In his speech at the VI Congress of the Magtymguly Youth Organization of Turkmenistan, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized: ‘Independence is a sacred concept that awakens a feeling of patriotism in every person and is of great significance helping to realise the glorious past of the Motherland inherited from ancestors, its present and great future. Independence Day was a vivid evidence of the successful realisation of humanistic principles bequeathed to us by our ancestors and the embodiment of their centuries-old hopes for a sovereign state and a just society.’
Independence gave us the opportunity to realize the dreams of our ancestors of a sovereign state, created conditions for revival of the centuries-old national and spiritual values, as well as noble humanist traditions. The national leader highlighted that the inviolability of the independence of our Fatherland is in the unity of the state and the people. For almost three decades, Turkmenistan has been on the path of independence, which has ensured the historical achievements in development of the country’s economy, culture, education, science, sports, etc. On the eve of the 28 anniversary of the independence, Turkmenistan represents a steadily developing state with a great potential for growth in the economic and humanitarian aspects, and actively participates in regional and global policy.
It was independence that provided our country the opportunity to be a full participant of international relations and to acquire the political voice, which is heard at the large international forums today. International initiatives in the field of energy, transport, water diplomacy and practical steps, taken by Turkmenistan and aimed at strengthening of global peace and security and the effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, are widely supported by the world community. For the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly, which opened in New York on September 17, our country had prepared a package of constructive political, economic and humanitarian initiatives. On the eve of the 74th Session, at the 106th plenary meeting of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly, all UN member states unanimously adopted the Resolution ‘2021 is the International Year of Peace and Confidence’, initiated by Turkmenistan and co-sponsored by 73 countries of the world. Moreover, the results of the I Caspian Economic Forum and important events, held within its framework in Turkmenbashi and the Avaza National Tourist Zone on August 11 – 12, 2019, were reflected in the CEF Final Statement, which was adopted as a document of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly and published in the official languages of the United Nations. The initiative of Turkmenistan to create a new UN Caspian Environmental Programme, the main purpose of which could be monitoring of the environmental situation on the Caspian Sea and making of relevant recommendations to the Caspian countries, which will be pursued by Turkmenistan at the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly, meets the regional and global interests.
In the years of independence, Turkmenistan has reached impressive heights in social and economic development and in rational use of the country’s abundant natural resources. Turkmenistan’s rapidly developing economy is actively integrating into the regional and global economy. The results of economic growth are directed to development of the social sphere, education of highly intelligent and physically strong human resources capable of ensuring the further prosperity of the country. In the years of independence, large social projects have been implemented and a developed network of educational, cultural, scientific and sports institutions has been created.
Thanks to independence, Turkmenistan has a well-deserved reputation in the sports world, and our athletes have today all opportunities to perform at large sporting events and enhance the prestige of the Motherland. They earned different medals, including in the gold medals, for the national team. In eight months this year, the Turkmen athletes took part in 121 international events of different levels, having won 186 medals in total (68 gold medals, 57 silver medals and 61 bronze medals). Only at the World Martial Arts Games in the Republic of Korea, our national team earned 25 different medals, including in 9 gold medals. In his speech at the Congress of the Magtymguly Youth Organization, the Turkmen leader expressed confidence that our national team will successfully perform at the XXXII Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo and will raise the state flag of Turkmenistan highly.
In his address to the youth of the country, the Turkmen leader noted: ‘Sport is an excellent way of forming the person’s character, purposefulness, tenacity, courage and firmness. Regular sports activities foster self-confidence, stamina, strength, a desire to achieve a goal and a sense of teamwork. A person who has managed to develop such virtues is worthy of the deepest respect. Large-scale state-of-the-art sports facilities and stadiums provided with the latest equipment, sports schools and grounds, and equestrian complexes have been built everywhere in the country. The modern sports infrastructure of the country includes modern sports complexes in the Avaza National Tourist Zone, the Ashgabat Olympic Village, which has no analogues in the region, and the Ashgabat Golf Club. Therefore, independent Turkmenistan has achieved great success in promotion of the principles of a healthy lifestyle, development of high-level sports and the Olympic movement.’
These words confirm that independent Turkmenistan is a country where creation of sports infrastructure, development of mass physical culture and sports movement, high-level sports, promotion of a healthy lifestyle among the population, especially the youth, are given priority and attention at the highest level. In the sports world, our country is known as a brilliant host of large sporting events such as the 2017 Asian Games and the 2018 World Weightlifting Championships, as well as a venue for the upcoming Asian Futsal Championships, the 2020 World Sambo Championships and the 2021 World Track Cycling Championships.
Turkmenistan's path over the years of independence has been marked by many other achievements and success, which will serve as a basis for advance towards new goals and heights of progress.
Ogulgozel REJEPOVA,
a leading researcher, the National Institute of Education of Turkmenistan, Doctor of Philosophy.
