The Republic of Uzbekistan has joined ALIPH, the International alliance for the protection of heritage, on the occasion of the State visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Paris. The accession agreement was signed at the Quai d'Orsay, in the presence of Rachida Dati, the French Minister of Culture, by Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Bariza Khiari, Chair of ALIPH's Foundation Board.
Uzbekistan is the ninth State to adhere to ALIPH since the Foundation was established in Geneva in 2017. The country joins France, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, China, Luxembourg, and Morocco — members since 2017 — as well as Cyprus, which became a member in 2023. ALIPH also has three private members —Thomas S. Kaplan, the Getty Trust, and Fondation Gandur pour l'Art — and is supported by nearly thirty donors, including the European Union.
Given the richness and diversity of Uzbekistan's cultural heritage, this membership will bring ALIPH valuable expertise, including in the field of intangible heritage, along with a strong and shared commitment to the preservation of endangered cultural heritage worldwide.
“We are very pleased to welcome Uzbekistan, a nation rich in cultural heritage, as a member of ALIPH,” said Bariza Khiari, Chair of ALIPH's Foundation Board. “This partnership reflects a shared determination to protect heritage threatened by wars, the impact of climate change, and natural disasters. Uzbekistan shares the values that have driven ALIPH since its creation: neutrality, agility, efficiency, and concrete action in the service of protecting heritage.”
“Joining the International alliance for the protection of heritage (ALIPH) is a both an exciting and a natural move for Uzbekistan”, declared Gayane Umerova. “Our country has always been very committed to protecting and restoring its past heritage, while encouraging contemporary creation to build tomorrow's heritage. We are proud of joining ALIPH and extending these preservation efforts beyond our national heritage, along other ALIPH members.”
