Tehran, July 11, IRNA � Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati met a large number of Armenian researchers, teachers, translators and university professors of Persian language in Yerevan on Friday.
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Speaking in the meeting, Jannati said Iran and Armenia continued their political and social life as a single country for about 900 years and after separation preserved their cultural relations.

He said Iranian and Armenian traditional music are so similar to each other that sometimes it is difficult to differentiate between them as their roots are the same.

Jannati said historical books of Armenia such as History of Armenia contain valuable information about history of ancient Iran but have not been translated yet.

He noted that some historical information of the Armenian history books such as history of the Achaemenids is unique and it is necessary to be translated in full.

The minister said that some Armenian personalities can be traced in the Persian books and literature the most important of which is Shirin in Khosrow-Shirin lyrics.

Jannati pointed to the agreements reached in cultural field and said it was promising for the expansion of bilateral relations between the two countries.

At the end of the session, plaques of honor signed by the minister were presented to 14 Armenian researchers and top teachers of Persian language.

By IRNA