“Nowruz is a holiday of peace and humanism”

Dear President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov
Distinguished Heads of State and Government
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a distinct privilege and honour for me to be with you to celebrate the International Day of Nowruz in this magnificent city, Ashgabat.

I thank our generous host, esteemed President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and the people of Turkmenistan for their extraordinary hospitality.

Let me also extend the congratulations and best greetings from the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon.

Under the strong leadership of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Turkmenistan has gained impressive achievements in its economic development and in the foreign policy area. A neutral State, Turkmenistan is greatly respected by the international community for its sober and far-reaching initiatives aimed at making the whole region safer and open for multifaceted cooperation.

Today, 300 million people across the world celebrate Nowruz, one of the most ancient and beautiful festivals on earth. They come together to look ahead with fresh energy, resolve and hope, and to mark a new beginning. In brief, families, neighbours and communities unite anew.

The importance and significance of this tradition was recognized by the United Nations General Assembly with the adoption of the Resolution that designated the 21st of March as the International Day of Nowruz. All the countries which are present at today’s event were instrumental in ensuring the recognition of this festival.

The spirit of Nowruz – with its focus on renewal and community – can guide us and inspire us in our response to change. The initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to bring together global and regional leaders to attach particular meaning to the promise of Nowruz, using the International Day as a practical platform for dialogue and to build momentum for action, is therefore very much timely.

Nowruz is a celebration of the value of cultural diversity. With more than 3,000 years of history, it is also a welcome reminder of the role of tradition and heritage in a fast-paced world. Our unique identities and individual backgrounds remain important and relevant in our era of globalization. Tradition and innovation are not contradictory but complementary.

The International Day of Nowruz allows us to recommit to the universal values of tolerance, respect, mutual understanding and the equal worth of every human being. All people, regardless of ethnicity, carry the same aspiration: to live in peace, prosperity and dignity.

Another essential aspect of Nowruz is respect for nature and the need to live in harmony with our environment. This message resonates across our globe, which is affected by rising temperatures and an increase in extreme weather events. For the third year in a row, the cost of global natural disasters has exceeded 100 billion dollars.

Climate change, including increasing desertification, has the biggest impact on the future of humankind. Preserving our planet for coming generations is a shared obligation. Therefore, we highly value the international initiatives of Turkmenistan.

We live at a time of deep transformations. Our Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, has termed this era the “Great Transition”. As the human family, we are challenged by economic crisis, instability and conflict from the Middle East to the Sahel, ethnic splits, persistent poverty and growing inequalities, a rise in extremist sentiment in many regions and the emergence of unfamiliar power structures.

It is also a time of contradictions. There are almost 7 billion mobile phone subscriptions in the world and 2.5 billion people are connected to the Internet. But, at the same time, 1.5 billion fellow human beings have no access to electricity. Global military expenditure now exceeds 1.7 trillion dollars but over 1 billion people live in poverty.

Yet, it is also a time of huge opportunities. Scientific breakthroughs and the rapid spread of information technologies bring unprecedented opportunities for progress in the fight against poverty and climate change and in support of individual empowerment. We must enable all people to share the benefits equitably and responsibly.

Significant developments are also taking place in Central Asia, which has become strategically important. Therefore, it is time for accelerating progress and engaging more deeply at both global and regional levels, through the United Nations and regional organizations. In this respect, the host country takes concrete measures that are very much appreciated.

The second largest United Nations centre in the world, Geneva provides an indispensable platform for the international community’s efforts to promote peace, development and human rights at this time of change. More than 10,000 meetings are held every year at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
We highly value the recent visit of esteemed President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Geneva and his very substantive talks with the heads of major international organizations.

Mr. President, Excellencies:
The Nowruz festival, graciously held in Ashgabat, a city of broad international dimension, is an excellent opportunity to send a message of peace around the world and show our strong commitment to international cooperation for the benefit of all peoples.

I extend my best wishes in the New Year.

Thank you for your attention.