Embassy News

Peace Corps Celebrates its 46th Anniversary (March 01, 2007)

PAS No 172
March 01, 2007

Peace Corps Country Director Mr. Myer and Deputy Minister of Education Mr. Bashimov cutting the Peace Corps anniversary cake

Ashgabat, March 1, 2007 – Today, Peace Corps celebrates its 46th Anniversary of operation worldwide and its 14th year in Turkmenistan by holding an information fair at the Nissa Hotel in Ashgabat.  In attendance were Turkmenistan's Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Foreign Minister, Rashid Meredov, along with other Government of Turkmenistan officials, the U.S. Embassy's Chargé d'Affaires a.i., Jennifer L. Brush, and other members of the diplomatic community.  During the event Minister Meredov read President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov's letter of congratulation to the Peace Corps.  The president’s letter notes that the Peace Corps' work holds “an important place in the relationship between Turkmenistan and the USA, by supporting friendly ties between the people of our two countries.”

On March 1, 1961, U.S. President John F. Kennedy established Peace Corps as a part of the Department of State.  In 1985 Peace Corps became an independent agency of the U.S. Government and at present there are six former Peace Corps Volunteers serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and one in the U.S. Senate.  Today Peace Corps has 7,800 volunteers serving in 71 countries throughout the world. In 1993 Peace Corps was invited to Turkmenistan.  There are currently 64 volunteers working throughout Turkmenistan -- 38 English language teaching volunteers and 26 health volunteers.

For more information about Peace Corps’ work throughout the world, please visit http://www.peacecorps.gov.