DUSHANBE, October 14, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)’s Calligraphy Festival kicked off in Dushanbe on October 13.

The event that runs through October 27 has brought together calligraphers from Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, and Turkey.

Inaugurating the festival, Tajik Minister of Culture Mirzoshorukh Asrori noted that the festival was an important event in cultural life of Tajikistan and works of art displayed in the exhibit centered on the poetry of the founder of classical Tajik literature Abu Abdullo Roudaki.    

ECO Cultural Institute (ECI) director Hojatollah Ayyubi expressed hope that the festival would reinforce the deep roots of calligraphy and promote restoration of calligraphy prestige at an international level.

A parallel program includes workshops and meetings with masters.

The festival is organized on an initiative of the Ministry of Culture of Tajikistan and ECO Cultural Institute.

ECO Cultural Institute is affiliated with ECO and aims at fostering understanding and the preservation of the rich cultural heritage of its members through common projects in the field of the media, literature, art, philosophy, sport and education.  ECI''s Charter was signed in Islamabad, Pakistan on March 15, 1995.