Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports (ESCS) Vahram Dumanyan received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia Abbas Badakhshan Zohuri. Arthur Martirosyan, RA Deputy Minister of Education and Science also participated in the meeting.
Welcoming the Ambassador, Dumanyan stated that the relations based on mutual trust and centuries-old friendship have great potential. Reaffirming the readiness to continue and expand the joint programs, the Minister discussed the possibility of drafting new memoranda of cooperation, and extending the existing ones, as well as mutual recognition of higher education qualifications and graduation documents.
Emphasizing Iran’s experience in the field of nanotechnologies, Dumanyan also referred to the implementation of joint educational programs in that sphere.
“Last year was very difficult for Armenia, but we are confident that we will be able to overcome the difficulties caused by the war, the coronavirus pandemic, and move forward. In this regard, we appreciate the cooperation with friendly countries, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is multi-layered. I am confident that there are all preconditions for raising the Armenian-Iranian relations to a new level of quality, for implementing all the programs step by step,” Dumanyan said.
Ambassador Abbas Badakhshan Zohuri thanked for the reception, responded positively to the RA ESCS’s proposals, stating that the Iranian side is ready to expand the scope of cooperation. The diplomat is confident that the development of education and science is automatically manifested in other spheres, in general, contributes to the development of the state. In this context, the Ambassador noted that the gap in the educational relations between the sides could be filled due to the expansion of inter-university cooperation, mutual visits of university rectors, the development of Armenian and Iranian studies in neighboring countries.
The Ambassador also expressed readiness to sign a comprehensive memorandum of cooperation and, accordingly, to outline clear steps for the development of bilateral cooperation.
“Iran has a warm attitude towards Armenia, the Armenian people, it evaluates bilateral relations. Christian Armenians live next to Muslims in Iran, and there are many Iranian citizens in Armenia. The friendly relations between our peoples are special. I think this is the best model of peaceful coexistence in history that should be presented to the whole world, thus contributing to the prevention of violence,” said Ambassador Abbas Badakhshan Zohuri.
Responding to the ambassador, Dumanyan noted that the basis of peaceful and friendly coexistence is the deep historical and cultural ties. “A country that has culture cannot be a threat to another country with the same values. The power of culture is beyond any weapon.”
Dumanyan and Abbas Badakhshan Zohuri also spoke about the preservation of the Armenian cultural heritage in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan after the war.
Ambassador Abbas Badakhshan Zohuri said that the issue is in the focus of the Iranian side. At the end of the meeting, the sides reached a preliminary agreement to set up sectoral working groups and take practical steps.
