Iran calls for expansion of media ties with russia

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast asked for the bolstering of ties and cooperation between the Iranian and Russian media.Speaking at a meeting with his Russian counterpart in Moscow on Monday, Ramin Mehman-Parast laid emphasis on the importance of consultations between the two sides.He further briefed the other side about Iran\'s stances on regional and international developments, and blasted the West for its selective and double-standard approach towards such issues as democracy, human rights and campaign against terrorism. Mehman-Parast further stressed the importance of cooperation between the two countries\' cultural, academic and research centers as well as non-governmental associations due to their major share in public diplomacy. The Russian foreign ministry officials, for his part, underlined Tehran and Moscow\'s shared stances in a wide range of political and international issues, and urged consolidation of the two countries\' bilateral and regional relations. He also reiterated the importance of the effects of the two countries\' media cooperation, and welcomed developing ties between the Iranian and Russian medias. Mehman-Parast left Tehran for Moscow at the head of a media delegation on Sunday. The foreign minister spokesman is accompanied by a number of Iranian media editors and manager. During the visit, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman and his accompanying delegation are due to meet Russian officials to discuss media cooperation between the two nations.