The International Children’s Art Festival initiated by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov in Ashgabat finished on August 7. The final chord of the Festival was a big concert performed in the center of the magnificent architectural ensemble of the National Cultural Center. The participants of the art forum demonstrated their talents to numerous guests.

The International Festival organized by the Ministry of Culture and TV and Radio Broadcasting and the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan brought together over 700 young talented children from 22 countries worldwide including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Republic of Belarus, Germany, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, the United Arab Emirates, Poland, the Russian Federation, Rumania, Saudi Arabia, the USA, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and South Korea.

The forum vividly testifies to the great concern shown in Turkmenistan for legal protection of the rights of children, creation of the necessary conditions for integrated development of a younger generation in Turkmenistan.

The concert performed at the Nebitchi children’s health-improving centre and on the stage of Magtymguly Turkmen National Music and Drama Theatre were a success. The daily TV reportages broadcast considerably expanded the audience of the Art Festival.

The Festival in Ashgabat was a wonderful opportunity for recreation and creative communication, exchange of experience and enhancement of the ties of friendship and created incentives to develop children’s skills.

The versatile programme of the festival event allowed the foreign guests to get to know the Turkmen history, traditions and customs as well as the accomplishments gained by independent Turkmenistan. Within the framework of the festival the organizers in collaboration with UNICEF conducted the International Children’s Forum focused on protection of the rights of children.

The goal of the Festival was to strengthen the ties of friendship and creative co-operation among children from all over the world and propagate the rich spiritual heritage of the Turkmen people. It helped to reveal dozens of new young talents.

The Art Festival came to an end though it left the joyous moments and hopes for new meetings in the children’s hearts. On the last day the tanned participants gathered in one of the most beautiful places of the Turkmen capital to take part in the closing ceremony. The square was decorated with the national flags, there were the bright emblems of the Festival, balloons and the people with the faces shining with happy smiles.

The children invited the cabinet ministers, the members of the Mejlis, the representatives of the largest public organisations, the heads of the diplomatic missions accredited to Turkmenistan and the authoritative international organisations, journalists, cultural workers and students to the gala concert.

The festivities began with the musical and dancing composition Dost-Doganlyk.

Then the ceremony of awarding the certificates and valuable prizes including the CDs with Turkmen folk and popular songs and the film about independent Turkmenistan to the participants of the festival took place. The youngest artists received the special prizes of the Central Council of Magtymguly Youth Organisation of Turkmenistan.

The young artists and the heads of the foreign artistic groups, who had participated in the Art Festival, expressed deep gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan for the concern for children and expansion of international cultural exchange. They also thanked the organizers of the Festival and the people of Turkmenistan for heartfelt welcome and hospitality. The foreign guests called for maintaining close cultural co-operation.

The grandiose performance was arranged on the square. The melodies and songs, dances of different peoples of the world, folk musical and dancing compositions enchanted the audience, who rewarded the artists with the storm of applause. Turkmen dance Kushtepdi performed by all the participants of the Festival was the grand finale of the concert of friendship.

The participants performed with inspiration the hymn of the Children’s Art Festival. At night the festive fireworks lighted up the sky.