On September 29, on the occasion of Turkmenistan’s Independence Day, a cultural evening entitled “Treasures of Independence: A Celebration of Turkmen Heritage” was held in Brussels.
The event, organized by the Embassy of Turkmenistan, brought together representatives of European Union institutions, Ambassadors from Central Asian states and a number of other countries, the Secretary General of the Benelux Union, diplomats, cultural figures, and media representatives.
The uniqueness of the evening lay in the participation of Turkmen designers representing the country’s contemporary culture. They became part of the program prepared by Elena Kharitonova, founder of the Central Asian European Creative Alliance, who for the second year in a row has been organizing cultural initiatives in Brussels that bring Europe and Central Asia together.
Particular attention was drawn to the fashion show by the Göwher Gouvernet brand, founded by Turkmen designer and artist-modeller Govher Gouvernet-Pirkuliyeva. The collection was presented with specially created musical accompaniment. The musical arrangement was an innovative experiment: its author, Maral Rahimova, an employee of the Embassy of Turkmenistan, used artificial intelligence to combine the sounds of traditional Central Asian instruments in the composition. This clearly demonstrated that the latest technologies and creative approaches can contribute to the renewal and development of culture.
During the event, Gaia Daneza, Cultural Advisor to the European External Action Service, also spoke, emphasizing the importance of cultural exchange as a basis for mutual understanding.
In his address, the Ambassador of Turkmenistan noted that, as it celebrates 34 years of independence, the country draws on a thousand-year history during which the Turkmen people have sought to preserve and pass on their cultural code from generation to generation. He stressed that culture cannot exist in isolation: all cultures of the world inevitably interact and enrich each other.
Special attention was paid to the topics of neutrality and creativity. The Ambassador noted that Turkmenistan’s neutral status, recognized by the UN, creates a broad platform for cooperation and dialogue, while creativity and modern approaches enrich this platform with new content.
The event was another step in strengthening cultural ties between Turkmenistan and Europe, clearly demonstrating that culture can unite people and create an atmosphere of friendship, trust, and peace.
