DUSHANBE, January 26, Asia-Plus - Issues related to preparations for celebrations to mark 800 ^th anniversary of known Eastern poet and thinker Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi kwon to the English-speaking world as Rumi, were discussed at a meeting of President Emomali Rahmonov with Secretary of Eurasia DA (Asia Europe Dialogue) Platform also deputy head of Turkey’s Union of Writers and Journalists, Erkan Tufan Aytav, in Dushanbe on January 26.   

Turkish Ambassador to Tajikistan Akif Aykhan and Mamadsho Ilolov, the President of Tajikistan’s Academy of Sciences, also attended the meeting.  

Speaking to journalists after the meeting with President Rahmonov, Aytav said that an agreement had been reached that a two-day scientific conference dedicated to the 800 ^th anniversary of Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Rumi will be held in Dushanbe from September 7-8 this year.   

Turkish Ambassador noted that an exhibition of Turkish industrial goods will be held in Dushanbe on the Tajik capital from September 5-7.  

According to Mamadsho Ilolov, President Rahmonov charged the Tajik Academy of Sciences to bring out a collection of works by Rumi in five languages: Tajik, Turkish, Russian, English and Persian. 

He added that they sides are currently discussing the issue of declaring Tajikistan’s Qurghon Teppa, the capital of the Khatlon province, and Turkey Konya, where Rumi died, sister cities.  A final decision on this subject is expected to be made at a meeting of the mayors of the cities in September, Ilolov said, adding that a sister city relationship will foster human contacts and cultural links between Qurghon Teppa and Konya.  

“Philosophy of Rumi is recognized throughout the world and this great humanist belongs to all the mankind,” Aytav stressed. 

On the Eurasia DA Platform, he said that it unites scientific and creative intelligentsia of the Eurasian continent   “As Chingiz Aitmatov said, our platform is a visiting card of Eurasia, due to which the world will know about achievements of our peoples,” Aytav said.    

Rumi (1207-1273 CE) was a 13th century Persian (Tajik) poet, jurist and theologian.   Rumi was born in Balkh (Afghanistan) and died Konya (Turkey).  His birthplace and native tongue indicate a Persian heritage. He also wrote his poetry in Persian and his works are widely read in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and in translation in Turkey, Azerbaijan, the United States, and South Asia.  Rumi''s importance is considered to transcend national and ethnic borders. Throughout the centuries he has had a significant influence on Persian as well as Urdu and Turkish literatures.  His poems are widely read in the Persian-speaking countries of Iran, Afghnistan and Tajikistan and have been widely translated into many of the world''s languages in various formats.