Iranology Conference in Spain

The University of Murcia (Universidad de Murcia) in southeastern Spain hosted a two-day Iranology congress on October 6-7.

The 6th International Congress of the Spanish Association of Iranian Studies was organized in the city of Murcia by the Spanish Society of Iranian Studies. The conference was in three categories of pre-Islamic, Islamic and contemporary period.

“Such conferences are rewarding for the University of Murcia, and we hope they will help us build a better world,” Bernardo Cascales, institutional coordinator of the university, said in his opening speech, IRNA reported.

President of the Spanish Association of Iranian Studies Alfred Kavanagh appreciated the university officials for hosting the conference. “Iranian studies in Spain have a significant status, as they promote cultural diplomacy and increase the number of Iranology experts and specialists.” He also appreciated the Iranian Embassy for its support in research activities.

Iran’s Cultural Attaché to Spain, Alireza Esmaili, referred to the several meetings between Spanish and Iranian cultural and academic figures at the university in the past year.

“The interaction between Iran and Spain is as old as history. Diplomatic ties between the two countries go way back,” Esmaili said pointing out that Castilian traveler and writer Ruy Gonzalez de Clavijo was the ambassador of Henry III of Castile, a large kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula, in 1403-05 to the court of Timur, founder of the Timurid Empire in Persia and Central Asia. Clavijo traveled to Armenia, Iran and Turkestan and visited Tehran in 1404.

“Many intellectuals, theoreticians and artists in Spain were of Iranian descent. They have highlighted Iranian literature and science in Iberian civilization.”

  Cultural Cooperation

Esmaili noted that 100 years have passed since the Iranian Embassy was established in Spain, and “It brings us joy that we could hold the conference in the cultural and historical city of Murcia.”

Supporting such programs is among the most important activities of the Iranian Embassy for promotion of mutual ties and a memorandum of understanding for scientific and cultural cooperation has been signed with the University of Murcia. “The conference was one of the outcomes of the MoU.”

Esmaili also honored the memory of late Professor Jose Maria Blazquez Martinez (1926-2016), the first honorary president of the SEI.