It’s hard to be culture minister during these eventful days: Iran`s Jannati

TEHRAN,Aug.17(MNA) -- The new Iranian minister of culture and Islamic guidance said that serving as a culture minister during “these eventful days” is no easy task. Ali Jannati made the remarks during an open session of the Majlis on Thursday before he was confirmed by the parliament. “I am aware of the difficulties and I know that working as a culture minister in these eventful days is no easy task,” said Jannati, who is a graduate of the Haqqani School, an Islamic seminary in Qom, and a son of Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of the Iranian Guardian Council. “I have been selected to work as a culture ministry in this period when a large number of cultural figures and artists have distanced themselves from the government. Inappropriate behavior and nonsense debates have replaced proper behavior. I want to restore moderation and peace in the cultural arena of the country without undermining Islamic values,” he added. “Safeguarding the Persian language as the second language of the Islamic world is one my plans,” he added. “I will take full advantage of Iran’s presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement and I believe that the world is currently thirsty for hearing Persian poetry which along with literature, miniatures and other art are the best ambassadors in the modern world,” he stated. He has previously vowed to reopen the Journalists Union and the House of Cinema, which were closed down by the culture ministry in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government.