On October 20, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov attended the ceremony of opening a new residential neighborhood built as part of the Ashgabat Redevelopment Program’s 14th phase. The parade of opening events took place in the south-western part of Ashgabat between Bitarap Turkmenistan and Garashsyzlyk Avenues and Oguzkhan and G. Ezizov Streets, where white-marble high-risers stand in two rows – twenty-three 12-story 44- and 66-apartment buildings with all modern amenities, which house manufactured goods and food stores on the first floor, and a 160-seat kindergarten specially built for new dwellers. In the morning, government members, leaders of Mejlis, ministries and agencies, military and law enforcement bodies, foreign ambassadors to Turkmenistan, heads of public organizations and the media, Ashgabat city khyakim, and numerous guests, including foreign businessmen assembled to mark the occasion. To loud applause from the ceremony participants, the nation’s Leader together with children cut a symbolic ribbon, opening the facilities built under the Ashgabat Redevelopment Program (Phase 14) as well as the remodeled street with landscaped and well-arranged surrounding areas. At that very moment, large clusters of balloons were released skyward. The Head of the State began his get acquainted tour of the neighborhood. The owners of 13 new buildings are some ministries and agencies of the country. The other 10 have been constructed under the order of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (and at its own cost), which plays an important role in implementing the projects of the Ashgabat Redevelopment Program’s 14th phase. Plans for the buildings and their interior design were developed jointly by members of the Union and specialists of the Ministry of Construction and Architecture of Turkmenistan. The territory adjacent to the buildings is well improved and provided with children’s playgrounds, sports grounds, areas intended for holding public events, and car parks. Another distinctive feature of the capital’s new buildings is that along with its number every apartment house has its own name, which is written on top. At the building with a poetic name, “Gül-Bal”, built against the order of the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov was welcomed by workers of sectoral institutions and enterprises, singers and dancers. The residential building includes 66 apartments: 22 three-room, 22 four-room and 22 five-room apartments. For instance, a three-room apartment has an area of 179 square meters; a four-room apartment – 216 square meters; a five-room apartment – nearly 244 square meters. Both design and construction of the building was performed by a private enterprise, “Aktab”. On the first floor, there are six stores, such as a textile store, a clothes store for children and adults, furniture and carpet store, hardware & electronics store, a food store. Accompanied by the children, the President of Turkmenistan proceeded along the street lined with new white-marble buildings on either side; joyous mass celebrations were well under way nearby every house. Numerous guests were welcomed by happy apartment dwellers. The nation’s Leader Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov accepted an invitation to visit one of the buildings to share the joy for new homes with the tenants. Since the building owner is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the heads of diplomatic missions accredited to our country were understandably keen to become acquainted with living conditions of their Turkmen colleagues. The residential building, “Çaga”, consisting of 44 four-room apartments with an area of 190, 98 square meters each, has been built by the private enterprise, “Çeper Gurlushyk”. A young employee of the Foreign Ministry, Muhammed Berdyev was the dweller of an elite apartment. The President of Turkmenistan asked him about the conditions created in the apartment, its cost, etc. Given the international contingent of the guests, the nation’s leader recommended him to interpret his answers into English. Muhammed has a family of four, which is considered rather small since the Turkmen family is traditionally large. The head of the young family graduated from the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan in 2011 and has been working for the Ministry since. His spouse works for “Turkmentelekom”. They have two children: a son, who is a third-year schoolboy, and a two-year-old daughter. Having found out that Muhammed’s four-room apartment has a living floor area of 216 square meters, the guests noted that he has the untapped potential for making his family larger. To purchase the elite property, Muhammed has obtained a 30-year mortgage loan from a bank at 1 % annual interest. What is more, as an employee of the Ministry, the owner of the building, he was offered a 50 % reduction of the total cost of the apartment. Muhammed said that the detailed calculations showed that he would be able to repay his 30-year loan to the state in twenty-two years. Given the fact that wages, pensions, monthly student benefits, welfare payments, and others are annually increased by 10 percent thanks to the socially-oriented policy of the nation’s leader, the loan payment period can be even shorter. After taking a tour of their young Turkmen colleague’s apartment and seeing the bedroom, children’s room, study, living room and kitchen dining room, foreign diplomats were filled with admiration for its quality and the conditions provided in the high-ceilinged spacious rooms. The host and hostess expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the nation’s Leader Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov for his constant concern for the amelioration of the people’s housing conditions and the opportunity to buy the new apartment on the most favorable terms. The President of Turkmenistan presented gifts to the senior members of the family. The little children, who recited poems glorifying the Motherland’s great achievements, also received presents from the President of the country. Having shared his best impressions, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates to Turkmenistan, on behalf of the heads of embassies accredited to Turkmenistan, thanked the President of the country for the opportunity to take part in the festivities and remarkable events. Saying goodbye to the young home owners, the Head of the State wished them family happiness, success in raising their children, and hoped that they would take care of their parents and make them happy