TEHRAN, Feb. 22--Head of the Research Center of Iranian Arts affiliated to IranÕs Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) has expressed concern about the lack of attention to local designs of carpets in different provinces.
Majid Sharifzadeh noted that each province has its own special design for carpets which is quite significant from the artistic perspective of this national handicraft.
He blamed both the officials in charge of cultural affairs and the market for the threat of abandoning local designs of the carpet. ÒThe Center for Carpets should only undertake policy making and formulate regulations for the national handicraft, carpet. It should compile a data bank of local designs for carpets woven in different provinces, prepare an encyclopedia of Persian carpets and promote the use of original designs. We need a comprehensive action plan to safeguard this traditional art,Ó he said.
He said that the designs which are on demand in the market are being woven, whereas other designs are going into oblivion. This is a catastrophe for national art and handicraft industry, he said.
ÒCurrently, carpet weavers in Zabol and Kelardasht use Kashan design instead of their own local patterns. This is a kind of a missing link of a chain and the National Center for Persian Carpets should formulate policies to ensure that weavers stick to the designs of their particular regions in weaving carpets so that local designs are safeguarded,Ó Sharifzadeh concluded.

TEHRAN, Feb. 22--A book entitled ÔA Collection of Hafez PoemsÕ in English has been published by an Iranian institute in which none of the poems belong to the renowned Iranian poet, Khajeh Shamseddin Hafez Shirazi.
The important thing is that ÔA Collection of Hafez PoemsÕ is also going to be published abroad, ISNA reported.
A person named Daniel Ledinsky has written a preface to the book while the translator has not been identified.
For example, the following piece of poem which was not penned by Hafez is wrongly attributed to him:

ÔScratching My BackÕ
You can think of Hafiz as a divine old dog who just keeps scratching his back on the moon.
O, I donÕt care about your thoughts or what you have ever done just open up this book!
Whenever you are sad, for I love the way you smile.

The publisher claimed that when a book is granted printing permission, it means that there is nothing wrong with it.
The pocket-sized book is published in 3,000 copies on quality paper.

ROME, Feb. 22--IranÕs cultural attachŽ in Rome has presented 117 volumes of books to the library of the Rome-based University of Regina. The books which are in English, French and Arabic languages introduce the Shia religion of Islam, the Islamic Revolution, Iranian and Islamic art and literature.
According to IRNA, Regina University whose patron is Pope John Paul II opened in 1993. It has large number of students studying in the field of philosophy, ethics and Catechism.
The library of the university has about 150,000 volumes of books printed or manuscripts.
Official in charge of the library had told the Iranian cultural attachŽ that he welcomes the Islamic books to be provided by Iran, as an Islamic state to increase the number of Islamic reference books in the library.

MADRID, Spain, Feb. 22--Iran will take part in the 54th Spanish Music Festival which is due to be held in Granada, southern Spain.
According to IRNA, the festival will be held in the historical citadel of Alhambra, Granada for 15 days from June 25. Spanish news agency, EFE said that poems by prominent Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca will be recited while the play ÔDon QuixoteÕ, a masterpiece by Miguel de Cervantes, will be performed on the occasion of the playÕs 400th anniversary.
Three concerts will also be performed by the conductor of Berlin Orchestra Daniel Baron Bovim in the international music event. A budget of 3.3 million euro has been earmarked for the festival.

TEHRAN, Feb. 22--A seminar titled ÔHashtgerd International Cinema StudiosÕ will be held in Hashtgerd City (in Tehran province) from February 26 to 28, Mehr news agency reported.
Hashtgerd studios will be established in response to demands by Iranian artists, cinema experts and entrepreneurs, deputy head of Cine City Institute said.
Mehdi Mokhber asserted that Iranian cinema has attained a special status internationally despite the restrictions.
He noted that Hashtgerd studios will help to upgrade quality of Iranian cinema products and pave the way for Iranian films enter international markets.
ÒHashtgerd Studios will be established in an area of 100 hectares in the north of New Hashtgerd City. Various phases of film production from primary planning to shooting, as well as all technical affairs of films can take place there,Ó Mokhber added.
According to him, Iranian cinema is the focus of international attention in view of its high potentials. ÒA number of international companies have expressed their willingness to take part in constructing Hashtgerd Studios in Iran. International experts have cooperated in designing the studios. A number of reputable companies involved in the production of film equipment will display their products on the sidelines of the seminar,Ó he added.
Mokhber said the main purpose for holding the seminar is to introduce the project to Iranian officials, cinema experts, domestic and foreign investors.

Artifacts discovered in Jiroft

TEHRAN, Feb. 22--Italian experts are to help breathe fresh life into Tehran's National Archeological Museum, extending its display and protecting the vulnerable building from earthquake damage, it was announced here Monday.
Italy's ambassador to Iran, Roberto Toscano, said that Italian archeologists, seismologists and construction firms would be joining forces with local authorities in a major project that will further boost bilateral ties, IRNA reported.
"This initiative shows that culture is one of the privileged sectors of cooperation between Italy and Iran," he said. "Italy will be able to lend a hand by sharing its own experiences in this area."
The plan was unveiled at an exhibit currently showing in the museum, which lays out the details and explains how a 2003 accord between the Iranian government and the Italian foreign ministry will be implemented.
Severe earthquakes are common in Iran, which lies on major fault-lines.
But concern over the museum's ability to withstand seismic activity surged in the aftermath of a December 2003 earthquake in the southern city of Bam, which killed thousands and destroyed numerous archeological treasures and sites.
Italy has so far invested 700,000 euros in the pre-planning stage, while Italian seismologists have been surveying the museum buildings since last year.

TEHRAN, Feb. 22--TehranÕs Parade Square will undergo reconstruction to revive the historical structure of the capital, according to CHN.
Head of IranÕs Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) Hossein Marashi said that the reconstruction of Parade Square (Meidan-e Mashq) has been placed on top of the organizationÕs agenda for the next Iranian year which begins on March 21.
ÒAs approved by the cabinet, the Parade Square and the surrounding buildings will be ceded to Iran National Museum and in the near future, the Square will be turned into a cultural heritage site of the capital,Ó Marashi said.
He said that by reconstructing Parade Square, the ICHTO is keen on establishing a pattern for other provinces.
ÒIn the first stage, the Parade Square will be rebuilt as the central part of Tehran and subsequently other adjoining areas such as Lalehzar, Baharestan and 30th Tir Street will be renovated,Ó Marashi said.
He added that Tehran Bazaar (marketplace) is of historical significance as a financial nerve of the city and that the Parade Square will be included in the reconstruction program of the Bazaar which will also cover Baharestan Square through to 30th Tir Square.
Marashi said that the cabinet has also obliged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to cede the buildings in the area to the ICHTO to implement the development project of Iran National Museum.
Iran National Museum was established in 1937 by French architect Andre Gaudar.