12.09.2020 19:06, Panjakent city<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Distinguished Compatriots,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a great honor I would like to\ncongratulate the glorious people of my country, including the people of the\nancient city of Panjakent, which is not only the birthplace of the great\nTajik-Persian poet \u2013 the humanity\u2019s poet Abuabdullo Rudaki, but also a cradle\nof the ancient history of the Tajik people, on our holy national holiday – the\n29th<\/sup> anniversary\nof our state independence and on the 5500th anniversary of Sarazm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reverence for the sweet and poetic Tajik\nlanguage, glorious history and culture, revival of good ancestral customs and\ntraditions, promotion of ancestral heritage and protection of tangible and\nintangible heritage of the Tajik people became the possibility for the glorious\npeople of Tajikistan thanks to independence and freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the contemporary times, especially in\nan environment, where the clash between civilizations and different cultural\nvalues is intensifying, it is possible to withstand the destructive effects of\nglobalization only through an in-depth study of history and the promotion of\nrich historical and cultural heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I would like to emphasize that the love\ntowards the beloved Motherland stems from the knowledge of the glorious history\nand instructive past of the nation. Indeed, the ancient history of the Tajik\npeople and the precious tangible and intangible heritage of the past, including\nhistorical sites, is the greatest school of self-education for every member of\nsociety, especially teenagers and young people. The task of scientists,\nscholars, teachers and parents is to explain to the younger generation the\nimportance of this great heritage and to encourage and guide them to study the\nancient and glorious history of our people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, there are 3000 historical sites in\nour country, each of which attracts the attention of famous domestic and\nforeign scientists, tourists and guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ancient sites, including Kuldara<\/em>, Khonaqoh<\/em>,\nancient Sarazm, Takhti<\/em> Sangin<\/em>, Ajinateppa<\/em>,\nancient Panjakent, Hulbuk, Bunjikat, Shahriston, Hisorak, Sanjarshoh<\/em>,\nKaron, Yamchun and dozens of other places are annually explored through\ndomestic and international ethnographic expeditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sarazm is one of such ancient sites. The\nmeaning of this historical name is “where the land begins”, which is\na strong proof of the glorious and ancient history of the Tajik people. We have\naccomplished many activities to preserve this great historical heritage since\nindependence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As early as in 2000, the Government issued\nits resolution declaring Sarazm site – a center for the formation of Tajik\ncivilization, handicrafts and urban planning \u2013 as a historical and\narcheological reserve. I visited this place twice in 2003-2005, got acquainted\nwith its situation and mandated the responsible persons to protect and study\nthis unique place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though the country had scarce financial resources\nin those days, we have allocated the necessary funds for the protection of this\nunique site. As a result, its five excavation areas were covered with a roof\nand the site was fanced during 2003-2008.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this process, historical and\narcheological materials and scientific evidence on the basis of research by\ndomestic and foreign scientists were submitted to inscribe Sarazm into the\nUNESCO World Heritage List. Thus, this reputable organization inscribed Sarazm\ninto the list of the most unique sites of universal culture on July 31, 2010.\nThen, the Government adopted its relevant resolutionon on celebration of the\n5500th anniversary of Sarazm, which is recognized by scientists and the\ninternational community as a center for the formation of Tajik agricultural,\nhandicraft and urban planning. This document ensured a lot of landscaping and\ninfrastructure development activities carried out in the city of Panjakent, and\ntoday we witness the city\u2019s beautiful image, and its residents together with\nall the people of Tajikistan enjoying the celebration of their ancient\nhomeland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taking this opportunity, I would like to\nwelcome all scientists and researchers and participants of the International\nSymposium “Sarazm – the beginning of the Tajik civilization of agriculture,\nhandicrafts and urban planning” to beautiful Tajikistan and the ancient\ncity of Panjakent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Sarazm ancient city site was\ndiscovered in 1976 by the Tajik archeologist Abdullojon Ishakov. The results of\nscientific research on this historical site have been discussed at many\ninternational scientific conferences and fora in Tajikistan, Russia, the United\nStates, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan and\nAfrican countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sarazm is a unique site of the Eneolithic\nand Bronze Ages in Central Asia, which covers the period from the 4th to the\n3rd millennia BCE and in some regions up to the 2nd<\/sup> millennium BCE.