We are the heirs of a rich cultural heritage and monuments of bygone years that have passed through millennia.

The President of Turkmenistan sent a congratulatory message to the participants of the forum “The Ancient Fortress of Amul: Keeper of the Secrets of the Past.” It says: Dear forum participants! Dear guests! I sincerely congratulate you on the start of the International Scientific and Practical Conference “The Ancient Fortress of Amul: Keeper of the Secrets of the Past”! Amul is a witness to historical events that took place over many millennia. This site is located along the Zarafshan-Karakum corridor of the Great Silk Road, which is included in the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and therefore the current forum is intended to play a decisive role in revealing its influence on the development of civilization and in expanding international cooperation in this area. The cultural values of our people, as well as their ideals of humanism, have significantly enriched the treasury of humanity and are reflected in the World Heritage List. They have been improved over the centuries. Our national culture allows us to take an excursion into the past and study the mutual influence of different cultures for their subsequent development. Turkmenistan is an ancient land where sciences, schools, civilizations and various types of art arose and flourished. And this is fully confirmed by the cultural layers identified in the Karakum Desert, endless steppe expanses, foothills and gorges, along once murmuring river beds, in grottoes and sites, as well as ancient settlements, fortifications of bygone times and complexes of monuments. Dear participants of the scientific and practical conference! On the territory of our country there are many architectural and archaeological monuments that are of great interest to representatives of the scientific community and travelers. One of them is the Amul fortress. This object, the history of which dates back to ancient times, was called differently - Amurt, Chardzhuy and Chagryjoya. Nowadays it is an invaluable asset of our sunny region. In the old days, the Great Silk Road passed through the territories of the states of the Hephthalites, Karakhanids, Ghaznavids, Seljuks and others, in which various types of crafts flourished - carpet weaving, weaving, pottery, jewelry and blacksmithing, glass making, as well as science, culture and art. And at one of the crossroads of land and sea routes along the ancient highway there was the largest city of Amul. It, like Merv, Gurganj, Nisa, Abiverd, Dehistan and Serakhs, was known in the medieval East as a leading scientific center with luxurious palace ensembles, caravanserais, busy market squares, libraries and religious buildings. Amul has given the world eminent people who have made significant contributions to science, literature, culture and art. We are the heirs of a rich cultural heritage and other monuments of bygone years that have passed through millennia thanks to the continuity of generations. They are highly valued as a unique treasure trove of the past, which now allows the peoples of the planet to get to know each other better. Dear guests! The international scientific and practical conference was organized by the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, the National Commission for UNESCO and the administration of the Lebap region. As part of it, there will be an excursion to the Amul fortress, which is near the administrative center of the region - the city of Turkmenabat, to the modern Museum of History and Local Lore, during which you will be able to get acquainted with the national heritage, including artifacts and other exhibits, as well as with our efforts on the ground comprehensive measures to reconstruct, record and study the glorious pages of the history of our native land. In the era of the Renaissance of a new era of a powerful state, we are consistently increasing cooperation with the states of the world and international organizations in the study and preservation of historical and cultural monuments and the rich ancient history of our people as a whole for future generations. The UNESCO World Heritage List includes many sites - the monuments “Ancient Merv”, “Parthian fortresses of Nisa” and “Kunyaurgench”, “The Great Silk Road: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor”, state nature reserves “Bereketli Garagum”, “Gaplaňgyr”, Repetek State biosphere reserve and desert ecosystems of its Ýerajy reserve. This fact emphasizes the significance of the role of our Fatherland in the international cultural arena and increases its authority in the world. With regard to the further popularization of historical and cultural objects, the preservation and enrichment of tangible and intangible heritage, the promotion of the age-old principles of friendship and good morals of our people in the world, we will continue to adhere to the given course. Dear guests! Dear forum participants! Once again, I sincerely congratulate you on the start of the International Scientific and Practical Conference “The Ancient Fortress of Amul: Keeper of the Secrets of the Past”!

26.04.2024