Text of Address

By

His Excellency Mr. Mottaki

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran

At the Ministerial Meeting of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on

Human Rights and Cultural Diversity

September 3, 2007

In the Name of God the Compassionate the Merciful

Excellencies,

Dear Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to intimately welcome all the honorable participants in this meeting and wish, from the bottom of my heart, a pleasant stay for you in the Islamic Republic Iran.

The support of the Non-Aligned Movement for the convening of this important meeting in Tehran, which intends to discuss human rights and cultural diversity, is a timely and right response by the Movement to an issue of fundamental importance in today's world. For this reason, I should also commend the Member States for their efforts in the preparatory stage and their active participation in this meeting.

There is no doubt that this meeting will enhance the share and involvement of the Non-Aligned Movement in the international interactions especially in the issues related to human rights and cultural diversity. It will also complement the activities of the members of the movement within the framework of other organizations and coalitions pertinent to the developing countries.

I also feel compelled to thank all the leaders of NAM for their resolute support of the holding of this meeting in Tehran as well as all the members for their support in organizing this meeting (I am specially grateful to his Excellency Mr. Felipe Perez Roque the honorable Foreign Minister of Cuba for his kind remarks. Cuba has contributed greatly to the capacity of leading of NAM in order to facilitate the achievement of its objectives and the basic levels of this meeting).

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The relationship between human rights and cultural diversity is one of the most fundamental issues that we face, especially in the 21st century. In today’s multicultural atmosphere, the nations, which were previously under pressure in the bipolar world, try in different ways to present their rich and independent cultures taking advantage of the opportunity provided. Meanwhile some domineering thoughts and illusions remaining from the Cold War still exist through new means and opportunities. They intend to define and justify the cultural domination in new and complex forms.

Globalization has also brought to bear its impact ion cultural diversity. The force and the might of globalization have facilitated cultural homogeneity and imposition of alien values. The proponents of cultural expansionism are presenting a flawed and tarnished image of other cultural systems with the aim of globalizing their own value system at the expense of excluding others. Insistence on this approach leads to marginalization of other cultures, intolerance and ethnic chauvinism. The sense of injustice by individuals among members of a culture that have a feeling of humiliation and failure engender hatred, violence and animosity with implications that go beyond particular geographical boundary. Clearly, this will lead to greater threats for the universal values and human rights. Consequently, the efforts of the dominant culture to eliminate cultural identities of others must be renounced and condemned, as much as efforts to resort to cultural relativism to justify violations of universal values and human rights.

We have also seen unconstructive trends in the area of human rights in the course of recent decades that have harmed conceptual aspects of human rights and brought about failure in promotion of the universality of these rights. Selective approaches, dominance of political considerations, discriminatory and biased practices and instrumental exploitation of human rights are among such trends. The excuse of human rights violation was used extensively last year to apply political pressure on sovereign nation, while gross violations in many countries were conveniently and purposely condoned.

There are still many parts of the world that suffer from violation of the very basic and fundamental freedoms. There are millions who are deprived of the bare necessities like food, clothing, housing and education. Big economic power still use their might to impose their wishes on others. There are still groups that impose their own beliefs and wishes on other follow human being and exploit them by waging wars and spilling blood. This is done out of their ignorance and motivation to dominate others. Poverty, hunger and illiteracy still cast their dark shadow over a large part of our globe, while the wealth of the world is used to build armament that are capable of annihilating humankind. In the midst of all these gross violation, we see the United Nations human rights mechanisms being manipulated to target sovereign nation.

Condoning widespread and institutionalized violations of human rights in many parts of the world, while there is instrumental exploitation of human rights to put political pressure on particular group of countries demonstrate double standards, which is clearly detrimental to the ideals of human rights.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Present-day international relations suffer from domineering system in the cultural arena and exclusion of opportunities. To rise above and overcome this state of affairs requires genuine determination and collective action of the international community. The Non-Aligned Movement is indeed in a unique position and carries the important mission to lay down the basis for an inclusive world order.

The Non-Aligned Movement was evolved to confront geographical and political expansionism under circumstances that nations of the world had already tolerated and paid the price of many years of selfishness and rivalries of the two superpowers. Under these circumstances and for the purpose of achieving the theory of "power without domination", the Non-Aligned Movement began to take roots. In spite of all the sweeping changes and developments in the closing decades of the twentieth century, the Movement has not lost its raison d'etre, and its underlying principles are very much alive. Today's world expects from NAM to play its role toward a better future and attainment of peace, security and true freedom, given that the delusion of the Cold War, supremacy, exclusion of others and application of double standards have not yet vanished from the international relations. The Non-Aligned Movement criticizes the inability of the domineering system prevailing over the international relations in elevating the dignity and status of humanity and creating a desired global community. Our world today is longing a new design and pinning its hope on NAM for the creation of a just world.

The Non-Aligned Movement is very unique for the cultural, economic and political diversity of the peoples of its Member States. The nations of the Non-Aligned Movement have all strong and longstanding cultural and civilization roots, and major civilizations of the world began in geographical regions that are now part of the Movement. The Movement uses this diversity for the well-being of its peoples, and not as an alignment against other poles of power in the world or to defy other civilizations. .The Movement has always espoused non-violence and will do so in the future. This demonstrates the human-centered identity and character of the Movement and is the clear manifestation of its human ideals to promote peace and security and overcome discrimination.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Colleagues

Holding of this meeting on human rights and cultural diversity is a timely and commendable initiative, and will help NAM to attain a status, it truly deserves. The purpose of this meeting is to articulate the standards required to command greater respect for the cultural rights of nations and the universality of human rights through inter-cultural relations and building consensus that will help constructing an international system on the basis of inclusion, justice, equality and human dignity. This meeting demonstrates the solidarity of NAM in confronting the growing efforts to create a new form of colonialism and uniculturalism that has targeted in a creeping fashion the nations of the world, and its purpose is to impose their values, lifestyle and beliefs on developing countries.

This meeting should articulate challenges and opportunities facing cultural diversity as a result of globalization. Globalization should not be a justification or a vehicle to impose on others a particular culture or way of life. Globalization should be inclusive, fair and guarantee respect for cultural diversity. Globalization should mean globalization of human values and globalization of morality and human happiness.

I wish success for all the participants at this meeting and I hope its decisions, through respect for cultural diversity, history, traditions, values and the beliefs of all people, provide new opportunities for the enhancement and promotion of human rights among all nations.

Thank you for your patience.

Va sallamo alleikom va rahmatollaho va barakato