The
new President of Iran explains why his overtures to the West deserve a fair
hearing
Three
months ago, my platform of “prudence and hope” gained a broad, popular mandate.
Iranians embraced my approach to domestic and international affairs because
they saw it as long overdue. I’m committed to fulfilling my promises to my
people, including my pledge to engage in constructive interaction with the
world. The world has changed.
International politics is no longer a zero-sum game but a multidimensional
arena where co-operation and competition often occur simultaneously. Gone is
the age of blood feuds. World leaders are expected to lead in turning threats
into opportunities.
The
international community faces many challenges in this new world – terrorism,
extremism, foreign military interference, drug trafficking, cybercrime and
cultural encroachment – all within a framework that has emphasised hard power
and the use of brute force.We must pay attention to the complexities of the
issues at hand to solve them. Enter my definition of constructive engagement.
In a world where global politics is no longer a zero-sum game, it is – or
should be – counterintuitive to pursue one’s interests without considering the
interests of others.
A
Sadly, unilateralism often continues to overshadow constructive approaches.
Security is pursued at the expense of the insecurity of others, with disastrous
consequences. More than a decade and two wars after 9/11, al-Qa’ida and other
militant extremists continue to wreak havoc. Syria, a jewel of civilisation,
has become the scene of heartbreaking violence, including chemical weapons
attacks, which we strongly condemn. In Iraq, 10 years after the American-led
invasion, dozens still lose their lives to violence every day. Afghanistan
endures similar, endemic bloodshed.
The
unilateral approach, which glorifies brute force and breeds violence, is
clearly incapable of solving issues we all face, such as terrorism and
extremism. I say all because nobody is immune to extremist-fuelled violence,
even though it might rage thousands of miles away. Americans woke up to this
reality 12 years ago.
At
their core, the vicious battles in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria are over the
nature of those countries’ identities and their consequent roles in our region
and the world. The centrality of identity extends to the case of our peaceful
nuclear energy programme. To us, mastering the atomic fuel cycle and generating
nuclear power is as much about diversifying our energy resources as it is about
who Iranians are as a nation, our demand for dignity and respect and our
consequent place in the world. Without comprehending the role of identity, many
issues we all face will remain unresolved.
I
am committed to confronting our common challenges via a two-pronged approach.
First, we must join hands constructively to work toward national dialogue,
whether in Syria or Bahrain. We must create an atmosphere where peoples of the
region can decide their own fates. As part of this, I announce my government’s
readiness to help facilitate dialogue between the Syrian government and the
opposition.
Second,
we must address the broader, overarching injustices and rivalries that fuel
violence and tensions. A key aspect of my commitment to constructive
interaction entails a sincere effort to engage with neighbours and other nations
to identify and secure win-win solutions. We and our international counterparts
have spent a lot of time – perhaps too much time – discussing what we don’t
want rather than what we do want. This is not unique to Iran’s international
relations. In a climate where much of foreign policy is a direct function of
domestic politics, focusing on what one doesn’t want is an easy way out of
difficult conundrums for many world leaders. Expressing what one does want
requires more courage. After 10 years of back-and-forth, what all sides don’t
want in relation to our nuclear file is clear. The same dynamic is evident in
the rival approaches to Syria.
This
approach can be useful for efforts to prevent cold conflicts from turning hot.
But to move beyond impasses, whether in relation to Syria, my country’s nuclear
program or its relations with the United States, we need to aim higher. Rather
than focusing on how to prevent things from getting worse, we need to think –
and talk – about how to make things better. To do that, we all need to muster
the courage to start conveying what we want – clearly, concisely and sincerely
– and to back it up with the political will to take necessary action. This is
the essence of my approach to constructive interaction.
As
I depart for New York for the opening of the UN General Assembly, I urge my
counterparts to seize the opportunity presented by Iran’s recent election. I
urge them to make the most of the mandate for prudent engagement that my people
have given me and to respond genuinely to my government’s efforts to engage in
constructive dialogue. Most of all, I urge them to look beyond the pines and be
brave enough to tell me what they see – if not for their national interests,
then for the sake of their legacies, and our children and future generations.
This article appeared
originally in the Washington Post [Abbrev.]
No comments:
Post a Comment