TEHRAN - Turkey-Iran cultural relations symposium aiming to enhance cultural relations between the two countries started in Azad University in Tehran on Sunday.
The symposium is held under the protocol that was signed in 2003 between Turkish Historical Society (TTK) and Iran Islamic and Cultural Relations Institute.
A delegation of Turkish scholars, including TTK Chairman Prof. Yusuf Halacoglu and Turkish Language Society Chairman Prof. Sukru Akalin are among the participants of the symposium, which aims to enhance historical, scientific, cultural, and artistic relations.
Prof. Halacoglu who delivered a speech at the symposium pointed to the cultural ties between two societies by giving the example of Persian influence on Anatolian Turkish. He said that Jalal ud-din Rumi (Mevlana), supreme master of Sufi mysticism, wrote verses in Persian, whereas Safavi, Afshari, and Kacar rulers have poems in Turkish.
Huccetulislam Mahmud Muhammedi Araki, head of Iran Islamic and Cultural Relations Institute stressed the role of Turks and Iranians in creating the Islamic culture and civilization.
Turkey`s ambassador to Tehran, Husnu Gurcan Turkoglu, as well as 10 scholars from Turkey and many from Iran were present at the symposium that will continue for two days.
On the other hand, "Konya and Mevlana" titled photo exhibition by Iranian Photographer Caspian Makan consisting of 30 photos he took in Central Turkish city of Konya will be on display at the entrance hall of the symposium.