OREANDA-NEWS. January 26, 2009. The agreement on it was reached during the recent visit of the famous Austrian conductor and contrabass player, Professor of the Saarbrucken Conservatoire (Germany) Wolfgang Harrer and Chairman of the Austrian-Turkmen Society Heda Berger to Ashgabat.

The Austrian guests’ visit to Turkmenistan was a logical step towards establishing the Turkmen-Austrian cultural dialogue that had been launched during the official visit of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Austria.

In the interview to the TDH Mr. Wolfgang Harrer and Mrs. Heda Berger said that the meetings and the big concert of the Turkmen workers of culture and art at the Ferstel Palace in Vienna had profoundly contributed to establishing the ties of friendship and new contacts between cultural workers of both countries. That was vividly illustrated by the opening of the Austrian-Turkmen Society consisting of the Austrian famous public figures and cultural workers interested in building the reliable bridge of friendship and close cultural contacts between our peoples. This public organisation aimed its activity at introducing modern Turkmenistan, the ancient history and rich culture, the national traditions and customs of the Turkmen people to Western Europe and particularly Austria.

According to our guests, numerous meetings at the ministries and departments, cultural institutions and higher educational establishments convinced them of Turkmenistan’s positive intention to expand humanitarian cooperation with the Republic of Austria. These meetings results in reaching the agreement to hold the first joint concert of Turkmen and Austrian musicians in Ashgabat this May.

Professor Wolfgang Harrer said they had started to jointly compile the repertoire, put the joint orchestra together, select the scores and settle the organizational issues that gave every reason to hope for success of the joint event. “Joint creation to achieve the common goals is eventually the genuine form of the dialogue between cultures.”

“We have been to your country several times and we are never tired of admiring friendliness, openness and hospitality of the Turkmen people to whom we wish peace, welfare and wellbeing,” the Austrian guests said in conclusion.