Iran, Azerbaijan keen to broaden cultural ties

Iranian and Azeri officials in a meeting in Baku discussed ways to bolster cultural ties between the two countries. During the meeting in the Azeri capital on Tuesday, Iranian Ambassador to Baku Mohsen Pakayeen and Azeri Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister explored avenues for reinvigorating of Tehran-Baku cultural relations. During the meeting, the Iranian ambassador expressed the hope that the cultural relations between Tehran and Baku will further increase in the light of supports of the Azeri culture and tourism ministry from programs and activities of Iran's cultural department in that country. Pakayeen also introduced Seyyed Ebrahim Ebrahimi as Iranian Embassy's new cultural attaché to Azerbaijan. He noted Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan will extend their cultural cooperation agreement. The Azeri culture and tourism minister, for his part, pointed to the status quo of Iran-Azerbaijan relations, and said, "I hope that we would expand our relations, specially in cultural fields." Iran has recently enhanced efforts to boost political, economic and cultural ties and cooperation with the regional and neighboring countries, specially the Central Asian states.