According to an established tradition, assigning a deeply meaningful name to the coming year—2026, proclaimed as “Independent, Neutral Turkmenistan – the Homeland of Purposeful Winged Horses”—is directly linked to the large-scale initiatives to be implemented throughout the year. In this regard, extensive efforts have unfolded across the country to promote the essence of the year’s motto and the activities associated with it.

One such event was a ceremonial round-table conference organized by the Department of Culture and the Library of Lebap velayat under the title “White Roads Lead to the Future: Forward, Only Forward, Native Turkmenistan!” The conference, held with the participation of deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, well-known cultural and artistic figures of the velayat, creative professionals, and students, focused on discussing the significance of the new year’s motto and the important tasks to be fulfilled by cultural workers during the year.

The motto of the new year, reflecting the essence of the political, economic, and socio-cultural principles of the ongoing reforms, embodies sacred independence, whose 35th anniversary will be solemnly celebrated this year, our status of permanent neutrality, which determines the country’s humane domestic and foreign policy, as well as the image of the Turkmen horse, one of the nation’s principal treasures. Its speed symbolizes our dynamic development, elevating this motto to a sacred status.

During the ceremonial gathering, the tasks facing figures of culture and the arts were emphasized, and specific steps for their implementation were outlined. Creative workers recited new poems dedicated to the year’s motto and the world-renowned Ahal-Teke horses. The event, imbued with a strong sense of patriotism, was accompanied by musical performances by renowned artists of the velayat.