Youth, health and beauty reigned undividedly in Turkmenistan last week. First the country sent the national Olympic team off to Beijing – those who with hard work, strong will, firmness of purpose had won the right to participate in the global sporting event – the XXIX Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. Then the Turkmen capital cordially and hospitably welcomed numerous young guests from all over the world – participants of the International Children’s Art Festival.

Hundreds of young artists – popular and folk singers, dancers, reciters, painters, students of the specialised schools of music and art, participants of the folklore and ethnographic and choreographic groups from over 20 countries of Central Asia, Pacific and Europe and the winner of the contests arrived in Ashgabat to take party in the grandiose show of children’s talents. During the week they will perform the concerts presenting the people of Turkmenistan joy and holiday spirit as well as recreate at the wonderful children’s health-improving centres in Geokdere, make the interesting tours to the museums of the white-marble capital city, go to theatre performances, Ice Palace and Olympic Water Sports Complex, get acquainted with the ancient culture and rich traditions of the Turkmen people.

“In independent neutral Turkmenistan holding the international symposiums, festivals of paramount importance for strengthening peace and friendship among different peoples has become a good tradition. Achievement of mutual understanding in the intergovernmental and international relations, enhancement of friendship and fraternity are immensely topical for our modern world, and I am glad that children have joined these noble endeavours. It demonstrates that our tomorrow will be much brighter and more joyous. All peoples – brothers, all peoples must live in peace and concord. I have no doubt that the International Festival of gifted children will bring this absolute truth to everyone.” These words of the President’s welcoming statement to participants explain in the best way the Turkmen leader’s policy aimed at guaranteeing the worthy life to citizens of Turkmenistan and children, first of all.

Meanwhile, the Turkmen national flag was hoisted on the Flagpole Alley in the international zone of the Olympic Village. Though a few sportsmen will win the champion title – it is not the main point. Turkmenistan’s participation in the Olympic Games originally intending to be a great sports festival uniting the people, creating mutual understanding among different nations and goodwill is not only a good test of strength, preparation for future victories. It is another opportunity to demonstrate to the world that Turkmenistan is the country pursuing the policy of peace, creation and social progress for the benefit and happiness of the Turkmen people and the whole mankind.

The new Constitution of Turkmenistan will be a landmark on the way of the reforms implemented throughout the country. The preparations for the number one event in the country’s social and political life are carried out in the atmosphere of unprecedented general enthusiasm and civic activity of citizens of Turkmenistan. That is vividly proved by numerous letters, in which the people express their opinions and present their vision of the efforts to address country’s further development and increase its welfare. Thus, they not only support the national leader’s policy but also actively contribute to the process of building the modern Turkmen state. And this state has no other aim but to respect the interests of the people, the President emphasizes

The strategic goals of Turkmenistan’s new economic policy include bringing such an important sector of national economy as agriculture up to a higher level. This sector should become highly profitable and bring economic benefits to both state and farmers. To bring up the real masters of their land whose matter of life and vocation would be care for ploughed fields – an ultimate objective of the agricultural reform initiated by the President of Turkmenistan and based on a crosscutting approach to the issues related to agricultural sector

The effective measures to ensure the stable growth of production of grain, cotton and other agricultural crops in the country, to guarantee the abundance on domestic food market were set by the President during the working trip to Baharly Etrap, Ahal Velayat. First of all, the measures are aimed at reclamation of arable lands, restoration of soil fertility and sustenance of agricultural productivity and technology modernization of agro-industrial sector with high-power agricultural machines, which proved out under the local soil and climatic conditions. Today Case machines and equipment have established well in Turkmenistan and the company has won the reputation of a reliable partner – this is Turkmen machine operators’ opinion that profoundly contributed to the decision to enhance co-operation with the American partners. During the meeting President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the Case New Holland top managers achieved the agreement on the delivery of a large consignment of Case agricultural machines – 700 tractors, of them 300 will be delivered to Turkmenistan by March 2009.

A broad range of the issues related to Turkmenistan’s social and economic development were put on the agenda of the recent sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers. Thus, the housing development designs of Ashgabat and its suburbs including the apartment houses for the specialists of the Archman sanatorium and Cultural Centre to be built in the well-known balneological resort and the housing estates, which will be constructed in the framework of the new housing programme in the western part of the capital, were considered.

There is no greater happiness than to live in the happy country. This truth as old as time reflects best of all the essence of what is going on in Turkmenistan where all – from the head of the state to an ordinary citizen are united with the great and creative sense of responsibility for peace, calmness and wellbeing in the home the name of which is independent neutral Turkmenistan.