Italy willing to broaden tourism ties with Iran

Italian Minister of Cultural Assets and Tourism Massimo Bray, in a meeting with Vice-President and Head of Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) Mohammad Ali Najafi, called for the further expansion of ties between the two states, specially in the tourism sector. Bray noted that it is for the first time that he is visiting Iran, and said, “Iran and Italy can play a big role in the international arena.” The Italian minister pointed to his country’s willingness to expand relations with Iran, and said, “The history of Iran is being taught in important sections of the textbooks in Italy alongside the history of Greece and the Roman Empire.” Najafi, for his part, briefed the Italian minister about different sections of the ICHHTO, including tourism, handicrafts and cultural heritage. Earlier this month, a senior Italian senator said Iran's influential presence and positive stances on the regional and international scenes have caused the statesmen and politicians in Rome to seize the opportunity for expanding ties with Tehran. Speaking at a meeting with Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi in Tehran, Chairman of the Italian Senate's Foreign Policy Commission Pier Ferdinando Casini stressed that Iran is a highly significant country in the region. Casini underscored that Tehran and Rome have always enjoyed good political and parliamentary relations and added that the Italian parliament welcomes the further development of ties with Iran. Late in December, Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino in a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stressed Iran’s key role in the region, and said her country is eager to use Tehran’s experiences and potentials in settling the regional crises. During the meeting, Bonino said that “Italy while contributing to the promotion of Iran-Europe ties, hopes to be able to have joint cooperation with Iran in solving regional issues”. “Italy is eager to expand cooperation with Iran in economic, industrial, energy, tourism, science and research domains,” she added.