Ambassador Alibek Bakayev Held Meetings on Henri Moser’s Legacy of Kazakh Culture of the 19th Century

Bern, March 23-24, 2021 – Ambassador of Kazakhstan in Switzerland Alibek Bakayev met with the Director of the Bern Historical Museum Thomas Pauli-Gaby and representatives of the Moser Family Museum Charlottenfels.

Ambassador got acquainted with the unique Moser’s legacy of Kazakh culture of the 19th century in the form of rare photographs, artifacts and weapons from the Oriental Collection of Henri Moser during the meetings.

“Henri Moser’s trips to Central Asia show history of relations between the peoples of Kazakhstan and Switzerland in the 19th century. It is known that previously, within the framework of the “Cultural Heritage” project, well-known Kazakh historians, headed by Doctor of Historical Sciences Meruert Abuseitova, visited the Bern Historical Museum with group of scientists and worked with unique historical materials. However, Kazakh experts noted that among H. Moser's collection there were rarities about the socio-political structure, culture and life of Kazakh people of the 19th century, which required careful study", said Ambassador Bakayev.

Moreover, it is known that H. Moser developed a comprehensive irrigation concept for Central Asia, which was subsequently used by the Soviet authorities.

Oriental Collection of Henri Moser at the Bern Historical Museum is still one of the most important oriental collections in the world.

The parties agreed to continue cooperation in studying the archives and artifacts of Kazakh and Central Asian collections of Henri Moser.