12 October 2001

U.S., Turkmenistan Launch Mosque Preservation Project in Annau

The United States and Turkmenistan have launched a restoration project at the 15th-century Seit Jemmalatdin Mosque in Annau, according to a press release from the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat. The venture marked the one-month anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks in America, as well as the 53rd anniversary of the earthquake of 1948 that destroyed Ashgabat.

At the opening ceremony for the project on October 11, U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan Laura E. Kennedy said:

"U.S. involvement in this project symbolizes our profound respect for Turkmen culture and our continuing support for Turkmen independence... It also symbolizes our respect for Islam, a great world religion."

Noting that millions of Muslims live in the United States, Kennedy said, "America is also a nation of Islam."

Following is the text of the embassy press release:

The Governments of Turkmenistan and the United States officially opened a restoration project at the 15th-century Seit Jemmalatdin Mosque in Annau on October 11, 2001. With support from the U.S. Government, local archeologists and historians will reconstruct the unique mosaic tile of the mosque, build tourist walkways and strengthen the foundation of the ruins. U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan Laura E. Kennedy and Turkmenistan's Minister of Culture Orazgeldy Aydogdiyev opened the project by joining two pieces of the ancient mosaic, which both said was symbolic of the two countries' cooperation and friendship.

The event marked the one-month anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks in America, as well as the 53rd anniversary of the earthquake of 1948 that destroyed Ashgabat. At the opening ceremony, Ambassador Kennedy said that this day "marks the opening of a project with significant religious, historic and artistic value, as well as with profound symbolism for both the United States and Turkmenistan... Turkmenistan and the United States will begin the process of putting back together the beautiful mosque and restoring it to the people of Turkmenistan. And also today, together with Turkmenistan and our other friends, we are piecing back together the fabric of the modern world, restoring to us all a sense of security and humanity after the tragic events of September 11."

Minister Aydogdiyev noted that the Annau mosque is considered one of the holiest sites in the country and is a place of pilgrimage of many Turkmen Muslims. He and Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov praised Turkmen-American cooperation, which in Annau dates to 1904 and continues today.

Ambassador Kennedy also noted that "U.S. involvement in this project symbolizes our profound respect for Turkmen culture and our continuing support for Turkmen independence, the tenth anniversary of which we celebrate in a few days. It also symbolizes our respect for Islam, a great world religion. America is also a nation of Islam. Millions of our citizens are Muslims."

Ruslan Muradov, Vice-President of the Turkmen Union of Architects and manager of the project, hopes to complete work within one year and display the reconstructed mosaic tile in a museum on site in Annau. For more details or to view photographs of the event, please visit the embassy's website at www.usemb-ashgabat.rpo.at.