Plenary meeting of the Interrelation of Times and Civilisations – Basis of Peace and Development international forum

Before the meeting, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov Berdimuhamedov SerdarPresident of Turkmenistan held
a welcome ceremony for the heads of delegations attending the international
forum.
The Russian delegates attending the event included Deputy Prime Minister
and co-chair of the Russian-Turkmen Commission on Economic Cooperation Alexei
Overchuk Overchuk AlexeiDeputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation , Deputy Chief of the Presidential Executive Office and Presidential
Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov Peskov DmitryDeputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office, Presidential Press Secretary , Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov Ushakov YuryAide to the President , Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Turkmenistan Ivan Volynkin, and Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov Minnikhanov RustamHead of the Republic of Tatarstan .
Vladimir Putin had a brief conversation with President of Pakistan Asif
Ali Zardari Zardari Asif AliPresident of Pakistan on the sidelines of the forum. The leaders exchanged mutual
invitations for official visits to Russia and Pakistan, respectively, and confirmed
their countries’ intention and political interest in strengthening bilateral
ties across all areas.
Vladimir Putin also talked with Speaker of the Turkish Parliament Numan Kurtulmus and reaffirmed that he was looking forward
to meeting with President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan Erdogan Recep TayyipPresident of Türkiye at the BRICS summit
in Kazan.
* * *
Address by the President of Russia
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Berdimuhamedov, ladies and gentlemen, friends,
The Interrelation of Times and Civilisations – Basis of Peace and Development international
forum, dedicated to the 300th birth anniversary of the outstanding Turkmen thinker,
philosopher poet and public figure Magtymguly Pyragy, is of great importance
today.
Magtymguly Pyragy is rightfully regarded as a great humanist and the founding figure of Turkmen poetry and literature, with
his creative legacy forming an integral part of the world’s greatest cultural
treasures.
Magtymguly
was one of the first to reveal the beauty of the Turkmen language in all its diversity and richness. He had a unique
poetic style, expressing thoughts concisely, but with a depth of meaning and aphoristic clarity. Many of his poetic lines became popular catchphrases –
aphorisms, proverbs, and sayings. Magtymguly’s books were not only read, they
were kept at home as sacred relics.
There is
something I would like to highlight: during the Second World War — or, as it was known in the Soviet Union, the Great Patriotic
War, relatives of Turkmen soldiers would quote his poems in their letters sent
to the frontlines, trying to reassure the warriors and inspire courage and valour. I will quote one of those phrases for you: “All our tribes are
marching under the righteous banners from all sides.”
Magtymguly’s
works have been translated into Russian. It is reliably known that the poet actually
lived for a long time in the village of Funtovo near Astrakhan. The area has
been densely populated by Turkmen diaspora groups since the late 17th
century to the present day. In 2019, a school built there at Gurbanguly
Berdimuhamedov Berdimuhamedov Gurbanguly ’s initiative was named after Magtymguly. Astrakhan has a monument to Magtymguly; in September, a bust of this outstanding poet was
unveiled in Moscow.
Far ahead
of his time, Magtymguly never halted his creative and spiritual search and always strove for knowledge and truth. Due to his genius, he was able to anticipate the future of his land and people. In his works, Magtymguly invariably
called for purity, justice and equality, not only in relations between
individuals, but also between states and nations. A visionary thinker, he
advocated the high ideals of friendship and good neighbourliness, and tried to convey these thoughts to future generations, calling for harmony and responsibility, tolerance and understanding, respect and solidarity.
This message remains relevant and meaningful to reasonable people today,
and it holds even greater significance amid the current global challenges, when
unprecedented threats stem from civilisational divides and ethnic and religious
conflicts. International relations have entered an era of profound
transformation, and a new world order is emerging that reflects the world’s
diversity. This process is inevitable and irreversible.
Emerging
powerful centres of economic growth, financial, and political influence are
increasingly evident, particularly within the Global East and the Global South
at large. These newly established centres are committed to preserving and strengthening their sovereignty and socio-cultural identity, while pursuing
harmonious development in accordance with their traditions and based on national interests.

In the spirit of Magtymguly’s philosophical views,
the global majority nations, which both Russia and every other country
participating in this forum are part of, advocate for a more equitable
distribution of wealth and the consistent democratisation of the international
landscape. We firmly believe that universal peace and comprehensive development
can only be achieved if every nation’s views are taken into account and every
state’s right to have its own sovereign policy, worldview, traditions, and religious beliefs is respected.
I’d like to emphasise that Russia endorses the broadest possible international dialogue
concerning the parameters of interaction in our emerging multipolar world. It
is open to discussing the establishment of a new world order with all our
friends, partners, and like-minded people, including within the frameworks of the CIS, the EAEU, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and BRICS.
In this
context, we are preparing for the forthcoming BRICS and BRICS Plus/Outreach
format summits scheduled to be held in Kazan from October 22 to 24. We would
most certainly welcome our host, Mr Berdimuhamedov, along with many other
leaders attending this forum, to join us at the events in Kazan.
Before
concluding, I would like to take this opportunity to extend special gratitude
to the current leadership of Turkmenistan – the President and the national leader
of the Turkmen people, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov – for their commitment to the principles articulated by Magtymguly and their significant contribution to maintaining peace and stability in our shared region, as well as to expanding
multifaceted cooperation and partnership.
Thank you
for your attention.