Today, it was celebrated the International Day of Neutrality in Turkmenistan. By the UN decision, this holiday became International in 2017, and Turkmenistan celebrated December 12 as the 24th anniversary of the country’s official neutrality status in foreign relations. Traditionally, in honor of this date, there were held solemn events, officially opening ceremony of laying flowers at the monument of Neutrality.

This morning, the ceremony was attended by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who was the first to lay a wreath at the pedestal of the monument, members of the governing body of Turkmenistan, heads of diplomatic missions of the country abroad, plenipotentiaries of other states and international structures.

On the holiday occasion, a gala concert was given in the capital’s Mukams Palace, on the stage of which Turkmen pop stars performed. Venue was attended by Deputy Prime Ministers, foreign dignitaries, public and political figures, famous scientists and luminaries of art.

The main peculiarity of the program was a marathon of songs, iconic for cultures of different countries of Asia and Europe. The geography was extensive: from Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain – to Iran, Afghanistan, China, Japan, the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East.

Among them were Indian hit from the film by Raj Kapoor, Georgian “Suliko”, Russian “Kalinka”, Ukrainian “Gandzya”, Belarusian “Polka” Uzbek “Lazgi”, as well as folk and authorial, but has long been considered as folk songs of Moldova, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia... All this amazing relay with the participation of the most popular Turkmen artists would not look so impressive except for the ethnographic dance accompaniment!

Of course, it didn’t go with a national color – ancient Turkmen melodies and eternally youthful folk dance of kushtdepti.