POETRY OF MAKHTUMKULI FRAGI HAS EXCEPTIONAL SIGNIFICANCE IN STRENGTHENING ARMENIAN-TURKMENIAN RELATIONS: CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO 295TH ANNIVERSARY OF TURKMENIAN POET AT YSU

The YSU Vice-Rector on Academic Affairs Menua Soghoonyan, the Vice-Rector on Scientific Policy and International Cooperation Arsen Babajanyan, the Scientific Secretary Levon Hovsepyan, the head of the Department of International Cooperation Alexander Markarov, the Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies Ruben Melkonyan, the representatives of the teaching staff as well as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to Armenia Muhametgeldi Ayazov, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Armenia Timur Urazov, the formed Ambassador of Armenia to Turkmenistan Aram Grigoryan, gusts from different embassies, the RA Distinguished Artist Shmavon Shmavonyan, eminent poet-translator Varuzhan Khastur, lecturers, researchers, students were present at the event.

The head of the Chair of Turkish Studies, Professor Alexander Safaryan informed us that the collaboration of YSU with the scientific and cultural centres of Turkmenistan, particularly with Makhtumkuli State University of Turkmenistan has a many-year history.

“We have been successfully collaborating with our Turkmenian colleagues in the spheres of science, education, culture. Our universities have published numerous scientific works dedicated to centuries-old cultural relations between Armenia and Turkmenistan and to modern Turkmenian literature in English, Russian, Armenian, Turkmenian and other languages”, said Professor Safaryan.

At the beginning of the conference the Vice-Rector on Scientific Policy and International Cooperation, Professor Arsen Babajanyan conveyed the greeting speech of the acting Rector of YSU, Academician Gegham Gevorgyan.

He presented the cooperation of Armenian specialists on Turkish Studies, culture, linguists and historians with their Turkmenian colleagues stressing the fact that the previous Armenian-Turkmenian conference was called in Turkmenian Mass Media “Feast of Friendship on the Brotherly Armenian Land”.

“By the initiative of our professors and according to the resolution of our Academic Council, the third edition of the works of the great Turkmen poet and thinker Makhtumkuli Fragi was published in Armenian and the foreword of which was by the Honorable President of Turkmenistan, Honorary Doctor of Yerevan State University Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov”, said Arsen Babajanyan.

The Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Armenia H.E. Mr. Muhametgeldi Ayazov expressed gratitude to YSU administration for the support in the organization of the conference and presented the peculiarities of the poetry of Fragi.

By the initiative of our professors and according to the resolution of our Academic Council, the third edition of the works of the great Turkmen poet and thinker Makhtumkuli Fragi was published in Armenian and the foreword of which was by the Honorable President of Turkmenistan, Honorary Doctor of Yerevan State University Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

“ It should be noted that the fate of the outstanding master of a word and humanist Makhtumkuli Fragi is inextricably linked with the fate of the native Turkmen people, their life and history itself.

A special place in Fragi's poetry, which is fairly called a hymn to universal spiritual values, is occupied by queries of a social-philosophical and moral-ethical nature,”, said Mr. Ayazov.

The former Ambassador of Armenia to Turkmenistan Aram Grigoryan citing Fragi’s poetry, presented his role in the life of Turkmen people, stressing that Fragi for Turkmens is the same as Tumanyan for Armenians and Pushkin for Russians.

Alexander Safaryan noted that prior to the birthday anniversary of Fragi the article written by the director of YSU IAS, correspondent member of the RA NAS, Professor Aram Simonyan “On Armenian-Turkmen Cultural ties and Scientific-Educational cooperation between Armenia and Turkmenistan” was published in “Issues of Armenian Studies” journal.

Amannepes Shikhnepes – the head of the Department of Turkmen Literature of the Turkmen State University after Makhtumkuli, spoke about Fragi’s creative legacy and his role in Turkmen culture and history, about the cooperation of Armenian and Turkmen orientalists.

The assistant to the Chair of Turkish Studies Amalya Petrosyan, who defended her PhD thesis at Makhtumkuli State University, greeting the guests in Turkmenian, said,

“Makhtumkuli's poetry is a literary reflection of the national spirit of the Turkmen people. His literary heritage has become a unique friendly bridge for Armenians and Turkmens.

The tribute event dedicated to the Turkmen poet organized by the Embassy of Turkmenistan jointly with the leadership of Yerevan State University, proves the fact, that Makhtumkuli's poetry plays an exceptional role in the strengthening of Armenian-Turkmen neighborly relations”.

The event was completed with the reciting of Fragi-s poetry by Armenian poet, translator Varuzhan Khastur and the musical performance of Bakhshis- Turkmen folk singers.

It should be noted that today, a concert of Armenian and Turkmenian ethno music organized by the Embassy of Turkmenistan and the RA Ministry off ESMS is held in Arno Babajanyan concert hall.