the Council the Turkic Council and the Turkic Acad- baijan. During the meeting of Kazakh-Kyr- and the Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Hun- emy, the architect of the Common Turkish gary. In 2019, Uzbekistan joined the Turkic th gyz intellectuals in Bishkek, it was revealed History textbook, was made during the 9 that the Common Turkic History would be Council. On October 15 of the same year, a Summit of Turkic Speaking Countries in delegation headed by Shavkat Mirziyoyev taught in Kyrgyzstan as well. th Nakhchivan on October 3, 2009. Following The textbook contains the history and for- took part in the 7 Summit of the Turkic the summit, the Turkic Academy was for- mation of the Hun, Sak, Gokturk, Turgesh, Council in Baku. During the summit, Uz- mally established in Astana (now Nur-Sul- ancient Uyghur, and Kyrgyz khaganates, as bekistan stated that it was ready to join in- tan) on May 25, 2010. During 2010-2012, it well as the Oghuz, Karakoily, Akkoily, Kar- ternational organizations such as the ITA, functioned as a national institution in Ka- luk, Avar, Khazar, Karakhanly, Gazneli, formed by the Turkic states. If Uzbekistan zakhstan. At the 2nd Summit of the Turkic Seljuk, Azerbaijan Atabey and becomes a member of the ITA, the Common Council held on August 23, 2012, in Bish- Khorezmshakh states. One can also find in- Turkic History course may also be included kek, the Agreement on Establishment of the formation about the Ottoman, Mamluk, in the Uzbek curriculum. This is because Turkic Academy as an international organi- Ilkhanate, Golden Horde and Timur states. Uzbek scholars also participated in the de- zation was signed. The Academy, co- velopment of the textbook. Turkmenistan is There is also information about the contri- not yet a member of the Turkic Council or founded by Kazakhstan, Turkey, Azerbai- bution of the Turks to the world civilization the ITA. However, the country is invited as jan, and Kyrgyzstan, gained an international and human history. In the textbook, readers a guest to international events in the Turkic status on August 27, 2014. Since that time, could find the answers to the questions such states, and we could expect new develop- the ITA has been increasing cooperation in as “Who are the Turkic people?” and “What ments from Turkmenistan. In addition, since the fields of history, language, literature and are the key issues of the Turkic world?” The 2018, Hungary has had an observer status in culture to strengthen the ties of brotherhood textbook gives many examples of the Turkic the Turkic Council and the ITA. The Turkic among Turkic peoples. It is worth noting peoples’ respect for other nations and reli- Council’s representative office was opened that during the Bishkek summit, the idea to gions, which will be the basis for the devel- in Budapest in 2019. It is expected that in introduce Common Turkic History as a sub- opment of students’ tolerance. It also pro- the future, the Common Turkic History ject at secondary schools was first proposed vides information on common literary char- course will be included in the educational and unanimously approved by the Turkic acters of that time, their works, and spiritual process of schools in Hungary as well as in Council member states. values. Turkmenistan. In 2017, the Turkic Academy held a meeting While the Common Turkic History is being To conclude, it should be noted that the to discuss the process of writing the Com- taught in the above mentioned countries as Common Turkic History textbook is a pro- mon Turkic History textbook, which is over- an elective subject, experts, nevertheless, ject that has just been implemented and in- seen by the Turkic Council. During the believe that in the future it should be taught tegrated into the learning process, where we meeting, the representative of the Turkic at schools as a required course. At present, could see its outcomes in near future. Ac- Council stated that books that would serve the Turkic speaking countries are develop- cording to experts, the new initiative allows to strengthen the unity of the Turkic states ing cooperation, establishing strong diplo- us to gain a deeper understanding of the would be prepared. Moreover, he an- matic relations and striving for closer ties. origin of the Turkic nations. Another im- nounced that in the future, Common Turkic That is why it is quite possible that in the portant issue is that the young people who Geography and Literature textbooks would future, common history will be taught at will grow up by reading this book will have be developed and taught at schools of Turkic schools of the Turkic Council countries not the consciousness of their ancestors’ historic countries. Students, who study common his- as an elective subject, but as a major. contributions to human civilization.

