Cultural Weeks, Turning Point In Development Of Tehran-Moscow Ties: Culture Min.

Moscow, Oct. 3, IRNA – Iranian Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini said on Tuesday that organizing cultural weeks is a turning point in expansion of Iran-Russia cultural interactions. Addressing a news conference on Iran’s cultural week in Moscow, he described art as an international language which conveys the message of artists in the best possible manner. Referring to the commonalities of the two countries, he further noted that given the high level of bilateral ties and the existing cultural capacities, cultural and artistic interactions should be promoted. Most of Iranian books have been translated into Russian language and made available to the public, Hosseini said. He further noted that Iran’s cultural week also be held in Saint Petersburg to introduce numerous Iranian artworks. Voicing Iran’s readiness for further cultural and artistic cooperation, he called on Russian artists to actively take part in Iranian cultural programs. “Iran’s cultural programs are different from those of the West and promulgate altruism and unity instead of hostility and immorality,” he said. Hosseini is in Moscow today on a four-day visit to inaugurate Iran’s cultural week in the city. Organized by Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Islamic Culture and Relations Organization and Iran cultural office in Moscow, the cultural week will feature artworks such as handicrafts, glass works, traditional clothes, photos and sculptures. Iran’s film week will also be held on the sidelines of the cultural week in Moscow. The films ‘Alzheimer’s’ directed by Ahmad Reza Mo’tamedi, ‘Silk Blue Way’ by Mohammad Reza Bozorg-Nia, ‘Here Without Me’ by Bahram Tavakkoli, ‘Days of Life’ by Parviz Sheikh-Taei and ‘Land of Solomon’ by Shahriar Bahrami will be screened in Russian language. Iran’s first cultural week was held in 2008 and Russia cultural week was organized in 2007. Hosseini is scheduled to confer with Medinsky and Iranian expatriates in Russia. He will also visit several historical and cultural monuments during his visit to Moscow and Petersburg. Russian cultural week will be held in Tehran in 2013./end