TEHRAN – The Friendship Association of Iran and St. Petersburg has been established in the Russian city.

The Iranian cultural attaché’s office announced the establishment of the association during a meeting at the Institute of the Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IOM) on Tuesday.

The Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Ali Jannati, attended the ceremony. He also paid a visit to the institute.

Jannati was in Russia to attend the IV St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum (December 14 to 16), the Persian service of IRNA reported.

The minister also met with a number of Russian scholars and researchers on Iran and Islam including IOM Deputy Director Stanislav Prozorov, and Pavel Borisovich Lurje, Head of the Sector for Central Asia, the Caucasus and Crimea.

Iran’s ambassador to Moscow Mehdi Sanai and cultural attaché Reza Maleki were also among the participants.

In his brief speech, Jannati emphasized the development of art and cultural relationships with St Petersburg and said that the association will lead to expansion of relations.

He also referred to Iran’s potential in cooperation with IOM and said that Iran can provide the institute with additional knowledge on the history and roots of Islam and Iran.

For his part, Stanislav Prozorov also praised efforts made by Iran’s embassy in the recent years and said that the Russian Foundation for Islamic Studies has also had great role in introducing Islamic and Iranian sources.

RM/YAW
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