Oriented on making people closer

At the initiative of the Embassy of the USA at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan the round table devoted to twin-cities - to the Turkmen capital and American Albuquerque was held. This action is obliged to the fact that the mayor of the largest city of the State of New Mexico in the southwest of USA declared on May 25th “Ashgabat–the Sister City’s Day”.

Participants of the round table - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Turkmenistan Matthew Stephen Klimov, Cultural Affairs Officer of the Embassy Jacqueline Moore, rectors of the IIR and International University for the Humanities and Development Jumamyrat Kurbangeldiyev and Esen Aydogdyev, Vice Mayor of the city of Ashgabat Merjen Geldiyeva.

– The partnership of twin-cities of Albuquerque and Ashkhabad personifies the best directions of cooperation of the United States of America and Turkmenistan. It is openness, innovations and fruitful dialogue between our people, - Ambassador Matthew Klimov said.

During the event, the video greetings on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of Ashgabat’s establishment of the Chair of the Albuquerque Ashgabat Sister Cites Committee Alana McGrattan and the Founder of the Committee and Its’ First Chair Sally Alice Thompson were heard.

It was noted that the round table took place thanks to that the Turkmen capital became the conventional city of friendship, brotherhoods, hospitality and distributions of principles of humanism. And the announcement in Albuquerque “Ashgabat–the Sister City’s Day” is a bright evidence of the strengthening of friendly mutual relations between the Turkmen capital and the American city.

More than 30 years ago mayors of Albuquerque and Ashkhabad signed the document on twin-cities. During this period representatives of two cities participated in important programs on development of digital technologies, adjustment of relations between businessmen, preservation of cultural heritage and environment protection.

In particular, from the American side tours of performers of flamenco, dances of aboriginals of America, regional actors, and also - trips of experts-water-transport workers and other projects were organised. Meetings of teachers, ordinary citizens and their families which, becoming closer had been also carried out, learnt not only about two cities-partners, but also our countries more.

In December, 2013 Albuquerque was visited by more than 70 musicians, dancers and officials from Turkmenistan. The visit to Albuquerque was the last of three stop-overs of the Turkmen tour which included performances in New York and Washington.

The Turkmen delegation visited the bio-park of Albuquerque and its museums, and performance of Turkmen musicians and dancing collectives in the centre Hyatt where many local residents unexpectedly gathered, became the visit’s culmination.

«The unconditional success of this visit became possible thanks to persistent work and selflessness of volunteers of our twin-cities of Albuquerque», - as then President, Richard, president of Foundation of twin-cities of Albuquerque.

… Though the concept of "twin-city" appeared in days of the Second World War in connection with the brotherly support rendered by inhabitants of the English city of Coventry to inhabitants of Soviet Stalingrad, the World Federation of Twin Cities was founded a bit later - in 1957.

The purpose of this international non-governmental organisation - to assist in strengthening of friendly relations between cities of various countries in culture, sports, historical study, in stimulation of economic development, exchange of experience of conducting municipal economy and other spheres.

Alexander Bayriev