BRUSSELS -- A Belgian professor of persian language and literature said that the image of Iran in Europe is taking a positive turn and more and more Europeans want to learn about Islam and Iranian culture.

''The image of Iran in Europe had been extremely negative. when I was doing my PHD in persian studies just five or seven years ago, people here would be extremely surprised that somebody would be studying that,'' Professor DR.Christine Van Ruymbeke told IRNA in an interview.

Ruymbeke who teaches at the ULB University in Brussels as well as in the british university of cambridge said: "Nowadays, people tell me, how lucky you are. it is a wonderful civilization. that's really a positive development,''.

''there is an awareness of this treasure of humanity , people now ask me to give talks about the culture of Iran, about history of Iran.

''I was giving a lecture yesterday afternoon to teachers of a secondary school (in Brussels), they were so interested, this is not the image that we had of Islam , tell us more about it, they said,'' noted the soft-spoken and charming Belgian Scholar.

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Profesor Ruymbeke noted that the second generation Iranians who are living in belgium are also interested in finding their cultural roots.

''I have some of them coming to me. they want to know about their literature, their culture. they say we want to learn about it and be proud about it.'' ''I think that Persian studies are going to grow again in Belgium,'' she said, adding that Iran can help by arranging exchange programs and conferences.

Ruymbeke expressed her outmost thanks to the Iranian embassy in Brussels.