UNITY OF TURKIC STATES AGAINST ILLICIT TRAFFICKING OF CULTURAL HERITAGE: AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY THE TURKIC CULTURE AND HERITAGE FOUNDATION HAS STARTED IN GAZIANTEP

On April 27, 2026, an International Conference titled “Strategic Cooperation on Turkic Cultural Heritage: Combating the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property” commenced in Gaziantep, Türkiye. The event is organized by the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, the Turkish Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, TİKA, and the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality.

Within the framework of the program, representatives from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Hungary, and Turkmenistan, as well as international experts, have gathered to discuss combating the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage, opportunities for institutional cooperation, and mechanisms for joint protection.

The main objective of the event is to strengthen coordination in countering the illicit trafficking of cultural property, expand the exchange of experience and information, and establish a sustainable platform for cooperation.

During the opening ceremony, the President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, Professor Aktoty Raimkulova, emphasized that safeguarding cultural heritage is both a historical and moral responsibility. She also noted that the smuggling and illegal trade of cultural property pose a serious threat to our shared heritage today.

Professor Raimkulova expressed her deep gratitude to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye, TİKA, the Gaziantep Governor’s Office, the Metropolitan Municipality, and partner organizations for their support and hospitality, and wished success to the participants of the conference.

Speakers at the opening ceremony also included the Mayor of Gaziantep Fatma Şahin, TİKA Vice President Dr. Ali Ercan, Deputy Director General of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums Bülent Gönültaş, Secretary of the Commission on Legal Affairs and International Relations of TURKPA Dr. Kadir Yaman, and Head of the Turkish Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Professor Şaban Doğan. They noted that this platform in Gaziantep opens new perspectives for future joint projects in the field of cultural heritage preservation.

On the first day of the conference, thematic sessions were also held. In the session titled “UNESCO’s 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property”, a presentation was delivered by Amir Piric, Director of the UNESCO Almaty Regional Office and UNESCO Representative to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

In the session “The Role of ICOM in the Protection of Cultural Heritage and the Importance of Red Lists,” a presentation was delivered by İbrahim Barış Sarıca, Head of Unit at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye. Within the session on “The Importance of Interagency Cooperation in Combatting Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Heritage”, remarks were delivered by Danilo Rizzi, representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for South-Eastern Europe (ROSEE). A presentation on the role of international agreements and civil society in the repatriation of cultural property was delivered by James Reap, Emeritus Professor at the University of Georgia (USA).

As part of the program, which will continue until April 30, panel sessions as well as study tours to ancient cities are planned for the participants.