Turkmenistan met New Year 2017 with large celebrations and said goodbye to 2016, which was marked by the 25th anniversary of the independence of our state. We expect many important events in the current year. There are Presidential Elections and V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. The Year of Health and Inspiration is declared in the country.  The square of «Älem» cultural and Entertainment Centre, where Main New Year tree of the country is located, was the main place of the events. Numerous Ashgabat citizens and gusts of the capital gathered there in the evening. The music and songs were sounded; elevated atmosphere of large and happy celebration and solidarity reigned.  Celebration show was enveloped at the stage built in front of the cultural and entertainment centre. Its programme included performances of popular singers who sang vocal and music dedications to New Year as well as compositions by folklore stories and motifs in modern interpretations, lyrical and stirring popular songs including foreign ones.  After, the presenters announced on the start of television space bridge, which connected Turkmen capital with administration centres of the velayats. Bright New Year shows with participation of young singers and art bands of the velayats, which gathered numerous spectators, were expanded at the squares of administration centres. There were elders and youth, grey-headed mothers, rural citizens and children among the spectators.  First, Ahal velayat joined the spacebridge. Congratulations and wishes were followed by celebration concert number specially prepared for this event.  After, Balkan velayat joined the video conference. Having passed the wishes to compatriots from the citizens of coastal city, its representatives demonstrated their art dedication to the New Year.  After, the baton was taken over by Dashoguz velayat. Our northern region also tried to demonstrate vividly its art traditions by celebration performance after congratulation address.  The spacebridge was continued by Lebap representatives, rural citizens, aksakals and children, who congratulated all Turkmen people and the Head of the State on New Year. The artists of the region dedicated song and dance composition to this event.  The floor was given to the citizens of Mary velayat. Congratulations from the elders of the region, its workers, young generation were sounded. After, popular artist made performance.  The capital concluded New Year spacebridge. The citizens of Ashgabat, who occupied the whole space in front of «Älem» Cultural and Entertainment Centre, wish their compatriots from all places of the country dreams came true and successes in their activity. Songs and verses were sounded, popular artists and dance ensembles performed.  The culmination came and President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov addressed live New Year message to the people of Turkmenistan from Oguzkhan palace complex on TV.  People on the square and millions of our compatriots were listening the speech of the Head of the State holding their breath with large attention. The feeling of great pride for our independent Motherland, for its present and future unites all Turkmenistan citizens in this moment.  President of the country, briefly summarizing the outcomes of the Year of Honour of Heritage and Transformation of the Motherland, noted that 2016 was marked with high achievements in realization programmes aimed at provision of the interests of people. Big work for development of sovereign Motherland and improvement of national values was made. Many large facilities, which are summoned to enhance the growth of national economy and improvement of wellbeing of the population, were built.  Having named number of important facilities built in the last year and mentioned the contribution of the farmers, who grows generous harvests of wheat and cotton, as well as entrepreneurs developing production of import substitutive and export oriented goods, the president of Turkmenistan spoke of importance of large-scale transformations in publich health, education, science, culture and sport.  President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed the confidence that 2017, celebrated with good hopes and wishes, would be the year of prgresive development, inspiration and outstanding achievements. Having brought out forthcoming important events of the year, the Head of the State highlighted historical significance of Presidential elections in Turkmenistan where three political parties would participate.  Let 2017 be the year of peace and prosperity, wellbeing and successes for our Motherland and native people! – the Head of the State said in conclusion, having wished everybody strong health and harmony and affluence to each family.  Sincere and deep belief in fulfilment of this good wish filled the last seconds, detaching from 2017 by exciting expectation, which united the hearts of compatriots. All eyes were on watch hands and at last they stopped at number 12…  The National anthem of Turkmenistan was played.  The baton of pathetic accords of its majestic melody was taken over by the burst of celebration fireworks, which lightened the sky above «Älem» cultural and entertainment centre with bright inflorescence of lights. The symbol of the year, the Fire Cock, which according to the ancient superstition would bring renewal, growth and success, could be seen in dazzling sparks of the firework. It patronizes dedicated and hardworking people with big willpower. All the beginnings would bear the fruits shall someone works hard and shows the persistence. Yet, the cock is a family bird. It loves the relatives and protects their peace.  2017 was started loudly, happily and brightly under the sounds of fireworks, happy exclamations and general enthusiasm. Turkmen citizens met New Year, to which they were preparing ahead and with great enthusiasm, longing to make their relatives and close ones happy, with smiles and open hearts. Let this impulse be kept in our hearts for the whole year!  *** Celebration events in the last pre-New Year evening rolled along across the country, involving the squares and streets of cities and villages of our unbounded Motherland to the atmosphere joy and happiness.  Effective theatre performances, inflaming music concerts, carnival dances around fairy tale green tress shining in the light of garlands were the great gift for all Turkmenistan citizens.  Thousands of Ashgabat citizens were the participants and spectators of celebration processions along the avenues and sparkling concert performances expanded in capital concert halls and theatres, parks. The squares of “Ylham” alley in front of the State Circus of Turkmenistan, beautifully decorated with shining tinsels and figure compositions were one of the attractive places.  Children art bands, popular performers, dance ensembles, artists of circus and theatre, saying goodbye to the old year and welcoming New Year 2017, performed at open stages of the amphitheatres brightly decorated with New Year attributes.