Turkish State Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek participated in Nevruz celebrations in the Iranian capital of Tehran on Saturday.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Cicek said that Nevruz, which heralds the start of spring, was a common culture and value of several countries and nations.

"People, gathered here, are not unfamiliar to each other," Cicek said. "We have to be friends and brothers. We are nations who keep a common culture such as Nevruz and common values alive," Cicek said.

Iranian President Mahmoud Mahmud Ahmedinejad, Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai, Tajikistan's President Imam Ali Rahman, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov, Azerbaijan's Foreign minister Elmar Memmedyarov were also among participants in celebrations in Tehran.
"I think this gathering is very meaningful. We need solidarity, we need cooperation and and we need to keep our common values alive together," Cicek said.

AA