PARIS (IRNA) -- Iranian Vice President Esfandiar Rahim-Mushaei in a meeting with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director General Koichiro Matsuura here Monday expressed Iran's readiness to expand cooperation with the international body.

In this direction, Mushaei called for strengthening and promoting UNESCO representative bureau in Tehran to play a more international role.
Head of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (CHHTO) said, ""We are ready to strengthen experts role in the center.""
The Iranian official added, ""The world community under auspices of the cultural values can make nations closer to each other and with cultural cooperation we can witness tranquility all around the world.""
Mushaei also welcomed recent Matsuura's statement concerning countries' obligation to implement the convention to prevent smuggling antiques in the world.
In the meeting also an agreement concerning establishment of an Iranian trust fund before UNESCO was signed by Matsuura and Moshaei.
The VP also proposed establishment of a regional study center for spiritual heritage either in Tehran or Isfahan or Shiraz.