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Navruz traditions to strengthen peace among nations: Tajik leader

According to Rakhmon, “the international status of Navruz testifies to its greatness”

DUSHANBE, March 21 (Itar-Tass) — Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon on Wednesday congratulated the country’s nationals on Navruz and expressed confidence that its traditions will strengthen peace and cooperation among nations.

This is the third year that Navruz is marked as an international holiday upon a decision of the United Nations. “I am confident that following rites and traditions of Navruz peoples and countries of the world will embark on the road of peace, cooperation and peaceful co-existence and will strengthen friendly relations and peacefulness around the world,” the Tajik leader said in his greetings broadcast by national television.

According to Rakhmon, “the international status of Navruz testifies to its greatness”. “Traditions and rites of the holiday will “serve as a factor uniting cultures, peoples and countries,” he is confident.

The Tajik authorities have scheduled major and colorful events in the open air, but abnormal weather with strong snowfalls and low temperatures has introduced corrections. According to weathermen, warm weather will settle in only on March 24 or 25, when official festivities with participation of high-ranking foreign guests are planned. The presidents of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in the republic, are expected to arrive.

Meanwhile, celebrations proceed against the background of an aggravating energy crisis caused by a decline in the production of electricity because of a cold spell and an insufficient inflow of water to water reservoirs used by country’s hydropower stations. Restrictions on electricity supply to two to four hours a day have not been lifted even for the holiday.

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