Increasing dialogue, trust and understanding between Iran and other nations
WCoI letter on elections from FT and Independent - 16/6/09
West must prepare for a return to patient diplomacy
Published: June 16 2009
Sir, Questions surrounding Iran’s election results and condemnation of the subsequent brutal suppression of street protests are legitimate, but the fact remains that Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad will be the Iranian president for the next four years and will be key to any peace and stability in the Middle East.
His re-election is understandably a huge disappointment to western nations hoping for a new reformist regime, not least President Barack Obama who has gone out of his way to extend an olive branch to Tehran. In his broadcast to Iran and his Cairo speech Mr Obama publicly recognised the ayatollahs as the legitimate representatives of the Iranian people, he acknowledged Iran's right to enrich uranium and he talked openly about the CIA’s role in the overthrow of prime minister Mohammad Mossadegh in 1953.
By demonstrating that America was not “the great Satan” (Shaytan-e Bozorg), Mr Obama must have hoped to undermine some of Mr Ahmadi-Nejad’s populist support and help prise open the door to Mir-Hossein Moussavi, the reformist candidate.
That door has now been firmly shut and western nations must once again focus their energies on negotiating with Iran with patient diplomacy.
From SS (Chair of the Westminster Committee on Iran)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c4831e88-5a0e-11de-b687-00144feabdc0.html
Published: June 16 2009
Sir, Questions surrounding Iran’s election results and condemnation of the subsequent brutal suppression of street protests are legitimate, but the fact remains that Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad will be the Iranian president for the next four years and will be key to any peace and stability in the Middle East.
His re-election is understandably a huge disappointment to western nations hoping for a new reformist regime, not least President Barack Obama who has gone out of his way to extend an olive branch to Tehran. In his broadcast to Iran and his Cairo speech Mr Obama publicly recognised the ayatollahs as the legitimate representatives of the Iranian people, he acknowledged Iran's right to enrich uranium and he talked openly about the CIA’s role in the overthrow of prime minister Mohammad Mossadegh in 1953.
By demonstrating that America was not “the great Satan” (Shaytan-e Bozorg), Mr Obama must have hoped to undermine some of Mr Ahmadi-Nejad’s populist support and help prise open the door to Mir-Hossein Moussavi, the reformist candidate.
That door has now been firmly shut and western nations must once again focus their energies on negotiating with Iran with patient diplomacy.
From SS (Chair of the Westminster Committee on Iran)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c4831e88-5a0e-11de-b687-00144feabdc0.html
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