of Türkmenistan must carry out more extensive research on the matters expressed in `Ruhnama`. The essential thing in your reading of this book and the recognition of the ideas in it is not to take too narrow a view of its meaning and issues. Where history is mentioned, it is not as my main objective but as a tool to express efficiently, reveal and demonstrate my thoughts. It is a tool to indicate the greatness of Türkmens.

Moral climates do not form suddenly or by coincidence. The last seventy-five years we have lived and the burdens which many of us could not bear rendered us Türkmens almost unable to gather any moral resources. This was a result of the fact that others aimed to use the Türkmen territory merely for the production of raw materials and in order to do so they intended to bring Türkmens into the position of a society which would be forced to import their all values from abroad.

The greatness of the time, since the day we got our independence to the present day, lies in the fact that Türkmens transformed themselves from a consumer nation to a producer nation. I assert that the transformation from being a consumer nation, either materially or morally, to being in the position of producer nation is a great historical transformation.

Ruhnama is a book which will awaken our nation’s capacity for moral productivity and will make them the most industrious. In this historic task, it will be the unseen moral catalyst of great material advancement. In this, the power which is our helper is our pride in our past and our respect for our future.

The philosophy of the Ruhnama is the basis of this honour and respect; the emotional aspects of Ruhnama are the essence of this honour and respect.