Azerbaijani to lead UNESCO`s International Institute

Shahin Mustafayev from Azerbaijan has been re-elected director of UNESCO`s International Institute for Central Asian Studies (IICAS) at the 9th session of the organization in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The session brought together representatives from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. During the session Director of IICAS Shahin Mustafayev delivered a report about the activity of the organization.

UNESCO Representative in Uzbekistan Jorge Ivan Espinal praised the activity of the International Institute for Central Asian Studies.The International Institute for Central Asian Studies (UNESCO institute category–2) was established in August 1995 in Samarkand (Uzbekistan) as a direct outcome of the UNESCO Silk Roads Expeditions. The concept of the Institute was conceived during the Steppe Route Expedition in Central Asia organized within framework of UNESCO Project "Integral Study of the Silk Roads: Roads of Dialogue", a major project of the World Decade for Cultural Development (1987-1997).

The main objectives of IICAS are to bring to the attention of the international community historical and cultural issues on Central Asia and to strengthen collaboration between local scholars and their colleagues abroad through a multidisciplinary study of the region.

/AzerTAc/