DUSHANBE, 22.03.2023 (NIAT Khovar) – On March 21, the Founder of Peace and National Unity — Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Honorable Emomali Rahmon, and the King of the Netherlands, Honorable Willem Alexander, in New York City of the United States of America within the framework of the United Nations Water Conference — 2023 participated in the event titled «Water and Navruz — two sources of human life».

A joint exhibition of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands was organized at the entrance of the main building of the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York on the occasion of the historic United Nations-Water Conference 2023.

The President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, and the King of the Netherlands, Willem Alexander, visited the venue of the exhibition related to water and officially inaugurated it.

The exhibition was symbolically organized as a passageway — a closed tunnel, fully embodying the theme of water and prosperity.

At the invitation of Australian citizen Ms. Mina Guli, who recently completed an international run in honor of the fourth international initiative of Tajikistan, the International Decade of Action «Water for Sustainable Development», 2018-2028, in a number of countries of the world, including Tajikistan, the heads of state of Tajikistan and the Netherlands officially opened the symbolic doors of the exhibition and entered it.

In the exhibition, the heads of state were given detailed information about the importance of water in ensuring sustainable development and life on the planet.

After leaving the symbolic water tunnel, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, the King of the Netherlands, Willem Alexander, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua and Ms. Mina Guli took a commemorative photo.

After attending the joint exhibition of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and the King of the Netherlands Willem Alexander on the sidelines of the United Nations Water Conference — 2023 and the event «Water and Navruz — two sources of human life» visited the exhibition of folk crafts of Tajikistan.

At the exhibition, the heads of state got acquainted with the products of Tajik artisans, including the display of national clothing, wood carving, blacksmithing, delicious breads, art, musical instruments, paintings and drawings from the beautiful and unique places of the country, and items made from precious stones of Tajikistan.

It should be said that during the years of independence, important measures have been implemented in the country regarding the development of social and economic spheres and the revival of ancient folk crafts.

All the items displayed in the exhibition are a reflection of the rich culture and civilization and testify to the craftsmanship, creativity, development and hard work of the Tajik people.

Artisans continue the proud profession and good tradition of our ancestors by producing various items, and they provide a worthy service for the revival and development of folk arts and its presentation on the world stage.

King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands and other participants of the UN-2023 Water Conference were impressed by the exhibition of Tajik folk crafts.

After the exhibition of folk crafts, within the framework of the event «Water and Navruz — two sources of human life», a festive Navruz artistic program of Tajik art masters and artists was held, in which the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Honorable Emomali Rahmon, King of the Netherlands, Honorable Willem Alexander, other official representatives of the UN member states and guests of the UN-2023 Water Conference participated.

Before the start of the cultural event, the President of the country, Emomali Rahmon, gave a meaningful speech to the audience.

First of all, Honorable Head of State Emomali Rahmon congratulated all the participants of the festive event on the occasion of the beautiful spring holiday — International Navruz.

The President of the country, Honorable Emomali Rahmon, spoke about the history of this traditional and ancient holiday and emphasized that thanks to its inscription in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO and since 2010, based on the decision of the General Assembly of the United Nations, Navruz is celebrated as the International Day of Navruz.

Navruz is one of the oldest folk holidays, with a history of more than six thousand years. The celebration of this holiday from the earliest times to the present day is considered an integral part of the existence and identity of Tajiks and other peoples of its area of celebration.

«Navruz is the day of balance of day and night, and along with the total revival of nature, it gives a person a fresh spirit and mind, guides him to a good day and a prosperous life, progress and creativity», — said the distinguished President of the country, Emomali Rahmon.

It is very symbolic that since 1993, on the second day of Navruz, March 22, the international community marks the World Water Day.

It is worth emphasizing that water-related problems have become one of the pressing issues of the world development agenda today. With this in mind, a set of issues related to water has a special place in international documents adopted in recent years.

Honorable President Emomali Rahmon stated that «We consider the decisions of the United Nations on the basis of proposals and initiatives of Tajikistan to declare 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater, 2013 — International Year of Water Cooperation, the International Decade of Action «Water for Life», 2005-2015, International Decade of Action «Water for Sustainable Development», 2018-2028, 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, to proclaim March 21 of each year the World Day of Glaciers, and the establishment of a UN Trust Fund in support of activities for glaciers’ preservation very important in the process of solving these problems».

In conclusion, Honorable Head of State Emomali Rahmon expressed confidence that the member states of the United Nations, on the basis of the constructive traditions and unshakable values of Navruz, with renewed vigor and constructive plans for the implementation of the Decade «Water for Sustainable Development» and other global goals related to water will make efforts and expand cooperation for the purpose of rational use of water resources, other natural resources and environmental protection.

After the speech of the President of the country, Honorable Emomali Rahmon, a festive Navruz concert program of Tajik art masters and artists took place at the event «Water and Navruz — two sources of human life».