15
Albert Fischler
(France)
Honorary Professor, Officer in the Order of Academic Palms,
Laureate of the Prize for Peace and Cultural Understanding of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Gold Medal of Al-Far abi Kazakh National University (Almaty).
ON THE FRANCO-UZBEK CULTURAL DIALOGUE IN THE
SERVICE OF LEGAL CULTURE AND EDUCATION
«The poor author was able to explain with security , using pen , intelligence and reflection...»
This strong revelation , expressed with humility by the Sultan and Scholar Ulugh Beg, sums with
conviction the scientific effort of reflection based, above all, on the human intelligence of an exceptional man
, whose work, taken up and translated into Latin in the West in 16th century by John Greaves (1602-1652),
was transmitted to the so-called « Enlightenment» period by the French scholar and philosopher Helvetius
(1715-1171).
This cultural journey between Uzbekistan and France, will be presented first , in order to demonstrate an
ancient and fruitful « dialogue of cultures » through revealing examples.
Thus, the the current bilateral relations in the cultural field are not fortuitous and they wifi lead, from a
legal point of view, to similarities in the affirmation of Uzbek law.
1)
An old and fruitful « dialogue of cultures » between the Uzbek space and France :
On July 30, 1492 , Timur Lang sent a very kind message to Charles VI, King of France, urging him to
encourage the arrival of merchants and vice-versa and he added :
«We expect the Great King to order frequent royal letters to be sent to us.. ».
These recommendations were in the line with even older cultural relations. Thus, if the work of Al-
Kwarizmi (780-850) was studied at the University of Paris from the 12th century, the famous « Canon » of
Avicenna, was taught, in particular at the University of Montpellier, in the south of France, until the 16th
century. Similarly, the work of on Al-Biruni in astronomy (973-1048) on the phases of the moon was
appreciated by French astronomers.
As for the great 15th century Uzbek poet Alisher Navoi (1441-1501), his mastery of the poetic art of the
Ghazal, inspired the 20th century French poet Louis Aragon. This one composed distics(shers) underlining,,
like his Uzbek counterpart, the choruses (redifs) that chant poetry.
«Shall I say the wrath of heaven ? Say the pression of time?
Tell the torment and suffering they cause to my soul?
To which, the French poet replied :
«I couldn’t see I had lost my age
Naked in the dark world without a glance without an image.. ».
2)
Privileged cultural relations since 1992:
The reality of long standing relations between Uzbekistan and France was confirmed on
21 February 1992,when France was one of the first Western countries to open diplomatic relations with
Uzbekistan, a country that appeared at that time , in the full light of the International Community. Thus, a
treaty of Franco-Uzbek friendship was signed on 25 October 1993, during President Islam Karimov’s official
visit to UNESCO in Paris in April 1996. French President Francois Mitterrand, made an official visit to
Uzbekistan before, in April 1994.
These fruitful meetings have led to the opening of many French schools in Uzbekistan over the past ten
years.
Based on the « Agency for the Teaching of French Abroad », the school located at 14 Kalendar Street in
Tashkent, now has more than 110 students from « kindergarten » to the Terminal class ( the Patent examination
: »Brevet » takes place in Tashkent and the « Baccalaureate » in Moscow).
Another Franco-Uzbek school : « School 43 Lucien Kehren » located in Samarkand, named after a
16
French historian specialising in the history of Tamerlan. Let us also mention the « School n°51» which is in
partnership with the « Ecole Supdrieure du Professorat et de 1’Education » of Saint-Etienne(a city in the centre
of eastern of France), attached to the University of Lyon 1 and which focuses its efforts in the field of training.
In addition, since 2016, there has been an « Alliance Franchise » in Tashkent (112 Zulfiya Khonim street) it
is an organization that promotes the culture and image of France throughout the world. Finally, crowning the
whole and at the highest level, it is necessary to talk about the relationship between the « Uzbek University
of World Languages », in Tashkent, and in France, INALCO (« Institut National des Langues et Civilisations
Orientales »), the latter created in 1795 , has enabled the teaching since its birth of more than 100 languages
including Uzbek language since 2006, at the « Licence » and «Doctorat» levels under the direction of
Professor Mrs. Miyassar Khaydarova.
This year 2019 is rich in Franco-Uzbek relations, in fact, on 26/27 March, it was the « Fete de la
Francophonie » which offered various cultural and artistic meetings within the framework of the OIF
(Organisation Internationale de la France). On this occasion 4 Uzbek professors were awarded the rank of «
Chevalier des Palmes Academiques » (high French distinction which rewarded people who have made a great
contribution in the fields of Education and Training).
