ECI Holds ECO Poetry Night

At the outset, ECI President, Iftikhar Hussain Arif briefly welcomed the audience, among them several ambassadors and diplomats of the ECO countries, high ranking cultural officials of Islamic Republic of Iran, eminent literary figures of the Member States. He highlighted the role and importance of Persian poetry and literature in the integration and strengthening of the existing relations among the people of the region. He concluded his remarks by offering a few pieces of his poetries in Urdu language which were well received by the audience.

ECI's 1st Poetry Night was inaugurated by Iran's President of Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICARO), Mr. Mohammad Bagher Khorramshad. While elaborating on the rich common literary heritage of the ECO region, he highlighted the need for cultural as well as literary collaborations among the Member countries. He offered ICARO's readiness to support ECO Cultural Institute.

The program featured readings of poetry by prominent poets from four Member countries of I.R. Afghanistan, I.R. Pakistan, Republic of Tajikistan and I.R. Iran.

Mr. Mohammad Afsar Rahbeen, Mohammad Abdullatif Behand, Sarvar Rajaei, Mohammad Hosein Fayyaz from Afghanistan presented their poets in Dari Farsi and Pashtoo), Mr. Iftikhar Hussain Arif and Ghasem Reza Pirzadeh from Pakistan presented some passionate poems . Also Mr. Gul Nazar Kaldiev from Tajikistan, Mr. Ali Mousavi Garmaroudi, Seyyed Abdullah Hosseini, Alireza Ghazveh, Kiasari and Ms. Fatemeh Rakei from Iran recited their poetry in Persian and reviewed the contemporary literature in ECO countries. At the end Mr. Haddad Adel, the Head of Iran's Persian Language Academy And Saadi Foundation referring to the common cultural heritage of ECO nations and Persian language as the key factor in the unity of poetry in the region, presented some of his poets which received an enthusiastic response from the audience.

The event continued in Shiraz on August 29,attended by eminent literary figures of the city.