AN INTERNATIONAL MEDIA FORUM WAS HELD IN ASHGABAT

On March 28, 2024, the International Media Forum “Turkmen Land – the Center of Ancient Civilizations” was held at the “Ýyldyz” hotel, timed to coincide with the celebrations marking the declaration of the city of Anau as the cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2024 and the 300th anniversary of the birth of Magtymguly Fragi.

The event participants included representatives of domestic media, leading news agencies, television and radio companies, film associations, Internet portals, newspapers and magazines from the UK, Hungary, ATU Gagauzia, Moldova, Georgia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Russia, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, as well as such authoritative structures as the International Organization of Turkic Culture - TURKSOY, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the Radio and Television Union of the Islamic Cooperation Organization, the Union of News Agencies of IOS member countries (UNA). Among the delegates are professors from the Canadian University “HEC Montreal” and the University of Bahçeşehir (Türkiye).

As noted at the opening of the forum, the constantly increasing foreign policy activity of the Turkmen state, which was the result of the deeply thought-out and clearly verified course laid down by the National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to expand constructive and fruitful partnerships with all countries of the world, now successfully implemented by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, in the modern era is clearly manifested in the field of media.

Particular emphasis was placed on the symbolism of organizing a media forum on the days when events begin on the occasion of the announcement by the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY) of the city of Anau as the cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2024, the year of widespread celebration both in our country and abroad of the 300th anniversary the great thinker of the East, the Turkmen classical poet Magtymguly Fragi. In addition, the current meeting coincided with the adoption on March 21 of this year at the 63rd plenary meeting of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly at the initiative of Turkmenistan of the Resolution “2025 – International Year of Peace and Trust”.

The speeches also noted that an event of great importance was the publication on the eve of the current events of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s book “Änew – müňýyllyklardan gözbaş alýan medeniýet”, which is of great importance in the widespread popularization of the glorious history and rich cultural heritage of our people.

Foreign participants of the forum, including the Secretary General of TURKSOY Sultan Raev, the First Deputy General Director of the “TASS” news agency Mikhail Gusman, as well as representatives of the largest media services, expressed gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan and the National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for organizing this major event in Ashgabat aimed at developing constructive interstate interaction in the field of culture and media.

The current meeting of media representatives is a good platform for exchanging experience between relevant structures and building up long-term international cooperation in this area. At the same time, its importance for all states represented at it was noted in terms of determining the prospects for interaction, developing new approaches to forming a current agenda in such an area as the media.

The work of the forum continued in sections - “The unity of Turkic culture and its role in the media”, “Fount of Wisdom Magtymguly Fragi”, “Digital Media and News”, “Films, Animations and Film Festivals”.

The main topics for discussion were trends in the development of the global information field, new ways and methods of interaction between journalism and readers, television viewers and radio listeners. The forum delegates shared their vision of the role of the media in international integration processes and exchanged useful experiences in this regard.

As emphasized, in the modern era, the media are becoming an important attribute of the world political process and an integral subject of ethnocultural interaction, actively influencing the development of countries and peoples both at the national and international levels. In this regard, close cooperation between media structures and increasing the responsibility of journalists to society are of great importance.

In the speeches of representatives of Turkmenistan, it was noted that our country has established a regular exchange of news, reviews and analytical materials about economic, social, cultural and humanitarian life with foreign media. Together with partners - the largest news agencies, leading publications, television channels, comprehensive work is carried out.

During the section “Fount of Wisdom Magtymguly Fragi” the speakers noted the importance of the rich philosophical and literary heritage of the outstanding thinker of the East, the classical poet Magtymguly Fragi. As emphasized, Fragi is a personality of a planetary scale, whose work is the national treasure of our people.

A notable fact was the inclusion of the anniversary of the great Turkmen poet in the List of significant dates for joint celebration with UNESCO in 2024–2025. It should be noted that during the meeting of the 42nd session of the General Conference of UNESCO on November 21, 2023 at the headquarters of the Organization in Paris, the Resolution on the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the birth of the great Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Fragi and inclusion in the UNESCO International Register in May 2023 “Memory of the World” collection of Magtymguly manuscripts, presented by Turkmenistan. All this testifies to the recognition at the international level of the philosophical and poetic heritage of Magtymguly Fragi as an integral component of the cultural treasury of all humanity.

During the forum, an interesting exchange of views on cooperation in the field of cinema also took place. In particular, they talked about the dynamic development of national cinema, as well as the importance of active cooperation in this area, which is designed to help preserve the best traditions of the film industry, create conditions for the exchange of experience, creativity and innovation.

At the end of the international media forum, its participants noted the fruitful nature of the discussions and expressed confidence that its results will contribute to the fulfillment by the media of the special mission entrusted to them - cultural and spiritual education in the name of rapprochement and mutual understanding, strengthening the bonds of friendship between countries and peoples.