FARUKH SHEHZAD

ASHGABAT, AUG 21: Turkmenistan’s first-ever Olympic medallist, weightlifter Polina Guryeva, was gifted an apartment, a car and $50,000 in cash for her exploits at a ceremony in the Central Asian country’s capital Ashgabat on Saturday.

Guryeva, 21, won silver for Turkmenistan at this summer’s Games in Tokyo in the women’s 59 kg weightlifting competition. It was the ex-Soviet country’s only medal at the Games and the first in its history.

Turkmen shooter Marat Niyazov previously won a silver medal representing the Soviet Union at the 1960 Games in Rome.

The celebrations of Guryeva’s victory were led by Honoured Coach of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdymukhamedov, the 39-year-old son of the country’s hardline leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.

At the ceremony in Ashgabat, the younger Berdymukhamedov handed Guryeva, who is ethnic Russian, three white-lacquered wooden boxes.

One contained keys to a three-room apartment in the capital city, the second held keys to a white Lexus SUV and the third $50,000 in cash.

“I cordially congratulate you on this significant event, testifying to the growth of the authority of independent Turkmenistan in the international sporting space,” Berdymukhamedov told Guryeva.

He said her victory “increased the world fame, prestige and authority of the sovereign homeland and the Turkmen people.”

“I dedicate this medal to our president and the Turkmen people in honour of the 30th anniversary of the independence of Turkmenistan,” Guryeva said.

Turkmenistan, a gas-rich nation of around six million people famous for its outlandish displays, gained independence from former master Moscow in 1991.

The secretive country is regularly cited by rights groups as one of the world’s worst abusers of civic, religious and press freedoms.

The younger Berdymukhamedov has received a number of promotions this year making him the second most powerful figure in the country after his father and fuelling speculation he will eventually replace the elder as leader of the autocratic country.

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COURTESY Anews

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ANKARA, AUG 16: Turkmenistan’s embassy to Turkey kicked off on Monday a two-day culture, art and photography exhibition in the National Library building in the capital Ankara.

Organized on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s independence to be marked on Sept.27, the exhibition, arranged in partnership with the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry and the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), gathered many people, including senior authorities, bureaucrats, and representatives of foreign missions in the country.

Following the national anthems of both countries, Ambassador Ishankuli Amanlyev speaking at the opening ceremony said that his country gained its independence at the” most critical stage in human history.”

“The field of culture and art gains special importance in the context of Turkmenistan’s recognition in the international arena as the country that initiated global progressive transformations,” he said.

“This area is an important factor in the implementation of the Turkmen state’s foreign policy, which aims to develop international cooperation towards achieving universal peace, prosperity and sustainable development,” Amanlyev added.

He went on to say that the development of culture and arts, science, education, and new technology gains nowadays play a “decisive role” in the comprehensive development of Turkmenistan.

The envoy underlined the importance of the “cultural rebirth strategy” implemented by the Central Asian country, adding that Turkmenistan’s cultural values and national heritage of nation is “re-kneaded” in today’s conditions and come to light in a “modern way.”

“The ancient culture, which is an important factor in the development process of the Turkmen state, on the one hand meets the demands of the new historical age, on the other hand, offers a great and unique potential for Turkmenistan to advance on the path of democratic and socio-economic development,” he said.

Amanlyev highlighted that today, culture is considered as the “reinforcing and inspiring power” of the society at the level of state policy, the carrier of moral and aesthetic criteria, the basis of democratic and social transformations, and the most important source of development of the nation and country.

He noted that one of the main elements of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy is the development of cultural cooperation which serves to strengthen the relations of friendship and mutual understanding between the world countries.

Culture, art, science and education are among the priorities of cooperation between Turkmenistan and Turkey, he said.

Turkey’s Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister Serdar Cam, also speaking at the opening ceremony, congratulated Turkmenistan’s 30th independence anniversary, and stressed that all the Turkic states are members of a “big family”.

Cam said that the cultural events are a reminder to the whole world that the Turkic countries are united “as a sole family.”

“We wish the flood of love and affection from our ancestral homeland to flow forever,” he said.

Cam also emphasized that they are proud to work with Turkmenistan in organizations such as the Turkic Council and TURKSOY.

Following the speeches, Cam and Amanlyev along with other authorities officially opened the exhibition with ribbon cutting.

The exhibition includes unique photographs of Turkmenistan, paintings by Turkmen artists, traditional clothes, musical instruments and decorations belonging to Turkmen culture.

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COURTESY Anews

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ASHGABAT, JUN 3: Ambassador John McGregor has been appointed as new head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) center in Turkmenistan, Trend reports with reference to Turkmenistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov met with McGregor on June 2, 2021, where the ambassador presented his credentials.

The parties discussed promising areas of cooperation for the coming period, the report said.

The sides also talked about the issues of cooperation in the field of energy security, including the development of sustainable energy initiatives within the OSCE.

The topic of sustainable transport was also touched upon. The sides exchanged views on acceptable joint projects to optimize the activities of the East-West corridor.

Turkmenistan's relations with such OSCE institutions as the Office of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutes and Human Rights, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media was emphasized.

As reported, Turkmenistan is promoting the idea of creating a specialized structure of the OSCE - the Council for Sustainable Energy.

Turkmenistan intends to promote the development of "green" ports, digitalization and simplification of trade procedures and transport links in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Expert meetings are continuing to explore the possibility of preparing a Comprehensive environmental program of the OSCE.

Earlier, the OSCE and Ashgabat discussed possible steps to develop a program of Turkmenistan for the development of energy diplomacy.

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COURTESY en.trend.az

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ASHGABAT, APR 11: A kidney transplant operation was performed for the first time in Turkmenistan. Minister of Health and Medical Industry Nurmuhammet Amannepesov reported to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the successful operation of domestic specialists, Trend reports citing Kabar.

The patient received a kidney transplant from a close relative. Currently, both the patient and the donor are doing well. Both are under medical supervision, the minister said.

The head of state, congratulating the doctors from the bottom of his heart, noted with satisfaction that this operation is a great success for our doctors and the healthcare sector, the “Vatan” news program of Turkmen television reported.

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COURTESY en.trend.az

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