― 26 марта 2024 г.
Magnificent opening event for Anev, the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2024
Anev, the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2024 was inaugurated with a wonderfully coulourful event.
The magnificent Opening Ceremony of Anev the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2024 held cultural feast held in the Ak Buğday Town of the Ak Buğday District of the Ahal Province of Turkmenistan marked the beginning of a year throughout which the city will be hosting cultural and artistic events with the contribution of artists and intellectuals from all over the Turkic World.
The event took place in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan Mihrijemal Mammedova, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, Minister of Culture of Turkmenistan Atageldi Shamuradov, the Secretary General of TURKSOY Sultan Raev, the Secretary General of the Organisation of Turkic States Kubanchbek Omuraliyev, the President of the Turkic Academy Prof. Dr. Şahin Mustafayev, the President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Mrs. Aktoty Raimkulova, the Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye Dr. Serdar Çam, the Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerbol Alikulov, the Deputy Minister of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic Marat Tagayev, the Deputy Minister of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic Murodjon Macidov, the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan Murodjon Macidov, the Government Commissioner and MP of Hungary Péter Hoppál, the President of TIKA Serkan Kayalar and many guests from the Turkic World.
At the opening of the event, Deputy Prime Minister Mahricemal Mammedova read the letter of President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov addressed to the participants.
In his letter, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasised the close cooperation between TURKSOY and Turkmenistan and the wide range of activities carried out.
The letter emphasised that international cultural cooperation between Turkmenistan and TURKSOY is gradually developing: 2015 declaration of Merv as the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World is an example of this cooperation and numerous cultural events organised with the participation of guests from Turkic countries during these events have forever taken their place in the pages of history.
"TURKSOY declared 2024 as the "Year of the Great Poet and Thinker of the Turkic World Magtumguly Pyragy" and the city of Anev as the "Cultural Capital of the Turkic World". The 300th anniversary of the birth of Magtumguly Pyragy, the great thinker and classical poet of the East, has a special meaning. Magtumguly talks about friendship, unity and solidarity in his poems. He is a wise poet who praises peace and humanity and has a place in the hearts of humanity. Today, his works full of wisdom echo loudly in the Turkic-speaking countries and in the international arena as songs of unity and brotherhood."
Delivering an opening speech at the event, TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev stressed that the city of Anev and these lands are the sacred homeland of the Turkmen people, the centre of the great Turkmen history and unique cultural heritage. In his speech, Secretary General Raev said:
“First of all, let me express that it is a great pleasure for me to have come together with you in this sacred land, in the city of Anev, the pinnacle of Turkic civilisation and Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2024 which has a special place not only in the history of the Turkic World but also in world History.
On behalf of TURKSOY and all guests present here today, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Serdar Berdimuhammedov, the President of Turkmenistan and national leader of the Turkmen people as well as to His Excellency Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov, the Chairman of the People's Assembly of Turkmenistan, for bringing together Turkic peoples under the flag of Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan as peoples sharing the same roots like branches of a tree, and for laying the foundations of the golden cultural bridge connecting Turkic peoples to each other and hosting this opening event with their own high will.
Distinguished participants,
welcome to the historic city of Anev, the centuries-old voice of Turkmenistan, the hearth of world civilisation.
These lands are the spiritual centre of ancient civilisations. Being the sacred homeland of the Turkmen people who inherited the spirit, culture and civilisation of their great Turkic ancestors centuries ago, these lands are also the centre of the great Turkmen history and eternal cultural heritage.
The city of Anev bears the traces of thousands of years of history and golden ages of the Turkmen people on the world stage.
The city of Merv, Nisa City, Gonur Hill, Konurgench, the Nadir Shah Mausoleum, the Qutlug Timur Minaret as well as the mausoleums of Sultan Sanjar, Khwarezm Tekesh Shah and Sultan Alparslan are symbols of the contribution of not only Turkmenistan but also the Turkic World to world civilisation.
Turkmenistan is known as the cradle of great civilisations. Hence, we hereby express our deepest respect to His Excellency Mr. Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the President of Turkmenistan and to His Excellency Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the Chairman of the People's Assembly of Turkmenistan and great leader and wise man of the Turkic World, for their sensitive approach to national values as they have preserved this great historical heritage of Turkmen lands up to the present day and undertook the important task to transfer it to future generations.
Distinguished Participants,
The Turkmen people enriched world cultural heritage with many great historical figures. As a matter of fact, these lands are home to illustrious personalities of the Turkic World such as Oghuz Khan, known as the great father of Turkic peoples in history, the Great Seljuk Sultan and heroic commander Alp Arslan and Bayram Khan as well as to common figures of the whole Turkic World such as Dede Korkut, Köroğlu, the great poet Azadi Dovlet Mamet, the poet, philosopher and symbol of the Turkmen people, Magtumguly Pyragy.
These personalities are not only the unique contribution of Turkmenistan to the enrichment of world cultural treasury but also the most essential components of our national culture which carries us from the past to the future. Hence, TURKSOY declared the year 2024 as the Year of Magtumguly Pyragy in the Turkic World on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of his birthday. Indeed, Magtumguly, the great poet, the classic of Turkmen national literature, is the bright star of not only the Turkic World but also of world literature.
