Clinton offers warm wishes on Lunar New Year: State Dept.

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Sunday
extended warm wishes for the Lunar New Year as South Korea and other nations
across Asia celebrate their largest holiday of the year.

"On behalf of the American people, I offer warm wishes for peace, prosperity, and
health to everyone around the world celebrating the Lunar New Year," Clinton said
in a statement released here to mark the first day of the Lunar New Year. She is
currently in Qatar to discuss Iran's nuclear ambitions and other issues of mutual
concern.
The Lunar New Year holiday is the biggest holiday in South Korea where tens of
millions of people travel to their hometowns to mingle with their families and
relatives and pay respects to their ancestors. Hundreds of millions of Chinese
also visit their hometowns during the period.
"People on every continent will mark this occasion with rich and varied
traditions, ushering in a new year of promise and possibility," Clinton said.
"This is an opportunity to reaffirm the bonds of mutual respect and mutual
interest that unite us across borders and cultures, and recommit to working
together to ensure the year ahead brings progress on the many shared challenges
we face."
The top U.S. diplomat also offered warm wishes to millions of Asian-Americans who
"will gather with friends and family to welcome the Year of the Tiger and honor
their vibrant heritage."
This year marks the year of the tiger, a symbol of power and wisdom, under the
12-animal zodiac system. The other animals are the rat, ox, rabbit, dragon,
snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)

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