On March 20, a ceremonial planting of a symbolic white rose was held at the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Washington on the occasion of the Novruz holiday.

The event was attended by Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the United States, Khazar Ibrahim, Heidi Kühn, Founder of the Roots of Peace organization and 2023 World Food Prize laureate, as well as agricultural attachés accredited in Washington.

In his remarks, Ambassador Khazar Ibrahim emphasized that the Novruz holiday symbolizes the arrival of spring and renewal. In this context, he drew attention to the large-scale reconstruction and restoration efforts in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories, which are bringing revival and new life to those regions. The ambassador highlighted the role of National Leader Heydar Aliyev’s far-sighted policy in establishing peace in the region, as well as President Ilham Aliyev’s political will and leadership in its realization. He noted that Azerbaijan remains committed to contributing to sustainable peace and ongoing development processes both regionally and globally.

He also underscored the importance of the initiative promoted by Heidi Kühn to utilize demined lands for agricultural purposes, thereby strengthening peace.

Noting that 2026 has been declared the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Heidi Kühn stated that she has been working for many years on the restoration of conflict-affected areas through agriculture. Highlighting her Pax Agricultura initiative, she emphasized that demining in the liberated territories is a key prerequisite for the effective reuse of these lands.

Kühn stressed that she had visited minefields in Azerbaijan’s Garabagh region and personally observed the work of ANAMA’s female deminers. She noted that the demining process in the liberated territories is of great importance and called on the international community to provide more active support for these efforts.

She also displayed a shovel gifted to her by ANAMA, made from remnants of neutralized mines in the Fuzuli district with her participation, and used it to plant a white rose symbolizing peace in the Embassy courtyard. Heidi Kühn expressed her hope that the lands of Garabagh will be fully cleared of mines and that white roses symbolizing peace will one day be planted across the region.

As part of the event, participants were also informed about Azerbaijani Novruz traditions, and national sweets and a tea table were presented.