Then in Bukhara, from 17to 19 June, the 4th « Universite d’ete francophone » opened, in which all
professors teaching French language, could participate.Finally, last July, 4 Uzbek laureates were able to attend
the « Ecole de Langue Accent frangais », in Montpellier, in the south of France, in order to perfect their
command of the French Language.
Exchanging and training are major concerns in the relations between the two countries, also, in the field
of legal training .
3)
Shared legal experiences :
a)
In 1995, in the « International Review of Comparative Law » , Akmal Saidov, then Ambassador of
the Republic of Uzbekistan to France, Doctor of Law , considered that the history of Uzbek law had followed
4 periods, namely :
-
The era of the Turan Civilization.
-
From the 8th century, with the establisment of Muslim law and Russian influence in the 19th century,
until 1917.
-
The soviet period from 1917 to 1991.
-
finally, the contemporary period since 1991.
b)
Since the latter date , contact with external models such as that of France has strongly influenced the
establishment of a new constitutional and legal
basis in Uzbekistan, supported by numerous meetings that have subsequently brought representatives of
the two countries.
For example, over the past ten years, a Franco-Uzbek symposium on International Law was held in May
2011. Then a seminar was held in Tashkent in autumn 2016 during which the Director of the ENA (Ecole
Nationale d’Administration) in France, met with representatives of the Uzbek AAP (Academie de
1’Administration Publique), in order to provide training for high-level specialists in this field.
In 2017, an important meeting in September brought together specialists from the various jurisdictions :
a « Prosecutor Training Seminar » for teacher from the Higher Training Centre of the Attorney General’s
Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan.This seminar was held at the « Ecole Nationale de la Magistrature »
(ENM) of the French Republic in France.
Finally,Let us mention this meeting in November 2018 concerning the importance of « Sustainable
Development of Growth ».
c)
All these meetings and contacts have contributed to establishment of internationally recognized
institutions in Uzbekistan in a country that, in its 1992 Constitution , affirmed its multilingual, multicultural
and multifaith character.
Finally, like French Constitution of 1958, in 2004, Uzbekistan adopted a bicameral political system with
17
two chambers forming the « Oliy Majilis «(Parliament) with 150 deputies and the « Senate » with 100 elected
representatives. In addition , there is the Supreme Court of Justice and the Constitutional Court , which is
responsible for monitoring the conformity of laws and decisions taken..It should be noted that this constutional
framework it also that of republics close to Uzbekistan such as Kazakhstan. There, two famous French
constitutionalists, Mrs. Pierre Mazaud and Guy Carcassonne, were the interlocutors for the kazakh
constitutionalists.
Thus, all efforts on both sides to be informed, trained and acted are well on the way to a fruitful dialogue
for the benefit of both countries.
If in 1492, Timur Lang wanted his Empire and the Kingdom of France to have close relations , his wish
is now granted because thanks to the culture dispensed since the Khorezm and the current economic, political
and jurisdictional relations , fruitful links exist between Uzbekistan and France.
Alicher Navoi in a relevant distich from one of his many ghazels wrote :
«The lonely man is not happy
He misses the happiness of others.!»
This illustrates well the atmosphere that reigns between Navoi’s homeland and Victor Hugo‘s : united
they are not alone on the international scene.
Short bibliography : (In French Language).
-
«Gazel du fond de la nuit »-(Le fou d’Elsa)- Louis Aragon.- Paris 1963.
-
«L’Empire delate» H. Carrere d’Encausse- Ed. Flamarion-Paris-1978.
-
« La Route de Samarkand au temps de Tamerlan «-Louis Kehren-Imprimerie Nationale - Paris-1990.
-
«Gazels Ouzbeks»-Action poetique n° 121-Paris-1990.
-
«Alisher Navoi, gazels et autres poemes »-H.Ismailov et J.P.Balpe-Ed. La Difierence-Paris 1991.
-
«Le systeme juridique de 1’Ouzbekistan » -Revue Internationale de Droit compare -Akmal Saidov -
Paris-annee 1995.
References:
1.
Намозова, Юлдуз Музаффаровна. "FEATURES OF INCREASING LITERACY IN TURKESTAN
“NEW-METHOD” SCHOOLS." Исследование Ренессанса Центральной Азии 2.1 (2021).
2.
Абдуллаева, Н. (2023). Эффективные методы организации научной деятельности студентов. in
Library, 22(2), 113-125. извлечено от https://inlibrary.uz/index.php/archive/article/view/21747
3.
Шермухамедова, H. "Философия и методология науки (на узб. языке). Ташкент:" Изд. НУУз."
(2005).
4.
Нишанова, Озода Джалолитдиновна. "HUMAN ORIGINS AND NATIONAL FEATURES OF
THE UZBEK ETHNIC CULTURE." Theoretical & Applied Science 9 (2015): 124-126.
