TEHRAN – The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, which is celebrated every year on October 27, was commemorated during a ceremony at the National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI) on Tuesday, just two days earlier.

Speaking at the ceremony, NLAI director Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri stressed the importance of registration of joint heritage with other countries on the UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register list.

“The registration of joint works with other countries helps increase cultural knowledge of the two countries; it also promotes the message of peace and friendship,” Salehi-Amiri who is also NLAI director added.

“Iran possesses a great number of cultural assets waiting to be added to the World Heritage List. Specifically at the present time, there are 52 works on the waiting list,” he mentioned.

“However, the audiovisual heritage is a field in which we need to work with patience and not get in a hurry,” he remarked.

Salehi-Amiri also added that the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO has established several committees in other cities to promote its activities nationwide.

“We have tied to be active in the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO during the past three years,” he said.

He emphasized that the great treasures kept in the country need to be introduced to the Iranians and to the world. “If we do not open these doors, we have done a great injustice to future generations and they will never forgive us,” he concluded.

The Kulliyat-i Sadi (composed of Persian poet Sadi’s Bustan (The Orchard) and Gulistan (The Rose Garden), the Kitab al-Masalik wal-Mamalik (The Book of Itineraries and Kingdoms) written by Abu Is’haq Ibrahim ibn Muhammad Istakhri, and “At-Tafhim” written by Abu Rayhan Biruni have been registered on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register list.

Also included are “Khamseh” composed by Nezami Ganjavi, “The Shahnameh of Baysunqur” one of three ancient copies of Ferdowsi’s epic masterpiece, and the Endowment Deed of Rab-e Rashidi.

Iran’s Science Minister Mohammad Farhadi, and a number of cultural officials also attended the session. 

Photo: NLAI director Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri

RM/YAW