TEHRAN (IMNA) - Referring to UNESCO’s initiative to name the Decade “2013 to 2022” as the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures, Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Mahdi Esmaili has sent a general message to the attendees of the summit of Ministers of Culture of the member states of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that suggests the strategic plan of making twinning agreements between the border cities of neighboring countries to synergize and develop cultural and social relations among them.
Iran shares international borders with many countries both on land and sea that should be considered as productive opportunities. Considering the sanctions that has been imposed on our country by the western world, the neighboring countries are windows of opportunities for Iran in all cultural, political, economic and social dimensions. There is a need for a stronger, more persistent, established and continuous relationship with the nearby countries, especially in cultural and social fields.
Our country shares many cultural commonalities with its bordering countries, thus establishing sister city agreements between border cities can be effective regarding the expansion of cultural relations.
“According to the plan of twinning agreements among the border cities of neighboring countries, we must put the generalities, goals, major axes, list of measures, consequences and requirements in a unit framework. Sister city relationships should be formed based on the conditions and capacities of both parties and in the context of common emotional and psychological connections,” Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad-Mehdi Esmaeili noted.