By IRNA,
Berlin : New Iranian Ambassador to Germany Alireza Sheikh Attar planned to deepen cultural ties with the European country.
Speaking to IRNA in Berlin only hours after having presented his credentials to German President Horst Koehler, Sheikh Attar said a primary focus of his diplomatic mission in Germany would be to promote people-to-people contacts.
Such contacts like in the sphere of culture, society, economy and sports will also foster even stronger ties between the governments and reduce the influence of outside forces, he added.
Iran’s top diplomat in Germany expressed regret that Berlin-Tehran ties had at times been strained in the past as a result of the interference of certain third countries.
Asked about his expectations of Germany, Sheikh Attar said given the good bilateral historic ties of more than 100 years, he hoped that Germany would convince other Europeans and Westerners to have “a realistic view” towards Iran.
Germans have always had a good presence in Iran and likewise the Iranians have also had a positive and constructive presence in Germany, the envoy said.
Unlike many other European countries, Germany’s presence in Iran was not of a destructive nature and did not include treason and breaking promises. Iranian officials have also a much more positive view towards Germany compared to other European countries, Sheikh Attar added.
He pointed out that following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Germany played the “role of a window for Iran’s view to the West.” “This window can only play a good role if it is transparent,” Sheikh Attar said.
In light of the good traditional bilateral relations, the path is set for expanding German-Iranian ties in all areas, he added.