Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Sept. 7 / Trend , H.Hasanov/
The heads of the Caspian CIS countries are expected to be guests at the final part of the Silk Road Rally - Dakar Series - scheduled for Sept. 13, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said at the latest government meeting, national TV channel Altyn Asyr reported on Sept. 7.
The president said that the auto rally, which started in Kazan (Tatarstan) yesterday, will become not only a major sporting event, but also a very important achievement in giving a new drive in international cooperation.
The Russian media reported that at a briefing in the capital of Tatarstan the race director, Semyon Yakubov, said that the rally route has been adjusted in order "so that participants could welcome the President ...."
He said that the meeting will be held in the Caspian city of Turkmenbashi, so the participants will travel along the Balkanabat - Turkmenbashi route on Sept 12, instead of the Balkanabad-Darwaza route. The marathon, sponsored by state fund Turkmengaz, passes through the territory of Russia, Kazakhstan and will finish in Turkmenistan.
Berdimuhamedov ordered that all activities were to be undertaken at the appropriate organizational level in consistency with the high status of the prestigious rally, emphasizing the need to publicize this event in the media.
The Russian KAMAZ-Master, which attracted the French company Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) - the organizer of the legendary "Dakar" - to participate, is responsible for the auto show. The rally will be attended by Volkswagen, Man, Ginaf, Iveco, Mercedes, Tatra, and Kamaz-Master teams and the participants are from France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Kuwait, the United States, Brazil, Belgium, Chile, Britain and other countries.
The Russian Kamaz is represented by seven teams, Kazakhstan has ten and Turkmenistan has three jeeps and two KAMAZ trucks, the local media reported.
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