TEHRAN -- Thirty-two scholars will be attending the first International Festival of the Common Heritage of the Caspian Sea Littoral Nations to discuss the cultural heritage of countries participating in the event, the secretary of the festival announced on Wednesday.

“Twelve scholars from France, Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan along with 20 Iranian intellectuals, including Jalaleddin Kazzazi, Ahmad Vakilian, Mohammad Mir Shokraii, and Shahram Pazuki, will be presenting papers in the three fields of the common history, culture, and art of these countries,” Delavar Bozorgnia added.

Armenia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Russia, and several other countries will be participating in the festival, which is to be held from April 15 to 20 in the cities of Ramsar, Babol, and Sari in Iran’s Mazandran Province.

The papers will focus on subcultures, comparisons of the countries’ handicrafts and visual arts, and Noruzkhani ceremonies in the Caspian Sea littoral states, he explained.

Noruzkhani consists of performances featuring songs about Noruz (Iranian New Year) and spring.

The festival will include a scientific conference, handicrafts and photo exhibitions, a Noruzkhani ceremony, and film screenings.

On the sidelines of the festival, experts from Iran and nine other countries will deliver lectures in the Common Culture Conference, which is to be held on April 16 and 17 at the Sari Artistic Cultural Complex, he said in conclusion.