Conversation with the Ambassador of the muslim Republic of Iran to Poland, Dr. Hossein Gharidi.
Good morning. We would like to ask, by expressing our condolences on the death of president Ebrahim Raisi, has Poland's reaction to this tragic event been noted in Iran, a reaction which has sparked controversy in Poland? I mean specified warm and individual condolences from president Andrzej Duda.
– In the name of the merciful and merciful God, I would like to express my joy that this chance has come to have an honest conversation in which, if God permits, we will be able to answer any questions that sometimes arise and which are applicable to your Readers. As for the drama you asked about, I must say that it was a truly shocking and heartbreaking event and there were doubts about the situation of our nation – which was natural – and in this situation many countries show compassion for both the government and our nation. Well, of course, a good and exceptionally warm message of the president of Poland Andrzej Duda can be seen and analysed within this framework. Acting president today, Vice president Mohammad Mochber, thanked the Polish president for his condolences, which is natural, given the long and good past of relations between our countries.
This is genocide.
Ambassador, the issue that raises interest, not only in the mediate East, but besides in Europe, is the ongoing military operation, which is at least how Israel presents it; calling things by name: the Palestinian genocide in the Gaza Strip. Iran is seen as, you can say, a spokesperson for this Palestinian population, as a state that has been, for years, not since yesterday, not since the beginning of this operation, and has been addressing this issue internationally for many years.And yet we may have the impression that this global community, although I do not like this word, due to the fact that it is abused in us, is simply a bit helpless. I don't know what we can do to save those Palestinians. So why don't I ask you an open question, does Iran have any thought what to do?
– Ladies and gentlemen, as you have all noticed, the drama that is now taking place in Palestine concerns the minds of all people in the world, not just the people of Central Europe. There are voices of condemnation from all over the world, especially in consequence to barbarous, death - bearing children, Israel's actions in Gaza. Even erstwhile Zionist supporters and friends can no longer tolerate this and openly criticize this regime. An example may be John Mearsheimer, who published an article in the "New York Times", which, as he pointed out, wrote only to convey what was going on there, and that what Israel is doing in Palestine now has clear signs of genocide. As far as Iran's policy is concerned, it has always supported the Palestinian people, especially erstwhile it has become clear to the full planet what logic lies behind Israel's actions. Today, not only Iran defends the Palestinian people and their rights.
It is very unusual for me that in Polish society deep divisions can be seen in the environment of political elites, as well as in the nation in the reaction and assessment of events taking place in the mediate East. And this is happening at a time erstwhile even South Africa asks internationally to name what Israel is doing, genocide and crime against humanity.
At that time, 1 of the people associated with the Polish elites of power publically claims that the war which Israel is conducting is simply a civilised war and that it acts morally due to the fact that it defends itself. In my opinion, as the media, you should question this kind of reasoning and ask whether, in the situation of killing innocent people, the planet can call it civilized behavior.
It's not about anti-Semitism.
By the way, Mr Ambassador, let me explain how much I observe this political scene in Poland, that in fact this division occurs on the line of the elite – society. I mean, this Polish alleged elite actually defends what Israel does, tries to soften this burden of these events, but society, and it is already seen in the movie about student communities, but it powerfully supports this Palestinian issue.By the way, due to the fact that I think it is besides a good time to explain something to our Readers, to all those who will read this interview, very frequently Iran's attitude towards Israel is explained by this Western propaganda as motivated by anti-Semitism. Meanwhile, we saw the staff, even from president Raisi's funeral, where representatives of the judaic community dressed in their conventional spiritual outfits are going in this course. possibly it is worth knowing that there is no discrimination between the judaic community in Iran, that Judaism is not persecuted in any way, but simply that Iran is opposed to the policy of the State of Israel.
