A shift in US-Iran relations?

Today US President Obama published a video in which he extended his hand to the Islamic Republic of Iran. This message definitely marks the end of an era, however it is still waiting for an official reaction of his Iranian counterpart, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The tensions between these two countries ever existed since the Islamic Revolution in 1978. During the last Bush administration The White House justified its attitude towards Iran by claiming that this country was building a nuclear weapon. However it is not hard to find other more important reasons behind.

Hopefully together whit this policy change, the US will forget its invasion plans and will convince the Israeli government, even when headed by Netanyahu, to do the same. This would be the one and only way to bring any change in the region. Former

President Bush's policy toward the Middle East has been the ideal feeding ground for extremism. The Islam and the Islamic world has been to easily blamed for all sorts of problems and conflicts, causing a humiliation and feeling of injustice in this region. These feelings are of course a perfect basis for populism or radicalism. But, as Rik Coolsaet claims in his book "De Geschiedenis van de Wereld van Morgen" (The History of the World of Tomorrow), claims this tendency of radicalisation has reached especially young third generation immigrants in the western world who confront in many cases an identity crisis. Since,they are not accepted as part of the society, because of stigmas and (unjustified) fears, they find refuge in these groups.

It is as an unending cycle. Fears and prejudices cause populist politicians and opinion makers to out radical statements towards Muslims, who as cause of this (without generalising of course!) search refuge in their own radicalisation (which is not about religion at all!) and that causes again Extreme-Right to strengthen their claims... The only way out is to build up a positive dialogue and a real integration of these people in the society where the are part of. This integration is about much more than learn a language, local history or political systems! And the responsibility of these efforts is of everybody! Lets stretch all our hands!

President Obama's Message to Iran

Further reading:

Prof. Dr. Rik Coolsaet website (Nederlands, English, Français)

More about this Issue:

White House (English)

Al Jazzeera (English)

BBC World (English)

CNN International (English)

Press TV (English)

Islamic Republic News Agency (English, Persian, Arab)

Background:

Crisisgroup (English, Français, Deutsch, Español, ...)

Council on Foreign Relations on Iran (English)

Iranian President Ahmadinejad (English, Persian)

NY Times on Iran (English)

BBC Q&A (English)

The Economist Country Profile (English)

EU-Iran Relations (English

Is a forgotten conflict remembered again?

This month the International Court of Justice in The Hague, finally issued a warrant of arrest for Sudanese President Omar Bashir for crimes against humanity in the Darfur region. However the bad implications (hopefully only on short term) for the Sudanese, this was a necessary step to end years of impunity. Hopefully accusations will be also directed to other responsibles. Of course together with this warrant of arrest, the international community should be looking very closely at the day to day situation in Sudan and act immediately if necessary to prevent any further atrocities. Hopefully this action marks the end of indifference to what happened the last years and even decades, when this country was left to its own faith and that of its political leaders, who head apparently very little interest in the well-being of the Sudanese. During the absence of the international community and the continuation of impunity, the conflict has become much more complex. Groups have been divided and there are more violent confrontations. There is no time left to wait for action! At the end the stabilisation of the situation could also be in the interest of Sudan's neighbors and economic partners.