On 27 April 2012, the Polish Institute of
International Affairs (PISM) hosted H. E. Ramin Mehmanparast, Spokesperson and
Head of the Center for Public Diplomacy and Media of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The guest presented a speech entitled ,"Realities of the
Islamic Republic of Iran’s Foreign Policy.” Director Marcin Zaborowski
introduced the Ambassador and moderated the meeting. In his opening remarks Mr.
Zaborowski stressed the importance of Iran in the ,,Greater” Middle East, the issue
of its nuclear programme, as well as this year’s 70th anniversary of
the event of hosting by Iranians of over 120 thousand Polish refugees from the
Soviet Union. Ambassador Mehmanparast in his speech stressed that there are
many misunderstandings regarding the foreign policy of Iran and its internal
situation. He elaborated on these, seeing them as the reasons of differences
among Iran and Western countries. He mentioned differences in the understanding
of such issues, as human rights, the shape of international law and institutional
order, proliferation control and nuclear programmes, the sources of
international extremism and terrorism, and the goals of all military
interventions in the Middle East (including in Iraq and Afghanistan). During
the Q&A session, Ambassador Mehmanparast further ellaborated on some of
these issues.
By M. A. Piotrowski
Photos by Paulina Raduchowska
