Honourable
Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,

Esteemed
Ambassadors and distinguished guests,

This
year’s Nowruz celebration coincides with the twentieth anniversary of the
founding of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

I would
like to express my heartfelt thanks to the Honourable Secretary-General Mr.
Norov for bringing us together and congratulate him for his commendable role in
leading the SCO Secretariat during this important anniversary.

The
theme of this gathering, “Uniting Peoples and Countries Through Cooperation,
Development and Prosperity”, is a good summary of SCO’s ambitions.

As a
dialogue partner of SCO, Turkey fully supports this sentiment. We sincerely
appreciate the contributions of the Organization to multilateral dialogue
amidst the global challenge of pandemic.

Despite
the immense loss and suffering, this challenge puts us in a better position to
understand the importance of regional coordination. In this sense, SCO has
proved itself to be a viable mechanism for achieving good neighbourly relations.

I would
like to use this opportunity to also congratulate Tajikistan’s presidency of
the SCO on this significant anniversary. I am sure that the year 2021 will be
yet another milestone in strenghtening the “Shanghai spirit”.

Today’s
celebration is a meaningful demonstration of the common heritage of SCO
countries. Nowruz transcends the East-West divide and brings us together as
equal members of Eurasia.

Nowruz
shows how cultural diversity is an indispensable condition of achieving unity
beyond our national borders.

Nowruz
stands for nature’s awakening, new beginnings, hope, fraternity and solidarity.
It has been celebrated with enthusiasm for thousands of years in a vast
geography from Central Asia to Anatolia and the Balkans.

On this
occasion, as the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey, I extend my
congratulations to all our brothers and sisters for the Nowruz Day.

This
day is the symbol of spring’s arrival and abundance. And we are happy to be
part of this event where we can cherish our deep cultural and historical bonds.

I wish this
year’s Nowruz will bring health, peace and prosperity to our countries and to
the world. Happy Nowruz Day.