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Iran Press: Officials, Political Figures Comment on Nuclear Case, Diplomacy

Posted on: Saturday, 18 February 2006, 15:00 CST

Text of report by Ali Ja'fari: "National interests, the chief concern of the nuclear policy" by Iranian newspaper Aftab-e Yazd on 13 February

According to Ali Ja'fari, some analysts and statesmen who are following the country's nuclear issue consider it our main foreign policy challenge. One of their key concerns is that in light of the special significance of the nuclear issue, all of the country's domestic diplomatic potential should be utilized regardless of any political affiliation. Indeed the national dimension of these developments and the nuclear case itself carries no other meaning. On the other hand ignoring past experience can increase the chances of mistakes by the negotiators and decision makers and impose an unpleasant and costly burden on the nation and the system. These concerns have been raised to a new level during the last few days and they need to be relayed to the country's officials, particularly since the people's epic march on 11 February in support of continuing peaceful nuclear programmes. We must give warnings so that national unity is maintained and we can face this national problem together while avoiding excessive burdens.

Speaking to ISNA [Iranian Students News Agency], Mohsen Musavi- Tabrizi emphasized that attaining peaceful nuclear technology is a national demand and a national right which must nevertheless be pursued with prudence and foresight. He believes the Iranian nation is willing to make sacrifices in order to achieve its goals. "In today's world the basis of governing is through a popular vote and in our country our principle is the nation's support which we enjoy."

The Assembly of Experts member emphasized that when the issue is our nuclear programme we must consult with all opinion makers, and in times of national problems we must set aside the tendency to monopolize the discussion by one group. We must consult with everyone. Musavi-Tabrizi then referred to the consequences of ignoring past experiences in a wide range of issues and said, "When dealing with national problems, we must think nationally and act according to the advice of experts based on the national interest."

Khatami's presidency and the favourable conditions for popular participation provided a good opportunity for Iran to come to terms with the obvious fact that country's interests lie in compromising with global powers. It was political analyst Parviz Varjavand who expressed this sentiment in an interview with Iran News with respect to reporting Iran's nuclear case to the Security Council. "We must approach the problem of the IAEA and the Security Council's discussions of Iran's nuclear case realistically."

He referred to posturing by certain political groups about this issue and said, "The pattern of conduct has been such that those who want to place obstacles in Iran's way have been given one opportunity after another. Those who for two and a half years have wanted to cull Iran's nuclear programme discussions out of the legal and technical arena of the IAEA and into direct negotiations with the Europeans have brought about the current situation. In order to receive guarantees from major countries, the IAEA tried to deal with Iran's nuclear energy programme through diplomacy. Following the elections, people made some rash statements and chanted crude slogans which only succeeded in arousing a significant part of the world against Iran. It was this behaviour which provoked world opinion and in particular Western opinion against Iran."

Varjavand then said that the realities of the nuclear issue must be clarified for the people. "The national interest must be clarified and the government must explain its definition of the national interest to the people and must also explain the strategy it's adopted for securing the national interest."

According to this political analyst, with the exception of Khatami's presidency when we tried to reduce tension with countries in the region as well as with European countries, Iran has never managed to articulate its position vis-a-vis its national interest.

"One of the main worries," he concluded "is that the nation feels some people are getting entangled in challenges which are not in the nation's best interest."

Bijan Shahbazkhani adds, "We must advance our country's nuclear programme through consultations with senior figures as well as experts from those countries that have helped us with our activities."

The minority faction member believes one choice is to consider the nuclear issue a problem facing the system as a whole and to refer it to the Expediency Council, which will approach it in an insightful, fair, and adroit manner. "We must avoid all internal conflicts in order to attain our nuclear rights."

According to ISNA, he added, "We must accept at the same time that this accomplishment has been the result of hard work and perseverance of previous government officials, and we must therefore work to achieve a consensus through discussions with those previously in office who had a share in our nuclear know-how and who can offer good solutions."

Shahbazkhani mentioned the Hashemi and Khatami governments and said that our position must be based on preserving the national interest through intelligent and wise decisions.

"We must attain our nuclear rights by paying the minimum price, and we must not take public positions which will only help to unify our enemies."

A member of the Islamic Iran Participation Front's central council emphasized the consistent popular support for the system and said that officials must choose solutions which will bear the least cost for the nation and bring about the highest reward. Davud Soleymani spoke with ISNA and said that the Iranian people have always shown their passion for the revolution.

"During the last three decades, the people of Iran have made sacrifices whenever necessary and have shown their support for the system in the political arena as well as the battlefield and declared that they are ready to pay the price for upholding the system."

He said that officials have a heavier and bigger burden due to popular involvement.

"Just as the people have said they are willing to pay the price, officials must show respect for their vote and not adopt half-baked policies which will impose a heavier burden on people. Officials must pay heed that there are 46 million voters, and the government must pursue a policy which will attract the concurrence and support of at least two-thirds of these voters."

The member of the Islamic Iran Participation Front's central council emphasized the importance of adopting a policy with the least cost and the highest reward. "Decisions with regard to politics, human rights, etc. must provide the minimal excuse to our enemies and maximize our national gains."

The National Confidence party's acting secretary general also talked about availing the country of the services of all political groups and intellectuals both in the fields of domestic as well as foreign policy, and specifically Iran's nuclear programme.

"The top decision makers must not make their decisions behind closed doors and without input from intellectual elites and without regard to the popular will."

Speaking to ISNA, Rasul Mojtabania added, "When making decisions, it's imperative that we tap into the opinions of the intellectual elite and different political tendencies. It's not a good idea for one political group to make all the decisions."

This member of the National Confidence party's central council stated that it's the public officials' responsibility to explain their decisions to the nation. "The people must be informed of the decision making process, and what can be publicized must be communicated to the nation so that it will move in step with the officials and support them at crucial junctures."

Mohammad Hashemi believes that under the current sensitive situation and the complexity of issues facing the region and the world we must adopt short term, medium term, and long term strategies in order to deal with the nuclear issue. The member of the Expediency Council then addressed the question of the country's depth and potential in making the right decisions vis-a-vis the nuclear issue.

"It's worth pondering the votes of countries such as China and India against Iran. Some analysts believe that their vote against the Islamic Republic of Iran has unveiled their political chicanery. In the dictum of global politics, these countries or governments are called 'middlemen or jobbers' who are concerned only with their gains and ignore their statements and commitments. For politicians who have recently entered the fray of international politics, it's still a useful lesson. In order to negotiate and pursue our defined goals, we must rely on experienced individuals with knowledge of international affairs. Our foreign policy must be governed by the principles of prudence, dignity, and circumspection. We must rely on past experience and use our recognized statesmen in the fields of politics and diplomacy properly."

When asked about rational solutions for dealing with the international reaction against Iran, he replied, "The proud enemy is flushed with the victory it's achieved, and it may prove to be dogged; but with foresight and intelligence, we can reach a proper solution."

When asked about how we can implement a policy of "steadfastness with prudence" over the issue of Iran's nuclear programme, he replied, "Steadfastness with prudence requires officials who more than anything are in full control of themselves, are aware of the sensitive international situation, and avoid making contradictory statements at all costs. They should be governed by the principles of prudence, dignity, and circumspection. So-called youthfulness or political manoeuvring should not deprive the country of the services of statesmen who through their foresight and adroitness have pulled us through similar crises."

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

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