ASHKHABAD, February 19 (RIA Novosti's Viktor Panov) - On Saturday Turkmenistan celebrates the National Flag Day established in 1995 and the birthday of President Saparmurat Niyazov who turns 65.
In 1994-1995 February 19 was marked as a national holiday, the President's birthday, by the decision of Turkmenistan's parliament. However, a year later Mr. Niyazov ordered to mark February 19 as the National Flag Day.
Saparmurat Niyazov will not attend the festive events, the gala performance at the Olympic stadium in Turkmenistan's capital and the official dinner.
The President is getting ready for an ophthalmologic operation scheduled for February 22.
