Iranian Minister Terms Culture Proper Means for Expanding Iran-Egypt Ties

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency) Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hossein Saffar Harandi said culture and cultural relations could serve as the best possible means to expand Iran-Egypt ties.

Speaking in a meeting with the head of Egypt’s interest section in Iran, Harandi voiced pleasure in the developing trend of the two sides’ relations, and said, “Basically, what can thaw the two countries’ frozen ties is relations in cultural arenas.”

He further called for exchange of experiences between the two states in areas of art and culture, saying that exchange of experience between Iranian and Egyptian artists and cultural activists can further expand and consolidate the two nations’ relations.

The minister also voiced Iran’s readiness to arrange Egypt’s cultural week, and hoped to pay an upcoming visit to Cairo.

For his part, the Egyptian official extended an invitation to Harandi to pay a visit to Cairo to attend the 20th meeting of the consultative assemblies in March.

He further welcomed the views expressed by Harandi about the role of culture in the betterment of Tehran-Cairo relations, and said, “In recent years, the two countries’ relations have witnessed many developments and establishment of cultural ties can play an effective role in the expansion and consolidation of the two nations’ relations.”