OREANDA-NEWS. February 08, 2011. A conference on the prospects for establishing and developing Turkmen-U.S. cooperation in the museum sector was conducted in the conference hall of the National Museum of Turkmenistan. The forum organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture and Broadcasting jointly with the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan was conducted in the framework of the visit of the U.S. delegation led by Paul Michael Taylor, Director of the Asian Cultural History Programme at the Smithsonian Institution to our country. Heads and specialists of the leading Turkmen museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, the National Turkmen Carpet Museum and the Academy of Fine Arts, participated in the conference.

As was reported, the delegation represent one of the oldest national research and cultural institutions in the United States, the Smithsonian Institution, which aims its activities at developing and implementing joint programmes and projects for study, conservation and restoration of ancient monuments of universal value, tangible and intangible culture of different peoples of the world, treasures of world culture.

In Turkmenistan close attention is paid to these issues. A key aspect of the state policy pursued by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in this sphere is cooperation with authoritative international organisations and foundations, including the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation of the U.S. Department of State. This cooperation has resulted in restoration of the widely known historical monuments such as the Seyit Jamal-ad-Din Mosque in Anau, the Meana-Baba Mausoleum in Kaakha Etrap in Ahal Velayat, the Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum in Kunya Urgench, Ak-saray-din and Ismamut-ata in Gyorogly Etrap in Dashoguz Velayat, the palace and temple complex Gonur-depe in Mary Velayat, the Mashad-ata Mosque IN Balkan Velayat.

The specific approaches to and vectors of further partnership in this sphere, acquaintance with museum collections of the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of the Turkmen people, and the possibilities to present Turkmen culture and art, age-old national traditions in various aspects of their existence in the United States were the focus of the conference agenda. A presentation of the Asian Cultural History Programme highlighting the possible fields of fruitful collaboration on enhancement of the research, educational and demonstration potential of museum institutions was made during the conference. Particular emphasis was put on establishment of electronic archives networks with access to the Internet, organisation of virtual expositions, creation of video programmes and documentary films, etc.