On Monday 23 August 2015, H.E. Mr. Paul Foley, Ambassador of Australia in Tehran, visited the Tehran Peace Museum. 

Ambassador Foley was given a guided tour of the museum by chemical weapons victims who volunteer at the TPM. After the tour, the Ambassador joined a meeting with volunteers and staff of the TPM, where he was presented with a brief report on the museum’s educational programs and international relations.

“After about 20 years after the end of the war,” said Mr. Foley “people want to forget the war. But it is important to preserve the memories and keep the discussions on the consequences of the wars alive.”

Referring to the TPM’s oral history project, Ambassador Foley continued, “I’m impressed by the oral history project in the TPM because the future peace activists should learn about it.” Mr. Foley also mentioned that Australia had been neutral during the Iran- Iraq war and delivered its help to the UN in collaborating with the UN Fact Finding Missions on the use of chemical weapons against Iran.

Mr. Taghipour, the TPM’s director, thanked Mr. Foley for visiting the museum and appreciated the help of the Australian government to the UN. In his speech, Mr. Taghipour also mentioned Dr. Robert Matthew, the Australian winner of The Hague – OPCW award in 2014 who donated his prize to OPCW Trust Fund for the victims of chemical weapons.

At the end of this meeting, a TPM tile was presented to Ambassador Foley to commemorate his visit.

To see the photos of this visit click here.