\nHistorians believe that the formation of two pure models of economy and culture\nin Central Asia – a stable form of agriculture and field livestock – completed,\nand the most important historical process – the formation of production,\nincluding agriculture, animal husbandry and handicrafts \u2013 began during this\nperiod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first serious research on the study of\nthe Eneolithic and Bronze Age sites in the territory of contemporary Tajikistan\nwas conducted in the 50s of the last century in the territory of Qairoqqum and\nBeshkent valley. Later, Bronze Age artifacts were found in Istaravshan, the\nmiddle and lower reaches of the Vakhsh River and other parts of Tajikistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the independence, other Bronze Age\nartifacts were discovered in Kangurtut, Teguzak, Dahana, as well as in the\nmiddle and lower reaches of the Vakhsh River, the Hisor Valley, and more\nrecently in Farkhor, which is currently being studied by specialists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ancient town of Sarazm is\ngeographically the northernmost cultural and agricultural settlement in Central\nAsia, and the civilization of Sarazm has lasted for almost 1500 years. Until\n1980, the site was visited by famous archeologists Alexander Belenitsky, Vadim\nMason, Boris Litvinsky, Rauf Munchaev, Boris Marshak, Ahmadali Askarov, Numon\nNematov, Philippe Coll, Karl Lamberg-Karlovsky, Henri Paul Francfort and Bertil\nLeone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since then, Sarazm has become one of the\nleading research centers by world-class specialists. Since 1984, foreign\ncenters of science and archeology, first ad foremost, French scientists Henri\nPaul Francfort and Roland Bezenwall, and a year later American researchers\nPhilippe Coll and Karl Lamberg-Karlovsky, as well as Russian researchers\nNatalia Vinogradova, Vadim Mason and Lyubov Kircho joined the studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The comprehensive study of Sarazm site has\nbeen ongoing since 1984, during which Tajik scholars with their French,\nRussian, Chinese, Italian and American colleagues have studied the full history\nof the site, taking into account various aspects of life in its territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The resolution to celebrate the 5500th\nanniversary of Sarazm gave a new impetus to a completely new period of research\nand study of this unique site. In this regard, archeological excavations and\npreparation of excavations for the celebration have been scaled up, and a large\nnumber of domestic and foreign archaeologists have been involved in its study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is important to note that Sarazm is one\nof the oldest centers of agricultural, handicraft and urban development not\nonly in Central Asia, but also the entire Middle East region – Afghanistan,\nIran, Pakistan and India. Therefore, the scientific community rightfully\nconsiders the culture of Sarazmians as the beginning and the foundation of\ncivilization of agriculture, handicrafts and urban development in the basin\nbetween the Sirdaryo and Amudaryo rivers. Our distant ancestors, before\nchoosing the site of Sarazm as their permanent residence, may have taken into\naccount the main factor \u2013 abundance of water resources and vast soft soils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sarazm was the birthplace of the first\narchitects of the Varorud region, and to date more than 150 houses, 4 fire\ntemples, a granary and a cottage have been discovered under the ground. The\ndiscovered objects of this ancient city testify to the high interest in the urban\nculture of our ancestors, and we see the beginning of the formation of the\nurban culture of our ancestors on the basis of the architectural and\nconstruction art of Sarazm. At the end of the fourth millennium BCE, the city\nof Sarazm was also known as one of the major centers of metal production. The\nupper mountains of Zarafshon rich in copper, gold, silver, lead, tin and other\nminerals facilitated the development of this craft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Indeed, today the territory of Panjakent\nis one of the largest gold and copper mining areas in Tajikistan.\nArchaeological excavations have uncovered a variety of mining tools, as well as\nmolds for casting tools and weapons, including more than 300 units of copper,\nbronze, lead, silver and gold tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Tajik scholars\u2019 studies proved that\nSarazm inhabitants have mastered more than 40 types of handicraft.