News / Politics

World must shift from paradigm of imposition to paradigm of dialogue: Zarif

Monday, 24 April 2017 10:38 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 24 April 2017 10:41 PM ]

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif meets with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (not pictured) at his office at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, April 23, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has called for the implementation of policies directed at fostering inclusion and dialogue throughout the globe to reduce tensions brought about by terrorism and extremism.

“As the inheritors of ancient civilians, with the necessary depth of understanding and historical reflection to appreciate that triumphs as well as trials and tribulation are but short moments in the millennial historical retrospect, we need to challenge the paradigms of “might makes right”, the paradigm of exclusion, which has invariably brought wars, atrocities, occupation, oppression, discrimination and displacement,” Zarif wrote in a post published on his official Twitter page on Monday evening.

He added, “The rampant terrorism and extremism across the globe are heinous products of this outdated paradigm. We need a clear departure from ‘paradigm of exclusion’ to ‘paradigm of dialogue and inclusion’ based on mutual respect and equal footing.”

The comments came on the same day that the top Iranian diplomat took part in the international Forum of Ancient Civilizations in the Greek capital.

Zarif joined representatives from nine other nations – namely Greece, China, India, Iraq, Egypt, Italy, Mexico, Peru and Bolivia -- that are considered as descendants of the world's ancient civilizations. The forum was held at the Zappeion in the heart of Athens.

In December 2013, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to approve Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s initiative known as "World Against Violence and Extremism (WAVE)," which called on all nations across the globe to denounce violence and extremism. The Iranian president had proposed the initiative in his address to the UN Disarmament Conference in New York on September 25, 2013.

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