Italian Minister: Rich Histories to Cement Iran-Italy Relations
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Italy’s Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities Massimo Bray said there are suitable grounds for the expansion of ties between his country and Iran as the both countries are globally renowned for their rich history and cultural heritage.
Bray made the remarks in a Sunday visit to Iran’s southeastern province of Kerman, which hosts a lot of historic sites and ancient monuments.
The visiting Italian minister said there are abundant opportunities for the enhancement of relations between Tehran and Rome, and explained, “Both Iran and Italy have remarkable cultural and historical backgrounds, and they are renowned all over the world for their rich histories.”
“We can capitalize on the historical, cultural and ancient similarities (between Iran and Italy) for the exchange of tourists,” Bray added.
In a separate development earlier on Saturday, Ali Moradkhani, the Iranian deputy minister of culture and Islamic guidance and Bray agreed to set up a task force to help enhance cultural relations between the two countries and to regulate a series of cultural events to be held jointly by Tehran and Rome.
According to the Iranian official’s proposal, the task force will be tasked with making arrangements to hold joint cultural events between the two countries.
“Formation of the work committee can define the frameworks for the joint activities, and we are ready to reach the (final) stage for signing the executable agreement in a short time,” Bray said on Saturday.
Iran and Italy have stepped up efforts in the recent months to strengthen bilateral relations.
In December 2013, Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino travelled to Tehran for an official visit.
Heading a high-ranking delegation, Bonino met her Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and President Hassan Rouhani in her two-day long visit to Iran.
Bonino’s visit came after Zarif travelled to Rome in November at the invitation of his Italian counterpart to exchange views on regional and international matters.
She was the first Italian high-ranking official to visit Iran after almost ten years.