\nArchaeological finds testify to the cultural and commercial ties of Sarazm with\nthe present-day territories of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and other lands.\nDevelopment of trade relations during transition period lasting from the 4th<\/sup> to 3rd<\/sup> millennia\nhas evolved Sarazm into one of the centers of cultural integration in the\nancient world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As early as in 1981-1991 Tajik, Russian,\nAmerican and French scholars and archaeologists estimated 5 500-year history of\nSarazm. American and French archaeologists have dated foundation of Sarazm to\n5899-5765 and 5775-5364 respectively, and Tajik and Russian scholars amounted\nit to 5600-5500. These dates have been studied and confirmed based on the\nradiocarbon and chemical analysis in the laboratories of Boston, Paris and St.\nPetersburg, where the charcoal samples excavated in Sarazm have been\nscrutinized. And as a result of the scientific studies, the scholars have come\nto conclusion that beginning of the history of Sarazm traces back to 5500\nyears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many pages of the history of Sarazm have\nyet to be unveiled, and we hope that national and foreign scholars will\ncontinue exploring vague pages of the history of this center of civilization\nand make it accessible to the world community. We would like to express our\ngratitude to all of the national and foreign scholars and researchers, who\nexplore the ancient and glorious history of the Tajik people and publish\nvaluable scientific articles and thesis papers. We wish them success in their\nuneasy and still valuable work in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dear friends!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the period of independence, the\nancient city of Panjakent has developed significantly along with other cities\nand districts of the country. Small and large manufacturing enterprises,\nhundreds of social facilities, including educational and health facilities,\nshopping and service centers have been built on its territory. Urban\ndevelopment activities have gained unprecedented momentum, especially in the\nlight of celebration of the 5500th<\/sup> anniversary of Sarazm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During 29 years of state independence, the\nTajik Government has always attached a great importance to the socio-economic\ndevelopment of Panjakent and improvement of its residents\u2019 lives through using\nall resources and opportunities to achieve the state\u2019s highest goal – to raise\nthe living standards. Accordingly, in the past twenty years alone the public\nbudget allocated more than TJS 1.2billion for this purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The population of Panjakent in 1991 made\n162,235 people, and by 1 January 2020, it exceeded 303,000 meaning it increased\nby 87% or almost doubled compared to 1991.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, the Government has\nimplemented 18 public investment projects on construction, repair and equipment\nof educational institutions, construction and reconstruction of roads,\nreduction of energy losses, farm support, embankment and disaster prevention\nworth more than TJS 1.3billion in the city of Panjakent. Currently, nine public\ninvestment projects worth TJS 330m are under implementation in Panjakent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the independence period, with the\nsupport of the Government of Tajikistan and through mobilization of domestic\nand foreign capital we established 50 new enterprises and workshops in the city\nand thereby created jobs for thousands of residents in Panjakent city and rural\narea in this district. In this period, we constructed two small\nhydropower plants with the capacity of 500 kW each, 444 km of 0.4 kV\ntransmission lines, 91 km of high-voltage \u201cAyni \u2013 Panjakent\u201d transmission line and\n425 transformer stations and one 35 kV power substation, and renovated 220 kV\n\u201cRudaki\u201d power substation totaling to TJS 260m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Government support and funding\ndeveloped new lands in the city of Panjakent during this period. Thus, the area\nfor rice cultivation was increased to 1800 hectares and potatoes to more than\n6600 hectares, which increased rice production to 9000 tons and potatoes to 102\n000 tons. Also, during this period 580 hectares of new orchards and vineyards\nincluding more than 20 hectares of intensive orchards were created. During this\ntime, farmers of the city have built 39 greenhouses with an area of \u200b\u200babout 11 000m2<\/sup> and four cold storages\nwith the capacity of 1130 tons of fruits and vegetables, which have been\noperative effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reconstruction and renovation of 113km\nAyni-Panjakent highway at a cost of TJS 770m is one of the most important\ninitiatives implemented by the Government for the benefit of people in\nPanjakent during the independence period, which eased the life of this area\u2019s\nresidents. In addition, more than 30 km of internal roads have been repaired\nand renovated in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the support of the Government and\ninvolvement of entrepreneurs, new buildings of 43 educational institutions and\n51 health centers and clinics were built and put into operation in Panjakent.