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.
Jannati said Iran and Armenia had common political and social life “as a single country for about 900 years and after separation preserved their cultural relations,” IRNA reported.
Iranian and Armenian traditional music are so similar that sometimes “it is difficult to distinguish between them as their roots are the same.”
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 historical information in Armenian history books such as ‘History of the Achaemenids’ is unique and should be translated.
The minister said Armenian personalities can be traced in Persian books and literature, the most important being Shirin in Khosrow-Shirin lyrics.
Jannati pointed to agreements in the cultural field and said it was promising for the expansion of bilateral relations between the two countries.
Plaques of honor signed by the minister were presented to 14 Armenian researchers and top teachers of Persian language.
