Over 100 representatives of the mission, accredited at the UN, expert and analytic circles of the USA, Russia and China participated at the event, which was dedicated to celebration of Navruz.

Within the presentation, the video film on ancient cities of Uzbekistan – Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, which were part of Great Silk Road, architecture monuments and museums under open air. The presentation included reception, where participants were able to taste the Uzbek cuisine.

Professor Parviz Morewedge, director of Global Scholarly Publications (New York, USA) said: “I visited Uzbekistan many times and I am regular guest of the events, organized by Uzbekistan in New York and each time open something new for myself. I can say with sure that promotion of culture and art of Uzbekistan in New York strengthened significantly with opening of Fund Forum office here.”

He said that cultural-humanitarian directions play one of key roles in strengthening diplomatic relations and international ties. “In this context, Fund Forum, led by Gulnara Karimova, is an example for many countries in the modern world,” he added.

The guests highly rated ancient traditions and customs of the Uzbek people, celebrations of Navruz and cooking main meal of the holiday Sumalak, its curative peculiarities.

A. Corbit [transliterated], head of New York-based NGO, said: “I visited many countries as a tourist. This event, dedicated to presentation of rich historic, cultural and spiritual heritage of the Uzbek people, pushed me to reconsider my holiday plant. I was impressed with what I saw at the presentation. I think it is mandatory for me to visit Samarkand. From historic view, the major part of world history comes from these places. This land was center of many empires, which advocated tolerance among nations and in economy, each country has right to communicate own language, adhere to their religion and customs.”

As it is known, people in east, in Central Asia, marked New Year on 21 March and named as Navruz. In Uzbekistan, Navruz is connected with local traditions and customs.

R. Nasr, Professior of Business and Professional Ethics Institute of DePaul University (Chicago, USA) said Uzbekistan is the country, which is becoming recognizable worldwide. Unique culture, rich historic sights, political stability and security, economic and sport achievements of Uzbekistan in international arena serves for it. Nasr said that other factor for attracting attention is ancient cities as Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva.

Navruz was included to the UNESCO list of Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2009 and 21 March was announced as International Day of Navruz. In 2010, the UN General Assembly adopted decision on announcing Navruz as international holiday. Navruz, which means new day, is celebrated on 21 March, the day of the vernal equinox, by more than 300 million people worldwide as the beginning of the new year. It has been celebrated for over 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions.