Iran, Russia keen on expansion of cultural ties

Head of Iran's Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, Mohammad Baqer Khorramshad, met with the head of the Russian Cooperation Agency Konstantin Kosachev here on Thursday, IRNA reported.

Kosachev said that in his new position as head of Russian Cooperation Agency he will do his best for expansion of Iran-Russia bilateral ties exactly like what he did when he was representative of Russia's State Duma.

"Russian Cooperation Agency is an executive organization and it coordinates its activities with Russia's Foreign Ministry, Russia's Culture Ministry and Russia's Federal Immigration Organization," he added.

Kosachev said that on behalf of his agency, he welcomes holding cultural weeks in Iran and Russia while Russia will actively attend such cultural events.

"I appreciate you for prioritizing Russia in you cultural cooperation," the Russian senior official told the Iranian official.

He said that Iran is a prioritized partner for Russia and the presence of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Iran and holding meetings on Iran's nuclear activities are proofs to the fact that Moscow deems Iran as an important partner.

Referring to the fact that professional diplomats hold the meeting in Moscow, Kosachev pointed out that he is confident that the human relations between two countries will help the diplomats in the Moscow meeting.

Head of Iran's Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, Mohammad Baqer Khorramshad for his part said that he assures that Iran believes in expansion of cultural cooperation with Russia and it steps in that direction.

He noted that Iran's cultural office in Moscow is one of the most active ones for the same reason.

"Our organization (Islamic Culture and Relations Organization) has representative offices in more than 55 countries and some of them are prioritized over others, including our office in Moscow," Khorramshad added.

He expressed IR Iran's preparedness for boosting cooperation with Russia in cultural and artistic fields.

"The history and the present circumstances shows the necessity for enhancing cultural ties in different dimensions," the Iranian official added.

Referring to the fact that Iran and Russia are two neighbor countries and it necessitates both nations to become more familiar with each other, Khorramshad pointed out that the IR Iran is determined to make the Russian society more acquainted to itself and introduce the Iranian nation in a better way to the Russian nation.

"It is for the same reason that we are trying to lift the barriers which impede the cultural ties between Iran and Russia. Today, there are suitable grounds for expansion of cultural ties between Tehran and Moscow," he added.

Khorramshad said that the Iranian people are becoming more interests in learning the Russian language and Russian culture. He noted that the increasing interest by the Russians in Iranian culture provide a suitable ground for expansion of bilateral ties.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev appointed Konstantin Kosachev director of the Russian Cooperation Agency and special presidential representative for CIS Affairs in March 2012.

The Federal Agency for Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Russian Cooperation Agency) was established in 2008.

The agency has 83 branches in 74 countries, including 58 Russian scientific and cultural centers.