LONDON, March 20 (NNN-KUNA) -- British Foreign Secretary David Miliband sent Saturday his best wishes in advance to everyone across the globe celebrating festival of Norouz.

Norouz is the traditional ancient Iranian festival and also the start day of Iranian New Year.

It is celebrated in Iran as well as parts of Central Asia, South Asia, Northwestern China, the Crimea and by some ethnic groups in Albania, Bosnia, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia, the Foreign Office noted in a statement.

Miliband said, "I would like to send my best wishes to all those who are celebrating the ancient festival of Norouz. At this time of year millions of people in Iran and around the world will be coming together to welcome the coming of the new year."

He added, "Many British-Iranians will also be celebrating the occasion, spending the holidays with their families here in the UK or Iran. The personal ties between our countries are strong and undiminished."

Norouz is a festival which has been celebrated for more than 3,000 years. It is a time when people mark the advent of spring and contemplate the changes in nature, the statement pointed out.

"The past year has been a difficult one for many in Iran but Norouz is a time of new beginnings. I hope that this year the Iranian people will be able to enjoy a year that fulfils their hopes and ambitions, and allows them to express freely their own aspirations for the future," Miliband said. -- NNN-KUNA