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In the Era of Revival of the new epoch of the powerful state marked by historical transformations, independent neutral Turkmenistan reaches high boundaries in all spheres and confidently goes ahead on the path of progress. In the International year of peace and trust, the glorious 30th anniversary of permanent neutrality of our country, which serves a basis of strengthening of peace, mutual understanding, friendly and brotherly relations between people, is widely marked.
Today, promotion of the spiritual and a mental potential of Turkmen society as well as careful preservation of cultural-moral values are one of the main components of the state policy of Turkmenistan in the field of culture. Achievements in this sphere promote revival and development of various forms of art and adjustment of a wide dialogue of cultures.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the extended meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, which was held on July 11 of the current year as well as the meeting held on October 3 and devoted to results of work, carried out in the country for nine months of the year, noted the necessity of further realisation of complex activity on fundamental study and preservation of the national cultural heritage, literary values and their popularisation in the world.
As was underlined, one should use widely modern technologies for development of library and museum business, organise properly and constantly to improve work of children's schools of arts and fine art schools, create modern both modern and documentary films.
The head of the state also emphasised the importance of carrying out an effective work to restore, conserve and protect historical and cultural monuments, to make an appropriate use of capacity of Turkmen state publishing service and organise regularly creative competitions, modern exhibitions, performances of folklore, song-music groups and prepare duly for celebration of the 34th anniversary of independence of our fatherland.
Thanks to the cultural policy initiated by National Leader of Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and consecutively implemented under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in the country a huge significance is attached to popularisation of national heritage, traditions of workmanship, decorative and applied art and all conditions are created for this purpose.
At the same time, neutral Turkmenistan continues to expand mutually beneficial cooperation and friendly dialogue with interested states, especially with neighbouring countries, and adopts large-scale measures in maintenance of universal peace. The cultural diplomacy plays a primary role in use of cultural exchanges and dialogue for achievement of goals of foreign policy such as promotion of mutual understanding, advancement of national interests, which help creation of positive image of the country.
As known, the International year of peace and trust logically coincides with the 30th anniversary of recognition of permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan according to the Resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations 50/80 «Permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan», unanimously adopted on December 12, 1995. In this context, the holding of several large events with participation of numerous visitors is planned: the international Olympiads in higher educational establishments, creative and information-explanatory actions, briefings, media forums, seminars, exhibitions, scientific-practical online conferences, and song and music events.
Development of the national sphere of culture is one of the priority areas of the policy of Turkmenistan, as the rich original heritage of our people is a complete system of unique material and cultural values carefully transferred from generation to generation.
The state creates all conditions for revealing and training of the talented youth. With that end in view, the material and technical basis of the sphere of culture consistently grows stronger, the network of specialised schools, rural culture centres extends, in profile educational institutions new chairs are opened. A special significance is given to organization of creative competitions and festivals of national and international levels, which create a wide field for experiments, courageous searches and new finds inducing to self-expression.
So, by the developed noble tradition annually in days of winter holidays in the capital the main New Year's celebrations collecting children from all corners of Turkmenistan is held. On January 4, in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry celebration of young winners of the special children's award named after Gulbaba organised by the Main Board of the Youth Organisation of Turkmenistan named after Magtymguly and the Ministry of Education of the country took place.
On May 29-30, in Ashgabat the song and music festival of the Youth symphonic orchestra of Turkmenistan and incorporated children's chorus «Music of peace, friendship and brotherhood» was held. The festival became a true holiday of creativity and friendship where young talents of the country displayed their skill and presented spectators with unforgettable impressions.
In our state, the special attention is given to preservation and study of national heritage, popularisation of the contribution of Turkmen people in formation of world culture, development of dialogue with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), to which Turkmenistan is a member since 1993.
Creation of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO in 2020 became an important step in interaction with this authoritative structure of the United Nations. For many years of cooperation, tremendous successes were reached in realisation of the mandate of the UNESCO in our country as well as in increase of cultural, educational and scientific potential.
