Iran, Azerbaijan focus on religious, cultural commonalities

TEHRAN, Dec. 05 (MNA) – Meeting with head of Azerbaijan's State Committee for Religious Affairs, Iran's head of Islamic Culture and Relations Organization underscored religious and cultural values the two nations share. Iran’s head of Islamic Culture and Relations Organization Abuzar Ebrahimi Torkaman met with the Azerbaijani head of State Committee for Religious Affairs Mubariz Gurbanli on Wednesday. Pointing to cultural and religious commonalities of the two countries, Abuzar Ebrahimi expressed hope for further expansion of cultural and religious ties between Tehran and Baku. Iranian official pointed to the religious instructions and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and emphasized on destructive role of Takfiri groups in sowing discord among Islamic nations and countries. “Extremist groups pose a danger to the whole world and spread terror and violence and tarnish the merciful image of Islam,” Ebrahimi stressed. Ebrahimi pointed to the resolve of presidents of the two countries in promoting comprehensive ties, saying that Islamic Culture and Relations Organization was ready to develop cultural ties with Azerbaijan. Mubariz Gurbanli, for his part, evaluated the President Rouhani’s visit to Azerbaijan as positive and said: “Iranian president’s last month visit to Baku opened a new chapter in relations between the two countries and I hope it could lead to the promotion of ties.” He referred to the cultural and religious commonalities between the two countries and said Iran was among the first countries to recognize the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, “an event our country will never forget”. Mubariz Gurbanli evaluated the Iranian films displayed in Azerbaijan as influential and called for the cooperation between Iranian Islamic Culture and Relations Organization and Azerbaijani State Committee for Religious Affairs in this regard.