Athens, on April 24, will host the first ministerial conference of the member states that comprise the Ancient Civilizations Forum (ACF Forum), with the participation of foreign ministers of ten countries.
On the sidelines of the event, the Iran’s Mohammad Javad Zarif will meet with Greek prime minister and foreign minister as well as a number of his counterparts from the participating countries.
The conference is taking place upon the initiative of Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi and will mark the forum’s official launch.
Apart from Greece and China, the countries invited are Egypt, Bolivia, India, Iraq, Iran, Italy, Mexico and Peru which represent ancient civilizations such as the Egyptian, the Roman, the Persian, the Chinese, the Mesopotamian, the Mayas, the Incas, and those of the Indus Valley.
In the invitation sent by Kotzias and Yi, the ministers stress the common vision to utilize cultural heritage to promote friendly relations, international cooperation, peace, stability and prosperity. The achievements of the past gain increasingly more value, not when one rests on one’s laurels, but when they are utilized to form a better present and a more hopeful tomorrow and this is the aim of the Forum.
Through a broad agenda of joint actions, the forum aims to ‘transform’ culture into a source of power and a fundamental tool for introducing a contemporary, multifaceted foreign policy. The forum will also highlight the economic prospects of cultural synergies among nations.
Meanwhile, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi is slated to visit four European countries including Sweden, Austria, Poland and Finland which are all located in northern parts of Europe.
“The visit is being made as an acknowledgement to my counterparts who had come to Iran and we seek to expand relations and cooperation with European countries,” he maintained.
The Iranian deputy FM said extensive issues will be discussed with the four European states including consultation on bilateral and regional issues and, most importantly, bilateral economic ties.
HA/3959730
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