On the occasion of birthday of the heavenly Prophet Jesus Christ and Christian New Year, Iranian cultural representative to Lahore met a local Christian priest and congratulated these two auspicious occasions.

According to Public Relations Department of Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO), the person in charge of the Iranian Cultural House to Lahore in his meeting with the Christian clergy at his church said Iran pays great respect to fallowers of all divine religions and briefed him on the life of non- Muslim Iranians in Islamic Republic of Iran.

He said Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians have been living in peace and tranquility for centuries in the Muslim country adding that adherents of these divine religions enjoy a peaceful and respectful life along Iranian Muslims and they live next to each other and do business and are known as well- behaved and honorable citizens.

Ali Akbar Rezaee Fard said religious minority communities have the same feeling toward their Muslim compatriots and consider Iran as their home country. He said they have made great sacrifices during the Iraqi Impose War in defense of their country.

He also talked about the successful project of interreligious dialogue pursued by Islamic Republic of Iran which has greatly contributed to better understanding and knowledge of each other by the followers of various religions.

Person in charge of Iranian cultural house in Lahore hoped that cultural interactions between Tehran and Islamabad to grow further and said Iranian Cultural House is ready to carryout joint programs with Pakistani Christian community.

Priest Majid Aibel, thanked Iranian cultural representative for visiting his church and congratulating the birthday of the Jesus Christ and talked about his joyful memory of attending one of the interreligious gatherings in Tehran.

Iran is a good example for peaceful coexistence among followers of other religions in a Muslim country

He said there are 10 million Christians in Pakistan and dozens of churches in Lahore adding that the Christian community of Pakistan are expecting more attention by the Pakistani authorities to country"s Christian community.

He went on saying that, Iran is a good example for peaceful coexistence among followers of other religions in a Muslim country and hoped that to have another chance to attend once more the interreligious gathering in Iran.