DUSHANBE, April 21, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Sixteen cultural events of international and regional nature that were scheduled for this year have been postponed because of the global financial crisis, Culture Minister Mirzoshorukh Asrori announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on April 21.

According to him, the crisis has affected activity of the Ministry of Culture (MoC) because cultural events of such a level are held mainly at the expense of the national budget.  “In this connection, the ministry has decided to give up the holding of a number of cultural events of international and regional nature this year, including different international festivals, days of culture, a number of conferences and some other events,” the minister said.

He further added that expenses on keeping cultural facilities would not be reduced and just expenses on purchasing equipment and maintaining the ministry’s cars as well as expenses on business trips would be reduced.