ECO Cultural Institute in cooperation with Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, held a meeting on Poetry and Fiction in ECO Region in ECO Region on 9 February 2016 at its Headquarters and was attended by Iftikhar Husain Arif, President and Mohammad Reza Haji Karim Jabbari, Executive Director of ECO Cultural Institute, Cultural Attachés of the ECO Member States, and a number of prominent Afghan authors and poets.
Referring to the role of authors in promoting literature, Iftikhar Husain Arif, President of ECO Cultural Institute said:" Afghan authors and poets have made their commitments to their country in very tough conditions through their numerous works. They have always utilized their pen for stability and prosperity of their homeland, Afghanistan."
He wished a bright future for Afghanistan and added: " ECO Cultural Institute belongs to the ECO nations. By contribution of authors and poets of the ECO region, I hope ECI take more effective steps in promotion of culture in the region."
Mohammad Reza Haji Karim Jabbari, Executive Director of ECO Cultural Institute also briefed the meeting on activities of the Institute and stated: " the Institute is one of specialized agencies of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and fortunately all of the Persian speaking countries in the ECO region are its members."
He pointed out significance of promotion of Persian language and added:" Persian language had been spoken throughout the world in the past and critical mission of our literati is to preserve the language of our ancestors."
Mohammad Afsar Rahbin, Cultural Attaché of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Iran, extended his gratitude to ECI for organizing various cultural programs on Afghanistan."
Later at the event, some prominent Afghan authors addressed Persian language literary criticism in the region and poets recited their poems.