(25 Aug 2006)
1. Wide interior of international carpet exhibition
2. Close up of carpet corners being laid out
3. Men folding carpets
4. Pan of exhibition
5. Close up of woman looking at carpets
6. Wide of exhibition
7. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Ali Motamed, Carpet designer and visitor
"In Persian, we call carpet "Qali" (rug) which means everlasting and Persian carpet lasts for ages and Qali is demonstrative of Iranian culture and civilisation"
8. Pan of exhibition
9. Close up of flower pattern on carpet
10. Wide of carpets
11. Carpet with pattern of woman's face
12. Wide of carpet with picture of American eagle on top symbolising the United States
13. Close up of skulls under the eagle's wing (as a criticism of US foreign policy)
14. Japanese women looking at carpets
15. Wide of Japanese visitors looking at carpets
16. Medium of woman taking photographs of carpets
17. Wide of woman taking photographs
18. SOUNDBITE: (English) Nahid Zamani, Exhibition visitor:
"I'm excited to see Iranian beautiful carpets and I'm happy that Persian carpet has made (become) famous in the world and I'm proud of it"
19. Man working on carpet
20. Close up of pattern of woman's face on carpet
21. Medium of carpets at exhibition
22. SOUNDBITE: (Farsi) Mohammad Reza Amani, Exhibition visitor:
"The Persian carpet is an icon of history, feelings and ancient Iranian culture and is a product of Iranian artists diligent hands"
23. Carpet with raised patterns
24. Wide of spectators looking at carpets
25. Tilt down on a carpet depicting Ferdowsi, a famous Iranian poet
LEAD IN:
Iranian carpets are famous across the world for their beauty, craftsmanship and quality of materials.
Iran's Grand Carpet Exhibition is held in the capital Tehran from August 23 to 29, 2006.
Every year visitors flock to the exhibition to get a first look at the world's finest carpets and express pride in their country's famous export.
STORYLINE:
Persian carpets are perhaps Iran's most famous exports.
Often made from pure wool or silk, with the intricate handmade patterns mean they are often luxury items in the western world.
The complex patterns often depict natural scenes, flowers and plants or scenes from famous stories in Persian literature.
Since the 16th century Persian carpets have been exported to the four corners of the globe.
Iranians consider the weavers and designers to be artisans and carpet making an art form.
In the 19th century European and American companies opened carpet factories in what was then Persia (modern day Iran).
Persian carpets are a historical icon to most people in Iran.
Mohammad Reza Amani, an exhibition visitor says they represent ancient Iranian culture, handmade by Iranian artists thus keeping it alive and relevant.
Other exhibitors and visitors said they are a source of pride for their country.
Carpets remain an important export for Iran.
In the current nuclear stand-off, the United Nations Security Council has given the country until August 31 to stop its uranium enrichment work or face possible economic and political sanctions, which may affect the carpet industry.
In 2000, the United States lifted a ban on some imports, including caviar and carpets, but maintains sweeping restrictions on business ties.
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