International Novruz celebration ceremony kicks off in Iran

A grand ceremony of celebrating Novruz holiday has started in Iran. It is attended by senior officials of 19 countries, including the presidents of six countries, ISNA news agency reported.

The presidents of Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Armenia, and senior officials from several states are attending the ceremony.

Azerbaijan is represented at the celebrations by Deputy Prime Minister Elchin Efendiyev.

It is already the second time when "International ceremony of Novruz holiday" is held in Iran with the presence of foreign countries’ presidents. Although some authoritative clergy representatives and MPs are against holding this ceremony in Iran, this year the International Novruz ceremony will take place four days, starting from March 27.

Within the ceremony it is scheduled to open the Permanent Secretariat of the International Novruz holiday in Tehran.

Hamid Karzai, Jalal Talabani, Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov, Emomali Rahmon and Serzh Sargsyan -- presidents of Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Armenia respectively -- took part in the inaugural ceremony of the event at Tehran's Sa'adabad Palace on Sunday, Press TV reported.

Meanwhile, Indian Health Minister Omani Foreign Minister Youssef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Pakistani Speaker of the National Assembly Fahmida Mirza, the Kyrgyz minister of culture, the vice president of Zanzibar, the Kuwaiti special envoy and Secretary General of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Mohammad Yahya Maroofi are also participating in the event.

The UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution declaring March 21 as International Day of Novruz at Azerbaijan’s initiative on Feb. 23, 2010.


/Trend/