AKIPRESS.COM - Turkmenistan Culture Minister Geldi Garadayev said that cultural programs are aimed at deepening friendly and brotherly ties between Iran and Turkmenistan, reports IRNA.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Turkmenistan's Culture Week in Tehran, he added that such programs indicate strong and friendly relations between the two nations.

He further noted that his country has entered a new sphere of friendly ties and exchange of instructors will continue in the form of cultural undertakings.

The main aim of Turkmenistan Cultural Week in Tehran is to help promote bilateral ties, Garadayev said, appreciating the Iranian and Turkmen presidents for their efforts in line with organizing the event.

Head of Iran's Islamic Relations Organization (ICRO) Abuzar Ebrahimi-Torkman told the ceremony that after Iraq, Iran has longest borders with Turkmenistan and security and tension-free atmosphere on the borders are indebted to friendship between the two countries.

In the past two years, Iran has held cultural weeks in Turkmenistan with 60 artists in attendance, he said.

The Iranian official contended that cultural commonalities between the two states are rooted in their histories.

Turkmenistan week in Iran opened on May 16 and will continue by performing music programs and holding cultural exhibitions.