If Iran and the US do not talk, they both lose
Here is Iranian Diplomacy’s exclusive interview with John L. Peterson on the sidelines of the Conference on Religion in the Modern World.
John L. Peterson is the head of the Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation in the US. He is a Harvard University graduate who is now one of the bishops in Washington Catholic Church. Mr. Peterson heads the programs on education, non-violence, and fighting diseases on a global scale. He believes that dialogue can heal misunderstandings.
Here is Iranian Diplomacy’s exclusive interview with John L. Peterson on the sidelines of the Conference on Religion in the Modern World.
Mr. Peterson! Nowadays we are witnessing a rising wave of violence in the world especially in the Middle East. How do you analyze that?
Any kind of religious extremism –whether in Islam or in Christianity- is causing lots of problems for people and states . This conference aims to transform distrust to trust, and misunderstanding to understanding. What Mr. Khatami is doing in this regard is of a very great importance.
Do you think such conferences can decrease violence in the world?
Sure. When different people with different cultures are put together, interacting with each other, they can get rid of distrust and misunderstanding. People who are attending this conference do not fully know each other. We do not care who we are here. But in the outside world, they are calling us the Muslims, the Christians, the Iranians, the Americans, and so on and so forth. We should try to eliminate that.
The leaders of Muslims and Christians have been in touch for long time till now, yet the violence has not been decreasing in the region. In your opinion, what is the key to solving this problem? Any solutions?
I do not regard the case so negatively. I live in Washington and I have travelled around the world. People are trying to communicate and this is our aim too. Some governments may not be inclined to approve of such communications, but the religious leaders want peace and friendship.
Some analysts believe that the relation between the states can not be defined as their nations’ inclination to friendship, or the vice versa. For example, the Iranian and American governments do not have friendly relations but the Iranian and American people do not find themselves at odds. What do you think of that?
I believe that people can make change if they want. The lack of relations between Iranians and Americans has led to sanctions and this is a tragedy. When Iranian and American governments do not communicate, they are both regarded as losers. If we do not make dialogues we will never reach an understanding.