The International Cultural Forum “Central Asia at the Crossroads of World Civilizations” will be held on September 14-16, 2021 in the city of Khiva, Uzbekistan. This event is organized by the Government of Uzbekistan in cooperation with UNESCO at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Central Asia is one of the oldest cradles of human civilization with a long history of rich cultural and scientific heritage. Located at the crossroads of transcontinental trade and cultural routes, the region has been a centre of enlightenment, science, and education, as well as exchanges of ideas, beliefs, knowledge, and crafts. This fertile context of rencounters and exchanges contributed to the advent of renowned scientists and scholars such as Avicenna, Al-Farabi, Al-Biruniy, Rudaki, Ulugbek, as well as great artists like Alisher Navoi and Kamoliddin Behzod among others. Moreover, major centres of trade and science such as Khiva, Samarkand, Bukhara, Merv, Taraz, Khojand, Neyshabor, Balkh or Kashgar all bear witness to the historic importance of Central Asia.

Combined, these assets made Central Asia a bridge between the East and West over millennia, and its achievements laid a solid foundation for the modern sciences and great discoveries in a wide range of fields from philosophy, medicine and pharmacology to mathematics and astronomy.

With regard to such historic importance, under the auspices of His Excellency, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and in collaboration with UNESCO, the International Cultural Forum “Central Asia at the Crossroad of World Civilizations”, aims to highlight and revisit the rich history and heritage of this region using them to draw lessons and contribute to sustainable peace and development. To this end, the forum aims to bring together local and governmental actors from across the region in order to discuss the regional issues and address them through efficient collaborations. Moreover, the forum will focus on exploring the threats and challenges caused by the Climate Change and the Covid-19 pandemic to the sustainable development of the region, as well as exploring the contributions of its rich cultural heritage in responding to the challenges caused by the two aforementioned issues.

The Heritage Management Organization is honored to participate to the Forum, represented by Dr.Michael Iliakis, expert of Greek-Achaemenid relations and their ramifications for Central Asia, Dr Evangelos Kyriakidis, fsa, The Heritage Management Organization, Director, Katerina Balamoti, Heritage, International Programs Coordinator and Vasilis Ganiastas, Professor of Architectural Synthesis and Theory of Architectural Design. See the program below.

Wednesday 15 September 

11.45-12.00

Dr.Michael Iliakis, expert of Greek-Achaemenid relations and their ramifications for Central Asia (Greece) Greek Presence in Ancient Central Asia: Cultural Influences and Heritage Management

16.00-16.10

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Dr Evangelos Kyriakidis, fsa, The Heritage Management Organization, Director Heritage Management Capacity Building as a source of sustainable development for local communities around Uzbekistan. The work of the Heritage Management Organization online

16.20-16.30

Katerina Balamoti, Heritage, International Programs Coordinator (Greece) Tourism development: Driving force for local economic growth and its relation to efficient cultural heritage management

17.00-17.10

Vasilis Ganiastas, Professor of Architectural Synthesis and Theory of Architectural Design (Greece) The cultural potential of network-hub places in Central Asia beyond tangible and intangible heritage

See the full program here.

 

Date and Venue of the Forum

14-16^th of September 2021

Venue: Khiva, Uzbekistan