Paris, April 10 {No.2000-31}- The 1300th anniversary of the epic poem Kitab-I Dede Qorqud was celebrated in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on Sunday with the participation of the presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kirghizistan, Turkey and UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura.

Speaking at the celebration, Mr Matsuura recalled that UNESCO Member States decided to celebrate the anniversary during the 1997 General Conference of UNESCO. He declared: "Oral traditions are the wealth of the world and the precious inheritance of generations, nations, peoples and regions. [...] Great epics like the Iliad, the Mahabharata and Dede Qorqud offer a set of historical, social, political, ethical and geographical references through which the identity of the individual and the community is affirmed. In their written form - and then through translation and wider dissemination - they become the inheritance of all humanity."

He spoke of the poem, which was transcribed in the 15th century, as an example of intangible heritage UNESCO is preparing to recognise along with natural and cultural heritage sites. Mr Matsuura declared that a soon to be introduced label of Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity would "help promote respect and understanding of the very notion of intangible heritage. In this way, it will contribute to the promotion of cultural diversity and give us new arms to resist the trend towards uniformity which globalisation so often triggers." The Director-General also pointed out that the region's rich heritage is a resource which can help it rise to the challenges of the present and build the future.

Having met with the presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kirghizistan, and Turkey who took part in the anniversary celebrations, Mr Matsuura promised that UNESCO would continue co-operating with TÜRKSOY, the region's cultural co-operation organisation, and said: "UNESCO and TÜRKSOY share the same vision of culture and development. The preservation, revitalisation and promotion of the Turkic languages, cultures and traditions open the way to a dynamic, creative and proactive engagement with the world of the twenty-first century."