ABOUT THE TRIP OF SCIENTISTS OF THE INSTITUTE OF ORIENTAL STUDIES TO THE VATICAN
On November 25, 2024, the Kazakh scientific delegation led by the Vice-Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Darkhan Ahmed-Zaki held a meeting with the leaders of the Vatican Apostolic Archives (Archivio Apostolico Vaticano) and the Vatican Apostolic Library (Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana).
In order to implement business partnership agreements signed in 2022 between the Institute of Oriental Studies named after R.B. Suleimenov and the Vatican Apostolic Archives and the Vatican Apostolic Library, the Kazakh scientific delegation that arrived from Kazakhstan to the Vatican was headed by the Vice-Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Darkhan Zhumakhanuly Ahmed-Zaki. The Kazakh delegation was received by the Vice-Prefect of the Apostolic Archives of the Vatican, Dr. Paolo Vian (Dott. Paolo Vian) and a researcher at the Vatican Archives, Professor Enrico Flaiani. This meeting was attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Swiss Confederation, the Holy See, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Order of Malta Kairat Sarzhanov, General Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies named after R.B. Suleimenova, Doctor of Philology, Professor Duken Masimkhanuly, head of the scientific project, Doctor of Historical Sciences, professor, honorary academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, famous scientist Kalkaman Zhumagulov, PhD, Nurtas Abdimomynov, senior researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies Bagdat Dyusenov.
Vice-Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Darkhan Ahmed-Zaki, who delivered a welcoming speech at this meeting, noted the importance of recognizing the rich history of the Turkic world through the study of valuable manuscripts stored in the library and archival funds of the Vatican. He emphasized that it was the efforts of the Head of State that made it possible for Kazakh scientists to work in the Vatican library and archives with their most ancient and valuable documents for the world. As part of his official visit to Italy on January 18-19, 2024, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the Vatican and met with Pope Francis. As a result of the meeting, an agreement was reached on the opportunity for Kazakh scientists to work in the archives and libraries of the Vatican. The respected Kazakh ambassador-diplomat Kairat Sarzhanov expressed great gratitude to the leadership of the Vatican for this opportunity and expressed the opinion that this project opens the way for the development of cooperation and intercultural dialogue between the two countries.
General Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies named after R.B. Suleimenov, prof. Duken Masimkhanuly drew special attention to the fact that in 2022, on behalf of Kazakhstan, he signed a memorandum of partnership between the Institute of Oriental Studies named after R.B. Suleimenov and the Vatican Apostolic Archives and the Vatican Apostolic Library. He noted that this opportunity for cooperation between scientific institutions of the two countries was realized on the basis of direct negotiations and proposals of the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev with the Vatican authorities and friendly relations between the two countries. He noted that this cooperation gives Kazakh scientists an excellent opportunity to freely access rare manuscripts and introduce new data about the Turkic world and the history of Kazakhstan into scientific circulation. Head of the scientific project BR24993132 “Early and medieval history and culture of the Turkic world based on new valuable materials from the Vatican and Western European countries” of the Institute of Oriental Studies named after R.B. Suleimenova prof. Kalkaman Zhumagulov especially noted that the materials of the Vatican archives are very important for connecting the history of the East and the West. Particular attention was paid to papal correspondence and rare documents in Latin, ancient Greek and German, which provide an opportunity to understand the main periods of Turkic and Kazakh history.
During the meeting, Vice-Prefect Dr. Paolo Vian and Professor Enrico Flaiani welcomed the Kazakh delegation with special attention and expressed their readiness to support its scientific initiatives. Kazakhstan expressed interest in new initiatives aimed at scientific research, and showed readiness to develop mutual relations, as well as scientific and cultural ties.
At the end of the meeting, the director of the institute, Duken Masimkhanuly, solemnly presented the representatives of the Vatican with a symbolic gift delivered from Kazakhstan. This meeting once again showed the common desire of both sides for academic cooperation. Future research aimed at uncovering new historical data will open the way to a deeper understanding of the history of the Turkic world and its connections with Europe.
