Azerbaijan closely supports events aimed at preserving the heritage of Turkic peoples and promoting their cultures worldwide, Aktoty Raimkulova, the president of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation (ITCHF), told Report on the sidelines of an international conference in Paris titled "Mapping the World in Lexicography: 950th Anniversary of Diwan Lughat al-Turk."
Raimkulova recalled that the foundation she leads was established on the initiative of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev:
"This initiative was also supported by presidents of other countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Türkiye. Diwan Lughat al-Turk is an invaluable unique example of literature and art belonging to humanity, and it is very important for us to organize a conference dedicated to it. With this event, ITCHF is organizing an activity at the UNESCO level for the first time."
"Mahmud Kashgari's Diwan Lughat al-Turk demonstrates to the whole world that Turkic states existed in their current territories since medieval times. Today, some self-proclaimed 'researchers' try to deny the ancient existence of Turkic states. However, this work demonstrates to the whole world that Turkic states existed in their current territories since medieval times, and Turkic peoples spoke the Turkic language despite having different dialects.
The book was lost in the Middle Ages and was only found in Istanbul in the 20th century. This work is a great discovery for both Turkologists and cultural scholars. This publication provides scholars and researchers with sufficient evidence and proof to promote the culture and heritage of Turkic peoples for years to come," noted Raimkulova.