Astana to be Culture Capital of Turkic World

ASTANA (A.A) - Having been declared as the "Culture Capital of the Turkic World in 2012" by the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), Kazakh capital of Astana will host various cultural and art events throughout the year. The opening ceremony of "Astana, Culture Capital of the Turkic World in 2012" will take place on February 24. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Ertugrul Gunay will attend the opening ceremony. TURKSOY which pursues its activities to do research on, develop, promote and transmit the common Turkic culture to future generations since its foundation, had suggested to declare one city of the Turkic World as capital thereof every year at the 10th Summit of the Presidents of the Republic of Turkic Speaking States held in Istanbul in 2010  and this suggestion had been unanimously approved. Following this decision, this year Astana was declared Capital of the Turkic World 2012. The Opening Ceremony of “2012 Astana Capital of the Turkic World” hosted by the Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan Darhan Minbay will take place on February 24, 2012 in the presence of TURKSOY Term Coordinator and Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey Ertugrul Gunay, the Minister of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan Ebulfez Garayev, the Minister of Culture of Kyrgyzstan Ibrahim Cunusov, the Minister of Environment and Culture of the TRNC Unal Ustel, the Minister of Culture of the Altai Republic (R.F) Vlademir Konchev and the Deputy Prime Minister of Bashkortostan (R.F.) Salavat Sagitov. The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev is also expected to participate in the ceremony which feature a colourful concert given by artists of the Turkic World. The opening ceremony will begin at 19.00 hours and take place at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (Pyramid of Peace). Some of the events to take place in Astana in 2012 are 15th Opera Days of TURKSOY, 15th Painting Artists' Gathering of TURKSOY, 3rd Meeting of UNESCO National Commissions of TURKSOY Member Countries, 6th Gathering of Literature Journals of the Turkic World, International Festival of Great Steppe Musicians and Traditional Artists, and Cultural Days of TURKSOY Member Countries.