New regulatory framework to ensure protection of historical and cultural heritage.
The memory is a spiritual aspect of life of every nation. This invisible but strong thread linking the generations allows preserving the origins and traditions as well as building a new life and creating the future using the historic experience.
Achievements we have gained, our successes and accomplishments, the peaceful and prosperous life of the Turkmen people are the greatest monument that could be ever erected in honour of the best sons of the Fatherland, whose talent and great deeds brought fame to the Motherland and who dreamt about its might, prosperity, freedom and independence.
It is this purpose that the Turkmen people made sacrifices for setting the examples of true patriotism and heroism. In token of profound respect of the people for our ancestors’ bravery and courage, in memory of those who died sacrificing their lives for freedom of the native land, we pay tribute to the memory of the defenders of the Geokdepe fortress each year on January 12.
The legendary citadel was declared a protected zone 20 years ago in blessed memory of those who died a hero’s death to defend it. The state culture preserve was established in this territory. Later on a cathedral mosque was built there as a symbol of homage to the ancestors’ fortitude and reverence for the national history.
However, we return in our thoughts to our heritage not only on the memorable and remarkable days. The historical and cultural environment for us is an integral part of modern life of the society, a pillar of its progress and an inextricable link between the past and the future. This is a historical interior that the nation exists in.
In our country there are thousands of historical and cultural sites that are a tangible embodiment of the memory of the people about the remarkable, triumphal, joyful and sorrowful pages in their history. The condition of these monuments is some kind of indicator of ‘ecology of culture’ that is composed of many components. Including from the patronage of the Government to the personal civil and patriotic responsibility of each of us so that the generations to come could admire what our talented people have created for many centuries.
During the meeting with deputies of the Mejlis President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said, “the implementation of the Cultural Heritage Programme and the in-depth study of the cultural values of the past generation enable us to promote our culture in modern times. We must take further measures to support this sphere on the national level, including the legislative assistance.”
The national leader set the specific tasks to deputies of the Mejlis to modernize key spheres of life of the society. Among them the Turkmen leader identified the spiritual sphere as of priority importance, and historical and cultural monuments as a critical resource of the development of the modern national culture, including a culture of thinking.
All this is a part of the broader concept – a culture of creativity. By protecting historical and natural sights and memorial places and cherishing the national heritage that is our pride and the ethnic lineage we defend our Spirituality.
This is what cannot be borrowed, like technologies or scientific ideas.
This is what can be only fostered in the national consciousness and in each of us.
This is what must be brought up, enhanced and developed in the name of the future…
Historical and cultural monuments are regarded in our country as the national property. They reflect the past of our nation from ancient times and vividly testify to the profound contribution our ancestors made to world civilization. Their role in promoting patriotism and ideological, moral and aesthetical education of young citizens is invaluable. Therefore, the issues regarding the protection, study and restoration and wide advertising and accessibility of the monuments to foreign tourists are addressed not at the local level but considered in the context of the national programmes.
With the view of encouraging in-depth scientific research in this field and preserving historical and cultural monuments in Turkmenistan and conserving them for the generations to come and in accordance with Article 11 of the Law of Turkmenistan on Culture President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov issued the Resolution approving the procedures for establishing protected areas of historical, archaeological, urban, architectural monuments, works of monumental sculpture, natural landscapes and historic sites. The Ministry of Culture, khyakimliks of velayats and Ashgabat were instructed to ensure that the work on the establishment of the protected areas of the aforesaid monuments will be carried out in a proper manner.
The beginning of 2012 is marked with a new critical step to improve the national legislation in line with international standards that absorbs best international practice and establishes the new, innovative methods to protect the cultural heritage. Creating legal guarantees for the security at the heritage sites, our country takes consistent steps to meet its international commitments it undertook after joining UNESCO and signing the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
The new document approved by the Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov will be a guide for action for administrative agencies and monitoring institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Culture to enhance the effectiveness of their activities. This important subordinate regulatory act elucidates the ways to apply current laws and regulates legal relations on protection of immovable cultural heritage.
Two years ago the regulatory framework was enhanced with the Law of Turkmenistan on Culture that became a new significant step to build the comprehensive legal foundations for the work on protection of cultural values. This Law is the first legislative act in our country to introduce the notion of the State Register of national cultural heritage sites, and the new Criminal Code of Turkmenistan establishes the responsibility for the damage caused to them. Article 11 of the Law on Culture concerns the national cultural heritage and establishes the regulations, restrictions and responsibilities for the management of the protected monuments.
