On December 7, the administrative center of Dashoguz velayat hosted a ceremony of completing the Dashoguz city’s mission as the cultural capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States in 2016. To the final events of the Year’s intensive eventful program, an entertainment of variety performers of the CIS countries was included. The decision on delegating the honorary status to the Turkmen city of Dashoguz was adopted by the Council of the CIS States’ heads in October 2015. Recognition of Turkmenistan’s merits as an initiator of international humanitarian forums, as well as our country’s huge cultural potential, is supported by the fact that for the second time this status is granted to the Turkmen city. Noteworthy that the Regulations of the Interstate Program «Cultural capitals of the Commonwealth» were approved by the Council of the CIS States’ Heads in 2012 in the capital of Turkmenistan, while presiding of the country over the CIS. The prestigious title of the cultural capital of the Commonwealth, Dashoguz, as Mary before, was granted due to its rich historical and cultural heritage. This honorary status enabled the town to draw attention to the history and rich national culture, demonstrate the current achievements of Turkmenistan in this area. Dashoguz, numbering 400 years, organically dovetails the modern infrastructure with careful attitude for the historical legacy. Widely known are the names of such outstanding personalities, as Najmeddin Kubra and Mahmud Zamakhshari, Abu Reyhan Biruni and Avicenna, Mahmyt Palvan, Nurmuhammet Andalib, Abdylla Shabende, Gurbanaly Magrupi, who made great contribution to the development of world science and culture, increasing the glory of the Turkmen people. The velayat is the seat of the mausoleum of the benefactor of singers and musicians of the East - Aşyk Aydyn pir and the mosque erected in his honor - the place of pilgrimage of creative people. Here, near the monument to the great pir, a unique monument is erected in honor of the Turkmen musical instrument - dutar. 100 kilometers away from Dashoguz, there is Kounyaurgench, which has left an indelible mark in the world civilization history, with the mausoleum of the great pir Najmeddin Kubra with necropolis «Uch yuz altmysh» testifying to the saints buried there. The survived monuments in the territory of the State Historical and Cultural Reserve «Kounyaurgench», recognized by UNESCO as an object of the World Cultural Heritage, are the reminder of the original splendor of Kounyaurgench architecture. The program of events «Cultural Capital of the Commonwealth-2016» provided Dashoguz an excellent opportunity to make the city’s life more rich and vibrant. From March 30, when this program was officially launched, the events of international format were held there, aimed at strengthening the ties of friendship, creative and scientific contacts between the masters of art of the CIS countries. Large-scale events organized in the framework of the project have evoked genuine interest of the city’s inhabitants in a lot of joyful meetings and discoveries. One such was the concert in the «Ruhyet» Palace with the participation of the famous artists and groups of Turkmenistan and the CIS countries. In those days, an exhibition was opened in the Regional History Museum of Dashoguz velayat, which included the works of fine and decorative arts of the artists from Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and our country. In the course of events dedicated to the Dashoguz’s mission as the cultural capital of the Commonwealth - 2016, the guests made a get-acquainting visit to the State Historical and Cultural Reserve «Kounyaurgench» to familiarize with the unique architectural monuments included into the UNESCO World Heritage List. During the fascinating tour and on the spot, the guests were able to estimate the strength and demiurge of the Great Seljuks era. The International scientific-practical conference «Turkmenistan is the land, rich with spiritual and cultural values» became one of the most significant events. The forum brought together the scholars of literature, culture, art historians, linguists, architects, archaeologists and other representatives of the humanitarian sphere of the CIS countries. National science was presented by the scientists of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, institutions, cultural centers of the country, specialists of museums and libraries, teachers of high schools and specialized secondary schools of creative trend. At the panel sessions: «The development of cultural relations and traditions in the XXI century» and «Material and spiritual heritage of Dashoguz velayat», the participants shared the results of their researches in the field of tangible and intangible heritage of Dashoguz velayat, literary monuments, the search for new written sources and archaeological finds, that confirm the fact of significant effect of the Turkmen people on the development of mankind. Some reports were devoted to the scholars of the Middle Ages, their contribution to the development of such sciences as astronomy, physics, chemistry, mathematics, mineralogy, geography, philosophy and others. During the international forum, an exhibition of arts and crafts was held in the administrative center of velayat. On display was the local publishing production, including the works authored by President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov telling about the ever-lasting national values - rapid Akhalteke race horses, exquisite and splendid Turkmen carpets, healing properties of medicinal plants of Turkmenistan, as well as the scientific and