Amin-Reza Khaleqian, the head of Pardis Technology Park’s department for international affairs, and Oleg Tabanyukhov, the deputy head of Belarus Great Stone Industrial Park, signed the agreement, IRIB reported.

The MOU highlights expanding technological cooperation, holding joint events, participating in mutual exhibitions, sharing technical knowledge, dispatching technological delegations, and making joint investments.

The agreement was reached following a comprehensive cooperation roadmap signed in March by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.

Sanctions lead to scientific progress

In March, Iran’s first vice president said that Western powers’ unilateral sanctions on countries that seek independence have provided a great chance to rely on their own scientists’ expertise.

The comment was made by Mohammad Mokhber at a meeting with Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus, who made a two-day visit to Tehran.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has been able to break considerable grounds in the fields of science and technology by overcoming these sanctions,” Mokhber said.

He stated that the two nations may leverage Iran’s experience coping with sanctions to strengthen their collaboration.

Mokhber noted that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has stressed the need to swiftly put the Iran-Belarus accords into effect. He added that “the North-South Transportation Corridor provides a great potential for collaboration between the two states.”

A foundation for a new level of reciprocal ties in various sectors will be established as the two countries signed a comprehensive cooperation roadmap and seven MOUs, the vice president remarked.

Scientific co-op for a better world

On November 3, Vice President for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-based Economy, Rouhollah Dehqani-Firouzabadi, condemning unilateral coercive measures against Iran’s knowledge-based and scientific companies, announced Iran’s readiness for scientific and technological cooperation with other countries to make a better world.

Referring to the significant role of knowledge and innovation and their tremendous impact on the progress of nations, Firouzabadi said Iran’s civilization has honored knowledge throughout history.

“Our ancient teachings and the contributions we have made to the advancement of science and technology is a proof of that saying.”

He made the remarks at the 15th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Social Forum held from November 2 – 3, in Geneva, IRIB reported.

Iran’s developments in the field of science and technology, improving people’s welfare by using science and technology capacities, Iran’s strategies in dealing with the coronavirus, Iran’s technological solutions to improve the health of society, technological employment and solving social problems with soft technologies were among the most important topics of Firouzabadi’s speech.

“Since the establishment of the United Nations, Iran has remained committed to multilateral cooperation, including global cooperation through the United Nations.

“We are keen to engage with the international community and share our research with them while benefiting from the best practices, developments, and achievements of other countries in the fields of science, technology, and innovation,” IRIB quotes Firouzabadi as saying.

The innovation ecosystem and knowledge-based companies in Iran are a testimony of the sustainable potential of our youth and the pivotal role of women in management levels, he said.

He went on to say that knowledge-based companies play a key role in developing new technologies and solutions to face today’s challenges, they have a profound impact on the preservation of basic human rights such as the right to life, health, work and development, and at the same time they deal with inequalities, poverty and unemployment in society.

“Despite unilateral economic sanctions and challenges in accessing coronavirus vaccines and related medical equipment, Iran has achieved an impressive 76 percent vaccination rate among its population against COVID-19,” Firouzabadi added.

Iran’s active participation in international cooperation and sharing knowledge and initiatives to strengthen the global response to this epidemic, especially in developing and less developed countries, demonstrate its unwavering commitment to promoting human rights and improving the well-being of communities around the world.

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A 25-man trade delegation from Belarus economic activists, led by Ambassador of Belarus to Tehran Dmitry Koltsov, attended the forum as the secretary general of TCCIMA Mr. Bahman Eshqi hosted the event.

In the meeting both sides revealed their enthusiasm for broadening economic ties between Iran and Belarus and tried to present capacities and capabilities of their own countries.

Addressing the event, Mr. Eshqi pointed to the ties between Iran and Belarus and developments in the region, and said that both countries have faced unfair sanctions as private and state-run sectors of both countries have started joint activities to overcome the sanctions.

He went on to say that holding joint economic commission in Minsk, broadening cooperation in the field of transportation for access of Belarus to free waters in the Persian Gulf and efforts of TCCIMA for dispatch of trade delegations to attend international exhibition in Belarus are some parts of activities for boosting trade ties between the two states. He reiterated that by the way efforts for joint production under the Eurasian trade agreement as well as cooperation in the fields of oil, gas, agriculture, food industries, technical and engineer services are other opportunities for mending bilateral ties.

Eshqi noted that plural economy of Iran provides this possibility for offering effective aids for the trade partners, adding that both sides should create capacities which lead to shaken the West in order that the West would be unable to use economy as a weapon against the nations and this threat would turn into a serious opportunity for broadening exchanges.