Written by Erkinbek Turgynov, Eurasian Research Institute, Kazakhstan

Politics, Foreign Affairs, and Security Economy, Finance, and Energy Society and Culture  During his official visit to Turkey, Pres-  A Kyrgyz-Chinese joint venture that  A five-day training course on develop- ident of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mir- planned to construct a $275 million lo- ing cooperation among law enforce- ziyoyev met with his Turkish counter- gistics center in Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn re- ment agencies in combating the spread part Recep Tayyip Erdogan. After face- gion has been cancelled in response to of new psychoactive substances facili- to-face negotiations, the heads of the sustained local protests against the in- tated by the Darkweb was held in Al- two countries chaired the first meeting vestment project. The arrangement, set- maty. More than 20 officials from Azer- of the bilateral High-Level Strategic tled during Chinese President Xi baijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mol- Cooperation Council. The parties con- Jinping’s visit to Bishkek for the annual dova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan sidered various issues of interstate co- Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Uzbekistan participated in the operation, defined key future tasks, summit, entailed the leasing of 200 hec- course organized by the OSCE jointly agreed the implementation of joint pro- tares of land in the At-Bashi district by with the Central Asian Regional Infor- jects and signed a number of documents the Naryn Free Economic Zone for 49 mation and Coordination Center. The on cooperation in the fields of trade, years to the joint venture (The Diplo- economy and technology (Kun.uz, participants developed techniques in 21.02.2020). mat, 20.02.2020). identifying websites with malicious  President of Kazakhstan Kassym-  The trade turnover between Turkey and content, understanding anonymity and Jomart Tokayev visited the headquar- Kazakhstan increased by over $68.5 encryption, and the functioning of the ters of the Main Intelligence Directorate million in 2019, compared to 2018, and Darkweb (OSCE, 21.02.2020). of the Armed Forces where he was in- exceeded $2.2 billion. Total exports of  The Jawaharlal Nehru University in formed about the existing threats in cri- Turkey to Kazakhstan amounted to New Delhi launched celebrations dedi- sis regions of the world. He also got ac- $806 million, while imports from Ka- cated to the 1,150th anniversary of Abu quainted with modern types of weapons zakhstan reached $1.4 billion. Turkey’s Nasr Al-Farabi in India by hosting a and military equipment that the direc- overall foreign trade turnover exceeded meeting jointly with the embassy of Ka- torate’s units are equipped with. In con- $374.2 billion in 2019. Its total exports zakhstan. The event was attended by the clusion, President Tokayev instructed amounted to over $171.5 billion (2.1% delegation of the Al-Farabi Kazakh Na- the directorate to continue working on increase), and imports equaled $202.7 tional University. Representatives of In- improving and developing the country’s billion (9.1% decrease) (Trend, dian research centers and academic in- military intelligence system (Akorda, 19.02.2020). stitutes noted the significance of the leg- 18.02.2020).  The government of Kazakhstan signed a acy of Al-Farabi and emphasized im-  President Tokayev met with the coun- memorandum of understanding with the portance of such events for rapproche- try’s newly elected Supreme Mufti Nau- German industrial giant Siemens during ment of the cultures of the two countries ryzbai kazhy Taganuly to discuss issues the visit of President Tokayev to Mu- (Kazinform, 18.02.2020). related to the role of the Spiritual Ad- nich to attend the annual security con-  According to a poll conducted in Kyr- ministration of Muslims of Kazakhstan ference. According to the document, gyzstan by the International Republican in strengthening the unity and stability Siemens will share its know-how in dig- Institute, 88% of respondents consider of the country, as well as in countering ital technologies with Kazakhstan and Russia as the most important economic the spread of destructive religious contribute to the digitalization of the partner of Kyrgyzstan and 95% of them movements. The supreme mufti intro- country’s key industries. Moreover, the evaluate Kyrgyz-Russian relations as duced the president with the administra- company will help Kazakhstan to de- “good”. 