TEHRAN Ferdowsi commemoration day was celebrated in Mashhad, Khorasan Province in Mashhad University on Tuesday morning with a message from the UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura which was read by Iran's envoy to UNESCO, Ahmad Jalali. The function was attended by the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ahmad Masjed- Jame'i.

UNESCO director general, stated in his message that the epic, beginning by praising wisdom, is not just the heritage of one nation, but belongs to all the nations.

The message further said that the translations of Shahnameh into French and Spanish have inspired many European and non-European poets.

It went on to name Ferdowsi as one of the pioneers in the dialogue among civilizations, being observed in 2001, considering that Persian poetry has been a means of expanding global thoughts and ideas.

Over 300 local and foreign professors and experts conducting research on Ferdowsi and Shahnameh are attending the conference.

Culture and Islamic guidance minister as well as some professors and researchers at Mashhad Ferdowsi University addressed the opening ceremony.

The conference will continue this afternoon at Ferdowsi's mausoleum in Tous.

May 15 (Ordibehesht 25 in the Iranian calender) has been designated by general cultural committee as Ferdowsi Commemoration Day', which is celebrated every year at his mausoleum in Tous, a suburb of Mashhad.

At the opening ceremony of Ferdowsi Commemoration Conference, Governor General of Khorasan Province Mohsen Mehralizadeh proposed the designation of Tous as the international cultural center of world universities and research institutes.

He added that since 1998, some research has been conducted on setting up of such a complex, which will be a befitting tribute for Ferdowsi.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of the Day of Hakim Ferdowsi Tousi a ceremony was held in Tajikistan.

Tajik poets and intellectuals lectured at the ceremony which was sponsored by the Iranian Embassy.

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