The activity of “Mihr” club

  “Mihr” club carries out its activity by means of following five commissions formed by members of council:

science and education;    art;     information;     high technologies and trade;     youth, sport and tourism.

In three years period of its activity the club dealt with publishing, cultural and sport events, as well as different scientific seminars and with other events organizing problems.

Club has also musical “Mihr” ensemble and class of the language teaching.

The Solemn conference of the “Mihr” club’s presentation was held in Tekeyan Centre in August 11, 2000. In the conference Tigran Torosyan the vice-president of the National Assembly of RA Mohammad Farhad Koleini, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of IRI, Albert Bazeyan the Mayer of Yerevan, Ali Kazemzade, the IRI Embassy’s press and information manager, Mohsen Abutalebi, the president of the cultural centre of IRI Embassy, the deputies of the National Assembly of RA, Current parties’ presidents of RA and famous figures of culture and science were participated.

M. Abutalebi: “The IRI Embassy in Armenia and the cultural centre also congratulate the birth of “Mihr” club. The name “Mihr” (Mitre) has a special position both in Armenian and Iranian culture. In Armenian and in Persian languages the word Mihr means friendship, care, sun and which are the name of solar year’s 8^th month and the 16^th day of each month. Before the Zoroastrianism Mihr meant the sun’s inexhaustible power and was called Mitra and Mehregan. It is an interesting fact that the 7^th and 8^th months of ancient Armenian calendar was called Mehekan or Mehekin and it is just the same Iranian Mihr or Mehregan. The name “Mihr” also has particular position in Armenian epos. Mihr (Mher), the son of Sanasar and Deghdzum-Tsam, who was much more intelligent, clever and hero then Ohan, marries the daughter of Teodoros, the governor of Armaghan’s Manazkert and later is born well-known David. David marries Khandut and little Mihr is born. These two Mihrs have a particular position in Armenian epos and their heroes are like the heroes of legend writer Ferdousi. They are the bright samples of two nation’s cultural deep roots and I hope that the creation of this club will crystallize them once more, and its extensive positive activity with the assistance of two nation’s leaders will strengthen the relations of our two nations. On the name of the Lord and the founders and the assistants of the club I wish lots of successes to the “Mihr” club”.

T. Torosyan: “I have the honor to greet on behalf of the National Assembly for creation of Armenian-Iranian cultural “Mihr” club. I am sure that the word cultural is much more includable here than we usually use it, because the members of the club’s board are the great representatives of the cultural and scientific sphere. I am also sure that with the foundation and farther activity of this club Armenian-Iranian relations which have vital importance for us will gain a new quality and will be transferred to a wider plane. The president of the National Assembly of RA is not in Yerevan right now and he asked to transfer his epistle to the club’s board, where he also greets the entrance of the “Mihr” club to the community, hoping that clue to its activity the lamellar relations of our two nations and states will become much more closer and get a new quality".

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M. F. Koleini: “Like the other speech makers I also warmly congratulate on the occasion of the “Mihr” club’s birth. The creation of this cultural club coincides with my activity as an ambassador which I accept as a kind sign. Armenia has always been in touch with the past great cultures and one of them is Iran’s culture and Armenia also was the main figure who provides East and West cultural relations. The cultural relations of our two nations have historical roots and during the centuries the political troubles haven’t only influenced on but also have strengthened them. The world’s political situations make us be delicate toward the everything which happens around us and take steps in the interests of the people. The cultural and state high ranking representatives presence of Armenia in this event confirms both state’s and Armenian people’s will and wish in the deepening of relations. I think the main problem of the club is to get the multilateral mutual acknowledgement of two nations by mean of organizing of cultural, scientific conferences and through dialogue of civilizations and many other events. In connection with the club’s foundation I congratulate the respectable executives of the state, nation and honorable those who are present, and I hope that the amicable relations of our two countries will prosper day by day, thanking the people who has spared no efforts in its creation”.

A. Bazeyan: “I greet on behalf of Armenian people and municipality for creating the “Mihr” club. The affair which has been started today is very important for two nations to strengthen our countries old friendship and for intimating political, social-economical, cultural and other kind of relations between our states. It’s not a secret that living side by side for thousand years Armenian and Iranian people have had many relations, they have one common linguistic sense and they have carried deep cultural interactions. I think that today it’s also impossible the two nation’s mutual understanding and recognition without serious cultural cooperation. I would say that in Iran our compatriots are considered to be full citizens and can observe their traditions and historical-cultural values. We also don’t spare efforts to maintain Iranian historical-cultural monuments and that bright example is recently the Blue Mosque’s rebuilding and reopening in Yerevan. In one word this cultural centre is a structure with the activity of which will be possible to study the rich history of our friendly nation, their cultural values and accept more leads to much more confidence toward our Iranian friends. All of these undoubtedly will lead to the development of tourism which also will be the cause of the economic development. I congratulate once again the “Mihr” club’s birth and promise that the municipality of Yerevan will render any kind of assistance during its activity”.

The adviser of the supreme patriarch of all Armenians Mr. A. Gabougyan: “I greet from St. Echmiatsin the start of the “Mihr” club’s activity. It must be mentioned, that the cultures of Armenia and Iran, the history, the language and the life have common features, and we think in 2001, according to the suggestion of Mr. Khatamy, the president of IRI, we can also undertake dialogue of religions in the frames of the year of civilization dialogue. As it was already said “Mihr”, i.e. the God of the sun, and I ask the Almighty God that the sun always accompanies you”.