OREANDA-NEWS. October 19, 2010. The art forum of the two neighbouring countries, the Festival of Turkmen-Uzbek Friendship has started its work in Dashoguz. The sources of close relations between the two brotherly peoples tracing back to ancient times are maintained today serving as an essential factor for fruitful collaboration between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

This year’s international festival, the initiative of which was put forward by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and supported by the Uzbek counterpart, is another striking illustration of age-old and steadily developing relations between two neighbouring countries. The versatile programme of the Festival covers different trends in folklore and modern art providing an opportunity to learn about achievements and vectors of development of the national cultures.

The large scale of the cultural action is evidenced by a great number of guests from Uzbekistan, including best music and theatre groups, renowned workers of culture and art, who have arrived in Dashoguz to participate in the Festival.

Mutually advantageous cooperation between the two neighbouring countries have been brought to a qualitatively level through the open door policy initiated by the Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in the epoch of new Revival, and Turkmen-Uzbek humanitarian contacts have been intensified significantly in the framework of the Programme of Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation for period of 2008-2010 signed between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2007. In the framework of this Programme the large-scale work have been done to conduct a number of joint cultural actions including concerts of artists and cultural workers of the two countries, exhibitions and forums, art festivals and conferences. Turkmen artists frequently participate in the n the international music festival Sark Taronalari. The Grand Prix of this Festival was awarded to an artist from Turkmenistan L. Begnazarova in 2009. In its turn, Uzbekistan delegated best artists and cultural workers to our country to take part in festivals, exhibitions and conferences.

The Festival of Turkmen-Uzbek Friendship will certainly become one of the most remarkable and important joint cultural actions, which is viewed by both countries as a symbol of the centuries-old traditions of good neighbourliness. The success of this festival will undoubtedly add a new stage to the process of deepening of friendly relations, open up vast opportunities for cooperation and enhance our mutual understanding.

Numerous concerts of renowned ensembles and well-known cultural workers from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, theatrical events, performances of folk groups will take place on the stages of the magnificent Ruhiyet Palace, the white-marble building of N. Andalib State Music and Drama Theatre, the amphitheatre and other picturesque parts in Dashoguz town in the framework of the cultural event of truly historic significance. Also, the programme includes joint exhibitions of the works of Turkmen and Uzbek masters of fine, decorative and applied arts, unique museum collections, film shows.

The guests of the Festival of friendship will visit the well-known monuments of ancient oriental architecture in the Kunya Urgench State Historical and Cultural Reserve. Foreign participants of the festival will become guests to Turkmen festivities when representatives of each region of country will demonstrate the best traditions of national hospitality.