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 Ph.D. 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.

"They would be joking and saying what's wrong with you? This was the reaction I would always get when I was studying," said Dr.

Ruymbeke who teaches at the Ulb University in Brussels as well as in the British University of Cambridge.

"Nowadays, people tell me, how lucky you are. It is a wonderful civilization. That's really a positive development," she said.

"There is an awareness of this treasure of humanity. People now ask me to give talks about the culture and 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.

But she explained that change of Iran's image depends on both sides.

"The people in Europe are hungry for a positive reaction from Iran. I am not exaggerating. I really feel that they are looking for this reaction.

"When I talk to people, they tell me 'we read in the press how the president wants to open up Iran'. How positive this reaction is," she said. Ruymbeke was first attracted to Iran when she went to study English in the U.K. in the early 80's where she met some Iranian students. "I liked the language they spoke. It sounded very sweet."

She joined the Persian Studies after her return home.

She said that the press in Europe is also now putting some positive image of Iran. "People accept that. They would be so happy to say that Iran is a nice open, positive country."

In the first year of the Persian course, Ruymbeke has seven students.

"This is a good number. When I was studying Persian there were only 2 or 3 students. So in a way there is an interest building up for Persian," she told IRNA in the interview.

The Persian department is part of Oriental Institute which belongs to the Faculty of Philosophy and Literature of the Ulb.

Ruymbeke is currently trying with other colleagues to open up the Persian course in the Ulb for students from other Belgian universities. She is all praise for Persian poets. "I must say that I am at Ease with non-Sufi poets, like Nizami, Roudaki, Firdausi."

"Hafiz is really a talent, different from others. So wonderful that you cannot compare him with others."

She sounded optimist on the development of Persian Studies in Belgium.

"I think the image for the Persian culture is changing. People are going to Iran. They see this wonderful culture. They talk about the monuments, the miniatures. There is a positive interest again in Persian culture."

"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.

"They have been contacting me and offering help.

They have donated a lot of books. It is going to be a tremendous help for our students. We are also trying to open up possibilities for students to go to Iran, to meet young Iranians to try to understand what is happening there.