DUSHANBE, March 28, 2110, Asia-Plus – Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said registration of Navrouz as an international event is a chance to introduce rich and sublime oriental culture to western nations, IRNA reported on March 28.
The Supreme Leader made the remark in a meeting with heads of state of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the Azeri foreign minister and Turkish deputy premier accompanied by Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The foreign statesmen are in Iran to participate in the international ceremonies to celebrate advent of the new year which is called Navrouz (meaning new day) in Persian.
In his remarks, the Supreme Leader termed Navrouz as a brilliant and outstanding opportunity from spiritual, national and international aspects and said it carried very sublime values with it.
The Ayatollah said Navrouz rituals were associated with innovation, freshness, youth, cheerfulness and consolidating bonds of friendship and benevolence.
Ayatollah Khamenei further said at the present juncture where the flow of cultural events is always from west to east, the registration of Navrouz as an international event gives oriental nations a chance to introduce and export their sublime culture to the west.
Hailing President Ahmadinejad’s initiative to celebrate Nowruz in an international ceremony, the Ayatollah believed the continuation of the idea in the coming years could provide a good chance for regional nations and governments to develop even closer ties.
Stressing that regional countries were capable of creating a valuable and supreme cultural conglomerate, the Supreme Leader said Iran welcomed promotion of relations and cooperation with regional and neighboring countries which share the same culture.
Prior to the remarks of Ayatollah Khamenei, President Ahmadinejad said the ongoing international ceremonies in Iran to celebrate Navrouz are aimed at reinforcing ties and constructive cooperation among regional countries.
He said it was agreed that the Navrouz festivities be held in one of the countries which celebrate it in a rotating manner.
He said the main message of Navrouz to humanity was spreading of peace, justice and friendship.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai appreciated Iran’s initiative in celebrating Navrouz in an international event and hoped the universal event would lead to deepening of relations and promotion of peace and friendship among regional countries.
The Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, too, described Iran as the cradle and the origin country of Navrouz rituals and said the registration of six-thousand-year-old Navrouz as an international event at the present world situations where countries are facing numerous cultural threats and conflicts is a significant event.
Iraq’s President Jalal Talabani referred to Iran’s support to his nation after the collapse of Saddam Hussein and hailed spiritual backing of Iranian nation and government in those hard times.
Turkmenistan’s President Qurbanguly Berdymuhammedov said the Navrouz rituals were one of oldest occasions celebrated by regional nations and the Azeri foreign minister termed it as a significance event.
