[FREE IRAN Project] In The Spirit Of Cyrus The Great

[Liberty Now !]

dear toofan, thanks for the reply. appreciate it.

we know that the world does accept them as legitimate government, but if the U.N was truely the United Nations and not the United Governments that it has become, it would call a terrorist regime which takes the Nation Hostage, anything but legitimate government.

unfortunately we are yet to create a place where the Nations can voice their concerns internationally and be empowered for the right change.

otherwise, what good is a place in which terrorsits can lecture the world about 'kindness' and 'fair play', and remind all of their legitimacy time and again (?) it's really not a question. goes without saying, it does more damage to the NATIONS if anything.


eitherway, the fact that they accept fascist-terrorist regimes as legitimate, gives legitimacy to any attacks on their land by 'legitimate rulers' defending their nations!!!

which means: State sponsorship of Terrorism is legitimised, and the terrorist groups better stop right there, and form a government immidiately! then they can do whatever the hell they want, and attend their annual U.N meeting as well.

that goes for Mr. Bin Laden as well. all he needs now is to become president of such and such state to become legitimate in world political circles.

afterall, it might have very well been him on the U.N stand, rather than Ahmadinezhad. a legitimate terrorist president, is a legitimate terrorist president. what's the diff?
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actually they ARE forming governments now, and the U.S Middle East Plan is encouraging them to do so. Must be the complimentary plot to Green Belt. 1st creat Islamo-Fascist Terrorists then have them rule the entire Middle East. keeping the nations under control for many more decades to come. afterall, that's the whole Idea of Real Politics_especially of the oil.

and what the hell do you suppose the people can do about it? ask the women of Iraq who have to wear Hijab, and they tell you of their helplessness. they just have to accept it for now, and perhaps a long time from now!
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EU:

is yet to take any serious step towards fighting terrorist regime. personally, I think they would never exchange their lucrative deals for America's security or extended power.

History shows that it's only Americans who always stand by the EU allies, fight their wars for them, and protect their interests, no matter what the cost. It's yet to be seen if the Europeans would do any such things in favor of Americans! more likely not.

future history books may show, that the EU/ Russia/ China/... worked together to reduce U.S power worldwide. and celebrated American defeats, bit by bit, while sending a postcard to sympathize!
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don't you think UK/ EU are still bitter to have lost all their power to U.S?
don't you suppose deep down they wish they could take it back?
is it impossible that they could mobilize islamo-fascist forces in their own favor, much like they've done so times and again in their past?

is there such thing as impossible in real politics?


(just a thought)
_________________
Paayande Iran

[Oppenheimer]

(Yawn)....

[Oppenheimer]

Back to the subject of this topic....solutions to Extremism involve finding common ground and understanding....here's an example of how that can happen:



Interfaith Dialogue With Religious Leaders at Topkapi Palace


Karen Hughes, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs; Dina
Powell, Assistant Secretary for Education and Cultural Affairs
Topkapi Palace
Istanbul, Turkey
September 28, 2005

(4:30 p.m. local time)

ILBER ORTAYLI, DIRECTOR OF TOPKAPI PALACE: Mrs. Under Secretary, Your Highness,
Your Eminence, ladies and gentlemen, this is not the first time that the
spiritual heads of the communities came to this palace and won't be the last.
We are very happy to have you here, madam, and leave you for your meeting.
Thank you for coming.

UNDER SECRETARY HUGHES: Thank you so much. The tour was wonderful. Thank you.
What a fabulous setting. It's beautiful. Well, it's an honor and great pleasure
to be with you here this afternoon at this beautiful Topkapi Palace. It's just
a gorgeous place. We've just had a wonderful quick tour, a little too quick.
I'll have to come back when I can spend more time. But I'm so glad that you are
here, and I want to thank the Government of Turkey for helping to make it
available to us.