Hence, it would also be appropriate to refer to this year as the year of Turkmenistan in the Turkic World.
My dear brothers and sisters, (in Turkmen language)
This international event is the best proof of the value attached to the Turkmen state and its national symbols by the Turkmen people and their heads of state.
As a matter of fact, Turkmenistan is a unique country which protects, preserves and fosters its ancient cultural heritage.
Only peoples who deeply respect their history and civilisation can reach a beautiful future. There are very few countries and peoples in the world which can preserve their national history, traditions and national identity like our Turkmen brothers and sisters do. This is because the Turkmen spirit is rooted in its civilisation.
Distinguished Friends!
The title of Cultural Capital of the Turkic World suits very well to the city of Anev and its seven- thousand-year old history.
We will be holding many events in this cradle of civilisation throughout 2024. This city, which has been designated to be the leader of the Turkic World this year will stand out as the symbol of Turkic Unity, of our brotherhood and friendship. Anev will be the city where our artists and cultural figures will be coming together during this entire year and this will be further strengthening the foundations of our common culture and art which we will transmit to future generations.
Our main goal in organising all these events is to maximise the cultural exchange among peoples of the Turkic World and to further strengthen the golden bridge connecting our kindred peoples to each other. With the 4th Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival, the International Media Forum, the 2nd Theatre Festival of the Turkic World, the International Youth Forum, art exhibitions, various conferences and forums dedicated to the great poet and philosopher Magtumguly Pyragy, this year will go down in history as an unforgettable year raising the bar of the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World higher.
I would also like to announce the good news that besides promoting Magtumguly’s existing works all over the world through various events of TURKSOY, we will also be enrichening our literary treasure with new, timeless masterpieces by Magtumguly Pyragy.
Distinguished Friends!
Today, Turkmenistan has become one of the leading countries and driving force of the cooperation among Turkic States.
Hence, Turkmenistan is a great source of pride for all of us. It stands as a symbol of a prosperous and virtuous Turkic world!
Visualising the city of Ashgabat as it was in the past and looking at this immaculate city as it is now, we see the bright faces, of the Turkmen people. This city is the embodiment of its people’s good will and virtuousness.
The Arkadag city of Turkmenistan is a model that reinterprets the culture of urbanism in Turkmenistan and stands out as a smart city. This also marks the beginning of a new process which will be bringing Turkmenistan forward. We see this with our eyes and feel it with our hearts.
Of course, the incredible development is the result of the far-sighted strategic move of the country's chief architects, that is to say of its President Mr. Serdar Berdimuhammedov and of the national leader of the Turkmen people and Head of the People's Assembly of Turkmenistan Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov.
Dear Friends,
The 21st century is the century of the Turkic World. It is the Turkic Era.
Today, as we are lighting this torch for the opening of Anev, the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World and the beginning of the Year of Magtumguly Pyragy, we are also marking the beginning of a whole year throughout which the music, folklore and culture of the Turkic World will be in the spotlight. With colourful cultural and artistic events it will be hosting in 2024, Anev will be the incarnation of our brotherhood and our desire for a common future through the richness of our culture and the unshakable unity of the Turkic World.
As always, the Turkmen people, my dear brothers and sisters from Turkmenistan embraced us in our first step on this path and I would therefore like to express my most sincere gratitude to them.
If you allow me, I would like to conclude quoting verses by Magtumguly Pyragy who, in one of his poems, says:
Let our hearts and souls unite,
For if we come together,
Earth and stones will melt,
And sharing our meals with each other,
We will raise the Turkmen's prosperous future.
Look at how beautifully these verses were written by our ancestor Magtumguly Pyragy to tell us that our unity is key to everything. I am grateful to God for having granted me the opportunity to sit around this table and share this meal with you. Thank you so much.”
Speaking at the event, the Secretary General of the CIS Kubanychbek Omuraliyev emphasised the cooperation between TURKSOY and CIS. "By declaring the city of Anev as the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World, we aim to introduce another ancient cultural gem of Turkic civilisation to the global community. The culture of Anev bears witness to one of the oldest civilisations known to mankind. The ruins of the Anev Fortress and Seyed Jamalettin Mosque, which have survived through the ages, stand as a clear evidence of the fact that great civilisations existed in these lands since the dawn of times. Therefore, the monumental sites of Anev should be thoroughly studied in our academic circles and necessary steps should be taken to promote their importance and historical value. The declaration of Anev as the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2024 has a special significance as it coincides with the commemoration of the 300th birth anniversary of the famous Turkmen poet and philosopher Mahtumkulu Pyragy. Hence, I would like to hereby express that we are ready to provide all kinds of support to the Turkmen side to ensure the highest-level organisation of events to be held in Anev."
The speeches were followed by a magnificent event in which More than 650 artists from 9 countries from different regions of the Turkic World took the scene and enchanted the audience with fairytale-like performances featuring unique, colourful dances, music and songs of their countries.
