IRAN READY FOR MORE CULTURAL COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA – MINISTER
Islamic Republic News Agency
Sept 3 2007
Iran
Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad-Hossein Saffar
Harandi said here Monday that Tehran is ready to have more cultural
cooperation with Yerevan.
Saffar Harandi told his Armenian counterpart Hasmik Poghosyan that
Iran was among the first states to officially recognize independence
of Armenia and build close relations with it and since then bilateral
economic and political ties have grown gradually.
However, he said, the gap of cultural ties is still felt in bilateral
relations.
He said cultural ties guarantee relations in other fields and bring
about closer cultural affinity.
He added that peaceful co-existence among followers of different divine
religions in Iran is a big achievement of the Islamic Revolution.
Poghosyan said for her part that in Iran all necessary facilities
are provided for maintaining identity and culture of Armenians.
She urged cooperation between her country and Iran in cinema, theater,
and library affairs as well as in protection of ancient monuments.
Holding cultural and arts festivals as well as celebrating the national
days of Iran and Armenia would effectively contribute to promotion
of mutual cultural relations, said Poghosyan, inviting her Iranian
counterpart to visit Armenia.