Azerbaijan joins UNESCO Intergovernmental committee for safeguarding or intangible cultural heritage

The Committee is considered as one of the most influential structures of the organization. The committee mulls the questions on entering of examples of the intangible heritage in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO and adopts relevant decisions.

"The adoption of Azerbaijan to the committee will create conditions for Azerbaijan`s fulfillment of the important role when discussing the conservation of the world intangible cultural heritage and holding of further work to include samples of Azerbaijan's cultural heritage in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage," the ministry said.

The UNESCO General Assembly's 3rd session held in Paris June 22-24 with the participation of countries that have acceded to the Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage, hold elections to the Intergovernmental Committee. During the election, the Azerbaijani Permanent Mission to UNESCO and the country`s permanent diplomatic missions in foreign countries held meetings and activities to support the candidacy of Azerbaijan.

As a result of the work conducted by the foreign ministry and other relevant structures, Azerbaijan was elected a member of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage for 2010-2014. The Intergovernmental Committee composed of 24 representatives.

Armenia also nominated its candidacy, but did not get quite enough votes and was defeated in these elections.