Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 77th session of the General Assembly
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International Day of Nowruz Commemoration
20 March 2023
[As Delivered by the Chef de Cabinet, László Szőke]
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to – symbolically – join you to celebrate the International Day of Nowruz, and I thank the Permanent Mission of Iran and the other co-organizers for inviting me.
As we start this holiday, we will be revisiting its core values: solidarity, inclusiveness, and respect across borders, beliefs and language – in line with our focus for a better world.
More than 300 million people around the world mark Nowruz for more than 3,000 years based on these values.
Today we usher in a new year, bringing fresh life – the rebirth of nature after a long fall and winter.
To apply our UN terminology, we are using this beautiful opportunity to celebrate transformation.
Nowruz also stands as an inspiration to cherish the link between the human being and nature.
To that end, I encourage us to make this a time to reaffirm our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.
In a few days, we will gather for the UN Water Conference, which I hope will be a historic milestone for cooperation on water issues.
If we are bold and take real action, this week could give people and planet a new life – one that is not arid and dry, but refreshed and richer.
I am only disappointed – but also very much relieved – that, today, we will not follow the ancient ritual of jumping over fire.
I am grateful to the organizers for their safe planning.
To everyone who marks the beginning of a New Year now, I wish that it becomes a healthy and happy one.
Nowruz Mubarak, and thank you.
