Last week, the administrative center of Mary velayat hosted the official ceremony of opening the Year - “Mary – Cultural Capital of Turkic World”, which gave a start to the activities to be held on the occasion of the honorary status delegated to the city. The project “Cultural Capital of Turkic World” is destined to develop potential of the Turkic peoples’ culture and draw attention to their heritage. It includes the annual concentration of creative resources in different cities of the Turkic-speaking countries, organization of spectacular, vivid and various cultural and humanitarian activities based on the strong historically established cultural ties and the continuing dialogue between the sovereign states’ original cultures. Speaking of the significance of the current event, Secretary-General of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY) Dusen Kaseinov has expressed deep gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov for the advancement of constructive interstate cooperation, which contributes to preservation and development of the Turkic peoples’ culture and art. The unique heritage grants the city of Mary the right to be considered a cultural center of the Turkic world, Dusen Kaseinov stressed, sincerely appreciative of the excellent conditions provided for creative exchange between the peoples, special attention given to the development of cultural and spiritual life of the society. I am convinced that all the events will be held at a high organizational level, will be marked by unforgettable meetings and will contribute to the development of humanitarian cooperation, the head of TURKSOY said. In the frames of the celebrations, a gala concert of masters of art from the Turkic-speaking countries was held in the Ruhyýet Palace. One of the first events held in the city of Mary on the occasion of its status as the cultural capital of the Turkic world-2015, was an international exhibition of fine, decorative and applied arts and photographs. It was impressively opened in the Mary velayat Local History Museum with participation of leaders and representatives of TURKSOY, numerous foreign guests, and the public. The exhibition featured works by artists, ceramists, photographers from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Macedonia and Turkmenistan. The exhibition telling about the life of the Turkic peoples, their customs, traditions, art, modern achievements in the field of culture and art offered a diversity of themes. The guests of our country were taken on a get-acquainted excursion to the Local History Museum whose collection, including its branches, consists of about 60,000 exhibits – samples of history, culture and art of the Turkmen people. After the excursion, the guests were invited to the exhibition hall of the Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Union of Turkmenistan (its branch office in the city of Mary), to become familiarized with the velayat’s present-day achievements, including development of private enterprises. The program for the foreign guests also included a visit to the “Ancient Merv” State Historical and Cultural Park, where they became acquainted with the unique architectural monuments - the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, the Mosque of Hoja Yusuf Hamedani, the ancient Fortresses of Erkkala and Gyzkala. The cultural event participants also paid a visit to the Mary Velayat Library – a true center of spiritual life of the region, its scientific and methodological centre. On their return to Ashgabat, the ceremony participants continued their acquaintance with the historical and cultural heritage of the Turkmen people and visited the capital’s museums and places of interest.