ASHGABAT (AP) -- Turkmenistan's new president has called for the abolition of state-funded concerts and dances in his honor during tours of the country, state media reported Saturday.

Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov, who last month was elected to succeed the late Saparmurat Niyazov, said the money instead should be used to fund youth festivals and competitions in the Central Asian country.

"None of us can be the kind of person our great leader was. He was a great man with a great soul," Berdymukhamedov told a Cabinet meeting Friday.

Berdymukhamedov also called for certain circumstances when Turkmens should swear the so-called oath of allegiance to their country and leader. The president said the pledge has become ubiquitous and should be restricted to special occasions.

A Saturday morning newscast on Turkmen state television was broadcast without the usual oath at the end.

Niyazov unexpectedly died from heart failure in December after two decades of rule, having cultivated a vast personality cult by erecting massive statues honoring him and naming months and days of the week after himself and members of his family.