Focus on Religious Commonalties One Way to Affect Big Powers

The following is an exclusive interview with Mohammad Khatami, former IRI president and director of `Dialogue among Civilizations’ Center on the sideline of the `Conference on Religion in the Modern World’ which kicked off in Tehran on Monday.

The conference is being attended by several prominent international figures as well as domestic pundits. In the course of the 2-day event the participants will discuss and exchange views on various issues such as the relationship between religion and politics; mutual impact of religion and politics on reducing international disputes and tensions; and paving the way for strategic cooperation between Islam and West.

 

What follows is Iranian Diplomacy’s exclusive interview with former IRI President and director of Dialogue among Civilization Center Mohammad Khatami:

 

A: The issue is more general than this. The Center for Dialogue among Civilizations has plans for various questions such as Islam-Christianity dialogue; Islam-West dialogue and also outstanding disputes which can be resolved through dialogue.

The axis of dialogues such as the international Conference on Religion in the Modern World is not politicians but benevolent and cultural figures who believe they are capable of taking some positive steps. The international Conference on Religion in the Modern World is the outcome of an agreement reached between the Tehran Center for Dialogue among Civilizations, the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights; and the Club of Madrid. The three have been organizing conferences since two years ago and this is the 5^th program after previous ones held in Oslo, Geneva and Tehran. The important thing about this forum is the presence of influential international personalities alongside scholars and thinkers.

Anyway, if we concentrate on the common points various religions and cultures share we can hope to get some positive results and leave an impact on the public opinion. In fact, those who advocate war and violence in today’s world, particularly in view of the negative atmosphere created against Islam and triggered by politicians, or those who merely underline the imperialist aspect of the West or attribute the US policies to the entire Western community, are responsible for misunderstandings that could become problematic.

We are all passengers of the same boat and must do every effort to save this boat. I hope the dialogues and exchange of views at the international Conference on Religion in the Modern World would be effective in this line. If we fail to influence the decisions of governments or important international organizations the topics at such forums would be more conceptual, however, we can seek some solutions and reach some conclusions as far as social life, education systems, publicity and even influential organizations such as the United Nations, UNESCO and OIC are concerned and find some execution guarantees for them.

I believe dialogues such as this conference are attempts which human conscience need very much although there are certain powers and forces who are opposed to such methods and measures.

 

A: I would not say such measures have no impact on Iran’s foreign policy. But our aim for now is not to affect the foreign policy dedicated to statesmen. Our audience is mainly global thinkers, scholars and public opinion. Naturally, if the world public opinion move in the direction of understanding and dialogue and realize that the common aspects of various religions and civilizations are contemplated on peace, this can automatically affect policies and powers.