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UN chief sees Nowruz as "wonderful opportunity" to celebrate cultural diversity, dialogue

Xinhua, March 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday said that "the annual observance of Nowruz is a wonderful opportunity for people to join together to celebrate cultural diversity, dialogue and mutual respect."

"It is a moment of unity and solidarity, within and among societies, that is all the more important at times of strife and division," the secretary-general said in his message to mark the International Day of Nowruz, which falls on March 21.

About 300 million people worldwide celebrate Nowruz, with traditions and rituals particularly strong in the Balkans, the Black Sea and Caspian Sea regions, the Caucasus, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East. Events may include folk dance performances, special concerts, and tree planting ceremonies.

In February 2010, the UN General Assembly decided to recognize the International Day of Nowruz, calling on UN member states that celebrate the festival to study its history and traditions with a view to disseminating that knowledge among the international community and organizing annual commemoration events.

"This year's Nowruz also takes on special meaning as the United Nations works to shape a new vision for sustainable future and adopt a meaningful universal climate agreement," Ban said. "These priorities for 2015 are in line with the spirit of Nowruz, which promotes harmony with nature and all peoples to foster cooperation for lasting peace."

Nowruz is inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

"I wish joyous and peaceful celebrations to all," he said. "May the spirit of Nowruz live on throughout the year." Endite