Iran-Russia Call For Expansion Of Cultural Ties

Moscow, Oct 4, IRNA – Iran's Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hosseini conferred on Wednesday with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Medinsky on expansion of cultural ties and cooperation between both countries. During the meeting, Hosseini hoped to witness further expansion of cooperation between both ministries during the term in office of the new Russia culture minister. Referring to Iran's cultural week in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, he said such cultural events should be used as an opportunity by the countries' elites, artists and ordinary people to get acquainted with each other. "We believe that the two sides cultural figures and officials can make use of each other's potentials to broaden cultural cooperation between the two sides," Hosseini said. Regretfully, the image depicted by the western media of realities in Iran and Russia is totally wrong and unreal, he said. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for expansion of political and economic relations between Iran and Russia, he said. Cultural relations between the two sides are very profound, he said. On promotion of interactions among religions, he said differences among religions can be patched up through mutual respects and talks. Tehran and Moscow share common stands on global developments such as campaign against terrorism, drug trafficking as well as current developments in Syria, he said. Iran is ready to broaden the scope of cultural cooperation with Russia in the fields of cinema, theater, visual arts, books and international festivals, he said. The two sides also inked a protocol on expansion of mutual cooperation in cinematic affairs. The Russia minister, for his part, welcomed expansion of cultural cooperation between Iran and Russia./end