The Great Seljuk Turkmen State
Topic: Turkmen History
This State was founded in 1040 by Togrul and Cagry Begs after their victory in the Daodanakan War against the Gaznalys. The Seljuks are from the Kynyk tribe of Oguz.

The Seljuks underwent a very troubled period after arriving in Khorasan. When Seljuk Beg died, he was over 100 years old. In his old-age, leaving all else aside, he brought up his grandsons, Togrul and Cagry Begs. The son of Seljuk Beg, Arslan Han, settled on the Nur Plateau near Buhara, taking Togrul and Cagry Begs with himself. The sole aim of the two brothers trained by Seljuk Beg was to make Khorasan their homeland.

To attain their goal, Cagry Beg together with his brave men crossed over Khorasan to reach the Roman Land (Anatolia). The two brothers’ intention to conquer Khorasan intensified after the arrest and imprisonment of Arslan Beg by Gaznaly Mahmyt.

After crossing the Jeyhun River in 1035, they settled near Takgala. They informed Soltan Mesut of their intentions in a letter. In it they demanded that Soltan Mesut grant them for settlement the Nusay and Paraw provinces, where they would put their animals out to pasture. They stated that they could suppress the insurrections likely to happen in the corridor from the Balkan Dagi, Dehistan, and Urgenc frontiers to the banks of the Jeyhun River.

Soltan Mesut, who did not accept their offer, fought with the Seljuks near Takgala in 1038. Soon after, in 1040, there was another battle near Sarahs on the Daodanakan Plain. By way of war the Seljuks gained the things they had not been able to attain peacefully, and laid the foundations of the Great Seljuks’ State.

This victory made the fatherland their property forever. After the war, they summoned a council and declared their independence. Togrul Beg received the title of ‘Soltan’. They made the city of Rey their capital (1040-1063). Cagry Beg stayed in Merw (1040-1060). The two brothers ruled the state in unity and cooperation.

In 1063 Alp Arslan, the son of Cagry Beg, ascended to the throne. Alp Arslan was the great Soltan who unlocked the gates of Anatolia. His son Malik ?ah expanded the borders of the Seljuks and his son Soltan Sanjar promoted improvements in science and civilization.

The Great Seljuk State promoted Islam along with the Oguz culture, and in this way they enlarged their frontiers from Istanbul to China. Furthermore, being a great state, the Seljuks were honored as being the guard of the entire Islamic World. In addition, intending to dominate the world, they treated the people under their rule equally and justly and made great progress in the realms of culture and civilization. They improved the whole country, building roads, bridges, caravanserai, small mosques, madrassas (schools, universities) and hospitals.

Saparmurat Niyazov "Ruhnama"

Karakum Desert
Topic: Turkmenistan Information
The Karakum Desert, also spelled Kara-Kum and Gara Gum (“Black Sand”) (Turkmen: Garagum, Russian: Karakumy) is a desert in Central Asia. It occupies about 70 percent, or 350,000 km?, of the area of Turkmenistan. The population is sparse, with an average of one person per 2.5 sq miles.

Location

It lies east of the Caspian Sea, with the Aral Sea to the north and the Amu Darya river and Qyzyl-Qum desert to the northeast.

Hydrography

The Murghab and Tejen rivers flow out of the Hindu Kush Mountains to the south and empty into the desert, providing water for irrigation.

The desert is crossed by the largest irrigation canal in the world, the Qara-Qum Canal. The canal was started in 1954, is 1,375 km in length, and carries 13 km? of water annually. Unfortunately, leakages from the canal have created lakes and ponds along the canal and the rise in groundwater has caused widespread salinization.

Economy and resources

The oases of Mary and Tejen are noted for cotton growing.

The area has significant oil and natural gas deposits.

Transportation

The desert is crossed by the Trans-Caspian railway.


Wikipedia

Magtymguly Pyragy
Topic: Turkmenistan Information
Magtymguly Pyragy (1733-1783) was a Turkmen spiritual leader and philosophical poet whose efforts to secure independence and autonomy for his people in the 18th century figured prominently in the Ruhnama.

