― 30 апреля 2016 г.

TURKSOY brings the Colours of Spring to the USA

As every year, the traditional Nevruz Celebrations of TURKSOY are held in Turkey and in TURKSOY member countries. Besides, this traditional feast of the Turkic World is being celebrated in the United States of America as well this year. Celebration events held in the USA within this framework are dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the independence of the founding member countries of  TURKSOY, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and  Turkmenistan. This year’s Nevruz celebrations of TURKSOY take place with the contribution of more than 200 artists from TURKSOY member countries and from Mongolia and Macedonia. Within the framework of 2016 Nevruz Celebrations of TURKSOY, artists from the Turkic World came together for the first time in Turkey and gave their first performance in Istanbul on March 19th, 2016. Official celebrations took place on March 21st in the historical building of the State Opera and Ballet in Ankara and gathered  representatives of foreign diplomatic missions along with many guests. Following the celebrations which took place on the same dates in various cities of Turkey, artists from the Turkic World travelled to the United States of America.

President Erdoğan: May Nevruz be an opportunity for all peoples of the World to come together and unite

Prior to the official celebrations, culture ambassadors of the Turkic World came together with  the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey Mahir Unal, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu and the President of the Republic of Turkey. The President of the Republic of Turkey  R.T.  Erdogan who met with each of the artists during their visit  expressed his wish as to the Nevruz Feast being an opportunity for all peoples of the World to come together and unite.

In  his speech addressed to the artists from the Turkic World, the President of the Republic of Turkey  R.T.  Erdogan expressed his appreciation of activities carried out by TURKSOY as an international organization founded in 1993 to preserve, revive and explore Turkic Culture. Mr. Erdogan further wished success to the artists in their forthcoming performances in the USA and  extended souvenirs to them as a remembrance of the day.

Two unforgettable concerts in New York

Within the framework of Nevruz Celebrations of TURKSOY,  two performances took place in New York with the contribution of 150 artists from the Turkic World. The performances which were free of charge took an audience of nearly three thousand people onto an unforgettable journey to the Turkic World.

The first concert in New York took place on March 28th, 2016 in the United Nations General Assembly Hall for the second time after five years. On the occasion of the event, the United Nations General Assembly where historical decisions are met by representatives of 192 countries was transformed into a huge concert hall. The celebration event organized in coordination of the Permanent Representations of  Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and  Turkey to the UN  gathered a large audience.

The Deputy Secretary General of the UN Jan Eliasson who delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the event  said that the Nevruz Feast is considered by the UN as a cultural heritage and expressed his pleasure to watch the Nevruz Concert of TURKSOY again after five years.

Mr. Eliasson who also said that a large number of countries celebrating Nevruz have been  victims of extremely ruthless attacks added: "Violent attacks perpetrated by radicalists can only be overcome through the power of  solidarity. What radicalists want is separation and polarization. The best response to this attitude is to hold together”.

TURKSOY Secretary General  Dusen Kaseinov who also delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the celebration  strongly condemned recent terrorist attacks in Turkey and Belgium and said that the latter cast a sorrowful shadow on Nevruz celebrations. Mr. Kaseinov further said: “Nevruz is a traditional feast which brings people closer together  by reminding them of the fact that they are all part of nature. As such, it has been shaped by peoples living in various countries of Eurasia which enriched this celebration with their own national patterns throughout centuries. Nevruz means renewal, kindness, light, warmth, tolerance and forgiveness. It is a feast which brings hope,  joy of life, serenity and peace to humanity. This year, Nevruz celebrations are particularly meaningful for us. Indeed, the founding member countries of  TURKSOY, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan are celebrating the 25th  anniversary of their independence. For the last 25 years, we had been dreaming of this collective celebration dating back to thousands of years. Let me therefore extend my gratitude to the Secretary General of the United Nations, for hosting this meaningful event, as well as to all our guests who are honouring us with their presence here today.  May your Nevruz Feast bew blessed. I would like to conclude my speech with an advice of Yusuf Has Hacib, the author of one of the first philosophical treatises of the world whose 1000th anniversary we are celebrating today: “Oh human, be kind, for kindness does not grow old at all, it is eternal.”

The opening speeches were followed by colourful performances of 200 artists from 15 countries symbolizing abundance, brotherhood and peace. The Show was strongly appreciated and received standing ovations from the audience.

With its Nevruz Celebratiopn Event in Washington, TURKSOY called the world upon Friendship and Brotherhood 

Within the framework of their tour to celebrate the Nevruz Feast in the United States of America and call the world upon peace and brotherhood, artists of the Turkic World took the scene in New York and Washington DC.

After two performances in New York, artists from the Turkic World took the scene in Washington DC, the city which hosted  the Nuclear Security Summit this year. The celebration event which  took place in the Warner Theater in Washington DC on April 1st, 2016 was held at the same time as the Cherry Blossom Festival which is one of the symbols of the city.

As a tradition symbolyzing the beginning of a new year and the awakening of nature as well as peace, reconciliation and solidarity, the Nevruz Feast reminds us of our common cultural values. This year, with the contribution of more than 200 artists from 15 countries, the Nevruz celebrations of TURKSOY reached out to a large audience gathering more than five thousand spectators.