IRNA � Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Abbas Salehi declared on Friday that formation of a culture consortium may result in expansion of relations and interactions between Iranian cultural sectors and Russian Iranology foundations.


He made the remarks in a meeting with Russian Iranologists in the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Saint Petersburg.

By establishment of such a consortium there will be stronger cultural relations and connections among related experts, said the Iranian minister.

Salehi said that Iranian universities have established good connections with Russian Iranology centers.

The Iranian minister also extended congratulation on the 200th anniversary of establishment of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Saint Petersburg.

He said that more than 500 Russian Iranologists have in the past 200 years introduced Iran from different angles to the world people.

Salehi added that thousands of Persian manuscripts are kept in Russian libraries.

The Iranian culture minister is in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to attend the VII Saint Petersburg International Cultural Forum (November 15-17) that kicked off on Thursday.