Education and Early Life

Pyragy was born in the Haji Qushan village near Gonbad Kavus city in the Iranian province of Golestan. He received his early education in the Persian and Arabic languages from his father Dowletmammet Azady, a leading scholar at that time. He went on to study and write poetry, developing a realistic style of writing about 18th century Turkmen that proved very popular and ultimately led to him becoming one of the most cherished Turkmen poets of all time. He was also a devout Sufist who was said to have travelled throughout all the lands comprising modern Turkmenistan, teaching and praying for the salvation of his people. Pyragy is burried in Aqtuqay village in north-western Iran. Iranian government has inaugurated a beautiful mausoleum on his grave.

Political Ideals

Along with Gorkut Ata and Oguz Han, he promoted the idea of keeping the Turkmen way sacred, as well as maintaining the unity and integrity of the Turkmen nation. During his lifetime, his efforts had minimal success overcoming the existing tribal loyalties and rivalries, and it wasn't until 1991 that a completely independent state was established (see History of Turkmenistan).

Quotation

"Know that what I built,
Is the peg of this world.
Forever it will stay independent,
This is the edifice of the T?rkmen."

Wikipedia

Turkmenistan Releases Statistics for Jan-Jun 05 Period
Topic: Economy & business
Ashgabat, 8 July 2005 (nCa) --- Turkmenistan has released economic statistics for the first half of 2005.

Here is the brief picture:

GDP reportedly gained by 20.4% over the same period of last year. Total size of GDP for Jan-Jun is 54.916 trillion Manats.

Industrial sector gained 18.5%, agriculture 19.8%, construction 17.1%, transport and communications 17%, trading 27.9% and service sector registered overall gain of 23% compared to the first half of 2004.

Industry, petroleum, oil refining, gas and food processing maintained steady growth during the period under review.

During the past six months, 33.079 billion cubic meters of gas was extracted in the country. Out of this volume, 23.887 billion cubic meters was exported.

Petroleum production amounted to 4.807 million tons. Oil refineries of Turkmenistan processed 3.454 million tons of crude.

Lube oil production increased by 9% (+22600 tons), liquefied gas 14% (+188500 tons), polypropylene 1% (+41100 tons).

The production of auto petrol and diesel oil remained at the level of the last year, 815500 tons and 958500 tons respectively.

Power generation during the Jan-Jun 05 period was 6027.6 million kWh. This represents 9% gain over the same period of last year.

Construction material also showed considerable gain. Cement production was the strongest with 220% gain over the same period of last year. Sheet glass manufacturing increased by 12% and other construction material gained by 10%.

Textile industry, under the broad management of the ministry of textile industry, continued to show strong growth.

Silk yarn production was up by 47%, washed wool 11%, cotton yarn 17%, silk fabric 0.5%, cotton fabrics 3%, non-woven material 25%, cotton wool 26%.

In the food processing industry, canned meat production was up by 22%, fruit and vegetables products 3%, pasta 18%. Non-alcoholic drinks shot up by 16% because of the summer season.

In the agriculture sector, live meat production was improved by 10%, milk 11%, eggs 15%, vegetables 9%, melons and gourds 17%.

Large horned cattle population was up by 2%, reaching 2.014 million. Fine horned livestock gained by 8%, reaching 16.96 million. Birds and fowl gained by 7%, with total population 15.93 million.

During this harvesting season, Turkmenistan hopes to gather 3.1 million tons of wheat.

www.newscentralasia.com

Additional US $ 10 Million for Vaccination, Immunization in Turkmenistan
Topic: Health, Education, Social
Ashgabat, 7 July 2005 (nCa) --- Government of Turkmenistan has allocated US $ 10 million above the regular budget for vaccination and immunization efforts.

The funds would be used for purchase of vaccines, immunological and disinfectant materials, urgently required medical raw material and related equipment.

Ministry of healthcare and medical industry of Turkmenistan would manage the funds and would call tenders for supply of medicines and equipment.

www.newscentralasia.com