Meetings of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO, meetings, and video conferences, in which heads and leading experts of profile ministries and departments of the country took part, were devoted to priority areas of work and aimed at concrete results.
Among them the meeting of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO, which took place on February 15, in which a wide spectrum of issues of interaction within the specialized agents of the United Nations were considered. The information on results of work of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO for the past year according to instructions of the President of Turkmenistan was also presented.
During the meeting, it was marked that productive work is carried out to nominate such large ancient Turkmen cities, as Dehistan, Nisa, Merv, Serahs, Amul, Koneurgench for inclusion in the List of the UNESCO World Heritage, including the monuments located along basic routes of the Great Silk road. The International scientific-practical conference, which took place on April 26, 2024 in the city of Turkmenabat «Ancient fortress of Amul: the keeper of secrets of the past» was held on the occasion of inclusion of the fortress of Amul in the object «Great Silk road: the Zaravshan-Kara Kum corridor».
It was underlined that definition of new possibilities of joint cooperation of UNESCO and TURKSOY in the sphere of protection of historical, cultural, natural and written monuments of Turkic speaking countries became a main objective of the 10th meeting of the National Commission for UNESCO of member states of the International organisation of Turkic culture (TURKSOY) held on May 16 within the year «Anau – the cultural capital of the Turkic world - 2024»
On October 11 of the past year in Ashgabat within the large scale program of celebration of the 300th anniversary of Magtymguly Fragi under the chairmanship of the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov the International forum «Interrelation of times and civilisations - a basis of peace and development» was held .
The importance of the awarding ceremony which was held on October 12, 2024 was that the Certificate on the inclusion of the nomination "Akhal-Teke Horse Breeding Art and Horse Decoration Traditions" in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Speakers who spoke at the meeting of the National Commission underlined that the measures aimed at maintenance of physical safety of historical monuments, include preservation, repair, restoration, and scientific-research, design and industrial work. In the given context, it was noted that National Department of Turkmenistan for the Protection, Study and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Monuments published the State register of objects of national historical and cultural heritage of the country.
On December 6, in the Turkmen capital hosted the regional meeting of international specialists in inclusion of the Caspian corridor of the Great Silk road into the UNESCO List of the World Heritage.
According to the international norms of UNESCO together with colleagues from the Republic of Uzbekistan work on preparation of nomination of the mountain ecosystem of the Koytendag for inclusion in the UNESCO List of the World Heritage and nomination of art of cultivation of Turkmen alabays, being national property of our people, - in the Representative List of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity is actively conducted. The monograph «Turkmenistan-UNESCO: we will keep monuments together» was prepared: as the guideline on the international program «Memory of the world».
It is necessary to note that during the current year both in our country, and beyond its limits, large-scale cultural actions aimed at popularisation of national heritage and modern achievements of our fatherland were organised.
Being the initiator of global progressive transformations, Turkmenistan with a view of development of wide cooperation and strengthening of the international authority with success uses possibilities of cultural diplomacy - information interchange, acquaintance with values, traditions and it promotes improvement of mutual understanding between peoples.
Being the recognised peace-making and large cultural centre of the region, our fatherland shows readiness for large-scale humanitarian cooperation, calling to mutual enrichment of cultures. In the given context, various events - festivals, exhibitions, concerts, film shows, Days of culture personifying such eternal values, as peace, humanism, good neighbourhood are regularly carried out.
A powerful stimulus to the strengthening of interstate relations, a basis of which is commonality of historical, cultural, and spiritual traditions of friendly people, was the International dance and folklore festival «Avaza – the land of friendship » held on June 4-6 in the Avaza national tourist zone.
In May, Ashgabat hosted Days of culture of the State of Libya in Turkmenistan. Within this creative action the exhibition, at which exhibits of Arabian calligraphy, samples of the Libyan costumes, books and ethnic cuisine dishes were presented, was held. The conference «The role of Turkmen scientists in disclosing cultural development of mankind and enrichment of the Arabian language and Islamic education» and a joint concert of actors of Turkmenistan and Libya were held.
