ID :
237061
Sun, 04/22/2012 - 13:10
Auther :

Cultural institutions put spotlight on Abu Musa

TEHRAN,April 22(MNA) -- Several Iranian cultural institutions have put the spotlight on the Persian Gulf island of Abu Musa aiming to highlight the hidden potentials of the region. Culture Ministry Supervision and Evaluation Office (SEO) Director Alireza Sajjadpur has also proposed to hold a film festival on the island with the central theme of independence. He believes Iranian cineastes will surely give a warm welcome to the idea, and will help showcase national unity and establish a cultural movement in the world of cinema. Masud Alavian Sadr, an official from the Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO), has also said that a group of Iranian archaeologists including several professors from the University of Tehran, and CHTHO experts will be dispatched to the island within the upcoming weeks. They are due to carry out excavations which will provide more information on the ancient civilization of Iran in the region, Alavian said. Producer Mohammadreza Arab and filmmaker Amir-Masud Aqababaian plan to shoot a movie entitled “Mermaid” on Abu Musa Island. Written by Aqababaian, the story begins on the island and ends on Sabalan Lake in Ardebil Province. Vocalists Nima Masiha, Hamid Khazaei, Mani Rahnama and Salar Aqili have also teamed up to repeat the great concert of “Persian Gulf” in Tehran’s Milad Tower. They will be giving their performance on May 2 and 3. Moreover, last week the Iranian cabinet voted to turn the Abu Musa Island into a ‘model tourist resort’, CHTHO director Hassan Musavi said. Musavi added that the CHTHO plans to provide facilities to encourage tourists to visit the island. He said Abu Musa is one of the most beautiful Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf and it is anticipated that it will attract lots of Iranian and foreign tourists. The UAE has repeatedly questioned Iran’s sovereignty over the three Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, and has urged Tehran to agree to take the dispute to the International Court of Justice in The Hague or engage in direct negotiations. Iran says its sovereignty over the islands is not negotiable but has called for talks with the UAE to clear up misunderstandings.

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