Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Mohammad Husseini, met with his Azerbaijani counterpart to discuss the programs of Iran's cultural week in Azerbaijan. The meeting was held yesterday (October 3, 2011).

IBNA: According to the public relations and international affairs department of the ministry of culture and Islamic Guidance, Abolfazl Gharayev, minister of culture and tourism of Azerbaijan, said last year's cultural week of Azerbaijan in Tehran and Tabriz was the opening of numerous cultural ties between Iran and Azerbaijan.

He expressed happiness on the fact that Iran's cultural week is to be held in Baku and Ganja, two main cities of Azerbaijan.

Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Mohammad Husseini, on the other hand, stated that the cultural week of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Azerbaijan would be an opportunity for the two countries to bolster their cultural relations. He also aired his enchantment to visit Elham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani president.

"This is the first cultural event about Iran in Azerbaijan after 20 years since the country's revolution," said Husseini.

Husseini further highlighter the grand historical, cultural and religious potential between the two countries and stated that in the recent years the relations have boosted up among artists, poets and cineastes of Iran and Azerbaijan.

He also expressed hope that the agreements of the two countries regarding cultural relations become practical in the near future.

Husseini went on to note the interest for poets like Shahriyar and Nezami Ganjavi by the Azeri and Iranian nations and said such figures can strengthen relations between the nations.

"We are prepared to take part in all the cultural events held in Azerbaijan, said Husseini accounting of the cultural week of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He further invited the Azeri culture minister to travel to Iran with his deputies.

For his part, minister of culture and tourism of Azerbaijan termed the two countries as close friends and supporters for each other and expressed hope that practicing the cultural agreements between the two countries will expand their cultures.

"We always revere the Iranian culture and seek the expansion of relations with this country," he added.

He further highlighted the role culture plays in the developments of any nation and said such relations are crucial to the progress of nations.

He proposed that cultural weeks be held annually in Iran and Azerbaijan, interchangeably.

He further hoped that the growth of cultural ties between Iran and Azerbaijan would give their nations peaceful, serene and friendly environment for living.

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