As known, in our country many opportunities for popularisation in the world of big achievements in national culture, art and literature are created. Similar measures inspire workers of culture and induce them to create new, more perfect works and to work more creatively and fruitfully.
The possibility to familiarise with a variety of historical and cultural heritage of Turkmen people, which brought a considerable contribution to the treasury of universal values, is given by the Week of culture timed to Day of workers of culture and art and poetry of Magtymguly Fragi widely marked in our fatherland.
The large-scale creative event initiated by National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, annually since 2013 is held in different regions of the country, showing a bright palette and variety of national culture, attaching people to its values. This forum is aimed at preservation, study and wide popularisation of the spiritual heritage of Turkmen, stimulation of professional growth of workers of creative art and search of new talents.
Numerous events held this year on June 22-27 in Akhal velayat were filled by the bright moments, which displayed a huge potential of national culture and professional growth of workers of the profile sphere. They differed with national colour, attractiveness and substantial saturation, testifying to continuity of creative process, enormous work, which is carried out in Turkmenistan under the leadership of the head of the state for the benefit of people and prosperity of our fatherland.
These days, exhibitions of fine, decorative and applied arts, museum values, publishing production, display of the opera and theatrical plays, new films took place. Fans of poetry, folklore attended literary, and music evenings, concerts of workers of art and culture of the country. Workers of theatres and children’s groups prepared creative gifts.
Thematic conferences, meetings, educational and methodical and scientific-methodical seminars, the media forum, held in culture centres and palaces of Anau city, Baherden, Gokdepe and Kaka etraps, Gami and Yzgant villages intensified topicality of issues of preservation, study and popularisation of national historical and cultural heritage, development of various genres of art, perfection of activity of museums, libraries and use of digital technologies in these areas.
The professional holiday of workers of culture and art in our country is united with celebration of the outstanding master of poetry, who glorified eternal universal values and humanistic ideals. Therefore, the creative event was completed with the flower laying ceremony at the monument to the great son of the Turkmen people in the cultural-park complex «Magtymguly Pyragy» that became an expression of national love, deep honour of the person and creative heritage of the poet-humanist, admiration of his talent. Then the celebratory concert of workers of culture and art took place.
The solemn actions, which were held on June 29 in Arkadag city and festive conference «Arkadag şäheri - röwşen geljegiň aýdyň ýoly», timed to the second anniversary of establishment of Arkadag city, became important events in the life of the country. Participants of the forum underlined that among outstanding achievements of our powerful state is the city of Arkadag, which was initiated by the National Leader of the Turkmen people. The start for realisation of the given project was given in 2019, and thanks to constant attention and support of Hero-Arkadag today this first "smart" city in our country has got a magnificent shape.
In the beginning of August in the dramatized interactive complex of sea fountains located in the Avaza national tourist zone, within the Third Conference of the United Nations on land locked developing countries, National days of friendly states were marked.
Within the competition «Türkmeniň Altyn asyry», declared by the President of Turkmenistan among workers of literature, culture and art, amateur young singers, and also talented children, on August 20 the final stage of the creative competition «Çalsana, bagşy!», and on September 6 and 7 - final rounds of the competition «Garaşsyzlygyň merjen däneleri» and TV competition «Ýaňlan, Diýarym!» were also held.
On September 22 in the Mukam Palace of the State Culture Centre of Turkmenistan on the occasion of the birthday of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov the music event «Arkadagly Gahryman Serdarymyzyň belent maksatlarynyň aýdyň ýollary», devoted to achievements of the country under the leadership of Arkadagly Hero Serdar, was held.
On September 26 in the capital Congress Centre «Mejlisler merkezi» with participation of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov the concert of workers of culture and art was held on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of independence of Turkmenistan.
Thus, main principles of the state policy of Turkmenistan in the sphere of culture are its support and development, protection and preservation of historical and cultural heritage, its wide popularisation, and strengthening of cultural links and international cooperation in interests of nations of the world that finds its due acknowledgement in the large-scale activities in this area.