80% of respondents assess the tion’s plans on informational, organiza- velop a roadmap for the energy sector’s relations with Kazakhstan as “good”, tional and charity work (Akorda, development using advanced digital 21.02.2020). followed by Turkey (65%), Uzbekistan technologies and equipment (Caspian (64%), the European Union (62%), and  At a ceremony in Dushanbe, Kazakh News, 19.02.2020). China (55%) (Kabar, 17.02.2020). diplomats handed two sets of security  President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mir- equipment manufactured at Kazakh- ziyoyev tasked the government with im-  The opening ceremony of an honorary stan’s Petropavlovsk Plant of Heavy proving the system of licensing and is- consulate of Kazakhstan was held in the Machine Building over to the Ministry suing permits in the field of entrepre- Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. The honor- of Justice of Tajikistan. The transfer of neurship. The main tasks include the ex- ary consulate will cover the Kharkiv, the equipment intended for Tajik cor- clusion of business activities that do not Poltava and Sumy regions of Ukraine rectional institutions was part of Ka- present harm for human health from the and pay particular attention to promot- zakhstan’s efforts to create a national licensing requirements, the introduction ing the interests of Kazakhstan, devel- system for official development assis- of alternative methods of regulating en- oping trade and economic cooperation tance. Previously, Kazakhstan provided trepreneurial activity, and the develop- between the two countries, and protect- humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, Kyr- ment of transparent mechanisms for is- ing the rights and interests of Kazakh gyzstan, and Tajikistan in the form of suing licenses and permits (Presi- citizens and legal entities (Forbes Ka- educational grants and the construction zakhstan, 20.02.2020). of educational institutions (MFA of Ka- dent.uz, 17.02.2020).  The government of Turkmenistan plans  The UNESCO Convention on Protec- zakhstan, 20.02.2020). tion and Promotion of the Diversity of  President of Tajikistan Emomali Rah- to build a number of industrial and pro- duction facilities in different parts of the Cultural Expressions entered into force mon attended a military parade com- for Uzbekistan. The convention signed memorating the 27th anniversary of the country in 2020-2023. According to the decree signed by President Gurbanguly in October 2005 is meant to protect and establishment of the country’s armed promote various forms of cultural ex- forces. Over 8,000 military personnel of Berdimuhamedov, the list includes en- terprises that will produce ceramic ta- pression and create conditions for free the Dushanbe garrison took part in the communication and development of dif- event. Along with the parade, there was bleware, glass, and reinforcing steel. In an exhibition of various military equip- addition, the second stages of the ferent cultures by strengthening interna- ment, weapons and ammunition used in Baherden and Lebap cement plants will tional cooperation in this field. Uzbeki- the country’s army (President.tj, be constructed that will allow to in- stan ratified the convention in October 21.02.2020). crease production up to 1 million tons 2019 (UzA, 17.02.2020). (Turkmenistan Golden Age,  According to the French Insurly portal,  During his visit to Kyrgyzstan, Minister th of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hun- 20.02.2020). Uzbekistan took the 46 position in the gary Peter Szijjarto held bilateral meet-  As announced during a meeting of the world’s tourist safety ranking and was ings with President Sooronbai Jeen- Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the ranked first among CIS countries. The bekov and his Kyrgyz counterpart country’s farmers will receive financial ranking is based on the analysis of main Chingiz Aidarbekov. The minister also support from the government in the risks for tourists visiting a foreign coun- attended an opening ceremony of the amount of 4 billion hryvnia (about $160 try such as the likelihood of natural dis- embassy of Hungary in Bishkek and a million) in 2020. Priority areas of the asters, the quality of healthcare, the business forum with participation of agricultural sector covered by financial number of crimes, including terrorism, Kyrgyz and Hungarian entrepreneurs. support in the form of cheaper loans and and transport risks. Among the Central The parties also discussed cooperation compensations for costs of acquiring Asian countries, Uzbekistan is followed within the framework of the Coopera- equipment will include the development by Turkmenistan (60th), Kazakhstan tion Council of Turkic Speaking States of livestock breeding, horticulture, and (71st), Tajikistan (93rd) and Kyrgyzstan (Kabar, 19.02.2020). viticulture (Gov.ua, 19.02.2020). (106th) (CA-portal, 21.02.2020).

Prepared by Dauren Aben and Kanat Makhanov