Ahmadinejad calls Shahriar "Iranian poet"

In his message, the president said that the history of this land is marked for its culture, epics, spiritualism, and seeking justice, rights and kindness, IRNA reports.

"In the course of the history of Islamic era, even under the most cumbersome and bloody conditions, poetry has been the core of culture and has voiced the real message of the Iranians, as faithful believers of Islam," he noted.

The chief executive said that during this auspicious year, which has been designated as the year of Great Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), the Iranians and all those interested in the culture of this land commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of, as he stated "the outstanding Iranian poet from Azerbaijan province," whose poems manifested his faith in and love for his homeland.

It's not the first time Iranian leadership calls Azeri poets as Iranian. Previously one of the greatest Azerbaijani poets Nizami Ganjavi was also named as "Iranian poet".

The congress marking the birth centenary of Shahriar was held at the Cultural Center of Tabriz Petrochemical Complex simultaneous with the Persian Poetry and Literature Day on Monday.

The event was attended by 50 foreign guests from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Tajikistan and some Western countries. Some 110 literary men and women, intellectuals as well as experts specialized in Shahriar also participated the congress.