Iran, Poland mark 80 years of diplomatic ties

Iran, Poland mark 80 years of diplomatic ties
TEHRAN, Sept. 5 (MNA) -- Poland’s membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is not a hindrance to the country’s cooperation with Iran, the director general of the Political and International Studies Department of the Foreign Ministry, Rasul Musavi, said here on Wednesday.
Poland can talk with Iran about its security problems in Iraq and Afghanistan, Musavi said at a gathering at the Polish Embassy in Tehran marking the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Iran and Poland.



Deputy Foreign Minister for Educational and Research Affairs Manuchehr Mohammadi said cultural ties between the two countries can help bring the world of Christianity closer to the Islamic world.



Iran and Poland have had relations for centuries and these ties have improved in a congenial way over the past 500 years, he noted.



“During World War II, when Poland was occupied by the German Nazis, the Iranians hosted 100,000 Polish nationals and provided facilities to them,” he added.



Polish Ambassador Witold Smidowski said, “We are proud to have friendly relations with Iran.”



During World War II, the Polish people regarded Iran as their safe haven, he added.

A great number of Polish citizens sought asylum in Iran during the war, and it was the biggest migration of Europeans to Iran ever, the Polish ambassador to Tehran pointed out.