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The Elders conclude fruitful first visit to Iran
an article by The Elders
Concluding a full three-day visit to Tehran, The
Elders offered their support to the people of Iran
during this period of renewed openness and dialogue.
Chair of The Elders Kofi Annan with Iran's President Rouhani, 28 January 2014
click on photo to enlarge
While visiting Tehran, The Elders met with various
leaders including President Hassan Rouhani; former
President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani; Speaker of the
Majlis, Ali Larijani; Foreign Minister Javad
Zarif; Secretary of the Supreme National Security
Council General Ali Shamkhani; Head of the Centre
for Strategic Research, Ali Akbar Velayati; and
Seyyed Ali Khomeini, grandson of the late
Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini. They also met
members of the diplomatic community.
After concluding talks Kofi Annan, Chair of The
Elders, said:
“We are very encouraged by the frankness of our
conversations with our hosts. We are convinced that
Iran can be a key factor for stability and
opportunity in the region, thanks to its historical
role and capacity to influence others.”
Among the issues discussed during the visit were:
easing of regional tensions; the spread of
extremist violence internationally; human rights;
and the Syrian crisis. The Elders welcomed and
supported the progress being made in the
international negotiations over Iran’s nuclear
programme.
Mr Annan added: “We share with our Iranian hosts a
deep concern about the tragic situation in Syria.
We must do everything we can to end the nightmare
that Syrian men, women and children are going
through. We believe Iran should be part of the
solution to the Syrian crisis.”
Commenting on the interim nuclear agreement signed
in Geneva last November, Martti Ahtisaari, former
President of Finland, said: “This is an exciting
development in the world today. Efforts must be
sustained so that a final agreement can be signed
by all parties. If the world fails in this, it
will not only be the Iranian people who suffer,
the stability of the region will suffer as well.”
The Elders also addressed how new economic
opportunities could open to Iran and its citizens.
Former President of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo, who
led profound social and economic reforms while in
office, said: “Iran is at a crossroads. It has
well educated and cultured citizens, including
many young people, who are ready to seize enormous
opportunities and take advantage of the global
economy. The world needs to engage with Iran and
help realise its potential. Because then, everyone
will benefit.”
Honorary Elder Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who joined
the delegation at the express invitation of the
Iranian authorities, emphasised his concern for
the people of the region: “We believe firmly that
it is possible for all of God’s children to live
harmoniously together. Our founder Nelson Mandela,
who sadly passed last year, taught us this. And he
told us to speak up for those people downtrodden
and without a voice.”
The Elders were encouraged by their visit and will
now consider their next steps and hope to continue
their work to strengthen regional cooperation and an
easing of tensions.
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DISCUSSION
Question(s) related to this article:
Does Persian culture contribute to a culture of peace?,
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Latest reader comment:
In response to the question, "Does Persian culture contribute to a culture of peace," today, I have a simple question of you. Try to imagine a woven piece of "Gold" with its warps and woofs made of cotton and fuzz while its various forming colors resemble a heavenward garden full of wonderful trees, flowers and plants!
In my view, the question is too ordinary to be answered! Any wise man will instantly find it out that “carpet” is the keyword; a loom-woven, felted textile that is being used to cover the floor of halls, rooms and mostly to decorate walls, roofs and palms in favor of those who love elegance, dainty and grace.
But what do you know about the origin of this apparently worthless rug that never attracts anyone and slightly thrown off under your feet being trampled thousands of times each day by you and your family members?
Carpet’s origin of foundation is Iran and its history of production dates back to about 5th century BC when the Achaemenidan Empire was ruling.
The oldest documented carpet of the world is called Pazyryk that has been woven by the order of Cyrus the great in 500 BC in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz and still survives, archaeologists say.
Persian culture since the beginning of its perfection during the 600s BC until today is totally associated with some distinguished arts such as miniature, calligraphy and carpet weaving, so we can claim that these precious arts are considered as the symbols of Persian civilization, in fact.
To the other words, Most of the people who don’t have much information about Iran and its luminous history are closely familiar with the outputs of Persian culture such as its performing and decorative arts.
Carpets are some applicable proofs for the claim that Persian productions are widely being used throughout the world regardless to their nationality.
Saffron and tea are also in the same conditions while originated from Iran but the majority of their international users do not know about the birthplace of these treasure floras.
However we have to keep in mind that Iran is a cradle of carpets and rugs production.
The world’s most professional masters of carpet-weaving are currently working inside traditional looms and workshops of Persian ancient cities such as Kashan, Tabriz, Yazd, Isfahan and Qom and their powerful hands manipulating wools, silk, cotton, chords and yarns to finally ensue the dazzling results that we spread under our feet unconcernedly.
The carpets of highest quality are often woven by hand whereas machine-made carpets gain less quality, credibility and artistic value, so the most people try to pay more so as to buy the hand-woven carpets.
It is necessary to add that the average of time needed for a beautiful illustrated carpet to come out (by hand) is approximately 400 hours and it undoubtedly shows the pure struggles of painstaking weavers who form the carpet knots with their sense of responsibility, love and talent.
Carpets are the most popular souvenirs in Persia and families who want to dispatch gifts to their relatives outside Iran will always choose small-sized tufted or needlefelt carpets with fantastic warp and weft threads which shape spectacular sights of natural and ancient scenes.
The most-used designs for carpets are consisted of abstract natural landscapes ornamented by warm and almost red-spectrum colors.
The dominant equipment used for carpet weaving process are still the traditional instruments of past centuries such as spun and spindles.
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