Contrary to the practices in many oil and gas rich countries, where the rulers and their extended families squander their nation's wealth on opulent palaces and lavish lifestyles for themselves, Turkmenbashy established a means for the citizens to share in Turkmenistan's blessings.
Turkmenbashy writes:
Today, we have founded a state based on golden principles originating from Turkmen society's political, economic and cultural structure. We call this type of governance 'The Turkmen Way'. This is to the benefit of the Turkmen state and people.While the above passage is generalized, we must not be misled into believing that Turkmenbashy was "all words" and no action. In fact he mentions specific programs in Ruhnama which he put into practice.
The making of our state is still in process. I hope that the Golden Century will be the most splendid and developed era of our state administration.
Ruhnama I, p. 243.
Turkmenbashy writes:
I respect people who think out every matter in detail and elaborate on work meticulously. I recommend that the governors leading people should look at the future and assess it according to the criteria of the future and I want to especially underline this matter. During the early days of our independence, when I decided to distribute gas and electricity as free of charge to all Turkmenistan, Sapar Atayeviç said "We do not have cold winters, find wood to have tea." And there were many people who wanted me to make works of secondary importance a priority.Today's Turkmenistan is a reflection of Turkmenbashy's philosophy put into practice. The free gas and electricity, plus other subsidies and benefits are all realities. Read the following account of BBC correspondent Natalia Antelava's first-ever visit to Turkmenistan last month. Her observations are thus "current" and we can see the continuation of Turkmenbashy's programs under president Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov's administration.
There were people saying that "Nothing like this can be seen in the rest of the world?! If you distribute gas and electricity free of charge, our state shall go bankrupt." Those were the thoughts of people living into the day and who could not think in detail about fundamental issues. It was mandatory and vital to provide free gas and electricity in Turkmenistan. Moreover, we are the witnesses of this policy into a reality.
Ruhnama II, pp. 75, 76.
Article:
Mysterious state of Turkmenistan dispels myths and stereotypes
Ferghana.ru, 24-DEC-2007
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