The State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili from Marneuli congratulates ethnic-Azerbaijani citizens of Georgia on Novruz Bayram.

"We congratulate our compatriots on Novruz Bayram, with the Happy New Year, coming of spring, recreation, beauty and joy holiday! Novruz Bayram Mubarak! I am here with my colleagues in order to congratulate you personally, wish you health, peace and progress. Novruz Bayram is a family holiday and Georgia, as a single family, celebrates it.

"We are united by a lot of things. First of all, we wish our children to grow in a peaceful, successful, developed and citizen-oriented state. All of us are interested in Georgia's well-being and we are building this country together. I hope that this difficult period, when we do not have control on the part of our country’s territory, when the rights of families and people are grossly violated and when their lives and safety are not protected will end soon.

"As you know, now we have a very hard time - the body of Archil Tatunashvili from Tskhinvali was transferred yesterday. I know that everyone is well aware of this tragic fact. I want to tell you that our state, together with you, will do everything for better future of every citizen of the country - whether on the other side of the barbed wire or on this. So that they can be proud, protected, equal, able to live freely, calmly, develop and reveal their talent and opportunities. It is true that our greatest wealth is our diversity and multiculturalism that has been centuries old and we must take care of it in future, as far as this diversity makes us stronger and united", - said Ketevan Tsikhelashvili.

Together with the State Minister, the Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia Sozar Subari, Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Zurab Alavidze, Kvemo Kartli State Representative-Governor Grigol Nemsadze and Marneuli Mayor Temur Abazov congratulated ethnic-Azerbaijani citizens of Georgia on Novruz Bayram.

On March 21 Azerbaijan national holiday Novruz Bayram is celebrated. It is to celebrate the New Year, coming of spring and day and night equalization.

In Georgia, Novruz Bayram is celebrated a public holiday from 2010. On 30 September, 2009, Novruz was included into UNESCO's List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and in 2010 the UN General Assembly recognized Novruz as the International Day. "The Knight in the Panther's Skin" confirms the long tradition of Novruz Bayram in our country.