Embassy News

U.S. Government Announces Winners of the 2007 Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation Program

PAS No 200
October 22, 2007

One of the fifteen manuscripts to be restored through AFCP funding

Ashgabat, October 22, 2007 – Today, the U.S. Embassy is holding an award ceremony to honor the winners of the 2007 Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation grants at Turkmenistan's National Institute of Manuscripts at 7 p.m.  This year, two grantees will receive funding from the United States to continue their existing projects to restore, conserve, and to promote public study of Turkmenistan’s cultural heritage.  The National Institute of Manuscripts in Ashgabat is receiving a grant of $38,430 to continue restoration of fifteen manuscripts dating from the XVIII, XIX, and early XX centuries, written in Arabic, Turkmen and Persian that describe Turkmen history, culture, religion and literary works.  The National Administration for Study, Conservation and Preservation of Historical Monuments is receiving a grant of $14,500 to continue conservation and restoration of the Bronze Age archaeological site of Gonur-Depe, Margush in eastern Turkmenistan.

Excavated walls of Gonur depe palace to be restored using ancient technology through AFCP funding

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Ambassador Richard Hoagland will be giving his opening remarks and present the winners with congratulatory letters.  The grantees, who are also winners of the 2006 Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation grants, will briefly describe the projects they have already completed.  The U.S. Embassy will also present newly released brochures about the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation projects implemented in South and Central Asia in English and Russian languages, in which three of Turkmenistan’s projects were highlighted.  Representatives from Turkmenistan’s Government, involved in administering programs related to the cultural and historical heritage of Turkmenistan and Turkmen state media representatives will participate in the ceremony.

Established by Congress in 2001, the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation aims to assist countries in preserving their cultural heritage.  Over the past six years, the U.S. Government has invested over $100,000 to preserve historically important cultural sites and objects in Turkmenistan.  The most recently concluded project was conservation of the Ak-Saray Ding Tower in Gerogly etrap of Dashoguz welayat and the conservation of Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum in Kunya Urgench is currently underway.

More information about the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation projects can be found at the U.S. Embassy web site, http://turkmenistan.usembassy.gov