A Collection of Poems by Magtymguly Pyragy in Italian

At the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, a ceremonial presentation of a collection of selected works by the great Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Fragi, translated into Italian, took place. The event was dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the outstanding poet’s birth and gathered a wide range of guests, including representatives of the diplomatic corps, teachers, and students.

The moderator of the event was the Rector of the Institute of International Relations, Gulshat Yusupova, who, in her opening remarks, highlighted the significance of translating Magtymguly’s poetry for strengthening cultural ties between Turkmenistan and Italy.

An important part of the ceremony included speeches by diplomats. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Italian Republic, Toyly Komekov, emphasized that this project is a vivid example of the fruitful cooperation between the two countries, which began in 1992 after the establishment of diplomatic relations. In turn, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Italy in Turkmenistan, Carmelo Leona, expressed confidence that Magtymguly’s work would become a valuable cultural contribution for Italian readers. He noted that Magtymguly Fragi figure that unites generations. His poems, filled with wisdom and philosophical reflections on the world and good neighborliness, are more relevant today than ever.

The culmination of the event was a video message from Ivan Melkumyan, a lecturer in simultaneous translation at the Rome University of International Studies UNINT. He emphasized that translating Magtymguly’s works into Italian opens doors for a deeper study of Turkmen culture in Italy.

Presentations by Kakajan Djanbekov, scientific secretary of the Institute of Language, Literature, and National Manuscripts named after Magtymguly at the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan; Saragt Babayev, People’s Artist of Turkmenistan; and Aysoltan Agamyradova and Mekan Saparov, Italian language lecturers from Magtymguly Turkmen State University and Dovletmammed Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages, respectively, were met with great interest. They emphasized the uniqueness of the great poet’s works, which, despite their historical affiliation with the 18th century, remain modern and universal.

During the presentation, lines from Magtymguly’s poetry were recited, celebrating the greatness of the Motherland, friendship among peoples, and aspirations for peace. It was noted that these themes resonate deeply with people around the world today.

The year 2024 concludes Turkmenistan’s celebration under the motto “The Fount of Wisdom Magtymguly Fragi.” Numerous cultural and scientific events aimed at popularizing the poet’s legacy took place as part of this campaign. Among them was the opening of the “Magtumguly Fragi” cultural park complex in Ashgabat, featuring a grand monument to the poet and statues of great literary figures, including Dante Alighieri.

As noted by Carmelo Leona, cultural cooperation between Turkmenistan and Italy continues to deepen. In 2025, Rome will host an exhibition of ancient artifacts from Margiana and Nisa, some of which were discovered by Italian archaeologists.

At the end of the ceremony, participants expressed gratitude to Arkadagly Hero Serdar and Hero-Arkadag for supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening Turkmenistan’s cultural ties with foreign countries.

It was emphasized that Magtymguly’s creativity remains an important source of inspiration, uniting generations and cultures. His works, translated into dozens of languages worldwide, continue to make an invaluable contribution to global cultural dialogue.