My brief tour helped bring some of Istanbul's remarkable history to life for
me, and I sincerely want to thank all the palace staff. I want to thank also
each of you personally for joining this meeting. I understand there is an
important interfaith meeting under way right now in Hatay. Some of you came
from there and changed your schedules to be here with me. I really, really
appreciate that and look forward to learning more about the meeting that you
had there.

I'm here on my first trip abroad, really to listen and to learn. One of the
things that President Bush, my boss, told me as I began this job was to take
the time to reach out and meet with religious leaders -- because faith is such
an important part of life for so many Americans and so many people across the
world and, I think, to build better bridges of understanding and mutual respect
it's very important to work with members of the faith community. In fact, I
have to say that you can probably blame President Bush for this meeting,
because he met with many of the same group when he was here. He said that it
was one of the most important and interesting and fascinating meetings of his
presidency because there is such a rich mosaic here -- not only of the history
of Turkey but the history of so many important faith traditions. So, one of the
things I've learned just during my very short time here in Turkey already, just
today, is that the people of Turkey and the people of America share a language,
I think, of the heart. This is a very warm and welcoming and hospitable place
and that language of caring and concern is also very apparent in the wonderful
outpouring of generosity that we experienced not only from the Government of
Turkey, but also from the people of Turkey in the aftermath of the staggering
natural disaster that we faced with Hurricane Katrina. I want to take this
opportunity to express the gratitude of the American people to each and every
person here in Turkey who brought a dollar or came by with a donation to our
American Embassy. It meant so much to the people of my country.

We also share many values between the people of America and the people of
Turkey: family, democracy, a belief in human rights and the importance of
interfaith understanding and tolerance. And so I'm really here to listen to
each of you, and I very much look forward to our discussion together. Thank you
all for your time and for joining me here today.

Would each of you like to say a few words? One thing -- when you have a meeting
of religious leaders, they are all so nice and tolerant that everyone defers to
everyone else. (Laughter). But please.

MUSTAFA CAGRICI, MUFTI OF ISTANBUL: (Translated text) First of all, I would
like to thank you very much for coming here and for inviting us here. I would
also like to thank the distinguished religious leaders who have given me the
first word. Especially democracy, family and interfaith relations are some
common points that Turkey and the U.S. share, and you emphasize this. Now, I
find this very meaningful, and I think these are very important points. Indeed,
in the Western world -- and, of course, everywhere in the Western world in line
with the rise of democracy -- family and interfaith relations did not develop
at the same pace and with the same sound foundation, unfortunately. But I think
that the United States has an important place and has some unique features.
Turkey and the U.S. also share the fact that they attach importance to the
family and to faith and to tolerance. So, I agree with what you have said and
congratulate you on this very perceptive remark. And I will happy to say a few
more words when it is my turn. Thank you very much.

MESROB MUTAFYAN, ARMENIAN PATRIARCH: It is a pleasure to meet you in Istanbul.
We ourselves were just participating, as you mentioned, in a meeting of
civilizations in Antioch, where we discussed the common problems that we will
face worldwide and the role of religion. Not only in building up civilization,
but also as a remedy to many of the problems that we live through today --
particularly living in the Near East or at the tip of Europe. We are
particularly concerned about this West and East -- the blocs and the way that
especially some thinkers are trying to promote a clash between civilizations.
This is one of the main points that we discuss in these meetings -- and how to
solve issues of this sort in terms of culture and religion especially. And how
religious ministers could lead opinions which affect public opinion. So, it is
particularly important for us in that sense that you are interested in bringing
together the various religions and traditions in this country as you visit. We
are grateful for this interest. Thank you.

ISAK HALEVA, CHIEF RABBI: (Translated text) First of all, let me say "welcome"
before everything else. You have honored us with your presence and your smiling
face gives us a lot of energy. Of course, between Turkey and the U.S. there
have been wonderful relations in the past that will continue in the future --
because both the U.S. and Turkey have some common points with respect to faith,
to cultures, to family. These are the things the two countries share. So, thank
you very much for developing this nice atmosphere further. I believe that
today, all around the world, religions can live in peace. This will certainly
eliminate many problems in the world, because religions in the past did cause
some conflicts. But today, there are other reasons apart from religion to
fight. So, maybe religions can go back to their essential duty of promoting
peace and love. Thank you very much for showing sensitivity and interest. I am
sure you will succeed in your task. We are very hopeful about this. Thank you
very much. May God be with you and be with us.

