After the Hard Times
Purchasing a US dollar from 75 rials to 8,000 rials and up again,
selling a barrel of oil from 30 US dollars to 9 US dollars and up again, Iran demonstrates
an admiring resilience
A revolution, a war, economic sanctions,
reconstruction efforts, a change of administration, rapprochement and mutual
understanding. The ups and downs that Iran has experienced during the past two decades
make account of an incredible cycle. Iranians have purchased one US dollar for 75 rials,
and they have purchased it for 8,000 rials. They have sold a barrel of oil at nine US
dollars, and they have sold it at thirty-one US dollars. They have been victimized in
chemical bombing, and they have been accused of aircraft bombing. These all happened in
less than two decades.
Tempered through all the hard times, a nation is now heralding peace and friendship. With
a new millennium ahead, Iran promotes an intercultural dialogue, global peace, respect for
religious minorities and international partnership.
Today, Iran announces a strong will to be on stage. Iran is out there to join the World
Trade Organization, to direct dialogue among civilizations, to climb the Sydney 2000
podium, to launch international conferences for joint investment and to build confidence
on international basis.
Over the recent months, the Iranian President paid landmark visits to Italy, France,
Germany and China, establishing greater links to some of the world’s leading cultures
and economies. Tehran, in return, hosted a number of leading personalities in politics and
trade. The importance of joining the world team, the significance of social reform and the
value of free trade are all being further underlined.
The tenth issue of Iran International is coming out
on the verge of a few outstanding events. Shortly after publishing a special issue on the
occasion of Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, we had to expedite preparation of this issue. The
26th Tehran International Trade Fair this year will be followed by Iran’s First
International Forum for Investment in Construction and Infrastructure (ConBuild 2000).
Meanwhile, more official visits, more trade missions and more agreements on joint projects
are expected. In Iran International, whatever that links Iran to the world and vice versa,
is our business. Maybe we should reconsider the term “Iran’s Marketplace”.
As economies integrate closer everyday, the term “global marketplace” sounds
more likely. In this marketplace, as our cover story notes, losers are only those
countries that keep stressing on sanctions and political differences rather than
partnership for the benefit of nations.
In listening, and speaking to the world we don’t have,
and don’t need, to hide anything. Iran has made mistakes of its own. It has long, too
long indeed, relied on revenues in return for the export of petroleum and other raw
materials, it has ignored the prerequisites of foreign investors for international
partnership and it has overlooked the necessity of technology transfer. However, we have
learnt from the past mistakes. Iran is strongly voicing an interest; an interest to prove
what it can achieve after the hard times. |
