Holy Shrines in Iraq, Iran Poised to Enhance Cooperation

TEHRAN (IQNA) – A group of officials from Imam Reza holy shrine has had a meeting with officials of different Iraqi holy shrines in Iraq to exchange experiences over rendering better services to Iranian and Iraqi pilgrims.

The meeting was held at the initiative of Deputy Office for International Affairs of Scientific and Cultural Organization of Imam Reza holy shrine.

Referring to the goals of the meeting, Amin Behnam, Imam Reza holy shrine’s deputy for pilgrims’ affairs, said: “A group of nine Imam Reza holy shrine officials whose services are directly related to pilgrims’ welfare affairs were deployed to Iraq to exchange information and experiences with officials of Najaf, Samara, Karbala, and Kadhimiya holy shrines.”

Behnam said: “Benchmarking successful experiences of Iraqi holy shrines in giving services to the pilgrims, Iranian officials also found an opportunity to exchange their experience and information about ways of rendering better services to the pilgrims of Imam Reza holy shrine.”

Behnam went on to say: “AQR officials became closely familiar with various services offered in Iraq’s holy shrines to pilgrims such as lighting, dining hall, warehousing, medical, etc. services.”

The official went on to say: “Very good interactions took place between the two sides and it was decided that the officials of Iraq’s holy shrines travel to Mashhad to sign memorandum of understanding for further cooperation between the two sides.”

One of the strategies of Imam Reza holy shrine in international level is to develop relations with holy shrines of the Islamic world especially those in Iraq. In line with this strategy, Secretariat of the Holy Shrines’ Forum in the Deputy Office for International Affairs will use all its available capacities to increase level of cooperation between holy shrines in Iran and Iraq.”

Source: Astan Quds Razavi