By empty (2/2/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)
The Turkmen parliament has approved a decree declaring 2005 the year of President Saparmurat Niyazov\'s book, Rukhnama. The previous two years had been proclaimed years of Niyazov\'s father and mother, Atamurat and Gurbansoltan-edzhe. In 1998, Niyazov suggested creating a program for the spiritual development of Turkmenistan.
The Turkmen parliament has approved a decree declaring 2005 the year of President Saparmurat Niyazov\'s book, Rukhnama. The previous two years had been proclaimed years of Niyazov\'s father and mother, Atamurat and Gurbansoltan-edzhe. In 1998, Niyazov suggested creating a program for the spiritual development of Turkmenistan. The book, which he then proposed to call Rukhnama, was meant to become a charter of a man\'s behavior, a collection of laws and standards for Turkmen society. The main purpose of the book, as Niyazov said, is \"directing spiritual development and restoring forgotten traditions, which will help restore the spirit of the people.\" In honor of the book, September was renamed Rukhnama, while Saturday is now called Rukhgyun (day of spirit). (Interfax)