ANKARA -- Head of Iran's Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, Hojatoleslam Mahmoud Mohammadi Araqi in Istanbul on Tuesday elaborated the effects of globalization on national and regional cultures.

Araqi, who is participating at the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) meeting, said that as globalization gains momentum, societies are being driven toward ethnic and nonethnic changes instigated by foreign elements as a result of the development of industry and technology in global communications.

He said that the cultures of every community have been influenced by the cultural outputs coming from overseas so that the cultural atmosphere has gradually become the same in the entire international community, IRNA reported.

Globalization is a relative phenomenon with positive and negative outcomes, he said adding that the globalization process is not a single trend but exists in global interaction, he pointed out.

He said that globalization has caused crisis in national and religious identity and caused a break in historical background of the nations paving the way for deepening colonialism and undermining a collective sense among nations.

Respecting to cultural heritage of all human civilizations, maintaining of cultural independence, confronting with one-sided ideas, ethnic, religious and national diversities as well as giving pivotal role to religions are among the ways to deal with the negative effects of globalization, he said.

The third UNESCO meeting opened on Monday morning in Istanbul.

Some 109 countries, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, are participating in the meeting.

The meeting is due to end on Tuesday.