– I want to explain something. I did not mean that there are differences between Polish residents. I said that what we hear from the public about Palestine is different from what we see and hear among politicians. As for the question of Jews in Iran, I must remind you that even in the muslim Council, in the parliament, we have a typical of judaic religion. I truly do not want to focus besides much on this issue right now, but it is clear that the facade of Judaism is, in fact, an artificial facade created by the Zionist government and it is constantly instrumentally utilized in European countries towards anyone who opposes the Zionist government and its violent policies. I remember how after this Israeli attack on the foundation, in which Poles worked, and respective people died, including this Polish citizen, there were besides different reactions in Poland. There were besides reactions against Israel's policy. But there was besides a loud speech by the ambassador of the Zionist regime, who even the Polish government accused of anti-Semitism. Meanwhile, I see that Poles, despite the fact that fewer Jews live in Poland, live in peace and peace with them.
After October 7, nothing will be the same as before.
Professor John Mearsheimer, whom the Ambassador mentioned, spoke of the fact that about half a million people had already left the Zionist regime.They left for Poland, Poland, Poland, after the genocide process in Gaza began. I would have a question about what will change this situation in Palestine present between the countries of the region. We spoke any time ago, we had an interview with the Ambassador of the State of Palestine, Mr Mahmud Khalifa, and we had the impression that this time the full mediate east planet stands united, does not remember these disputes that had previously been under specified a "divided and ruled" strategy, divide et impera used. Can all this tragedy, which is now taking place in Gaza, yet lead to another conflicts, specified as conflicts that have been between Iran and Saudi Arabia, go to a second plan that this full mediate East can be reconciled.
– What is happening in Iran or Palestine is not a closed and limited process to the mediate East. I believe that we should truly review the past of the region, and even beyond it, before and after October 7. I think regional relations changed after 7 October. We can no longer talk about any continuity in the past of the mediate East, but we will divide them into what happened before 7 October and what was and will be after 7 October. You mentioned examples. This is actually the attitude of arabian countries towards Israel, the unity that emerged between muslim countries, and the breach of a taboo that overturned the paper defence of Israel, which everyone believed had the strongest army in the region. And present everyone can say that everything has changed in front of us. Therefore, as I said, we should start writing again after 7 October. Prior to 7 October, speaking about 2 countries – Palestine and Israel – was considered almost a crime in European countries. But now countries specified as Ireland, Spain or Slovenia have declared Palestine an independent state. In fact, a resolution was adopted in the United Nations by a majority, stating that Palestine should be a state. Now we are waiting for his approval by the safety Council. These are the large events that took place just after 7 October, and from this point of view, we should look at further developments in the world.
Ukrainians refused to talk about evidence
Of course, Palestine is besides crucial to us, not only for the mediate East region, but here in Europe.On the another hand, most Poles live in the belief that the most crucial and most crucial conflict for us, war, is taking place in Ukraine.In this context, Ukrainian authorities, the Ministry of abroad Affairs of Ukraine, but besides representatives of the administration of the president of Ukraine, repeatedly accused Iran as a state of not being neutral, but supporting 1 of the parties to the technically, militaryly conflict. We have heard about drones produced by Iran or based on Iranian technology, about another equipment to usage the Russian side. Could the Ambassador characterise this attitude of active neutrality that Iran is talking about in the event of this conflict, the conflict in Ukraine?
You see, this issue is actually a substance which I think is already a bit out of the ordinary, that is, the Ukrainian authorities have raised it for no reason and without documentation, and we have answered it. Actually, I don't have any further explanations. But for you and your dear Readers, I must say that the muslim Republic of Iran has always proclaimed that it is ready to talk to the Ukrainian authorities to explain any ambiguities and to answer questions if Ukraine has any documentation regarding Iran. The handing over of Russia's weapons in the current war, the weapon Russia uses there, is contrary to our agreement with Russia and we do not accept it in any way. In order to resolve these doubts – with the support of Poland, the gathering was to take place in Poland – we wanted to meet with representatives of the Ukrainian government so that we could talk and explain this misunderstanding. But the Ukrainian side refused to attend specified a meeting. From our point of view, it is rather clear that we have comprehensive, historical and old relations with Russia, which have been in existence for half a century and we have worked together in all areas. We keep economic, political, parliamentary and military relations with Russia. We agreed with Russia that Russia has no right to usage our military products or equipment in the war on Ukraine. If Ukraine has papers that question, we're ready to talk.
This is not a peace conference.
