Turkish leaders stress 'solidarity' on Nevruz

By Yildiz Nevin Gundogmus and Sinan Uslu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish leaders stressed the importance of peace, solidarity and fraternity in their messages on the eve of Nevruz spring festival.

"Nevruz is the festival of new beginnings, hope, fraternity and solidarity," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Nevruz festival on March 21 has been celebrated for more than 18 centuries across Anatolia and Asia.

The March 21 festival is celebrated mainly in Iran, Afghanistan, India, and Turkic republics such as Azerbaijan, Caucasus countries, Albania and Macedonia.

"I hope Nevruz, which heralds the coming of spring, will conduce to strengthening our brotherly ties and our solidarity," the president said.

In a separate statement, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the day encouraged togetherness across the world.

"[...] Today, in this beautiful day, we also show that we are against all kinds of violence and terror," Yildirim said.

The festival -- which is considered as a forerunner of spring -- is UN-recognized international cultural day.