Iran underlines boost of cultural relations with Tunisia

He made the remarks in a meeting with his Tunisian counterpart Mohamed Zine El Abidine on Friday.

Iran attaches importance to the film industry, the Iranian official added.

Salehi Amiri noted that Iran and Tunisia can define new grounds for cooperation in a way that results in jump of relations between the two states.

He urged talks between Iranian and Tunisian elites and said that cultural dialogue between the two countries’ people can enhance understanding between the two nations.

Salhei Amiri said that establishment of a united front against terrorism and violence is necessary.

Iran’s culture ministry is ready for joint production of films, orchestra and music with Tunisia and in the meantime it is prepared to hold training courses to enhance the two countries’ cultural and artistic relations, he added.

The culture minister briefed his Tunisian counterpart on Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art and said that it is a well-know museum in the field of visual arts and the artworks there are estimated to be worth 2.5 billion dollars.

The official invited his Tunisian counterpart to attend the 30th Tehran International Book Fair and noted that 12,000 publishers are expected to attend the event and 3 million visitors are also expected to pay visit to the exhibition.

Holding cultural week is not enough for boost of cultural cooperation between the two states and there is need for increase of consultations between the two countries’ art and culture fans, the culture minister added.

He said that Iran and Tunisia can also have cooperation in fields of manuscripts as well as media and national archives.

“We believe that strengthening Tunisia is strengthening democracy and it can play an inspiring role for the Arab and African states.”

Salehi Amir said, “We are happy about the peace and stability in Tunisia and we are ready to transfer experience to this country in various fields.”

Meanwhile, the Tunisian culture minister referred to the commonalities between the two countries and said that Iran and Arab world relations resulted in a rich Islamic civilization which involves both spirituality and rationality.

Iran and Tunisia relations have improved since 2011 and the two countries have enjoyed holding joint cultural weeks and cinema events with positive impacts, he added.

The official said, “Now, we are experiencing Iran’s cultural and film week in Tunisia and we will send a delegation to Iran to prepare the ground for presence of Tunisian film makers at the Fajr International Film Festival.”

“Human being is a source of culture and we are keen to inspire fresh enthusiasm in the new dominant cultural atmosphere.”

Iran’s minister of culture who is in Tunis on an official visit conferred also with Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi and Tunisian Minister of Religious Affairs Ahmed Adhoum on Friday.

Salehi Amiri departed Tehran on Monday at the invitation of Algerian and Tunisian Culture Ministers to pay visits to these two countries and sign cultural and art cooperation documents, especially in the field of cinema.

During his stay in Algeria, Salehi Amiri met with a number of senior officials of that country.

In Tunisia, he attends an international book fair, inaugurates Iranian film week in Tunis, and meets with cultural officials of Tunisia.

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