TEHRAN -- Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati has lauded the morality of Iranian-Armenian nationals.

Speaking during a ceremony organized to celebrate the 85th anniversary of Alik, a Tehran-based Armenian-language daily, on Saturday, he said that Armenians have always played a pioneering role in publications and press issues.

A number of executives of the Armenian press media and cultural centers were in attendance at the ceremony, which was organized at Parsian Enghelab Hotel, the Persian service of IRNA reported.   

“Iran has always had close relations with Armenia in the cultural, political and economic areas,” he stated.

“Such a meeting and bilateral visits can result in the expansion of relations on cultural matters between the two countries and should be seriously pursued,” he added.

Jannati also said that Iran welcomes plans to organize mutual cultural programs between the two nations. 

Photo: Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati (R) and Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, the prelate of the Armenian diocese of Tehran, shake hands during a meeting held by an association of Iranian-Armenian journalists at Tehran’s Parsian Enghelab Hotel on September 17, 2016 to celebrate the 85th anniversary of Alik, a Tehran-based Armenian-language daily. (IRNA/Mohammad Babai)

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