Tehran, Warsaw to expand cultural ties

In the meeting, the two sides highlighted the need to create a memorial to honor the Polish World War II refugees who were buried in a cemetery southeast of Tehran.

Mohammad Ali Najafi and Anna Maria Anders further agreed to hoist the national flags of the two countries in the Polish Cemetery in Tehran, erect statue of famous Polish composer Frédéric François Chopin in Tehran, and put up the statue of a famous Iranian figure in Warsaw, IRNA wrote.

Speaking about 121,000 Polish refugees who migrated to Iran in 1942 during World War II, Najafi described 1942 as a turning point in Iran-Poland relations.

Najafi and Anders also agreed to establish direct flights between Tehran and Warsaw to increase the number of tourists.

Deep rooted historical and cultural affinities between the two countries can help bolster political and economic relations and cooperation between the two countries, they said.

They hoped to witness further expansion in bilateral relations and cooperation.

In 1942, some 121,000 Polish refuges sought shelter in Iran which is regarded as a bright spot in the history of ties between the two nations, Najafi said.

Tehran's municipality intends to help maintain and reconstruct the cemetery located in Doulab district, southeast of Tehran, he said.

Maria Anders said she had visited Tehran twice and underlined that whatever she had heard from her parents on greatness and kindness of Iranian people was correct.

"I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of the Polish Ministry of Culture and the families whose beloved ones have been buried in the cemetery as a result of your kindness," she said.

"We plan to hoist the national flags of Iran and Poland side by side in the cemetery in a special ceremony to be arranged by Tehran Municipality," she said

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