トルクメニスタン、前大統領にちなんだ新都市お披露目　投資額７２００億円

【アルカダグＡＦＰ＝時事】中央アジア・トルクメニスタンで２９日、前大統領にちなんだ名を冠した新都市「アルカダグ」がお披露目された。投資額は５０億ドル（約７２００億円）に上る。（写真はトルクメニスタンに建設された都市「アルカダグ」で行われた式典の様子）
　首都アシガバートの南西約３０キロの場所に造られたアルカダグで行われた式典には、グルバングルイ・ベルドイムハメドフ前大統領の息子で、現大統領のセルダル・ベルドイムハメドフ氏が出席した。
　グルバングルイ氏自身はイスラム教の聖地メッカへの大巡礼「ハッジ」のためサウジアラビアにおり、式典には参加しなかった。
　旧ソ連構成国であるトルクメニスタンは秘密主義で知られており、外国メディアが取材を許可されるのはまれ。
　「アルカダグ（庇護＜ひご＞者）」の敬称で呼ばれるグルバングルイ氏は、式典が行われた２９日に６６歳の誕生日を迎えた。２００６年から務めた大統領の職を昨年退任し、息子が後を継いだ。しかし、人権監視団体は、実権は依然としてグルバングルイ氏が握っていると指摘する。
　天然ガスで得た利益を国民にはメリットがないグルバングルイ氏の個人崇拝のためのぜいたくなプロジェクトに浪費しているとの批判もある。
　当局はアルカダグの人口が約７万３０００人にまで増加すると見込んでいる。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/06/30-17:18）

Turkmenistan on Thursday inaugurated Arkadag, a $ 5-billion smart city built in honour of former strongman leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, cementing one of the most extraordinary personality cults in the world.
Serdar Berdymukhamedov, his son and current president, unveiled the city around 30 kilometres (18 miles) southwest of the capital Ashgabat during a grandiose ceremony attended by AFP journalists.
The ex-Soviet Central Asian nation is one of the most secretive countries in the world, and access for foreign media is extremely rare.
The new city built in the foothills of the picturesque Kopet-Dag mountains is named after Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who ruled over the country between 2006 and 2022 and now carries the title Hero Arkadag (Protector).
Glory to Arkadag and Serdar, glory to the Turkmen leader, participants dressed in traditional Turkmen clothes chanted during the ceremony.
The former president, who turned 66 on Thursday, remains the real decision-maker in the country, observers say. The elder Berdymukhamedov was making the hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia and was not present at the ceremony.
Rights groups have accused Turkmenistan of channelling money from its gas profits on lavish projects promoting Berdymukhamedov's personality cult with little benefit for the broader population.
Arkadag, which is in an earthquake zone, will eventually have a population of around 73,000, authorities have said.
The city is dotted with monuments including a sculpture in honour of Berdymukhamedov atop an Akhal-Teke horse, his favourite breed.
Officials have billed Arkadag as a city of the future, adding that green technologies were used in its construction.
An employee of the construction and architecture ministry said that Berdymukhamedov had closely overseen the project and provided his valuable recommendations.
Thanks to his efforts, a beautiful city has appeared on the land of our valiant ancestors, the employee said on condition of anonymity.