On Tuesday night, only minutes after the vernal equinox that marked beginning of the new Iranian year, President Rouhani felicitated Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey on the ancient festival of Nowruz.
"Nowruz, this ancient and mysterious celebration, is a great event full of joy and happiness, rising from rich thinking, civilization and culture of our sophisticated predecessors who have left us such precious heritage. Spring and the Nowruz come with their color and scent to deliver the message of beauty, refreshing and fresh nature, and promise peace and friendship,” the Iranian president said.
He also expressed the hope that by the coming of spring, people around the world, particularly in the region, would witness rapport and unanimity, eradication of ethnic and religious disputes, and establishment of calm without violence, extremism and wars.
"We governments and politicians can be inspired by this feast of beauty and blessing to bring peace, unity and justice for our nations, and work hard to achieve it," President Rouhani added.
In 2010, the UN General Assembly established March 21 as the International Day of Nowruz. The UN also celebrates the International Day of Happiness.
The international Nowruz Day was proclaimed at the initiative of several countries that share this holiday, including Iran, Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan.