OREANDA-NEWS. May 08, 2009.  The European concert was arranged at Magtymguly National Music and Drama Theatre to mark Europe Day that is traditionally celebrated in the European countries on May 9. The festive event organized by the Ministry of Culture and TV and Radio Broadcasting in collaboration with the diplomatic missions of Great Britain, FRG, Romania, France, the Republic of Poland and the Kingdom of the Netherlands accredited to our country and Europa House was to promote developing cultural contacts between Turkmenistan and the European countries, enhancing friendship and mutual understating among our peoples.

Europe Day marks the dawn of the new political and economic structure that the EU is today – the alliance uniting 27 European countries in efforts to maintain peace, stability and welfare on the continent. Equal partnership based on mutual benefit, respect to national interests and international law norms, strict observance of undertaken commitments is the foundation of the bilateral and multilateral intergovernmental relations actively developed in the framework of Turkmenistan-European Union cooperation. That was illustrated by the opening of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia and the Europa House in Ashgabat serving as the bridge of cooperation between our country and the EU member states in a wide spectrum of areas.

In the opening remarks, Macey Lang, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland in Turkmenistan and Teo Hensels, Europa House Coordinator on behalf of the Czech Republic that presides over European Union, expressed profound gratitude to President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for taking the energetic steps to develop full-scale cooperation which had been brought up to a higher level today. Those speaking at the opening ceremony noted that expansion of contacts and exchange of cultural values between the European countries and Turkmenistan ranked among the major goals of the Europa House and this action held in collaboration with the embassies of the EU member states in the framework of the cultural programme aimed at enhancing the ties of friendship and mutual understanding among our peoples.

The concert programme included the works by the outstanding composers such as G. F. Hendel and J.S Bach performed by the orchestra conducted by Rovshan Nepesov. The musicians performed the works created by F. Chopin, G. Bizet, G. Enescu, the European composers and modern musical compositions.

An exhibition of the photos and documents presenting the panorama of European cultural heritage was arranged in the framework of the action. The exposition presented the history, culture and traditions of the peoples of Europe including national cuisines. The visitors could taste the dishes of traditional European cuisines.

Europe Day in Ashgabat symbolized the good neighbourly relations actively developed between Turkmenistan and European Union, humanitarian, economic and political contacts embodying an aspiration of our states and peoples for an equal dialogue for peace on the planet.