On February 20, the British Embassy in Turkmenistan hosted a formal reception in Ashgabat to mark the birthday of the outstanding Scottish poet Robert Burns. Although Burns Night is officially celebrated around the world on January 25 — the poet’s birthday (he was born in 1759 in the village of Alloway) — festive evenings in his honor continue through February.

The event was attended by senior officials of Turkmenistan’s state institutions, heads of diplomatic missions, and representatives of international organizations.

The official part of the evening was opened by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom, Stephen Conlon, and the Minister of Culture of Turkmenistan, Atageldi Shamyradov.

In their welcoming remarks, it was emphasized that constructive cooperation between the two countries is developing dynamically in the political-diplomatic, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian spheres. The parties highlighted the particular importance of such meetings as an effective instrument of “cultural diplomacy” that strengthens ties between peoples.

The atmosphere of the Scottish celebration was conveyed through Burns’s classic poetry and lively ceilidh dances. The central event of the evening was the presentation of haggis. The famous dish, to which the poet dedicated one of his most renowned odes, praising it as a symbol of the Scottish spirit and unity, served as a kind of guide for guests into the history and traditions of the United Kingdom.

The organization of the evening underscored the active role of the Embassy in strengthening intercultural ties. Regular exchanges of traditions introduce the public to British culture and create an atmosphere of trust on which modern interaction between Turkmenistan and the United Kingdom is built.