On May 11, the Dashoguz Velayat Library was full of visitors for the U.S.-Turkmen Book Fair. Jointly organized by the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan, the Government of Turkmenistan and the American Corner of Dashoguz, the event highlighted the unifying role of literature and celebrated the 300th anniversary of the birth of Magtymguly Fragi.
Ambassador Klimow traveled to Dashoguz to open the event with the Director of the Dashoguz Velayat Library. “The United States Embassy is proud to partner with the Government of Turkmenistan to host this book fair. It is an opportunity to celebrate the love of reading and the importance of literature as we mark the 300th anniversary of the birth of Magtymguly Fragi,” he said in a statement, adding “A good book is a companion – it becomes our friend.” As a token of appreciation, Ambassador Klimow presented a collection of English-language educational materials to the library on behalf of the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan.
The display on May 11 included several classics of American literature that the U.S. Embassy has translated into Turkmen. To date, the U.S. Embassy has published 14 English-Turkmen bilingual editions of American classics, making these stories more accessible to audiences in Turkmenistan. In another ongoing book collaboration, an Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) project is currently working to restore some manuscripts from Magtymguly’s era. All of these collaborative efforts complement an active exchange in literature, archaeology, music, and other fields that continues to forge strong cultural ties between the United States and Turkmenistan.