Iran sees marked improvement in cultural ties with Russia

TEHRAN,Dec.16(MNA) -- The minister of culture and Islamic guidance said that Iran and Russia have friendly cultural relations, and these ties are increasing due to the will of the two nations. Mohammad Hosseini made the remarks during a state dinner arranged at Tehran’s Azadi Hotel on Friday in honor of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Medinsky. Medinsky arrived in Tehran on Friday to visit some Iranian officials and cultural centers. He has traveled to the country at the invitation of Hosseini. “Meeting Mr. Medinsky was a good opportunity for us,” Hosseini said. “We discussed mutual ties and the history of relations between our two countries, and his questions about our political system and some of our governmental organizations were answered during the meeting,” he added. “He was also fully briefed on Hollywood’s role in producing movies against Iran,” Hosseini explained. A protocol on organizing a Russian cultural week in Tehran in 2013 was signed by Hosseini and Medinsky on Saturday. “We held an Iranian cultural week in Moscow about two months ago and we stressed our readiness to host a Russian cultural week at that time,” Hosseini said. Iran also accepted Russia’s application to establish a Russian cultural office in Tehran, he added. Vadim Duda, Director of the Department of Information Policy and International Relations of the Ministry of Culture, and a number of other Russian cultural officials are accompanying Medinsky during the visit. An Iranian cultural delegation led by Hosseini traveled to Russia in October to attend an Iranian cultural week, which was held in Moscow and St. Petersburg. They also met Medinsky and a number of other Russian cultural officials during the visit.