popular literature about Dashoguz velayat. In the second half of the running year, several events more were held in the cultural capital of the Commonwealth-2016. Thus, the printed production of the CIS countries was demonstrated in the framework of the XI International Book Fair «Book - a way to cooperation and progress». The State Library of the State Cultural Center hosted a scientific-practical conference «The role of books in the preservation and promotion of the ancient heritage of the peoples» with the participation of Russian scientists and specialists of library science, as well as the guests from the Commonwealth countries. International Forum «Role of Gyorogly epos in the world culture» was held in November. It was attended by scientists from the CIS member states, as well as by Turkmen colleagues. The Forum was another significant step in deepening the international scientific and cultural relations. The program of activities carried out in Dashoguz, the cultural capital of the Commonwealth in 2016, included also a visit of guests to the cultural and scientific centers of the velayat, its places of attraction. At the final stage of mission, the participants had an opportunity to get acquainted with the collection of artifacts and rare books – the evidences of rich history and culture of the region, its flora and fauna that are stored in the Regional History Museum of the velayat. The velayat’s library is another scientific and cultural center, which familiarized participants of the celebration with its funds, with the museum of historical books, great reading rooms and their technical equipment. The summary electronic database united 76 central libraries of the capital and velayats, and the readers can take advantage of their archives anywhere in the country. The participants of the celebration also visited the observatory located under the dome of the palace of knowledge, where at that time the session of the astronomy amateurs circle was held. It should be noted that the velayat library is one of the most visited places in the city. It hosted the presentation of the President-authored book “Turkmenistan» and new publications intended for the children. Timed especially to the significant event, in the lobby of the library, an exhibition was organized of the works by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov translated into different languages, as well as the books by Turkmen writers and their colleagues from the CIS member states, the materials about the history of the northern region of our country. Numerous participants of the ceremony of closing the city’s mission - leaders and representatives of the Ministry of Culture, non-governmental organizations of velayat, specialized universities, cultural workers and artists, journalists, numerous young people, have gathered in the hall of “Ruhyet” Palace. Among the students - the youth of the Turkmen Agricultural Institute in Dashoguz, the participants of the interuniversity subject Olympiad held in our country on December 2-3, where they won 24 prizes! Among the foreign guests are the representatives of the CIS Executive Committee, Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation of the CIS member states, the culture sphere of the Commonwealth, as well as the Interstate TV and Radio Company «Mir». The presenters announce the beginning of the official closing ceremony of Dashoguz’s mission as the cultural capital of the CIS-2016 and on behalf of the ceremony attendees express their deep gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov for the opportunity of holding high-level international events. Then the floor is given to the Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee – the CIS Executive Secretary Mr. Konysbek Zhusupbekov, who expressed gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan for the development of the constructive international cooperation. On behalf of his organization he congratulated the participants on the successful completion of the honorable mission of Dashoguz as the cultural capital of the Commonwealth in 2016. Truly grateful to the administration of the velayat and the city, to all its inhabitants for excellent conditions arranged for the event, Konysbek Zhusupbekov expressed confidence that wise and hospitable Dashoguz would keep and enhance its creative traditions, and in the long run will continue to make major contribution to the integration of cultural potential and strengthening of the humanitarian partnership in the Commonwealth area, having wished health, happiness and prosperity to the Turkmen people. At the end of his speech, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee, the CIS Executive Secretary said that Azerbaijani city of Gäncä would pick up the baton of the cultural capital of the Commonwealth in 2017. On behalf of the inhabitants of Dashoguz, the head of the city’s administration thanked for the high trust to Dashoguz, and expressed hope that all the events of the mission would serve to further development of friendly and cultural relations between the states and peoples. The mission was concluded by a gala concert with the participation of masters of arts of Turkmenistan and some Commonwealth countries. Celebrations in Dashoguz, as well as the honorable mission of the cultural capital of the Commonwealth- 2016 successfully implemented by the city, testify to the fact that as one of the oldest centers of high spirituality and culture, as a stronghold of peace and stability in the region, Turkmenistan reaffirms its readiness to develop the relations with the countries of the international community based on the humanistic values.