Inter-parliamentary cooperation has the greatest impact on public diplomacy

iranpress.com; article contains a video of an interview with Ali Reza Rahimi

Image of Ali Reza Rahimi from

A member of the executive committee of the Iranian parliament (Majlis ), Ali Reza Rahimi has emphasized that inter-parliamentary cooperation, and parliamentary friendship groups have the greatest impact on public diplomacy [underlined by JB].

Iran news: In an exclusive interview with Iran Press on Tuesday, Ali Reza Rahimi said within the Islamic Consultative assembly (the Majlis) parliamentary friendship groups are a part of the structure of the Majlis, and all MPs belong to one or more parliamentary friendship groups. Rahimi added: "All MPs, without exception, belong to at least one parliamentary friendship group."

Rahimi, a member of the executive committee of the Majlis added: "All parliamentary friendship groups have a chairperson, a co-chairperson , and a secretary. In parliaments of other countries we also have parliamentary friendship groups which frequently engage in bilateral discussions with other parliaments and other countries, and sometimes in multilateral discussions between parliamentary friendship groups of several countries, discussing regional issues."

Rahimi who represents a constituency in Tehran added: "Within the Iranian parliament (Majlis) we look at parliamentary friendship groups in a practical way. Members of these groups who often travel abroad to other parliaments, after returning to Tehran present detailed reports of their negotiations abroad and how successful they have been in accomplishing their mission."

He added: "These reports are presented both on the floor of the Majlis, as well as in the relevant parliamentary commission for appraisal and evaluation by other MPs and experts."

Rahimi emphasized that inter-parliamentary cooperation, and parliamentary friendship groups have potentially the greatest influence on public diplomacy of other nations.