UNDER SECRETARY HUGHES: Thank you so much.

YUSUF CETIN, SYRIAN METROPOLITAN: I would like to bid you a warm welcome to
Istanbul. Last June, we had the chance to be present during the visit of Mr.
Bush. We had a wonderful atmosphere a very useful meeting then and I am
sure that today's meeting will also be very beneficial for everyone. Religious
leaders and religious officers must pray to contribute to world peace. You, the
politicians, I think can emphasize peace more. I think that for world peace,
religious leaders and politicians are the two parties that have very big tasks
to fulfill, more than ever today. We need to pray much more for world peace,
and politicians need to work much more seriously for world peace. Religious
leaders, of course, are not politicians, but for world peace we are ready to
discuss any topic, we are ready to be present at any gathering so long as it
calls for peace to reign all over the world -- because we have the tears and
screams of war. These make all countries in the world very troubled. We believe
that when there are good intensions in a meeting like this, God will hear our
voice, respond to our goodwill and hopefully will show us good days in the
future. Thank you.

UNDER SECRETARY HUGHES: Thank you so much.

Let me introduce Dina Powell. Dina, would you like to speak? Dina is my deputy
and our Assistant Secretary for Education and Cultural Affairs. One of the
things I have asked her to do as she leads America's exchange programs is to
really look at people who influence young people. People like all of you in
this room. As you know, faith leaders, clerics, religious leaders have enormous
influence, and I've asked her to consider exchange programs that would help
foster interfaith dialogue and a spirit of tolerance and understanding and so .

ASSISTANT SECRETARY DINA POWELL: Thank you. It is a great honor for me to be
here, to meet with all of you, and I want to second everything that Karen just
said. You are not only amazing leaders of faith, but like you said, you really
are leaders of people and of societies. And yes, two days ago, when we were in
Cairo, we had the privilege of meeting the Grand Sheik Tantawi of Al-Azar
University, and then we met with His Holiness Pope Shenouda. They, like you,
are amazing examples. And so I really hope that we can invite you to come to
the United States and share how wonderful it is to be men of faith who respect
each other's faith -- because, of course, the God of all of us believes in
tolerance and love, and I know you are living it every single day. We really
are so honored to use you as amazing role models and are looking forward to
working with you. Thank you very much.

UNDER SECRETARY HUGHES: Professor, would you like to say a few words?

AKIF AYDIN, ISLAMIC RESEARCH CENTER PRESIDENT: (Translated Text) I would like
to say welcome to all of you. One thing I would like to add to what has been
said so far is that people of different religions and different cultures can
live together. I think one of the best places to discuss the problems of such
coexistence is this very city, because in this city, in this geography -- for
at least six centuries, people of different cultural and religious backgrounds
have lived together. We have a lot of experience in this field. And I hope that
this experience will serve the population of the whole world. Thank you very
much and welcome once more.

UNDER SECRETARY HUGHES: Thank you so much. Monsignor, would you like --

FATHER DOSITHEOS, REPRESENTATIVE OF ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE: (Translated text)
Most of the important things have been expressed. Let me tell you another
story. Turkey is a very nice country. It is beautiful, and the evidence that
made me think of this is that I spent 35 years of my life in Germany. I was
born in Kadikoy, and I left this country in 1961, vowing never to come back.
But 35 years later, I came back to Turkey. The nice thing about Turkey is that
Anatolian lands and soils are holy lands and holy soils. As you get old like
me, you understand this. The problems of Turkey are problems that concern
everyone -- positive thinking is required, and all kinds of opinions are
positive contributions. Welcome to this very beautiful country. I have also one
sentence to say about the States: when I was a child, America to me resembled
the Statute of Liberty, and I still believe that. Your presence today opens up
the avenues for liberty. I hope you will assist us in solving our problems
through avenues of liberty and freedom. I would like to greet you all. Thank
you very much.

