International Day of Nowruz

Distinguished Deputy Minister Mammadaliyeva
Distinguished Permanent Representatives
Ladies and gentlemen:

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to this celebration of Nowruz. I must confess that this is my second celebration of Nowruz, as last week I took part in a very impressive event in the beautiful capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat. So, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Permanent Missions of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan for this vibrant tribute to the New Year and to peace, harmony and mutual respect. My special thanks to the mission of Azerbaijan which has kindly brought here a group of folk musicians performing ancient Mugham music. No doubt, we will enjoy it.

The spring festival of Nowruz marks the beginning of a New Year for more than 300 million people around the world. Thousands of years old, this tradition unites countries, regions, religions and languages. Families, neighbours and communities come together to celebrate renewal and unity. The United Nations General Assembly recognized the importance and significance of this tradition by designating the 21st of March as the International Day of Nowruz. Having done so, Member States reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to dialogue among civilizations and to promoting solidarity, peace and prosperity.

The organization of this event by the nine Missions truly illustrates the historic value of Nowruz which has become a symbol of friendship, solidarity and commitment. I am pleased that through this celebration we can highlight the results achieved by such fruitful collaboration. And of course, I am especially pleased to showcase these joint efforts here at the Palais des Nations.

In the celebration of Nowruz we also may see the respect for nature, since this festival itself comes from nature. This message has never been more relevant than it is today, in a world faced with rising temperatures, loss of biodiversity, extreme weather events and other critical challenges. In the celebration of this spring festival, we have the opportunity to recommit ourselves to doing more to protect our natural surroundings, and for the sustainable development of our world.

Nowruz is a time of hope and rejuvenation. It is a time for inspiration. It is a promotion of the universal values of tolerance, respect and mutual understanding. I am grateful to the nine organizing Missions for not only bringing us a lively and interesting event, but also the opportunity to come together in support of our shared vision for a better world.

Thank you very much.