Turkey proposes hosting next year's Nevruz Festival

Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc yesterday said he had conveyed to the Iranian president a proposal that Turkey host next year's Nevruz Festival. Arinc said he had met with officials from Iraq, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan and Azerbaijan while attending the Second International Nevruz Festival at Sadabad Palace in Tehran. Arinc said they would later hold diplomatic talks with other countries on hosting the festival in Turkey.