United Nations recognizes Nowruz as an international event

Islamic Republic of Iran in a joint initiative with Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan have prepared and introduced a draft resolution entitled "International Day of Nowruz" to the ongoing 64th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations for its consideration and adoption. The main features of this draft resolution are as follows:

* Nowruz, which means new day, is celebrated on 21 March as the beginning of the new year by over 300 million people all around the world and for over 3000 years in Balkans, Black Sea Basin, Caucasus, Central Asia, Middle East and other regions. As a vivid representation of intangible cultural heritage, Nowruz brings hope, peace and prosperity to the peoples, regardless of their ethnicity, political or religious views.

* It plays a significant role in strengthening the ties among peoples based on mutual respect and the ideals of peace and good-neighborhood. Nowruz traditions and rituals reflect the cultural and ancient customs of the civilizations of East and West which influenced those civilizations through interchange of human values. To commemorate Nowruz means to respect the origins, history, values and characteristics of our     civilizations. To celebrate Nowruz also means to promote life in harmony with nature and inseparable link with natural cycles of renewal, solicitous and respectful attitude towards natural sources of life.

"Nowruz" will be recognized, for the first time ever, as an international event by the United Nations through this resolution. 

This daft resolution is accessible through the following link:

http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A%2F64%2FL.30&Submit=Search&Lang=E