TEHRAN Based on the existing evidence, the Croatian researchers believe that Croats are of Iranian origin, said Iran's former cultural attache in Croatia, Masood Eslami. In an interview with the TEHRAN TIMES, he said, Croats were among the Iranian tribes in the era of Darius I. They emigrated from the western part of Iran to the Atlantic coasts via Caucasia, Ukraine and Hungary. He also referred to the commonalities existing in the languages of Persian and Croatian, similarities in the complexion, and similar kinds of vegetables and meats which are used in the two countries as factors which lend credence to this theory.

He added Eslami noted that the theory has also some advocates in Hungary and Ukraine, and that they boast about their being of Iranian origin. Referring to the seminar entitled Iranian Origins of Croats, which was recently held in Croatia, Eslami said, The seminar was welcomed by Catholic and Muslim circles in the country. The second seminar on Iranian Origins of Croats will be held soon in Croatia following the dispatch of a group of Croatian scholars to Iran to study historical texts.

Elaborating on the cultural activities carried out by his office when he was in Croatia, Eslami said, Promotion of cultural ties was outstanding during last year. Also the Croatian culture minister's trip to Iran and concluding a cultural agreement He reiterated that the Croatian culture minister was deeply influenced by Iran's enriched culture, friendly people, beautiful land and ancient history. Eslami further referred to holding seminars on thoughts and views of Imam Khomeini, status of women in Islam, roots of Islamic Revolution and Islam in the West and also holding exhibitions of handicrafts and paintings and screening films as other cultura In conclusion, he said, Under the previous agreements, a seminar on Hafez will be held in Zagreb in the near future with the participation of Persian Literature intellectuals from Iran and Croatia.