Mirziyoyev awards Audrey Azoulay

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in the city of Samarkand.

The meeting focused on further strengthening the multifaceted partnership between Uzbekistan and this prestigious UN institution. At the beginning of the conversation, Audrey Azoulay warmly congratulated the Head of State on a historic event — the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference being held outside the organization’s headquarters in Paris for the first time in 40 years.

Uzbekistan’s extensive efforts in organizing the conference at a high level and enriching it with practically significant events were highly appreciated.

During the 43rd session of the General Conference, the UNESCO Regional Center for Early Childhood Education will be launched. The ceremony of awarding the Beruni Prize winners, a special event dedicated to the 3,000th anniversary of Samarkand, and various forums on museums, artificial intelligence, and gender issues will also be held.

It was noted with satisfaction that cooperation between Uzbekistan and UNESCO has reached a new level in recent years. Jointly, the World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education was held, the 1050th anniversary of Beruni was celebrated in Paris, and an international award was established in honor of the great scholar.

At Uzbekistan’s initiative, three important UNESCO resolutions were adopted, and several new cultural sites and heritage elements of the country were added to the organization’s special lists.

Readiness was expressed to further expand and deepen cooperation with UNESCO and to implement new joint projects in priority areas.

At the end of the meeting, President Mirziyoyev presented Audrey Azoulay with Uzbekistan’s high state award — the Order of Friendship — for her outstanding contribution to the development of relations in science, education, and culture, as well as for her personal efforts in promoting Uzbekistan’s rich cultural heritage worldwide.

Audrey Azoulay, who has led UNESCO since 2017, is attending her final General Conference as Director-General. During the Samarkand session, a new UNESCO Director-General will be officially confirmed — Egyptian national Khaled El-Anany, 54, who was elected at the organization’s 222nd Executive Board session.