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Iran may cut cultural ties with France over Louvre’s perfidy

Iran Materials 1 February 2011 10:46 (UTC +04:00)
Iran has threatened to break its cultural links with France if the Louvre continues to renege on agreements with the country, IRNA reported.
Iran may cut cultural ties with France over Louvre’s perfidy

Iran has threatened to break its cultural links with France if the Louvre continues to renege on agreements with the country, IRNA reported.

The Louvre has not fulfilled its commitments of organizing a showcase to display a collection of its Persian artifacts in Iran, Iran's Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization Director Hamid Baqaii said in a press release on Sunday, Tehran Times reported.

"The Louvre officials must give an exact date and details for an exhibition of its Persian artifacts in Iran before the end of the (Iranian) year, otherwise we will cut our cultural relations with France," he noted.

The Iranian year comes to end on March 20.

Iran loaned artifacts from the Safavid-era (1501-1736) for "The Song of the World" exhibition, which was held at the Louvre from October 5, 2007 to January 7, 2008.

Baqaii said that the Louvre had promised to organize an exhibit in Iran to showcase a collection of its Persian artifacts instead.

"So far, Louvre officials have not fulfilled their promises," he lamented.

In January 2010, Iran threatened to cut cultural ties with the British Museum after it postponed loaning the Cyrus Cylinder for a show at the National Museum of Iran.

It seemed that the warning produced a positive outcome as the British Museum sent the Cyrus Cylinder for the show in September 2010.

Photo: People visit the Persian section of the Louvre in an undated photo.

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