Visiting Sierra Leone’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Okere Adams conferred on Monday with Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hossein Saffar Harandi on expansion of cultural cooperation between the two countries.

At the meeting, the two ministers singed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on bolstering cultural and tourism cooperation between the two sides.

From early days of the Islamic Revolution, Iran was determined to broaden ties with African countries and has always viewed Sierra Leone as a friendly country, said the Iranian minister.

“We have always supported the struggles of the African people for independence as well as safeguarding their identity,” he said.

Referring to the new colonial approaches in the world, he recalled that in the past the colonial powers through directly tried to rule over nations but today they resort to hypocritical and satanic approaches to disrupt relations between newly independent counties and their neighbors and friends.

To deal with cultural inroads, countries should bolster and deepen their cultural ties, he underlined.

Given common religion between Iran and Sierra Leone, he said there are now good opportunity to help broaden cultural ties between the two sides.

An agreement on cultural, scientific and educational cooperation between the two countries would help further broaden relations between the two countries, he said and enumerated such cultural cooperation as exchange of movies, and holding cultural and book fairs by Iran and Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone’s minister, on his part, expressed the hope that his visit to Iran would lead to expansion of cultural ties between the two sides.

Referring to Iran as a civilized and cultured nation, he said the Sierra Leonese nation knows the Iranian nation quite well and their common religion would give them the incentive to further broaden ties.

Sierra Leone has always backed Iran at international fora, he underlined.

The MoU underlines exchange of news and information, books, movies, cooperation in tourism, scientific and educational fields, as well as bolstering ties between the two sides radio and televisions.

Link to Iran, Sierra Leone sign MoU on cultural cooperation – Irna

Head of the Islamic Culture and Communication Organization of Iran said on Sunday that the ninth Iranian government gives priority to developing exchanges with African countries.

Mahmoud Mohammadi Araqi made the remarks in a meeting with Sierra Leone’s visiting Minister of Culture and Tourism Okere Adams in Tehran.

A memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation, which is to be inked following a meeting between the visiting Sierra Leonese minister and Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad-Hossein Saffar Harandi, will seek the expansion of cultural, religious and art cooperation between the two friendly countries.

Adams referred to Iran as one of the oldest civilizations of the world, and expressed satisfaction with the expansion of mutual cultural and religious collaboration.

The level of exchanges between Iran and Sierra Leone is very good,” he said, adding, “But we call for benefiting from Iran’s experiences in developing tourism centers.”
Adams arrived in Tehran on Saturday afternoon at the official invitation of Saffar Harandi.

Link to Iran prioritizes expansion of ties with African countries – Irna