Today, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held a working meeting via the digital system with the participation of some Deputy Chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers and hyakims of the velayats and the city of Ashgabat, discussing the objectives of the socio-economic development of the capital and regions, preparations for the spring sowing campaign, seasonal agricultural campaigns, and other state life issues.

Opening the meeting, the head of Turkmenistan summoned the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov, Deputy Chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers S. Toylyev and M. Mammedova by digital system.

The Vice Prime Minister, Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on the consistent steps being taken to develop cooperation with the United Nations and its leading structures, in particular, with the UN specialized agency for education, science and culture - UNESCO.

During the 16th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, held in Paris on December 13-18, 2021, it was unanimously decided to include the craft of making dutar, performing musical art on it and the art of bakhshi in the above-mentioned Representative List.

As reported, on January 30 of this year, the original of the relevant Certificate was received from UNESCO.

Having listened with satisfaction to the information given, the head of state warmly congratulated the participants of the meeting and all Turkmen citizens on this significant event.

In this context, the Leader of the Nation addressed the Deputy Prime Minister, Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov with specific instructions, including the preparation of a plan for upcoming events at the national and international levels related to the inclusion of the craft of making dutar, performing musical art on it and the art of bakhshi in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also noted the need to cooperate with UNESCO on a systematic basis, that is, based on the Joint Action Plan of Turkmenistan and this UN specialized agency for 2021-2023.

Along with this, the leader of the nation ordered to continue work on including the art of breeding Ahal-Teke horses, national features of breeding Turkmen Alabays, as well as the Turkmen art of embroidery in the UNESCO List.

Further, addressing the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers S. Toylyev, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed to speed up the process of creating UNESCO Departments at the Turkmen State University named after Magtymguly and the Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute named after Seyitnazar Seydi, as well as to strengthen measures to include a number of secondary schools of the country in UNESCO Schools Association.

It is necessary to continue studying the history of the Turkmen musical and song art, its current state, the merits of famous mentors of musicians-bakhshi on scientific basis. It is necessary to develop the wonderful creative traditions of our ancestors, and, reviving various types of ancient musical instruments, carry out the necessary work in this direction in the future, the head of state emphasized.

The leader of the nation also noted that our glorious history, literature, musical and song art should be widely popularized among the international scientific community through information found in written sources of various periods and archaeological finds.

Addressing the Deputy Chairwoman of the Cabinet of Ministers M. Mammedova, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov ordered to urgently prepare the Order of events to be held in the velayats and Ashgabat on the occasion of the inclusion of the craft of making dutar, performing musical art on it and the art of bakhshi to the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In honor of this significant event, the leader of the nation instructed to hold a solemn conference and exhibition at the Mukams Palace of the State Cultural Center on February 1, as well as to provide for the presentation of certificates of conferring the title “Çeper döredijiligiň halk ussasy” at the forum to especially distinguished dutar makers from the velayats and the capital.

It is necessary to organize a TV recording of the concert of bakhshi musicians and its subsequent broadcast on the air. It is advisable to hold such concerts in the buildings of “Türkmeniň Ak öýi” of the country's velayats, the head of state noted.

Along with this, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed to organize conferences, exhibitions, creative meetings dedicated to the craft of making dutar and the national song and musical art of our people in museums, libraries, higher and secondary professional educational institutions of Turkmenistan.

In continuation, the leader of the nation noted that performances dedicated to the dutar theme should be staged in theaters and aired in the format of a TV recording.

The head of state also instructed the media to widely cover this significant event - inclusion of the craft of making dutar, performing musical art on it and the art of bakhshi to the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and events dedicated to it.

Having signed a congratulatory Address on this occasion, the President of the country gave specific instructions to hold this event at a high level.

Then, addressing the participants of the meeting, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that relations with UNESCO have a special place in the foreign policy of neutral Turkmenistan. This is fully confirmed by the inclusion in the UNESCO List of the state historical and cultural reserves “Ancient Merv” and “Kunyaurgench”, the fortresses of Old and New Nisa, such cultural values as the Gorogly destan, the national art of singing and dancing “Kushtdepdi”, as well as Turkmen art of carpet weaving.

As the head of state noted, the Turkmen land has been a land of handicrafts, craftsmanship and art since ancient times. The craft of making dutar, musical performance on it and the art of bakhshi have taken a worthy place in the cultural heritage of the Motherland. For millennia, the dutar has become an invariable attribute of the life of the Turkmen, they could entrust it with the most gidden secrets of their souls.

Summarizing the above, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov once again cordially congratulated the participants of the meeting and the native people on the inclusion of the craft of making dutar, performing musical art on it and the art of bakhshi to the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Then, using the digital system, the President of the country called the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Ch. Purchekov and the Hyakim of the city of Ashgabat R. Gandymov.

The head of the capital administration reported on the ongoing work to consistently improve the social and living conditions of the population in the context of the fulfillment of instructions previously given by the leader of the nation to improve the main city of the country.

