Kurdish Newroz celebrated in the European Parliament

By Lorin Sarkisian

Brussels, 19 March 2014 - Ararat News (ANP) - Kurdish Newroz (New Year) has been celebrated in the European Parliament with a reception organised by the Kurdistan Regional Government Mission to EU.

 

Hussein Zahawi, Master in Kurdish traditional instrument Def, delighted around 80 Kurdish and European guests., including Members of EU Parliament (MEP), European External Action Service officials, Kurdish politicians from different parts of Kurdistan -  and Iraqi ambassadors in Belgium and Netherland also attended the event.

Host of the event was Niccolo Rinaldi, Member of the European Parliament from Italy (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe, ALDE). In his opening speech MEP Rinaldi shared his positive impressions from recent visit to Federal Kurdistan Region: “This is a beautiful land with rich culture and many trade opportunities”, said Mr. Rinaldi.

Head of the KRG Mission to EU Delaver Ajgei welcomed the guests and explained the meaning of the Kurdish New Year celebration Newroz: “This is the most important celebration in the Kurdish history not only because the dark season is replaced by the arrival of the light, but also because it is a symbol of the freedom of the Kurdish nation and the end of the tyranny”.

The Kurdish musicians Hussein Zahawy, Master in Kurdish traditional instrument Def, and Hama Bakir started the music programme by performing the Kurdish national anthem and a traditional Newroz song. The guests had the texts of both songs and everyone joined together with the musicians.

Hussein Zahawy, Master in Kurdish traditional instrument Def, delighted Kurdish and European guests with his 10-minutes non-stop performance of ritual traditional Kurdish music. Def is a traditional instrument made from goatskin and used more than 2000 years in the Middle East.