with their labor achievements. Then, the President of Turkmenistan visited the children’s store located on the first floor of the building. Examining the assortment of goods and conditions created for sales clerks and customers, including the little ones, the nation’s leader stressed that children’s toys must meet health and environmental protection standards, must be absolutely safe for children and educationally beneficial. ... President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov proceeded along the street where spectacular folklore performances steeped in the Turkmen people’s national traditions and customs, family and new home rituals were taking place in front of every residential building. Another domestic building, “Sagdyn Bagtly”, which has 66 apartments, belongs to the Central Bank. The building contractor was “Ajaýip Bina” Economic Association. Its first floor accommodates several specialized stores: a food store, a clothes store, a curtain store, a furniture store and a beauty salon. Much the same residential building consisting of 66 apartments (with different floor areas depending on the number of rooms) has been built for “Turkmennebitgasgurlushyk” State Concern. The building’s name, “Nebit-Gaz”, speaks for itself. It also boasts six stores, including two food stores, a hardware store, a fabric store, a clothes store and a home electronics store. A residential house, “Söwda”, built by a private enterprise, “Çeper Gurluşyk”, under the order of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry has 44 apartments: 22 three-room and 22 four-room apartments. A similar dwelling house with 44 apartments has been built for the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry. It is an only apartment building built by a foreign company, “Total Inşaat”, (Turkey) in the new residential neighborhood. As its name, “Saglyk” suggests, there are two pharmacies, a medical equipment store and a medicinal plant store in the building. A residential building, “Medeniýet-Sungat”, which houses 66 apartments, has been erected by a private enterprise, “Aga Gurluşyk”, under the order of the State Publishing Service. Nearby is a 66-apartment house built for the Ministry of Industry by a private enterprise, “Durli Ýaz”. Its name, “Dokma Senagat”, will be helpful to anyone who wants to purchase locally produced quality textiles and carpet products. Five 44- and five 66-apartment buildings have been built under the order of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. Building contractors were private enterprises and economic associations such as “Ojar Aziýa”, “Nusaý Ýollary”, “Ajaýyp Bina”, “Ýüpek Ýolly”, “Beýik Bina”, “Altyn Nesil”, “Ussat Inžener”, “Berk Ýol”, “Durly Ýaz” and “Aga Gurlushyk”. The names of the buildings are highly informative about what is located inside: “Maliýe”, “Aşyk Mekan”, “Älem”, “Jahan”, “Ak Bugdaý”, “Arzuwly Halka”, “Melhem”, “Asuda Asman”, “Saýrak Bilbil”, “Ylham”. The sign letters “Oba Hojalyk” will tell that the building belongs to the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management. A high-rise residential building with 44 apartments has been built by a private enterprise, “Ojar Aziýa”, under the order of Ashgabat city khyakimlik. It is suitably named “Şäher”. “Gurluşyk-Binagär” is another building with a self-explanatory name. The 66-apartment house, which belongs to the Ministry of Architecture and Construction, has been built by “Ajaýyp Gurluşyk” under the order of “Turkmen Döwlet Taslama” Design, Research & Production Association. One more 66-apartment building, “Ulag Menzil” has been constructed by a private enterprise, “Ösüş Gurluşyk”, for “Turkmenhovayollary” State National Service. At the disposal of its dwellers are a food store, a clothes store, a children’s shop, and a home appliance store. “Gara Altyn” is a residential building with 66 apartments built by a private enterprise, “Rysgally Zähmet” for the State Commodities and Raw Materials Exchange. Concluding his get acquainted tour of the new buildings President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov once again offered his well-wishes to new tenants for their new homes, having noted that the festivities would add a new vivid chapter to the history of our country, which is preparing to celebrate the 25th anniversary of sacred Independence. Two schools, two kindergartens, a health house, a public amenities center, “Owadan”, built as part of the Ashgabat Redevelopment Program’s 13th phase, are within easy reach. Completed last year, the 13th phase includes more than 30 facilities, including 12 administrative buildings and 11 residential buildings with 638 apartments. The Ashgabat Redevelopment Program’s 13th and 14th phases have created a new residential area with white-marble high-risers with a total of nearly 2,000 apartments. Meanwhile, just a short distance away from there, the Program’s 15th phase is currently under implementation – new buildings are springing up along Seidi and Mollanepes Streets to establish another big residential neighborhood, which will meet all modern standards. The project envisages the construction of eighteen 12-story 72- and 48-apartment buildings under the order of various ministries and agencies. Among them there are the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Affairs, “Turkmennebitgazgurluşyk” State Concern, Ministry of Railway Transport, Ministry of Education, Ashgabat city khykimlik, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Construction and Architecture, Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management. As the owner of many projects, the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, along with high-risers, will build 16 three- and four-story apartment houses, 208 two-story single-family houses and 11 stores at its own cost. The hilly area, adjacent to the multi-purpose “Ashgabat” stadium in the capital’s southern part, was allotted for low-height construction projects, which also include the creation of park areas and tennis courts. Along with that, the 15th phase of the Ashgabat Redevelopment Program involves the construction of other social facilities, including a 160-seat kindergarten, and a 600-seat general education school as well as the creation of park zones. Over 13.6 kilometers of roads will be constructed in the area. The phrase “Build and create!” has become the motto of the epoch of power and happiness the Turkmen nation’s and the country’s advance on the road towards new heights of progress under the leadership of President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov.