Iranian President Muhammad Khatami has called for a reassessment of the role of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) so that it could establish “a more active and innovative presence internationally, particularly in the resolution of current conflicts among member states or the crises imposed on them from outside.”
Khatami’s views on the OIC, Gulf security, Islam versus ‘Westoxication’, Western presence in the Arabian Gulf, Afghanistan, Iraq, and the clash between tradition and modernity, among other things, are spelled out in his book, “Islam, Dialogue and Civil Society”, a copy of which was released to Arab News by the Iranian Embassy in Riyadh.
The book has been brought out by the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Australian National University (Canberra) on the occasion of observance of 2001 as “Year of Dialogue among Civilizations.”
At the outset, the Iranian president observes that ‘Dialogue among Civilizations’ presumes equality among peoples and nations and not on the basis of “colonial relationship which has ruled over certain parts of the world in the past two or three centuries (and) has been the result of the phenomenon of dividing peoples and nations into first- and second-class citizens: that is, nations which have an inherent right to be masters, and nations which are inferior and have no choice but to be followers.”
Stressing the need for reorganizing the OIC, Khatami said the “Organization’s initiative in defending the rights of the honorable people of Bosnia stands out as a good start for a serious change in the Organization’s approach to international difficulties and crises.” He said preservation “of the rights and interests of Muslim societies and Muslim communities and minorities in non-member countries, along with constructive engagement in finding a solution to such chronic cases as that of Kashmir, is imperative for the institutionalization of a more pronounced role for the OIC.”
On the issue of the Gulf security, the Iranian president said that his country, “while emphasizing cooperation among states in the Persian Gulf region for the preservation of regional peace and stability, considers the conclusion of collective defense security arrangements in the Persian Gulf an assured step toward the establishment of lasting security in the region and toward the defense of the common interests and concerns of all the countries and nations concerned.”
President Khatami also took a swipe at the process of transition from the bi-polar system to a unipolar world. “In our view, a new order based on pluralism is taking shape in the world that, God willing, will not be the monopoly of any single power. What is imperative for us — Muslim countries — is that while valiantly resisting all kinds of expansionism, we should strive to secure our proper position and stature in contributing to the shaping of the new world political order and new international relations. This entails understanding, planning and common endeavor.”
On the situation in the Middle East, he said genuine peace could be established only “through the realization of all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the inalienable right of self-determination, return of refugees, and liberation of the occupied territories, in particular Al-Quds Al-Sharif. “
He continued: “It is a fact, though, that the hegemonic, racist, aggressive, and violent nature of the Zionist regime, amply manifested in the systematic violation of international law, pursuit of state terrorism, and development of nuclear weapons, seriously threatens peace and security in the region.”
The reformist president said the challenge of modernity and information technology could not be met either by ‘Westoxication’ (wholesale assimilation of Western ideas and concepts), or by outright rejection of Western values and their contribution to science and technology.”
He said it was imperative to strike out a middle path whereby “we must adopt all of the positive achievements of the West, but see them in relation to our own heritage, so we can fill in its deficiencies. That is why we must place greater focus on the future of the West than on its past.”
President Khatami also called for greater cooperation and coordination among thinkers and scientists of the Muslim world.
“The cultural strategy of a dynamic and vibrant Islamic society cannot be isolation. As a progressive religion, Islam shuns building fences around people’s consciousness. Instead, our strategy must focus on making people immune, raising and educating them to resist the cultural onslaught of the West on their own. Only a strategy of immunization represents a viable solution for today and tomorrow,” he said.
