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On the occasion of a significant date in the national calendar of Turkmenistan - the Day of Culture and Art Workers, as well as the poetry of Magtymguly Fragi, on June 27, 2024, a solemn ceremony of laying flowers at the monument to Magtymguly, erected to the national poet of Turkmenistan in Kyiv, took place in the central square of the Ukrainian capital.

This year, the holiday of cultural figures coincided with the 300th anniversary of the outstanding Turkmen thinker and poet Magtymguly Fragi, which is widely celebrated in our country and abroad under the motto “Fount of Wisdom Magtymguly Fragi”.

The festive ceremony brought together a wide range of representatives of Turkmenistan and Ukraine in the anniversary year. It was attended by heads and representatives of foreign diplomatic missions, people's deputies of Ukraine, representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, higher educational institutions, secondary and music schools, Ukrainian companies operating in Turkmenistan, Kyiv libraries, cultural and artistic figures, journalists, Turkmen youth and the diaspora and many other guests.

Participants of the ceremony laid flowers at the monument to Magtymguly. Having made a bow, they paid tribute to the world-famous poet, who dedicated his work to his beloved Motherland, stood up for its integrity and independence, and proclaimed human dignity, the ideals of goodness, peace and justice.

After the ceremony, the guests were invited to the Embassy of Turkmenistan, where the second part of the event took place. The Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Ukraine, Toyly Atayev, addressed the guests. In his speech, Mr. Ambassador noted the high merits of the masters of folk crafts and artists of Turkmenistan. On the occasion of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the outstanding son of the Turkmen people, Magtymguly Fragi, Toyly Ataev told the participants of the event about cultural events and events taking place in Turkmenistan and in foreign countries, including in Ukraine. Mr. Ambassador noted that the activities carried out in Turkmenistan to study the life and work of the poet-thinker received great support from authoritative international organizations such as UNESCO, TURKSOY and countries of the world.

It was said about the international conference held on the eve of the ministers of culture of different countries and the international scientific forum “Fount of Wisdom Magtymguly Fragi”, about the celebration of Science Day in Ashgabat by holding an International Scientific Conference dedicated to the 300th anniversary of Magtymguly, in which representatives from Ukraine took part. The high importance in terms of the development of international cooperation was noted for the upcoming high-level event - the International Forum of Heads of State and Government in honor of the 300th anniversary of Fraga, which will be held in Ashgabat in October this year.

Speaking about the opening of the cultural and park complex “Magtymguly Fragi” and the alley of famous poets and thinkers of various countries and eras, Mr. Ambassador quoted words from the speech of the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov that the sculptures of foreign writers and poets installed here are another bright symbol the triumph of friendship and brotherhood in the sovereign state that the poet dreamed of. The Ambassador of Turkmenistan expressed gratitude to the heads and staff of libraries, secondary and music schools, the Kyiv City Hall, district administrations, and all those who actively cooperate with the Embassy of Turkmenistan and initiate new joint projects.

On the occasion of Magtymguly’s poetry day, Ukrainian poets, prose writers and translators of Fragi’s poems spoke at the event. Laureates of the state award of Turkmenistan - the Magtymguly Fragi medal Pavel Movchan and Alexey Kononenko noted the high level of veneration of national poets and cultural figures that is maintained in Turkmenistan. The figures recalled how their long-term connection with their already native Turkmenistan was born on Turkmen soil, how Magtymguly’s poems were born in Ukrainian. Professor Nikolai Vaskiv, the author of a number of publications about the poet and his great legacy, read Magtymguly’s poems in Ukrainian and emphasized that Fragi’s poetic works are understandable and close to readers all over the world and are not only the national pride of the Turkmen, but also the heritage of all humanity.

The festive atmosphere was supported by Turkmen youth by performing musical numbers on the national instruments dutar and gopuz for the participants of the solemn event, as well as by reading a poem written by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, about the great poet entitled “Fount of Wisdom Magtymguly Fragi”.

The guests' interest was traditionally attracted by the exhibition of books, photographs on the topic of culture and samples of national clothing of the Turkmens.

The book “Magtymguly”, recently published in Turkmenistan, collections of Magtymguly’s poetry in different languages and books by researchers of the poet’s work in Ukrainian, as well as books by President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov “Youth – is the support of the Motherland” and “Anau - culture from the depths of millennia” were presented here.

At the end, the participants of the action on the occasion of the celebration of the Day of Workers of Culture and Art, as well as the poetry of Magtymguly Fragi, unanimously expressed the opinion that holding such events as today is important in the development of cultural, humanitarian relations and relations of friendship and brotherhood between countries and peoples, promote mutual understanding and support for the sake of peace and general well-being.

ORIENT news

Photo: provided by the Embassy of Turkmenistan