PRESS RELEASE

Philippines Participates at the First ACD Senior Officials Meeting (SOM)

on Cultural Cooperation in Tehran

Dr. Raul Sunico (center), head of Philippine delegation, with CDA Mariano Dumia and

Minister and Consul General Rosario Lemque

The Philippine delegation successfully participated at the 1st ACD Senior Officials Meeting on Cultural Cooperation held in Tehran on 09 – 10 May 2011.  The Philippine delegation was headed by Dr. Raul Sunico with members CDA Mariano A. Dumia and Minister and Consul General Rosario P. Lemque. Cultural Attaché Emelyn M. Cosino also participated as assistant of the head of delegation.

H.E. Dr. Seyed Mohammad Hosseini, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance welcomed the delegates during the opening session while H.E. Mohammad Reza Rahimi, First Vice President of the Islamic Republic was the keynote speaker. The meeting was chaired by H.E. Dr. Seyed Mohammad Hosseini, Deputy Minister for Culture and Islamic Guidance.

Dr. Sunico, President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and head of the Philippine delegation attended the sessions of the 3^rd Working Committee, assisted by Ms. Emelyn Cosino, while CDA Dumia attended the 2^nd Working Committee and Minister and Consul General Lemque attended the 1^st Working Committee.

Dr. Sunico with Mr. Sabriddin Safarov of the Republic of Uzbekistan

At the sidelines of the meeting, the PH delegation met with the Uzbek delegation and the latter expressed interest for close bilateral cultural relations through exchange of cultural visits and performances of artists. Dr. Sunico said he will look into the possibility of inviting Uzbek cultural artists to perform at the CCP.  END