That is right, there is about to be a conference convened by the West and Ukraine, a conference in Switzerland, which is called a peace conference, but it is circumstantial due to the fact that 1 of the parties to the conflict, Russia, was not invited to this conference.The president of Ukraine has announced that representatives of more than 100 different countries, including those outside Europe, are to be present at this conference. Was the Iranian side invited to this conference, and if it stayed, did it accept specified an invitation?
– As you rightly pointed out, the name of this conference itself is incorrect. I mean, what kind of peace conference if both sides of the conflict aren't involved? Especially the organization that has a decisive influence on the continuation of the war. In this way, conference organizers clearly signal that they do not want peace and do not care about peace. I would advise Europeans to reflect on this substance and take it a small more seriously. There is specified a message by von Clausewitz, a German thinker and expert in the military field. He stated that where the war began, diplomacy ended. That means diplomacy will neglect due to war. I think what is happening in Ukraine is the consequence that it does not follow the way of diplomacy. This actually led Ukraine to the present situation. I don't want to get into it due to the fact that it's time-consuming. The fact is, however, that, as we know, the first peace talks between Ukraine and Russia took place in Turkey at the beginning of the war and did not produce the result, due to the fact that any countries search to resolve Ukraine by war alternatively than diplomacy.
Multipolarity is simply a fact
Mr. Ambassador, just so he can get a small bit of a clamp on this is all we're talking about. You have rightly observed that we will look at this planet differently. And let's look at it so globally.Maybe it's what's going on in Ukraine or the collapse of the image of a state located in Palestine, possibly it's the beginning of a fresh world, a multipolar world. I've been watching this for a long time. I besides observe the position of the muslim Republic of Iran.And what 10 years ago, this opposition to imperialism, which was expressed by countries specified as Iran, Venezuela or Belarus, is already on the agenda of these large countries. Just like China, like India, more and more.And is it just an expression that this planet is changing, that this multipolar planet is joining its forces in the work of emancipation, that the muslim Republic of Iran belongs to BRICS? I besides say this erstwhile we hear that Turkey would like to join.How does Iran measure its existing cooperation and presence in the BRICS group?
– As you have rightly noticed, we are now moving from the old order to the fresh one. And this fresh order is in the process of taking concrete forms. It is known that the West will no longer be a hegemon. This is the tradition and past of humanity and the world. If we go back and analyse history, in the 16th century the Portuguese were the unquestionable power of the world. By the 17th century, the French were besides powerful. In the 19th century, Britain and America face the challenge. And in the 21st century, the centre of force moves east. And it is natural that we will not witness any pause in a fresh order. As you have noticed, respective powerful countries are effectively shaping the fresh order. And the formation of fresh coalitions and groups, specified as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or BRICS, indicates that the planet is moving distant from the single-polar system. And of course, crucial BRICS countries can, if God permits, make a fresh order distant from American domination and aggression.
We have a akin role.
Mr. Ambassador, we can't spare this question. How do you evaluate, due to the fact that it will be 2 years since the Ambassador has completed his mission in Poland, how do you measure what is good in Polish-Iranian relations and what could be done to make these relations better, what remains to be done, both Polish and Iranian.One of our Iranian interlocutors said something about moving an air link...
I would say that from a geopolitical point of view Iran and Poland have akin interests. Both countries are of large importance from a geopolitic point of view. Both Poland is simply a strong and active entity in Central and east Europe and the muslim Republic of Iran, due to its geopolitical significance, is simply a strong actor and actor playing a function in Central Asia. As a individual who has been liable for bilateral communicative for 2 years, I believe that there is simply a large possible in both countries, which, in the context I mentioned, makes both powers and, in fact, crucial geopolitical players, and can carry out extended cooperation. But as abroad policy practices, the level of relations with existing opportunities and potentials is not a desirable level, and many needs of both countries, Iran and Poland, can be easy met, including economical needs. As far as the airline is concerned, as you mentioned, the creation of direct flights is definitely 1 of the crucial factors in speeding up economical relations, and we believe that there are no obstacles to this initiative. It is adequate that the Polish government will make the right political decision.
Thank you very much for your conversation.
– Thank you very much.
Tomasz Jankowski and Mateusz Piskorski spoke
Video chat available on channel Against the Censur.