UNDER SECRETARY HUGHES: Thank you. I'm going to call on the Monsignor. But
first I wanted to quickly say that at my last stop here in Istanbul, I visited
a park -- a wonderful volunteer program, an after-school program for young
children. One of the young women there who volunteers -- she's a teenager and
she volunteers, working with the younger children -- she asked me, does the
Statue of Liberty really mean anything or is it just a symbol? I told her it
really means something, and someone commented to me that the Statue of Liberty
faces out and says welcome -- and we very much in our country want to face out
and say welcome. We want to partner with the people of Turkey. We want Turkish
students and clerics and faith leaders and teachers and all sorts of citizens
to come visit our country. We want Americans to come visit Turkey and to learn
more about Turkey and I was pleased as I was touring the palace to see a couple
of people from Texas, and a couple from New York. and also a couple from
Bahrain on their honeymoon. This is a wonderful city that welcomes many, many
visitors, and you do have a unique opportunity, I think, to really focus on the
values that we all have in common as human beings.

MONSIGNOR GEORGES MAROVITCH, CATHOLIC BISHOP: (Translated text) I am here as
the spokesman of the Catholic communities in Turkey. I would like to welcome
you on behalf of all Catholic communities in Turkey. I know that this great
country is going through many problems; please be assured that we will pray for
world peace, and we will support you through our prayers.

As you know, Turkey has a very important history. For centuries, people of
different ethnic and religious backgrounds have lived together. In that sense,
Turkey is a very experienced country and a very experienced nation. It can
teach others many lessons like we have this wonderful bunch of flowers. And
Turkey is just like this there are yellow flowers, red flowers, purple
flowers . And here, we are people of different religions, and we will always
have our Muslim brothers respecting us. They have done so in the past they
have treated us with love and respect.

I will give you a small example. I do not know if you have had a chance to see,
but we have a very large institution set up in the 19th century. It is a
nursing home called Darulacize. It is for the elderly and for babies, infants
deserted by their parents. In the 19th century, this institution was set up
and at that time there was no other institution in Europe that would open up
its doors to people of different religions. But the Sultan here set up one
mosque, one synagogue and one church in that nursing home, so that everyone
could worship according to their own religion. This can be an example to the
whole world. Turks drew this idea from their holy book, from the Koran: In the
5-28 verse of the Maide Surah it says, "If God wished to create you as single
nation, he would have done so but he wanted you to be of different faiths, so
that you would raise your beauties and compete with your beauties." This
competition has been going on for centuries but sometimes in that
competition, some of us stumbled and some of us made others fall down. We have
had some unpleasant events. But we are now making very big strides. In Antioch,
as you know, we had this big conference for interfaith dialogue regarding
working together for world peace. In Turkey, we have been having similar events
very often, so we are very hopeful about the future. Turkey should be a model
and example for the world.

I would like to conclude here by saying that you should be sure that there is
only one assistant in our work -- that is God, Allah. Muslims pray a lot every
day -- they pray 5 times -- and through their prayers, Allah, God, protects our
world. As you know, the month of Ramadan is coming. They will be fasting for 30
days, they will be praying, and these prayers will fall on earth just like
raindrops that will bring good crops. Our great country, Turkey, and the whole
world will benefit from them. Thank you very much.

UNDER SECRETARY HUGHES: Thank you so much. We have much to learn from the rich
history and tradition of Turkey, and I'm here to learn. I want to thank the
press for being here, and we look forward to continuing our meeting in just a
minute. Thank you all.

2005/895



Released on September 29, 2005

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See http://www.state.gov for Senior State Department
Official's statements and testimonies
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