IV Forum of Creative and Academic Intellectuals of the CIS member states, held in frames of Turkmenistan’s presidency over the Commonwealth of Independent States, started its work in the Turkmen capital, the State news agency of Turkmenistan reports.

The representative membership of the delegates to the current meeting, as well as the welcoming addresses of President of Turkmenistan, Chairman of the Council of the Heads of CIS States Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to the forum participants vividly testify to the high significance of this event.

The theme of the current Forum is “Common humanitarian space of the Commonwealth: dialogue in the sphere of culture, science, education”. The agenda of the meeting included the discussion of plans for cooperation in these areas, taking into account modern realities and the identification of priority areas and forms of joint work.

About 200 delegates, the representatives of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Russia, including prominent public figures, masters of arts, scientists, heads of cultural institutions, scientific and educational centers, representatives of the mass information gathered together in the Mekan Palace.

Before the meeting, the ceremony of photographing the delegates to the XIV Forum of Creative and Scientific Intelligentsia of the CIS member states took place.

Deputy Chairperson of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, B.Abdyyeva, read out a congratulatory message, addressed by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the participants of the XIV Forum of Creative and Scientific Intelligentsia of the CIS member states.

Welcoming the representatives of the CIS states, the President of Turkmenistan underlined that this international forum played an important role in expanding friendly relations and sharing experience, further developing the traditionally positive cooperation and mutual familiarization with the successes achieved in the humanitarian sphere.

This year’s meeting on the hospitable Turkmen land is to be another contribution to bringing people together through cultural, creative contacts, scientific and educational ties, contributing to the preservation, continuity and popularization of spiritual values.

Then, Vladimir Tolstoy, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation on Cultural Issues, read out the address of President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin to the participants of the XIV Forum of Creative and Scientific Intelligentsia of the CIS member states.

“The meeting is held in hospitable Ashgabat in the year of Turkmenistan’s presidency over CIS. Humanitarian cooperation has traditionally been one of the most important areas of partnership in the Commonwealth. It is no coincidence that your annual forums, which ensure a direct dialogue between the representatives of scientific and expert circles, youth and student organizations, workers of education and culture as well as art figures, play an important role in the public life of our countries”, the message says.

“You have to discuss a wide range of key issues, exchange professional and creative experience, identify new joint projects and initiatives in various fields. I hope that your work will be constructive and fruitful, will further enhance the integration processes within CIS, as well as strengthen friendship and mutual understanding between our peoples”, said President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.