Initiated by the Azerbaijani Embassy in the U.S., the US State Department has hosted an event celebrating Novruz holiday jointly organized by the embassies of Türkiye, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the U.S. and the non-governmental organization "Global Partners of the American Foreign Service".

According to the embassy, the event which brought together US officials, diplomats of embassies accredited in the US, as well as community representatives, was moderated by Shalala Valiyeva, a scholar in law studies and PhD student at the American University, Washington, DC.

In her remarks, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman congratulated all the peoples celebrating Novruz worldwide on behalf of US President Joe Biden and the American people, saying that Novruz, which is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate spring, brings new breath to people for new opportunities.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Rebecca Zimmerman also conveyed her congratulations on Novruz holiday. She praised the contributions of regional countries to strengthening regional cooperation and promoting peace and stability.

Speaking at the event, representative of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Änjali Kaur expressed her gratitude to the embassies for the organization of the event, and congratulated all those living in the regions where Novruz is widely celebrated. She noted that in the difficult times we are currently experiencing, Novruz brings warmth to hearts, promoting common values such as unity, independence and freedom.

Following the speeches, the famous “Turan” ethnic and folklore ensemble of Kazakhstan performed traditional music of the organizing countries.

The participants familiarized themselves with the traditions and culture of Azerbaijan, and tasted delicious dishes of the national cuisine.

The event also featured the national dances of each country performed by the US Silk Road Dance Group.

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