The International Mother Language Day was celebrated in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, February 22, 2022 - The Embassy of Kazakhstan in Ethiopia took part in a solemn event dedicated to the International Mother Language Day. The International Mother Language Day was approved at the UNESCO General Conference in 1999.

The event was held at the headquarters of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Africa (UNECA) and was attended by representatives of UNESCO, the UN, the Government of Ethiopia, public organizations, the media, ambassadors of foreign states accredited in Ethiopia.

Ambassador of Kazakhstan Barlybay Sadykov delivered a speech, where he noted that the celebration of the International Mother Language Day is very important for strengthening the understanding of cultural and linguistic diversity, the development of tolerance, spiritual revival and mutual respect in society.

He stressed that this year marks the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan's membership in the UN (March 2) and UNESCO (May 30) and our country actively cooperates with these organizations, comes up with various initiatives aimed at maintaining peace through strengthening cooperation between countries. Thus, in 2012, at the initiative of Kazakhstan, a UNESCO resolution was adopted on the declaration of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures.

The Kazakh diplomat spoke about the role of the Kazakh language in the formation of the Kazakh cultural identity, about the contribution of the great Kazakh linguist and writer Akhmet Baitursynov to the development of modern Kazakh writing and alphabet. He recalled that scientific works of Baitursynov are being studied in a number of countries around the world and this year the celebration of the 150th anniversary of A.Baitursynov was included in the UNESCO calendar of international commemorative dates.

The participants of the event highly appreciated the performance of the song of the great Kazakh poet and educator Abai «Zhelsiz tunde zharyk ai» in the Kazakh language by the Embassy employee Saule Dyussenova. Detailed information about the life and work of A.Baitursynov was distributed to the guests of the event.