I congratulate you with the 26th anniversary of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan and Fatherland Defenders Day, states the address by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to officers, soldiers, servicemen and cadets of the Armed Forces. This holiday symbolizes care, endless respect and enormous trust the Government places in the servicemen guarding independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and the constitutional order of Turkmenistan, stresses the message. Historically, as we know, our ancestors guarded the ancient Silk Road, built walled cities and forts along that route as a symbol of strength of peaceful relations. Protection of caravans taking off on long journeys was secured by Turkmen strongmen. And today you, the defenders of our independent Fatherland, have been entrusted with an important mission and sacred duty to safeguard your Motherland’s independence and permanent neutrality that serve as a basis of every success; economic, cultural and spiritual progress; promotion of well-being and standards of living of the people. I firmly believe that, by fulfilling your honorable duty in good faith and representing the example of loyalty to the oath, you will always keep with military traditions and build upon such qualities of the Turkmen people as patriotism, courage and bravery, reads the message. On 17-27 September 2017 we have successfully hosted the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. Military servicemen were also among the athletes who showed exceptional results. I trust that, by taking part in the upcoming international Amul–Hazar 2018 car rally; the bicycle race; and track and field marathon; as well as in the World Weightlifting Championship, you will make a significant contribution to successful holding of these competitions. People-centered domestic and peaceful foreign policies pursued by Turkmenistan are widely supported by the international community. At the 74th session of the 72nd UN General Assembly, the member states unanimously adopted the resolution on Strengthening the Links between All Modes of Transport to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, which became a visible evidence of global recognition of our country’s transport policy. Construction of transnational gas pipelines of international significance, including the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India pipeline, vividly demonstrate such wise ancestral traditions of the Turkmens as good-neighborliness, hospitality, peaceful and close-knit co-existence with other nations. You play a major role in turning our country into a powerful industrial, socially and economically developed country. You must, being loyal to the military oath, continue ensuring effective protection of our county’s economic and political interests, rising to the tasks deriving from the Military Doctrine of independent neutral Turkmenistan. The Government will continue giving special attention to the strengthening and modernization of the logistical and resource base of the Armed Forces; training the military personnel; creating conditions necessary for decent service by the valiant defenders of our independent Fatherland; as well as to providing highly convenient, housing to them, states the Presidential address.