Kind Friend book fair opens in Tehran

TEHRAN,Nov.10(MNA) -- The ninth edition of Tehran’s book fair named “Remembering the Kind Friend” was inaugurated at Tehran’s Goftogu Park here on Tuesday, displaying over 20,000 titles by 560 publishers. The opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance for Cultural Affairs Bahman Dorri,Iranian Minister of Education Hamidreza Haji-Babaii and Majlis speaker Ali Larijani. Secretary of the fair Amir-Masud Shahramnia regarded this fair as an effective cultural movement for students. He said that the book fair centers on donating books to schools in Tehran, adding that students in seminaries and dormitories, and the general public can also visit the exhibit. Dorri next said that the fair had made good progress over the past years and provincial officials are also willing to hold the book fair in their provinces. Pointing to the agreement signed last year between the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and the Ministry of Education, Dorri asked that some of its provisions be enforced, something which has been left undone. “I believe if we cannot make children familiar with books and book-reading, no doubt they will not learn to read books when they grow up,” he added. Dorri also asked Larijani to read and encourage reading during the open sessions of the Majlis. “This will help promote book reading and we are ready to introduce our books to the MPs or hold a book fair in the Majlis,” he clarified. Larijani also stressed book reading and said that those who are involved with book reading gain elevated thoughts and characters. The future belongs to the youth who will be coping with the social and political issues in the future and if they get used to book reading, this will lead to positive growth in the society, he said. He described publishers as the oppressed people of the society and regretted that they can’t make the profit they should as in some other professions, but at least they can be satisfied with some small amount of profit. He proposed that organizations like the culture ministry help and support them. The book fair will be running until November 13 at the park located in the Ku-ye Nasr neighborhood.