Festivities marking Nowruz – which is an ancient festival celebrating the first day of spring and nature's renewal – are underway in many Muslim countries in Western and Central Asia. In Turkey, this ancient New Year tradition is popular among predominantly the Kurdish population.
“I believe that our dreams will blossom with the coming of spring, and we will have an expected result [in the Kurdish settlement process], while the Norwuz festival will signal the start of a new era,” Erdogan said in a statement published on his website.
The Turkish leader pointed out that Norwuz was recognized as an international day in 2010, to be marked on March 21. Erdogan said he hoped this festivity will promote peace and love.
This came the same day Kurdistan’s jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, called on his supporters to end the 30-year strife against Turkey.
Almost 40,000 Kurds have died over decades in a fight for their homeland’s independence from Turkey.
