Leaping toward a bright regional future
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 23, 2009 00:00
If Nevruz, in its assorted meanings and assorted modes of celebration, represents indeed a time of renewal, this year’s festival is off to a good start. The spring equinox, officially today but symbolically begun over the weekend, has witnessed not just politicians leaping across the symbolic bonfire. Even American Ambassador James Jefferies partook in the ritual of purification, taking the leap of renewal regarded as the means to rid oneself of misfortune and the burdens of the past.
Among the many concepts represented by Nevruz is the importance of light. This moment on the calendar represents the victory of light over the powers of darkness. None other than U.S. President Barack Obama joined in the power of the moment. His call of respect and reconciliation to the people of Iran, even his use in a White House Nevruz message of the words, "Islamic Republic of Iran," signal a leap across the fires of decades-old antagonisms toward something different.
Obama’s words to Iran last Friday, and the response of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, have been analyzed and interpreted by analysts of all stripes. It is probably too early for us to completely share the optimism of the prime minister’s top foreign policy adviser Ahmet Davutoğlu that, "we are in a historic era where our policies are almost identical" on such regional issues. But we are hopeful that time will prove Davutoğlu right. We will leave it to the sagacity of others to divine the directions the nuclear energy standoff between America and Iran will take.
The troubles in the U.S.-Iran relationship run deep, with much both sides can find to despise in the other. Americans have ample evidence of Iranian support for terror over the years; Iranians are understandably wary of a country that effectively overthrew their own democratically elected government of Mohammed Mossadegh more than a half century ago. Such wounds will take time to heal.
But heal they must and we can only salute the dramatic new direction that Obama has taken toward international dialogue. It is in fact just that, an attempt at dialogue. The past, particularly in the past eight years, has been little more than a steady monologue from the United States on Iran.
We at the Daily News believe that an intelligent and fair modus vivendi for our region is possible. An end to sanctions in Iran, full participation by all countries in the region on such energy collaborations as the proposed Nabucco project and yes, even an understanding on nuclear programs, is possible. This is what we see on the other side of the Nevruz bonfire.
We are glad Obama appears willing to make this leap. We hope all other regional leaders will share and support this vision. And we join in wishing the world a peaceful and prosperous Nevruz.
Obama’s words to Iran last Friday, and the response of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, have been analyzed and interpreted by analysts of all stripes. It is probably too early for us to completely share the optimism of the prime minister’s top foreign policy adviser Ahmet Davutoğlu that, "we are in a historic era where our policies are almost identical" on such regional issues. But we are hopeful that time will prove Davutoğlu right. We will leave it to the sagacity of others to divine the directions the nuclear energy standoff between America and Iran will take.
The troubles in the U.S.-Iran relationship run deep, with much both sides can find to despise in the other. Americans have ample evidence of Iranian support for terror over the years; Iranians are understandably wary of a country that effectively overthrew their own democratically elected government of Mohammed Mossadegh more than a half century ago. Such wounds will take time to heal.
But heal they must and we can only salute the dramatic new direction that Obama has taken toward international dialogue. It is in fact just that, an attempt at dialogue. The past, particularly in the past eight years, has been little more than a steady monologue from the United States on Iran.
We at the Daily News believe that an intelligent and fair modus vivendi for our region is possible. An end to sanctions in Iran, full participation by all countries in the region on such energy collaborations as the proposed Nabucco project and yes, even an understanding on nuclear programs, is possible. This is what we see on the other side of the Nevruz bonfire.
We are glad Obama appears willing to make this leap. We hope all other regional leaders will share and support this vision. And we join in wishing the world a peaceful and prosperous Nevruz.