CA-NEWS (TM) - Girl with a bare navel is depravity, and cotton-gauze bandages on faces is alarmism-Vice Premier of Turkmenistan

According to free press, Turkmen authorities prohibit citizens to engage popular over the world Arab dances.

Ashgabad hyakimlik held a special meeting according this. During the meeting were made tacit governmental recommendation on unacceptably of belly dances. Now only publicly.

The idea was proposed by Vice-Premier of Turkmenistan Maysa Yazmuhammedova. And this is not her only proposal for the last time. Earlier she introduced a uniform for female school teachers. Now, they and female students should visit classes wearing only national dress. Besides, minister personally approves dresses of artists participating in national celebrations. If anybody stands against the rules he would be deprived an opportunity to perform in the country. And their music recordings would be withdrawed from sales.

One more relevant innovation concerns students. This Autumn rectors of higher education institutes received requirement to decline student to drive to institutions on their own automobiles. At the same time traffic police was ordered to catch young infringers and levy fine equivalent to US$ 50.

Local experts are in doubts concerning extraordinary authorities decisions. Struggle against A/H1N1 flu is conducted very originally. Health Minister of the Republic performed on TV with a statement that no cases of swine flu were registered in Turkmenistan. Hence, no need to wear respiratory masks.

Health Ministry officials visited outlets and educational institutions of Ashgabat. Ministry strongly demanded a removal of gauze bandages not to sow panic among the population. They are not even convinced a public excitement observed these days in pharmacies. There are no antivirals and oxolinic ointment on sale anymore. People buy antibiotics and vitamins, which prices as in Russia increased.

Nowadays, there is even a "black market" where prices times higher than in pharmacies. For example, medical bandages cost 35,000-50,000 non denominated manat (US$ 1=14,250 manat). Not long ago such bandages could be bought for 5,000 manat in pharmacies.

Infectious hospitals are filled. In some of them, doctors decline to receive new patients and recommend treatment at home. Rumors tell about dozens deaths of the flu. With all this, reliable information is closed for population.

Absurdity of Ministry of Health officials' behavior, according to local experts, explained by realities of domestic policy of authorities: there should be no negative in an era of great revival. State authorities prefer to talk only about prosperity in Turkmenistan. Not only about the Republic but for every Turkmen family. Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov mentioned that high economic development rate provides stable tax incomes and creates conditions for a further economic growth, successful implementation of all scheduled programs, and hence, increase welfare of people. In this connection, was made a decision to increase salary, pension, aids, and student stipend by 11% from the next year.