Happy Nowruz everyone!

This concert is a wonderful way to celebrate the timeless values of this very special holiday. I am deeply grateful to the TURKSOY member States for bringing us together – Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Turkey and Turkmenistan.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his Nowruz Day message last week that this holiday transcends national borders, religious divides and other differences. Indeed, it unites people, communities and countries with bonds of goodwill and best wishes for our common future.

There are few better unifying forces than music.

Tonight we will be treated to traditional performances that mark the coming of spring. They celebrate friendship, renewal and respect for nature, our common heritage.

These are values and qualities which we need now more than ever in today’s troubled world.

A number of countries celebrating Nowruz have recently been blindly struck by terrorist attacks – and so have many others. Civilians and communities have been cowardly attacked from Baghdad to Brussels, from Paris to Istanbul and Ankara, from Lahore to Borno and beyond. These horrific attacks on innocent men, women and children must be universally condemned and punished.

Violent extremism threatens us all – and we can only respond by coming together. We must not be afraid or fall in the traps of provocation. That is why the New Year’s spirit of reconciliation and common humanity is so critical.

The extremists want division and poarization. We must respond by transcending divides, showing firm and controlled determination and forging solidarity.

The idea of holding concerts in the General Assembly Hall started with Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld.

At the first concert here, on United Nations Day in 1960, he said we must “turn the simple human values, which are our common heritage, into the firm foundation on which we may unite our strength and live together in peace.”

Secretary-General Hammarskjöld’s call more than a half-century ago resonates perfectly with our Nowruz celebration now.

The United Nations marks Nowruz along with hundreds of millions of people who observe this holiday around the world. And we are proud to make Nowruz a United Nations tradition for all – because it is part of the common heritage of our world.

Let us be inspired by tonight’s performances, and let us renew our strength for tomorrow’s task and struggle to build a better future for generations to come.

Thank you.