He said that great trade volume of Belarus bespeaks of great trade capacities of this country despite low population and it is good opportunity for Iran to take advantage of it.

Then Ambassador of Belarus addressing the event pointed to previous similar events in line with deepening the ties between the two states and said that companies should be united and the huge number of representatives of Belarusian companies in the event shows enthusiasm of them for broadening ties with Iran.

Koltsov expressed hope that these meetings would continue and be constructive and some connections would be shaped based on the mutual understandings.

He went on to say that they are after finding the interests of Iran’s market in order to send them to Iran and at the same time to prepare a list of goods that Belarus has faced in providing them to give it to Iranian officials.

He pointed to the importance of TC Bank activity as the branch for Iran-Belarus trade and said that both sides should work together for broadening economic ties in practice. He also said that the launch of Iran-Belarus Joint Chamber can play an important role in easing the exchanges and creating continuous connection between the private sectors of both states.

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Head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture (ICCMIA) Gholam-Hossein Shafei on Monday met the Ambassador of Belarus to Tehran Mr. Dmitry Koltsov and during the meeting both sides explored ways for expansion of ties.

In the meeting, Shafei pointed to the good political relations between Tehran and Minsk since the independence of Belarus and there have been meetings between officials of the two countries since then. He added that these ties and meetings show the interests of both sides for expansion of the joint cooperation.

He termed favorable the geographical position of Belarus for restoring multilateral ties through this country with European countries and neighbors of Belarus. He then pointed to the grounds which had been paved in the past for the joint economic cooperation.

Shafei then pointed to Belarus’s capability to attract investment and said fortunately there are good capacities for restoring trade and economic cooperation and since Iran has focused on renovating its transportation fleet, both countries can start negotiation for cooperation in this field based on the new model.

He also said that cooperation in the framework of Iran’s agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union should be taken into the consideration of the two countries. He also reiterated that economic activists of Iran and Belarus should be aware of each other’s condition and emphasized that ICCIMA is ready to prepare a ground for economic activists to keep the track of each other through this channel.

He added that the banking transactions of the two countries are facing challenges and stipulated that today due to the sanctions, both countries can resolve problems for their needs through barter trade. He noted that the role of ambassadors of the two countries is very important for expansion of trade ties and they should take serious steps for easing the trade process.

Then the Ambassador of Belarus Mr. Koltsov, for his part, pointed to the old relations of both countries and emphasized the necessity for boosting bilateral ties. He added he believes the capacities for cooperation are beyond what has been raised so far and here it is the task of the embassy to follow expansion of bilateral trade.

He also pointed to the interests of the chamber of commerce of Belarus for strengthening ties and hosting Iranian trade delegations, adding that without any doubt, these meetings will help the relations of the two countries to be reinforced.

Koltsov also pointed to the meeting of Iran-Belarus Joint Commission which will convene in the near future and expressed hope it happens before the end of 2021. He said the commission this time will be presided by Iran’s Minister of Industry and recommended a delegation from the private sector led by the head of ICCIMA to attend the meeting in order that some B2B sessions can be held for economic activists of the two countries.

He also called for the revival of the labor council of the two countries which used to be held in the past but its meetings have faced some problems. He also called for awareness of both sides about the economic capabilities of both countries especially precise information and data on the economic conditions in Iran and Belarus and recommended the ICCIMA to hold a meeting for exchange of information between the economic activists.

Koltsov then added that there are three grounds for joint cooperation between the two states that the ICCIMA can make them public in order that economic activists can announce their readiness for participation.

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Narges Abyar received the Children and Youth Film Competition Special Jury Award for Best Director, and Sareh Nur-Musavi was awarded with the Best Young Actress Award for her role in “Breath”.

“Breath” is about four children whose mother had died a few years earlier and their father decides to join the Iranian volunteers on the warfront following Iraq’s attack in September 1980.

“Fanny’s Journey” by Lola Doillon (France) won the Grand Prix Golden Listapadzik for Best Film, and the Award for Best Adult Actor in Children’s Film went to Hector Garcia for “Hero Steps” by Henry Rincon (Colombia).

The 24th Minsk International Film Festival “Listapad” promoting “Truth, Love and Beauty” ran from November 3 to 10 and the winners were announced on November 7.

Abyar won the Golden Wolf for best director for “Breath” at the 20th Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn, Estonia in November 2016.

She also was picked as best director for the film at the Vancouver International Women in Film Festival in the Canadian city in March 2017.

Photo: Narges Abyar holds the two awards she won for her film “Breath” at the 24th Minsk International Film Festival “Listapad” in Belarus on November 7, 2017.

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