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ASHGABAT (Reuters) - Turkmenistan's flamboyant President Saparmurat Niyazov, after whom cities, airports and even a meteorite have been named, has proposed a new honor for himself -- the month of January will now bear his name.
Niyazov, officially known as Turkmenbashi, or Head of all the Turkmen, but usually known as Turkmenbashi the Great, proposed that January be renamed Turkmenbashi at a meeting of the People's Council, the country's highest consultative body.
The former Soviet state currently uses the 12-month international calendar, and the names directly translate from its Latin origins. The official state language is Turkmen, a Turkic language.
Other months are to be given names such as "The Flag," "Independence" and "Rukhnama," the title of a quasi-religious spiritual guide written by Niyazov and published last year. Names of national heroes and poets will also be used.
But April will be called "Mother" in an apparent reference to Niyazov's own mother, who died when he was a child. Statues of her have appeared across Ashgabat in recent years, although they are far outnumbered by monuments to her son.
Niyazov was offered the presidency for life in 1999, although he has said he may step down and hold elections in 2010.
But Thursday's People's Council, broadcast live on state television (which carries a golden silhouette of Niyazov at all times), firmly rejected this, as delegate after delegate insisted they wanted him to stay in power until he died.
Niyazov, officially known as Turkmenbashi, or Head of all the Turkmen, but usually known as Turkmenbashi the Great, proposed that January be renamed Turkmenbashi at a meeting of the People's Council, the country's highest consultative body.
The former Soviet state currently uses the 12-month international calendar, and the names directly translate from its Latin origins. The official state language is Turkmen, a Turkic language.
Other months are to be given names such as "The Flag," "Independence" and "Rukhnama," the title of a quasi-religious spiritual guide written by Niyazov and published last year. Names of national heroes and poets will also be used.
But April will be called "Mother" in an apparent reference to Niyazov's own mother, who died when he was a child. Statues of her have appeared across Ashgabat in recent years, although they are far outnumbered by monuments to her son.
Niyazov was offered the presidency for life in 1999, although he has said he may step down and hold elections in 2010.
But Thursday's People's Council, broadcast live on state television (which carries a golden silhouette of Niyazov at all times), firmly rejected this, as delegate after delegate insisted they wanted him to stay in power until he died.
