Iranian President Mohammad Khatami called Thursday for a better mutual understanding between Islam and Europe.
Iran News Agency (IRNA) quoted Khatami as saying "Islam and Europe must, by the force of historical and geographical circumstances, expand their knowledge of one another and better understanding of each other, and then move on to improve their political, economic and cultural relations."
Khatami's remarks were delivered by his representative during the First Congress on Dialogue between Civilizations held in Albania.
Khatami called on Europe and the United States to exercise more equilibrium, serenity and contemplation of peace, security and justice in the world.
Khatami added "our efforts for the establishment of human rights, peace, justice and freedom should not be interpreted as a call to rationality and European-style logo centrism that preceded post-modernism."
"In Orientalism, we find that the East is treated more as an object of study, rather than as the other side of a dialogue. For a real dialogue among civilizations to take place, it is imperative that the East should become a real participant in the discussions and not just remain an object of study," Khatami said, adding "this is a very important step that Europe and the United States need to take towards the realization of the dialogue among civilizations project."
Referring to the role of Iran in the project of dialogue between
Civilizations, Khatami said conducting a dialogue with Iran has its own advantages. Iran is the gateway and transit corridor between Europe on one side and Asia on the other.
"Thus Iran is the meeting point of the eastern and western cultures," he said --Albawaba.com
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