It is customary for the leaders of Turkmenistan to show inflexibility in maintaining the country’s authoritarian political system while being dexterous with a pen.Serdar Berdymukhamedov is no exception.
Berdymukhamedov, the titular Turkmen president, has just published his fourth book, titled Turkmenistan's Neutrality: A Bright Path to Peace and Trust, according to a report published by the official TDN news agency.
A launch event sponsored by the Turkmen Foreign Ministry began with a student choir singing a melody called Neutrality is Our Eternal Happiness.’ Attendees at the ceremony wished Berdymukhamedov “continued creative success and inexhaustible inspiration,” according to the TDN report, which added that the book is “intended to become a valuable resource for [Turkmen] political and economic specialists, diplomats, as well as scholars and journalists studying important issues of international cooperation.” The timing of the book’s publication was designed to coincide with celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality.
Previous works by Berdymukhamedov cover youth development and culture.His father, Gurbanguly, who remains Turkmenistan’s paramount leader although nominally semi-retired, has been a prolific author since he rose to power in 2006.
He has over 50 titles to his credit, including at least one novel and non-fiction works concerning topics ranging from horses and dogs to tea, herbal medicine and political philosophy.
Turkmenistan’s first post-Soviet leader, Saparmurat Niyazov, of course, established the literary requirement for leadership with the publication of the two-volume Ruhnama, or spiritual guide, which was required reading for years in Turkmen schools.