Interview with the Hero of Turkmenistan
- Students of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan are very interested in your experience in the diplomatic service. Could you tell us about your experience in your early years as a diplomat?
- In the early years of our independence, I was able to participate in the opening of the first Embassy of the country in the Republic of India and work there as a counselor for fifteen years. Of course, representing independent Turkmenistan in the largest state in the world, such as India, both a matter of pride and of great responsibility. One of the first and most important tasks facing the Embassy during this period was to get acquainted with and thoroughly study the domestic and foreign policies of India. Turkmenistan was also effectively implementing interstate benefit projects in the priority areas of Turkmenistan's "Open Door" policy with India.
- Did you think that you would work as a diplomatic representative in India?
- From an early age, I became acquainted with the history, culture, art and traditions of the people of India by reading the works of the writers of this country. During my time in India, I had the opportunity to gather information about the Turkmen people, who played an important role in the country's medieval history. This also helped me in a few years to prepare and publish a small booklet on the history of relations between Turkmenistan and India. Based on the historical data I have accumulated over the years, I plan to prepare and publish a book that opens a broader discussion of the history and modern relations of these two friendly countries.
- You have been the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Tajikistan and the People's Republic of China for several years. During your mission as an ambassador to these countries, a number of concrete results have been achieved by further intensifying cooperation in the field of science and education of Turkmen-Tajik and Turkmen-Chinese relations. Let us continue our conversation about the conditions that led to these successes.
- First of all, it should be noted that the achievements in all sectors of the country are achieved as a result of the foresight and constructive domestic and foreign policies pursued by our esteemed President. One of the key conditions for the advancement of educational cooperation in Turkmen-Chinese relations and the attainment of high results is the paternal concern and tireless efforts of the Turkmen leader. As a result, the youth of our country have now had ample opportunities to improve their education in the higher education institutions of these two countries. During his foreign trips, the President of Turkmenistan met with Turkmen students studying in those countries and asked them to take advantage of the favorable conditions created to further enhance the glory, international prestige and dignity of our Motherland by studying and developing their intellectual skills.
In this regard, the achievements of our dear friend during the state visit to the People's Republic of China in May 2014 are a clear example of the further development of bilateral cooperation in the field of science and education. That is, during the visit, the President was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of the Chinese University of Traditional Medicine in Beijing, China, for his outstanding achievements in the development of science, education and healthcare.
As a result of the work carried out on the instructions of the President, the number of Turkmen students studying in this country has increased. Traditional work has been done to increase the education of Chinese students in higher education institutions of Turkmenistan.
- As is known, cooperation with UNESCO, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, is one of the priorities of Turkmenistan's foreign policy. In this regard, what activities are being conducted to include our Koytendag Nature Reserve, one of the most beautiful natural resources of our country, in the UNESCO World Heritage List of Mankind?
- Our truly wonderful country, the nature of Turkmenistan, amazes the whole world with its unique beauty. Nowadays, only our rare species of Turkmen spruce, Vavilov's onion, Turkmen crab, Wilson's tulip, Atabaev's harem, Kossinsky's dionisia and other plants growing only in our country are natural wonders that attract the attention of scientists all over the world. This is reflected in depth and extensively in the 13-volume of the scientific-encyclopedic book "Medicinal plants of Turkmenistan" by the President.
Koytendag, located in the eastern part of the country, is famous around the world for its beautiful valleys, unique nature and mysterious caves. Koytendag is also known around the world as the remains of dinosaur footprints that lived about 150 million years ago.
As is known, on July 11, 1986, the Hojaypil State Reserve of Koytendag State Reserve was established in order to scientifically study and preserve its unique paleontological monument of Turkmen nature. According to the Decree of the Government of Turkmenistan of August 3, 1990, the mountain slope was declared a natural paleontological monument called the "Plain of the Dinosaurs" and it was formalized and protected by the state.
In 2014, the President himself visited the Koytendag State Reserve. He toured the beautiful valleys of the place, the remains of dinosaur footprints, and the scientists who took the necessary steps in this regard, noting that the unique ecosystem of Koytendag is a natural monument worthy of being included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Accordingly, the National Team of Turkmenistan and its Secretariat for the affairs of UNESCO are currently working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Central Asian Initiatives Project on Deserts in Turkmenistan to develop the Koytendag Mountain Ecosystem.
- As far as we know, in order to be included in the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List, we must be preparing recommendations on a number of other cultural resources.
It is true that these days the Ahalteke equestrian art, the art of breeding Alabai dogs, the art of embroidery, the art of felt, the art of blacksmithing are of great importance in the life of the Turkmen people. “Wrestling” is underway. In December this year, a final decision on the inclusion of the Turkmen dutar in the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List is expected to be announced in accordance with the proposal titled “Making dutar, playing dutar we bagshi art”.
- As the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan, you held talks with the countries where you worked on various issues. Could you tell us about your own opinion on the responsibility of speaking on behalf of our independent, permanent Neutral Turkmenistan?
Today, Turkmen diplomacy has made a worthy contribution to the further strengthening of the foreign policy of the President based on the principles of peace, trust and mutually beneficial cooperation. In order to ensure the successful development of Turkmenistan's international cooperation, it is up to each diplomat to adhere to the policy of the President, to implement it consistently, to strengthen the international prestige of the state with his words and actions.
In negotiations on bilateral relations, the diplomat is obliged to carry out his work within the competence of the relevant state body. During these negotiations he must be able to make positive decisions by defending the interests of his own state as well as respecting the views of the other party.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our esteemed President, who has raised the prestige of our sovereign Motherland. I wish esteemed President strong health, long life, great success in his undertakings aimed at the benefit of the people and the state.
Gaygysyz KERIMOV,
3rd Year Student of the Faculty of
International Journalism
of the Institute of
International Relations of the
Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.