Syria, Iran for Boosting Tourism, Art, Theater and Film Production Relations

DAMASCUS,(ST)_ Tourism Minister Bisher Yazigi discussed with Iran Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Ahmad Jannati means of developing tourism between the two countries and ways to overcome challenges posed by the crisis on the tourism sector in Syria over the past five years.

In a statement to SANA following the meeting, held on the sidelines of the World Media Conference to confront takfiri terrorism yesterday in Dar al-Assad for Culture and Arts, Jannati said that talks dealt with Iranian religious and tourist visits to Syria, especially as the city of Damascus is safe, noting a visit to be shortly made by chairman of the Iranian pilgrimage association to Syria to discuss with the minister of tourism possible operational procedures to activate visits to historical and religious monuments in Syria.

For his part, Minister Yazigi stressed the role of tourism in deepening ties between the peoples and the consolidation of social, cultural and economic relations, pointing out that the two sides discussed ways to activate and expand tourism cooperation between the two countries by signing related memorandum and activating bilateral executive programs and tourism promotion.

The Iranian minister also met with the Minister of Culture, Essam Khalil and the two sides agreed to cooperate in the field of art, theater and film production and translation of books from Arabic into Persian and vice versa.

“We have great potential for cooperation, which we should use for the benefit of the two countries,” Jannati said, stressing that there are no limits for cooperation between the two countries, in the political, economic or cultural areas.

For his part, Minister of Culture, told SANA that the meeting dealt with cultural exchange and cooperation for serving the two countries and enhancing bilateral artistic and cultural relations, pointing out that the Iranian minister expressed willingness to provide necessary technical assistance to boost film industry in Syria and ensure other needs in order to cope with the constraints imposed by the war.

On the importance of cooperation in the cultural field, to challenge the terrorist attack led by the takfiri thought, the minister stressed that the common risks faced by Syria and Iran makes it imperative for the two sides to cooperate to deepen cooperation in order to formulate a common cultural vision.

Tomader Fateh