Six billion human beings. Rapid globalization. Intractable conflicts. Genocide and ethnic cleansing. Promoting development. Combating narcotics and AIDS. Poverty alleviation. Controlling climate change. As humanity reflects on the challenges we face at this millennial milestone, it is a chance also to reflect on the only global organization to which we can turn: the United Nations.
On 15 March 2000, the General Assembly adopted resolution 54/254 by which it decided that a summit will be held from 6 to 8 September 2000 under the overall topic of “The Role of the United Nations in the 21st Century”. It also decided that the Summit will be composed of plenary meetings and of four interactive round-table sessions. The following is a report on the Millennium Summit September 6-8, at the United Nations Headquarters:

A Handshake to last long: President Khatami and Russia’s Vladimir Putin are expected to meet again

President Khatami and Jordan’s King Abdullah: First brief meeting

Iranian and Nigerian Presidents: Representing hopes and concerns of the developing world in the new millennium

Outcomes of the Millennium Summit: The unprecedented and large gathering of the heads of state in the United Nations Headquarters ended in New York in which over 150 countries participated. The achievements of the Summit can be reviewed at least from three aspects:

1. Perhaps the most important achievement of the Summit is the strengthening of the position of the host, i.e. the United Nations. The organization is the center of collective efforts of humans for confronting the threats against the humanity’s future. The failure of the UN in peacekeeping operations in such regions as Bosnia and Herzegovina and Rwanda has tarnished the image of the international organization. The loyalty of the participants in the final declaration of the Summit to peacekeeping operations and building a new structure for that, gives everyone the hope that with the start of the new millennium, the United Nations would be able to act more powerfully for the realization of its goals.

2. The second achievement is the unanimity that the heads of state reached during the Summit over the combat against disasters that have endangered the fate of humanity, such as poverty, war, HIV and environment deterioration. If the ambitious objectives mentioned in the final declaration of the Summit – the commitment to provide elementary education for all children, reducing maternal and childhood mortality rates, access to drinking water—are materialized, it would create a revolution in the human life. But the materialization would not be possible without the will of the world leaders and using modern technologies. Expressing this commitment by the heads of state would be a good start for a new millennium.

3. The last important achievement of the Summit is the meetings held between the heads of state. During the meetings they had a good opportunity to hear the other side’s ideas and tell them their own. The visits between the leaders were very promising for the end of clashes and misunderstandings, and were a milestone for the start of “dialogue among civilizations” proposed by the Iranian President Mohammad Khatami.

This is while analysts and observers believe that the world countries should reach a Charter – like that of the Human Rights – for the interactions and dialogue between nations. Such a framework would be able to make up for the shortages in the UN Charter. It should also be able to prepare a ground for mutual respect for all existing civilizations of the world and prevent the imposing of one culture over another.
Today, other countries in the region or even the Western nations look at Iran as “a successful model of diplomacy”, analysts say. The recent visit of President Khatami and his speech at the United Nations have brought about a new position for the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Khatami has offered a picture from Iran with respect to the dialogue among civilizations that has been a success for the country. A president cannot achieve such a success easily. The unique point the President speech was setting forth is the notion of an “Islamic democracy” which was quite new for many of the world’s leaders who believe that a democratic system, which is based on Islamic principles, cannot be materialized at all, but Khatami showed it could.
Now it is advisable for the Iranian government not to overlook such a desirable position achieved for the Islamic Republic at the international scene, experts suggest, as many nations who did not have good relations with Iran in the past try to get closer to this country today.
The plan of Dialogue among Civilizations plainly showed to the community of nations that Iran is responsive to the needs of the international arena. Furthermore, Iran’s rotating chairmanship of the Organization of Islamic Conference and its role in settling regional disputes provides original theoretical foundations in global equations.
The plan of dialogue cannot be pigeon-holed into mere ordinary diplomatic issues. The subject of dialogue transcends diplomatic norms. The concept has philosophical roots and can define a new paradigm for human relations in the social arena in the new millennium.