Turkmenistan Plans to Hold First-Ever Military Maneuvers in Caspian
Turkmenistan says it is planning to hold its first-ever military maneuvers on the Caspian Sea. Defense Minister Begench Gundogdyev was quoted in state-controlled media on August 30 as telling President Berdymukhammedov that the Turkmen Navy is ready to hold the exercises at the beginning of September. The announcement has come as Turkmenistan finds itself in a dispute with another Caspian state, Azerbaijan, over ownership of a section of the Caspian believed to hold lucrative energy reserves.
Source: Radio Liberty / Radio Free Europe
Turkmenistan's First Graders Receive Netbooks as Gifts on September 1
According to the governmental website Turkmenistan.ru, all of Turkmenistan’s first graders received personal computers – netbooks – on the occasion of September 1, the first day of school, on behalf of the country’s president.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
TV Channel “Watan” Compulsory for Turkmen Students
The new academic year started with some changes in the educational system. Students residing in dormitories at the Institute of Agriculture in Dashoguz and at the Teacher Training Institute in Turkmenabad are required to watch the news program “Vatan,” which is broadcast by Turkmen television every evening at 9 pm, after which they must go to bed. There are reports that watching “Vatan” is mandatory in other Turkmen institutions of higher education, such as the new Institute of Architecture and Construction. In addition, after classes, students must gather cotton or rehearse for state celebrations.
Source: chrono-tm.org
President Ordered to Organize Ruhnama Celebrations at High Level
President Berdymukhamedov instructed Prime Minister Sapardyrdy Toiliev to organize festivities dedicated to the Day of Rukhnama, at a high level. Traditionally Turkmenistan celebrates the Day of Rukhnama on September 12. The President stressed that “this outstanding work is one of the major scientific and philosophic studies of the third millennium, which reflects the rich historic and cultural heritage of our people, their wise lifestyles, national identity and traditions, and high humanistic values.”
Source: gundogar.org
Turkmenistan Dedicates Knowledge Day Celebrations to President
On September 1 Turkmenistan celebrated the Day of Knowledge with numerous festive events, many of which were dedicated to the country’s President. All of Turkmenistan’s theaters held performances titled “Let glory be your path, Arkadag,” [Arkadag, literally “protector” is the honorific that the president has given himself] the main concert hall in Ashgabat held a festive meeting called “Happy Youth of the Era of Might and Power Glorifies Arkadag,” and the Makhtumkuli University hosted a conference called “Reflection of national education principles in the works of Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.” To rehearse and participate in these events, many students were summoned from their holidays early.
Source: gundogar.org
OSCE Supported Seminar on Legislative Drafting
Instructors from the Civil Service Academy under the President of Turkmenistan and law faculty of Magtymguly State University participated in an OSCE-organized training course on legislative drafting that concluded in Ashgabat today. The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, in co-operation with the Civil Service Academy, organized the course to further advance the participants’ knowledge about the law-making process and enhance their capacity to teach legislative drafting skills.
Source: OSCE
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