This particularly concerns the historical cities inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Ancient Merv, Kunya Urgench and Nisa are the invaluable heritage of the Turkmen nation that has enriched the treasury of human culture. It is not only the ruins antique and medieval construction of particular interest as tourist destinations. These are the inexhaustible archaeological resources that explorers made the first steps towards in the 20th century, and the time for international expeditions to thoroughly study them through using latest methods and advanced technologies is coming.
The sites of ancient settlements and architectural masterpieces of Ancient Dehistan, Old Serakhs, Abiverd, numerous constructions on the banks of the Amu Darya River such as Astana-baba the Dayahatyn royal caravanserai. In every region of the country there are dozens of monuments of paramount scientific and cultural value as well as thousands of unnamed ‘depe’ and ‘gala’ waiting for archaeologists to come and reveal the mysteries of history they hide.
No tangible equivalent exists to this cultural heritage as it is the cementing pivot of the nation that determines its identity and spiritual essence. The loss of cultural values is irretrievable and irreversible, so ensuring reliable protection of them is an essential function the state is to discharge.
Modern civilization having passed through the crucible of devastating wars and ideological attacks on the spiritual values of the past generations has come to realize the tremendous potential of the cultural heritage and the need to protect it as an indispensable condition for preserving the national identity. Therefore, the leader of our state Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov pays special attention to the cultural sphere in his versatile activity.
Every monument needs to be explored, registered and managed so as to be preserved and transmitted to the future generations – this is the monumental task requiring the high proficiency level from specialists as well as the adequate management technique. The National Department for the Protection, Study and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Monuments was established under the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan for this purpose. Its objectives are to elaborate and promote the state policy in this sphere, adopt scientific and technological advances to preserve and study the immovable cultural heritage, monitor the regime for management and use of the cultural heritage and coordinate the relevant practical work – from archeological survey to conservation or rehabilitation.
The Resolution of the President of Turkmenistan on the Approval of the Procedures for Identifying the Protected Areas of Historical, Archeological, Urban and Architectural Monuments, Works of Monumental Sculpture and Natural Landscapes gives effect to the directions required by all local governments and organisations concerned. These directions contain the major requirements for establishing the boundaries and monitoring the regime for management and use of the areas of protected immovable monuments, buffer and protected landscapes areas. First of all, they provide the definition of the protected heritage.
The protected heritage include architectural ensembles and urban complexes – the historical centres of settlements, elements or structures of an archaeological nature, separate or connected buildings and constructions, historic places, architectural works, archaeological sites and works of monument sculpture. The clear definition of the notions such as the protected area of monuments, the regulated build-up areas, the protected zone of landscape and the areas of the historical cultural layer is given.
A permit to conduct the activities in the protected areas, including the laying of power transmission lines, communication cables or transport arteries, is issued by the National Department for the Protection, Study and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Monuments. The protected areas are identified according to its recommendations. The network of historical and cultural reserves was established to identify, register, classify, monitor the conditions of monuments and conduct the regular restoration activities. They are situated in the places where the monuments and sites of ancient settlements are concentrated, including distant sites, and operate in all regions.
In the framework of their research activities the specialists have been conducting the work on the compilation of the Register of historical and cultural monuments of Turkmenistan that includes over a thousand of units. In order to legally secure the direct responsibility of local governments and farmers associations in the territory of which a protected heritage site is situated they and the historical and cultural reserves conclude the agreements for cultural heritage. The protected signs with a serial number and the official name of the monument are placed near each heritage site.
Designers, including state designing institutes and private construction companies, are to take the location of protected areas into consideration. The preliminary archaeological survey of areas where new houses or communication lines will be built – building archaeology that is widely spread in many countries of the world will be developed. A permit to conduct excavations is issued by the Interagency Research and Methodological Council under the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan consisting of representatives of the research institutions of the Academy of Sciences.
... The Turkmen land is inscribed in golden letters in the annals of the history of the world. It is breathing and living with great accomplishments today, not without reason our times are proudly called the epoch of great reforms. Citizens of Turkmenistan know on what an incredibly strong millennia-old foundation our country is building their new life moving forward along the path of peace and prosperity.
The Resolution of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov is a new step vividly illustrating the well thought-out policy out national leader pursues to ensure the prosperity of our country and enhance its prestige in the world arena.
This is another convincing evidence for the concern the state shows to the cultural sphere and one of its essential component – the ancestors’ legacy that help us to build our new life and create our future using the historic experience.