Shymkent reaches out for international recognition as oldest Kazakh city

Ordabasy Square in Shymkent. Photo courtesy of ru.wikipedia.org

Shymkent authorities have submitted an application to UNESCO to obtain international recognition of their city’s 2200 years' history, Tengrinews reports citing the press service of the Akim (mayor) of the city.

"UNESCO will consider the application and we will get an international recognition of our city as a 2200-year-old one. Later, in 2017, we will celebrate this anniversary date," said the mayor of the southern Kazakhstan city Darkhan Satybaldy.

According to the mayor, national level Kazakh authorities are also involved in the arrangements. The city is preparing a list of events for the jubilee year.

The press service of the Mayor’s Office informed that a conference "Shymkent: 2200 years of history" was held in fall last year and was attended by researches from France, Canada, Belgium, England, Russia, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, as well as representatives of UNESCO.

The participants of the event were presented with the results of excavations that prove the ancient history of Shymkent. After the conference, the attendees unanimously signed a resolution stating that the city was 2200-years old.

If the UNESCO recognizes Shymkent’s age, it will be considered the oldest city in Kazakhstan.

Writing by Dinara Urazova, editing by Tatyana Kuzmina

Shymkent authorities have submitted an application to UNESCO to obtain international recognition of their city’s 2200 years' history, Tengrinews reports citing the press service of the Akim (mayor) of the city.

"UNESCO will consider the application and we will get an international recognition of our city as a 2200-year-old one. Later, in 2017, we will celebrate this anniversary date," said the mayor of the southern Kazakhstan city Darkhan Satybaldy.

According to the mayor, national level Kazakh authorities are also involved in the arrangements. The city is preparing a list of events for the jubilee year.

The press service of the Mayor’s Office informed that a conference "Shymkent: 2200 years of history" was held in fall last year and was attended by researches from France, Canada, Belgium, England, Russia, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, as well as representatives of UNESCO.

The participants of the event were presented with the results of excavations that prove the ancient history of Shymkent. After the conference, the attendees unanimously signed a resolution stating that the city was 2200-years old.

If the UNESCO recognizes Shymkent’s age, it will be considered the oldest city in Kazakhstan.

Writing by Dinara Urazova, editing by Tatyana Kuzmina

UNESCO South Kazakhstan oblast Shymkent news Kazakhstan Kazakh history CIS Central Asia