…LATIN SCRIPT ADOPTED…

On December 29, during the year-end meeting of the People’s Council and with its approval, Niazov signed a decree which replaces the Russian-Cyrillic script with the Latin as the official script of the Turkmen language. A specially formed interdepartmental commission will oversee the transition, which officially began on January 1, 2000. The change should facilitate the study of Western languages by Turkmens and stimulate the country’s relations with linguistically kindred Turkey (Turkmen Television, December 29, 31, 1999; Turan, January 3, 2000).

…ROSY PLEDGES MADE.