Then, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Ch. Purchekov reported on the state of affairs in the supervised industry, construction work carried out in the country, as well as on the measures taken to implement the program tasks facing organizations and enterprises in the public utilities sector, to ensure the coordinated activities of the relevant services for uninterrupted energy, gas and water supply of the population.

The President of Turkmenistan focused on the need to keep in view the issues of heat supply to residential buildings, schools, kindergartens and medical institutions, as well as energy and gas supply to the capital as a whole.

Head of State Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed the Deputy Prime Minister and the hyakim to keep under constant control the provision of high quality and timely completion of construction work at all facilities being built in the country this year.

Further, the working meeting continued with the participation of the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers E. Orazgeldiyev, who is in charge of the agro-industrial complex, as well as the hyakims of the velayats.

The head of state gave the floor to the hyakim of Ahal velayat Y. Gurbanov at first.

The head of the administration reported on the state of affairs in the region, the progress of preparations for the cotton sowing, in particular, on the measures taken to cultivate land, plowing and leveling it, bringing agricultural machinery and units into proper operational condition, and providing tenants-cotton growers with high-yielding seeds.

Then the hyakim of Balkan velayat T. Atakhalliyev reported on the state of affairs in the agro-industrial sector of the western region of the country, seasonal events in the agricultural areas.

It was also reported that the velayat is conducting comprehensive preparation for the sowing of cotton, including agricultural machinery and equipment, preparation of sown lands is being carried out, including plowing and leveling, and farmers are being provided with high-quality seed material.

Further, the digital working meeting continued with the report of the hyakim of the Dashoguz velayat N. Nazarmyradov, who reported on the preparation for sowing cotton of agricultural land, including plowing and leveling, bringing machinery and equipment into proper operational condition, and providing farmers with the necessary seeds.

It was reported that all measures are being taken in the region to plant spring potatoes and onions on time and in due quality, and wheat fields are being cared for in order to obtain a generous harvest.

Then, using the digital system, the khyakim of the Lebap velayat Sh. Amangeldiyev reported on the state of affairs in the region, preparations for the cotton sowing, as well as equipment and units that will be involved in the campaign, providing farmers with seed material.

It was also reported on the practical steps taken on a planned basis to timely solve problems within the framework of the Program for the country's socio-economic development for 2019-2025 and the National Rural Program.

Then the hyakim of Mary velayat D. Annaberdiev reported on the preparation of lands for the sowing season, in particular, their plowing and leveling, as well as preparation of machinery and equipment that will be involved in the sowing of cotton, and providing cotton producers with seeds in the required volume.

Along with this, steps are being taken in the velayat to plant spring potatoes and onions on time and in high quality. In order to produce a high yield of wheat on the sown areas, seedlings are cared for, watered and fertilized in strict accordance with agrotechnical standards.

Further, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers E. Orazgeldiyev, who is in charge of the agro-industrial complex, reported on the work currently being carried out in the agricultural fields of the country.

The Deputy Prime Minister reported on the fulfillment of the instructions given by the head of state earlier in order to successfully achieve development objectives for the agricultural industry.

In particular, information was provided on the ongoing agrotechnical measures to prepare the land for the upcoming spring sowing season, their plowing and leveling, as well as bringing machinery and equipment into proper condition.

In this regard, the Deputy Prime Minister said that in February of this year, it is planned to sow 30,000 hectares of land in the velayats with potatoes, and 10,000 hectares with onions.

In general, in 2022, it is planned to allocate 106,000 hectares for potatoes and other vegetable and melon products, including 65,000 hectares for spring sowing, and 41,000 hectares to be sown in autumn. In this regard, relevant work is being carried out within the framework of land preparation.

The head of state gave instructions to the relevant leaders to provide farmers with the necessary seeds.

The President of Turkmenistan noted the importance of strict control over agrotechnical measures for the care of wheat fields.

Along with this, the leader of the nation stressed that work should be continued in order to provide the country's population with enough potatoes and onions of its own production. In this regard, the focus should be on the proper use of land and water resources, constant supply of farmers with high-quality seeds and other necessary means, the head of state noted.

Emphasizing the importance of observing all the norms of agricultural technology when carrying out seasonal agricultural work, as well as ensuring the cleanliness of the areas around the sown plots, cleaning water and drainage channels, the Leader of the Nation addressed a number of instructions to the Deputy Prime Minister and hyakims.

The Turkmen leader noted that large-scale activities are being carried out in our state to preserve, enrich and widely popularize the national heritage. In this regard, the head of state congratulated everyone on the inclusion of the nomination "Craft for making dutar, performing musical art on it and the art of bakhshi" in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, instructing local hyakims to carry out active educational work to popularize the national crafts and spiritual heritage of the Turkmen people.

Concluding the digital working meeting, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov wished its participants good health, family well-being and great success in their work for the sake of prosperity of our sovereign Motherland, prosperous and happy life of its people.