Saturday September 27, 2014
Kabul (BNA) The third conference of the culture ministers of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) with Indian minister for culture Shri Shripad Yesso Naik on the chair opened in New Delhi on Thursday. According to BNA, Speaking on the occasion, the Indian culture minister besides welcoming the guests pointed out that culture plays important role in developing a nation, adding the south Asian in term of culture has special place in the region and India is committed to assist south Asian nations in this regard. Accompanied by Sayed Musadiq Khalili and Hamidullah Arifi the editor in chief of The Kabul Times Daily in the conference, Minister of Information and Culture, Dr. Sayed Makhdoom Raheen in his address at the conference besides thanking Indian government for hosting the conference also expressed gratitude to SAARC cultural center for selecting Bamyan as cultural capital of south Asian countries in 2015.
In addition to highlighting the situation of cultural and art bodies in Afghanistan and the achievements in this sector over the past 13 years Dr. Raheen also said that around 1200 archeological sites in Afghanistan are in need of preservation. Based on the proposal of Afghan delegation, the opening ceremony of Bamyan as cultural capital of SAARC in April 2015 was endorsed at the conference as well. Other participants in the conference also in their speeches besides highlighting the role of culture in getting closer the nations also thanked India for hosting the conference. At the sideline of the conference, Dr. Raheen signed agreement of cooperation between Indian national archive and national archive of Afghanistan with his Indian counterpart.
