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Ban sees Nowruz as opportunity to bolster UN goals for sustainable development

Xinhua, March 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday hailed Nowruz as an occasion to strengthen the international community's resolve to leave no one behind in the collective bid to a more sustainable future.

Calling Nowruz "an ancient tradition with modern relevance" in his message to mark International Day of Nowruz, Ban underscored "our vision for a life of dignity for all people," saying that "Let us enable all people who celebrate Nowruz to celebrate with joy and meaning -- and let us spread its essential message of hope and renewal around the world."

This was also the first year of the historic Paris Agreement on climate change, which "possesses enormous potential to open a new future," and the first year of the global efforts to carry out the Sustainable Development Goals, approved in September 2015 as a blueprint for the next 15 years, Ban noted.

Nowruz, which marks the first day of spring and the renewal of nature, is celebrated by more than 300 million people all around the world and has been celebrated for more than 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions.

It promotes values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families as well as reconciliation and neighbourliness, thus contributing to cultural diversity and friendship among peoples and different communities.

The secretary-general also stressed that conflict, discrimination and other violations of human rights continue to take an immense toll.

"We must respond with compassionate action that addresses immediate suffering while tackling root causes," Ban said. "With its focus on good relations, environmental stewardship and lasting peace, Nowruz is an occasion to strengthen our resolve to leave no one behind in our journey to a better future."

In 2009, Nowruz was inscribed on the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It has been proclaimed as an official UN observance because it promotes peace and solidarity, particularly in families.

Also on Monday, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova called Norwruz "an outstanding manifestation of how living cultural heritage expresses the way we understand the world and the means by which we shape it for the good of all." Endit