2002 Press Releases

Flag Day Address for Television by Ambassador Kennedy

February 2002

I am delighted to have this opportunity to convey greetings to the people of Turkmenistan from their friends in America on this special occasion. Like you, we take enormous pride in our flag.

Our flags are similar in that both show the separate elements that combine to form a united nation. The Turkmen flag shows five stars that can represent the five welayats which unite to form Turkmenistan. The stripes on our flag represent the 13 original states which together formed the United States if America. The lesson is that diversity can be a source of strength and unity. Appropriately, the Turkmen flag also shows a band of the beautiful carpet for which your country is known.

Both of our flags have evolved over the respective histories of our countries. Our flag originally had 13 stars for each of the states but has added a star for each state that joined the union over the years and now consists of 50 stars for each of the equal fifty states. Turkmenistan's flag, of course, was modified in 1996 to reflect your officially adopted neutral status.

Flags are extraordinarily powerful symbols. Americans have on occasion publicly burned American flags to demonstrate their disagreement with some particular policy of the government. This is a truly shocking sight for most Americans. Thus far, however, our courts have said that burning the flag, no matter how distasteful, must be considered a form of freedom of expression protected by the Constitution.

National flags serve as a source of inspiration and pride for their citizens. After the terrorist attack on America on September 11, Americans as never before turned to flags as a means of demonstrating solidarity and love for country. I proudly wear the American flag pin that I bought after the terrorist attacks. The pin I wear today with great pleasure shows the crossed flags of Turkmenistan and America and demonstrates the friendship between our two peoples. One of the best ways to promote that is through exchanges of officials, students, and members of non-governmental associations. For our part, we are delighted that Turkmenistan has sent some of the best and brightest of its students to the United States. They are wonderful ambassadors for your country.

Congratulations again on this special day.