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Iran keen to promote peace and stability in Mideast: Larijani (part 4)

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Munich, Feb 11, IRNA
Munich-Iran-Larijani

"Ladies and Gentlemen,

"This brief review reveals that the policy of monopolization of international security cannot ensure a sustainable order and peace.

Security is not a one-way road. A sustainable security requires mutual understanding and close attention to the main ingredients of security. Security ought not to be approached as a trade.

"Mutual understanding is tied to constructive diplomacy and constructive diplomacy requires a common will and common will entails shared opportunities.

"The core point is that if common paradigms are created between big powers and regional powers, the sustainability of international order and peace can be hoped to be sustainable. Then, the main issue will be what common paradigms can be found in these two areas. This can form the basis of our approach towards future world security which, of course, needs to be further contemplated. Here, I wish to touch upon some important principles for that purpose:

"1) Democracy: democracy is a principle which should underpin any common approach for that purpose in the future. The reason for that is that an order cannot be meaningful and sustainable without democracy. When the theory of greater Middle East was raised which apparently took not of democracy a scant hope was created. But, it immediately led to despair, as the confrontation with Iran and the way the outcome of the popular election in Palestine was treated revealed that it was only a hollow slogan.

"Sometime, one hears here and there that some regional states lack cultural and political development for democracy. This is more of an irresponsible justification than a reality. Because democracy cannot be exported in the form of a package to a region. This requires practice. Wherever the process of democratization starts it has to be experienced and practiced and, of course, it would not be without difficulties. Yet, one has to note that without democracy real order and peace will be impossible.

"2) Respect for other cultures; respect for diverse cultures is another common paradigm.

"Countries with different historical backgrounds have different cultures. The view which believes that there should be a single individual and social lifestyle in the world clearly lacks the intelligence to appreciate the cultural and sociological significance of other societies. People live with their own cultural in their private lives without waiting for others to tell them how to live.

"Respect for the cultures, customs and traditions of other nations are indispensable for peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding. It is surprising that the defamatory campaign against the holy prophet of Islam in the West is defended. If we accept that modernity is rooted in rationality, then, one wonders how rational such a behavior could be and if it would result in anything other than intensification of hatred and conflicts. This argument applies to the behavior of terrorists as well.

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