On November 1, Saint Petersburg’s Russia - My History Park hosted a presentation of the book ‘Turkmen Alabay’ by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
The event was co-organized by the St. Petersburg and Northwestern Federal District Regional Office of the Humanitarian Association of the World’s Ethnic Turkmens, the Mekan Turkmen Culture Society in St. Petersburg with the assistance of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the Russian Federation, the Committee on International Relations and the Implementation of Migration Policy in St. Petersburg, and the House of Nationalities of St. Petersburg.
As noted during the ceremony, it is symbolic that the presentation of the book, which continues a series of works devoted to the Turkmen nation’s historical and cultural heritage, took place in St. Petersburg, Russia’s cultural capital.
The event attendees were given a synopsis of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s new book, containing interesting facts about the well-known dog breed’s distinctive characteristics, archeological and ethnographic evidence, and portrayals of the Alabay dog in folklore.
An exhibition, featuring works by Turkmen painters and our people’s arts and crafts, perfectly complemented the event’s theme.
The exhibition’s opening ceremony was attended by members of St. Petersburg’s government: the Committee on External Relations, Committee on International Relations, the Public Chamber, and the Secretariat of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly.
“The government of Saint Petersburg pays close attention to promoting cooperation with CIS countries, including Turkmenistan, which occupies one of the key positions among them. I am convinced that through a dialogue and continuous collaboration we are not only maintaining friendly relations, but are also building a solid foundation for future prospective joint projects that will foster the strategic partnership for the benefit of our countries and brotherly nations,” – Member of the Government of St. Petersburg, Chairman of the Committee on External Relations Evgeny Grigoriev said in his message to the event participants.
Vice-Chairman of the Committee on International Relations and the Implementation of Migration Policy in St. Petersburg Vadim Okrushko thanked for the event and acknowledged a big contribution of the St. Petersburg and Northwestern Federal District Regional Office of the Humanitarian Association of the World’s Ethnic Turkmens, and the Mekan Turkmen Culture Society to promoting cultural traditions of the historic homeland and enhancing the Russian-Turkmen relations.
Members of the Turkmen delegation were awarded commemorative certificates of the Russian Academy of Arts and the Russian Creative Union of Cultural Workers with gratitude for the distinctive and impressive art.
Serdar Azmun, a famous football player with Turkmen roots, who plays for Zenit FC based in St. Petersburg, was one of the guests of honor at the event. In the atmosphere of solemnity, Serdar was presented with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s book ‘Turkmen Alabay’ and a certificate of honorary membership of the Regional Office of the Humanitarian Association of the World’s Ethnic Turkmens and the Mekan Turkmen Culture Society in St. Petersburg.
Among those in attendance were also foreign diplomats - Consuls-General of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, and Pakistan in St. Petersburg; heads of national cultural associations and autonomies; guests from Russia’s regions; representatives of cultural institutions; young people and students. All the event participants received copies of the President of Turkmenistan-authored book ‘Turkmen Alabay’ as a gift.
A feast of Turkmen culinary delights and a concert provided a fitting finale to the event.
