As the Ashgabat correspondent of Turkmenistan.ru reports, the master of Russian variety art, people's artist of the USSR Joseph Kobzon held a big concert at the Palace of Mukam (Melody) of the National Cultural Center of Turkmenistan yesterday.

The central mass media of Turkmenistan described the concert as a big event in the cultural life of Ashgabat. The heads of CIS governments, who arrived in Ashgabat to participate in the CIS summit, as well as other spectators, attended the concert.

At the concert the singer sang famous songs that are part of the gold fund of the Russian musical culture, romances, folk and modern songs about imperishable human values. The performance of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Interior Ministry of the Russian Federation added a particular color to the concert.

Vice prime minister of Turkmenistan Maysa Yazmuhamedova delivered a speech on behalf of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in the end of the concert. She thanked Joseph Kobzon for the work he has done in the name of peace and rapprochement of peoples and stressed that the famous artist's visit to Ashgabat would widen the scope of cooperation between Turkmen and Russian cultures. The vice prime minister cordially congratulated the singer on his 70th birthday, presented him with valuable gifts and conveyed the best wishes and sincere congratulations of the president of Turkmenistan.

In an interview with the Turkmen State News Service (TDH) after the concert, Joseph Kobzon said in particular: "I am struck by what I saw in Turkmenistan today. I hope this situation continues in the future. You have a good president now. He is a handsome, young and energetic person. I wish happiness to him and prosperity to the people of Turkmenistan."