“If it is my friend who told you that I was planning that, then do punish me. My friend would never lie. I trust him as much as I do myself. The death penalty is right for me.”

The Soltan said nothing in reply. He went to the jail where the commander’s friend was detained. He told him the same as he had said to his fellow commander. That commander said in reply:

“If it is my friend who did what you said, then carry out the punishment. For my friend would prefer death to lying.”

The next day the Soltan called the two friends before him.

“Now that I have such upright and honest men like you, there is no castle I can’t conquer,” said the Soltan, tears in his eyes. And he told them about the scheme he had planned. The Soltan then appointed one of these fellow commanders to the office of the chief commander, and the other to the office of the vizier.

In fact, it was a tough test. But it is also tough to keep the country afloat in difficult times. A friend is a mirror that reflects one’s heart. The Türkmen is ready to sacrifice his life for his friend. There are many cases in history that exemplify this. No one is to sacrifice his life today. But a friend in need is a friend indeed. It is necessary to have friends, but this need is much greater at difficult times. One should pay compliments to others, say words that express friendliness, know how to appease people and encourage people toward life.

My dear Türkmen Nation!

May friendship and brotherhood always accompany the Türkmen. Let us set it as an essential principle of our age of