South – south Policy

Thursday 5October Manouchehr Motaki, Iranian foreign minister, in his speech in the middle–east study center expressed Iran's foreign policy approach towards Asian, African and Latin American countries and following that we came to know that his deputy Manouchehr Mohammadi had a 20-day visit to Latin America to study difference aspects of this decision and plan appropriate policy for this approach.

 There are even words about a new office in the foreign ministry for Latin American affairs, aspects of which have to be studied and analyzed before its start to work. In justification of this approach, foreign policy of many third-world countries has to be noted as they waited for years for western countries' help but without a result. Industrial countries have had a unanimous, active policy since the nineteenth century to prevent other from achieving advanced industry.

Anticipations were for Iran to approach this policy from the beginning of revolution. There is no doubt that such a policy has certain requirements without which it cannot succeed.

Member countries of ECO and its ancestor RCD have not yet benefited from their membership in the treaty organization –in spite of the long time the organizations have been born- because these countries are all producers of crude material and consumers of industrial products so they cannot have a complementary role to each other's economy.

 However, Iran has achieved some advances in certain fields such as cars and tractors manufacturing, dam and bridge building, road making, etc. and at the moment Iranian companies are very active in neighbor countries. Due to its young industry and capabilities, Iran can easily replace its international rivals since it can offer better rates than industrial countries. In return Iran can import agricultural products and other required products from these countries at reasonable rates.

Increase in the trade balance between Iran and developing countries and Iran's exports, activates production process and has great social and economical impacts. However, it is naivety if we think just by a decision from Iran's government this will come true as Iran has strong rivals in African and Latin America who we should not ignore.

Besides, inside the country certain steps should be taken to give Iranian companies that do not have enough experience in international collaboration, enough strength to fulfill commitments.

Irresponsible trading groups have always tried to use such conditions and use facilities provided by the government but are not honest enough with their customers, if these groups behave dishonestly.

They will completely ruin Iran's name in foreign countries and the government plans. For the same reason it is important that the ministry of commerce, standard organization and other internal organization to co – operate on the country's foreign policy and take required steps.

Iran's private sector was in the hands of middle–men till revolution and no production was done. Even after revolution the same old story had the main impact on this sector and harmed the country's industry and commerce seriously. Changing private sector to an active productive sector requires legal and technical strategies which have not been made so far.

But regarding Africa and Latin America the story is completely difference. In Africa former colonists have certain privileges and seriously try to avoid presence of new powers. Even competition between them sometimes does severe harms to the societies of that continent. Most of the political battles which have often led to massacres, coups and critical conditions have happened due to American attempts to overtake European powers and become the dominant power in the region.

In addition to American, Israel has also become active since 70s and is pursuing its own benefits through social and cultural strategies. In this situation even European countries in spite of their legal and int'l stratagems even in E.V.S foreign relation such ac "yaonde" through which they are trying to stabilize their place, are feeling weakness against their rivals and are not able to create equilibrium with the U.S. In this situation, how can Iran enter the equation as a new force?

It is natural that Iran due to lack of colonist purposes and reasonable rates, has a great card in hand. However, this depends on identifying governments, quite independent from industrial powers. Most African rulers are graduates from French, British and other European universities and therefore have sympathy with these countries. Iran representatives should get active now and identify influential political groups, their policies and in addition study opportunities for Iran's economic and cultural activities. As Africans have no concern about Shiite and Sunnite issues, African muslim countries might have more interest in collaborations with Iran but this cannot be an important factor.

However, in Latin America the situation is exactly opposite. It means that this continent was considered a part of North America till 1990 but since that time this region has drawn the attention of EU to itself. If the US is competing EU in Africa, it is EU that is competing the US in Latin America. America's policy in Latin America changed after Soviet Union was out of existence and America's support from military dictatorships of the region came to an end and as a result semi-democratic regimes with different looks at interior and foreign issues were born.

EU used this situation and quickly made a plan to strengthen its presence in Latin America. The US also made a new strategy which was organizing all Latin American countries in an organization led by the US itself.

However, it is impossible that all the countries of such a large region take similar political positions. Gradually though more organized unions which pursued regional development were formed with ELKA and Free Trade Area of America (FTAA). One of these was MERKOSOR with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay as members which the world's third commercial block after NAFTA and the EU with a population of M210 and a GDP of $1000B. MERKOSOR drew EU's attention to itself in 1991 and by 2000 it was EU's biggest business partner. But this does not mean that EU has not much of concentration on other organizations of the region such as RIO, the Caribbean, Andes or Central America. A hidden competition is going on between EU and the US and Latin America and each one emphasizes on their own points and power. How can a third-world country get into this competition when the big powers are already in?

 Two points should not be forgotten here. First, the big area and numerous fields of activities in this continent will not let one single country take control of all of them. For this reason the competition between the US and EU will not put them directly against each other for years and both powers will be able to benefit from the unlimited resources of the region. Therefore, there would still be room for countries with less strength such as Japan and China and in the next level Iran.

There also tens of small but independent countries each of which has their own needs and demands. Second and more importantly in the recent years some new governments have come to power that their pursuit of independence and populist policy are very similar to those of Iran's. Some of them are even in line with Iran fighting Imperialism and this is an opportunity no country like Iran can benefit from. Hugo Chavez (president of Venezuela) who hosted our president some time ago, Morales in Bolivia and even Kercher in Argentina are some examples who might spread around the region.

For this reason if Iran's plans and policies are made wisely, Iran will have a good chance to gain a position in competition with the US and EU. Another point we have to notice in our long-term policies is that Latin America has the potential to change international equations and this is the goal we are after. It means that not only the domination of the US will be prevented but also, and more importantly one of the poles of power will be formed in the south. Brazil is as big as a continent itself and its unity with Argentina and other countries of the region can turn it to a power. But their attention should be drawn to the fact that their long-term goals are in line with ours and that we anticipate the same position as ours from their side regarding our advances.

This point is being mentioned for the fact that Brazil took a position against us in Iran's nuclear program. However, strengthening of Iran or any other third-world country can be useful for them, too. We anticipate these countries to prepare a long-term plan and not to sacrifice their long-term benefits for temporary ones. A concern about the future of these countries is the large homeless population of them who can be a potential rebel army in unexpected movements. Numerous Marxist guerillas are also another negative point of these countries. North America is using these weaknesses and putting these countries under pressure. These countries' financial and military dependence on the US is a winning card for Americans that has to be taken away from their hand.

At this point the large numbers of American and Israeli forces in these countries, who have an eye on all their relationships, are prepared to do whatever it takes to limit these relationships. Numerous weapons in the hands of irresponsible and criminal groups, large numbers of mob groups and drug traffickers facilitate any kind of conspiracy so any action has to be taken with enough caution. Anyway, Iran's recent approach is a great way to go that shows the power of Iran in beyond regional levels.

Many experts, for instance Olivier Roi who is expert in Iran and Central Asian issues and French foreign ministry's consultant in this region, encourage their governments to accept Iran's power in the region and believe that it is rational to take Iran's power seriously and start negotiations with Iran as a strong and even nuclear Iran is beneficial for western countries and helps stability in the region. Especially as Iran behaves logically and rationally in international issues, there is no reason to stand against this country.

Now, the question is: Have we recognized our own place and power or are we endangering our reputation with our behavior?