TEHRAN -- Iran's Cultural Attache in Turkey, Abolhassan Khalaj Monfared said here Monday that establishment of broad-based and meaningful relations between the universities, elites and cultural figure of Iran and Turkey is among the necessities of the two neighboring nations today. Speaking before the Fourth Conference of the Iranian cultural attaches abroad, Monfared added, "There are still lots of unused potentials in intellectual and cultural fields between Iran and Turkey."

He said the establishment of contacts with Turkey's official, public and private sector, cultural, scientific, and artistic circles must be our first priority, while making efforts to bring closer the minds and hearts of the Iranian and Turk elites in various fields, and aiming for holding meaningful and fruitful dialogues at any levels, particularly on political relations between the two countries is a necessity.

The Iranian cultural attache said that keeping in mind the high popularity of the Iranian culture and arts in Turkey, the Iranians need to focus on creating an atmosphere in which the commonalities of the two people would be stressed and more shared cultural and scientific experiences and endeavors would be sought. Pointing out some of the unused capabilities in boosting cultural ties, he referred to broader introduction of Iranian cinema, and TV productions, as well as various Islamic arts, and seeking joint activities in such fields, arguing: "By making investments in such activities, deep political, economic and cultural understanding between the two nations would follow."

The Iranian cultural attache in Turkey said that no other two Islamic countries are as close as the Iranians and the Turks and those who try to create tension in the relations of the two counties are unaware of this fact.

He expressed regret that currently the relations between the two countries do not match the friendly cultural background of the two nations.

Khalaj Monfared said that the Zionists' negative propagation is responsible for the negative attitude of Turkey toward Iran and that has led to the growing of a feeling of "mistrust" on both sides.

Emphasizing on the point that the Zionists are not interested a bit in the expansion of ties between Iran and Turkey, that are two powerful, Islamic countries in the region, he said: "The Turks are now following Iran's developments through Western windows.

The fourth conference of Iranian cultural attaches abroad will start its activities on Tuesday, August 13 in Tehran.