Washington D.C./21.03.23/Turan: U.S. President Joe Biden, accompanied by first lady Jill Biden, on Monday hosted what they described as the largest White House reception to celebrate Nowruz, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports from the White House.
Addressing the guests, Biden said he wished the Nowruz holiday, a nearly 4,000-year-old tradition known as the Festival of Fire that’s linked to the Zoroastrian religion, would be a moment of hope. "It’s a celebration that's been a millennium in the making, observed by millions of people around the world to this very day, and has its roots in ancient Persia," Biden told visitors. "... You know, one that was carried on by people and in the gardens of Shiraz, the mountains of Kabul and Erbil, on the shores of Baku and beyond...." he added.
The President went on to add, "It's the start of a new year that reminds us of hope and what lies ahead from these darkest times so many have been through... Hope for families in Turkey and Syria, who are grieving for the loss of far too many loved ones from the devastating earthquake. Hope for people in Afghanistan who continue to struggle with a grave humanitarian crisis. Hope for women of Iran who are fighting for their human rights...
Bidens also used the event to pay tribute to the country's women and girls who have been taking to the streets of Iran in protest. “The United States stands with those brave women and all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their conviction,” he said. “We’re going to continue to hold Iranian officials accountable for their attacks against their people.”
"Baraye," the unofficial anthem of the protest movement in Iran, played at the reception.
Alex Raufoglu
Politics
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On the eve of the closing of the COP29 climate conference in Baku, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has drawn attention to the criminal cases of journalists detained in Azerbaijan.
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Negotiations at the 29th session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Baku have been extended until November 24, a source in the UNFCCC Secretariat told the Turan news agency. According to the source, participants aim to finalize and sign the concluding documents by that date.
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According to the Turkish newspaper Sabah, officials from the Istanbul Prosecutor's Office's Anti-Smuggling Unit have detained an Azerbaijani citizen with a large shipment of gold. The detention took place near the Vadi İstanbul shopping center in the Sarıyer district, where a taxi was stopped. During the search, 70 kg of gold was found. The Azerbaijani citizen in the vehicle claimed ownership of the cargo and also stated that he was a diplomat. The investigation by the prosecutor's office is ongoing, reports Sabah newspaper. The media outlet does not disclose the name of the "diplomat," only his initials – M.G.Ş. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declined to comment on the situation.
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