\nAlso, 40 health centers and clinics have been repaired in the rural areas, and\nthe construction of 12 medical clinics is underway to celebrate the 30th<\/sup> anniversary\nof State Independence. Overall, 277 of 405 buildings and facilities have been\nput into operation within the development plan of action on the occasion of the\ngrand national holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I am confident that the process of\ndevelopment by generous entrepreneurs, businesses and the hardworking people of\nPanjakent will continue. I would like to recall that in addition to the\nactivities accomplished to present, the Government intends to arrange a number\nof other events for the 30th<\/sup> anniversary of state independence in order to\nfurther develop the city and rural areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today we commissioned a modern hospital\nfor 200 beds with all necessary conditions and medical equipment in the center\nof the city. As a part of my business trip, I participated in the opening\nceremony of a new school for 1280 seats, several industrial enterprises and\nadministrative facilities, and got acquainted with the effective work of the\ncity’s well-known farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In recent years, significant activities\nhave been accomplished in the field of culture in the city. Thus, a museum was\nbuilt in the conservation area of Sarazm and a library was opened in the city\ncenter. These facilities offer favorable conditions to hold all kinds of\ncultural and educational events, especially for tourists and visitors to this\nancient city. I believe that the honorable and proud people of Panjakent have\ngained new strength from their glorious and ancient history and today’s\ndevelopment changes, and will make greater efforts for the further development\nof their homeland, preservation of its history and valuable ancestral\ntraditions in a peaceful environment, complete political stability and national\nunity of our beloved country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I would also like to emphasize that the\ncity authorities, together with the relevant agencies, including the Committee\nfor Tourism Development have to take necessary actions on the effective use of\nSarazm as a unique historical site and other special sites to attract domestic\nand foreign tourists, create modern infrastructure, as well as learn from the\nexperience of the developed countries on training of personnel to welcome and\nserve tourists. I would like to recall that if targeted work in this direction\nis carried out on the right pathway, the city of Panjakent and its unique sites\ncan be turned into a tourism business card of Tajikistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In conclusion, I once again congratulate\nall people of the country, including the residents of ancient Panjakent, on the\ntwenty-ninth anniversary of the independence and freedom of our beloved\nTajikistan and the 5500th<\/sup> Anniversary of Sarazm, and wish everyone and each of you\ngood health, prosperity, and success. Let this great historical date remain\nforever in the memory of our compatriots as an important means of national\npride, self-education and self-awareness, and become a new step in the further\ndevelopment of culture and spirituality of our people and the education of\nfuture generations of the nation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I wish you all success, dear compatriots!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 12.09.2020 19:06, Panjakent city Distinguished Compatriots, Ladies and Gentlemen, With a great honor I would like to congratulate the glorious people of my country, including the people of the ancient city of Panjakent, which is not only the birthplace of the great Tajik-Persian poet \u2013 the humanity\u2019s poet Abuabdullo Rudaki, but also a cradle of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tnu.tj\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10852"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tnu.tj\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tnu.tj\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tnu.tj\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tnu.tj\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10852"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tnu.tj\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10852\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10853,"href":"https:\/\/tnu.tj\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10852\/revisions\/10853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tnu.tj\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10852"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}