"AN EVENING OF ARMENIAN LITERATURE" HELD AT IAF

Mehr News Agency, Iran
July 16 2007

TEHRAN, July 16 (MNA) — A further program by the bimonthly Bokhara
entitled, "An Evening of Armenian Literature" was held on July 15 at
the Iranian Artists Forum (IAF).

Bokhara’s Managing Director Ali Dehbashi, made a speech at the
beginning of the ceremony, saying, "It was in the fifth century A.D
when the Armenian alphabet was compiled and edited and many literary
and religious texts were translated into the Armenian language in
those years."

With reference to the research work carried out by the Iranian Sirus
Alinejad on the relationship between Iranian and Armenian nations over
history, he noted, "The Armenians are the nation who lived amongst
the Iranians for four hundred years. They learnt Persian, and created
literary works in Persian, but they also preserved their own language."

Participant Misha Hayrapetian, translator and researcher of Armenian
literature, said, "The Armenian nation has experienced a history
full of ups and downs and it has always lived under unusual political
circumstances.

"Armenian literature differs greatly from that of other nations.

Despite the pain and oppression it has gone through, it enjoys a
dynamic and healthy spirit. The origin of Armenian literature is
oriental, since the Armenian nation is an oriental nation."

Participant, Azad Matian, professor of literature at the University of
Isfahan, made a speech at the ceremony saying, "Armenian literature has
not produced works like those of Tolstoy or Balzac for the world. Of
course, no one has such an expectation. But our literature has played
a major role in the formation of national unity among Armenians."

Researcher Robert Markarian delivered a speech on how Armenians became
familiar with Iranian literature, and said, "When Armenia joined the
ex-Soviet Union, the necessity was felt to establish research centers
and Iranology centers in Armenia. The universities and the research
centers began to translate Persian works into the Armenian language.

"Establishing Armenian language courses at the University of Isfahan
and publishing the Persian-Armenian language publication "Hur"
were among other activities carried out in recent years," he said
in conclusion.