Former minister of science, research and technology and a candidate in the 9th presidential election Mostafa Moin in an interview with IRIB recently outlined his future platforms in case of turning Iran's president.

The following is an excerpt of the interview:

"In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful "The executive power plays a major and influential role in drafting and presenting foreign policy of the state. Other institutions such as the National Security Council secretariat and the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) have also a role in the process but not as much as the executive power. Foreign Ministry as well as the research and planning institutions within the Executive Power will be accountable for the shortcomings and failures, if any. Overall, the executive branch of government shoulders the main duty in the affair."

"There are bodies in the country's political structure that are more or less involved in designing, drafting, ratification and implementation of the strategies of the Islamic establishment, including the foreign policy strategy of the state. Besides the executive branch, especially Foreign Ministry, the leader, the Majlis and Supreme National Security Council are involved in the affair. The executive branch, especially Foreign Ministry, has an essential role in the country's diplomacy and foreign policy. They might face serious challenges and problems in the course for adoption and implementation of the strategy."

"The government of His Excellency Mr. Khatami has had brilliant record in changing the foreign policy strategy or better to say in launching drastic reforms in the issue. Before President Khatami's government, the foreign policy of the state was isolationist and escalated tensions. Such a policy did not contribute much to lift the barriers for development of the country. It rather laid a heavy burden on public life and national economy. I believe, the executive power was not alone responsible for the mishap. Rather, a collection of factors and behaviors of different political, cultural, information and military institutions had created such a condition. The poor management of the country's diplomatic apparatus tarnished the image of the Islamic establishment in the world. Hence, it became difficult for foreign policy officials to build constructive engagement with other parts of the world. The 1996-1997 period marked the most critical years for Iran's foreign policy. Those years reveal the critical nature of the foreign policy of the state."

"Departure of Western European ambassadors from Iran and recall of our ambassadors home from the countries in fact testify the lowering of ties with the key European states those times. The era also marked improper and severed ties with the neighbors and important European states. The expulsion of Iran's ambassador from Turkey, Iran's very bitter relation with Turkey, assassination of Iranian security forces and engineers in Pakistan on two occasions in 1997 and severance of ties with many important countries, including Japan and China, are only part of the dark points of the poor foreign policy strategy in the two years."

"Powerful presence of Mr. Khatami on the executive scene and the impact of his doctrines on foreign policy of the state changed the course of the foreign policy of the country. The doctrines helped improve image of Iran worldwide. The reformist developments in Iran were recognized worldwide as a democratic process. Furthermore, the peaceful, wise, prudent and logical policies of Iran during tenure of President Khatami provided the foreign policy officials with a chance for powerful collaboration with other countries. One of the important achievements of the `Government of Reform' was the idea of Dialogue Among Civilizations. The idea was then turned into a global reality."

"It will remain as an everlasting fact in history of the world's political events. Don't forget that the year 2001 was designated as the year of Dialogue Among Civilizations."

"The wrong decisions of the executive branch or destructive interference of the unauthorized institutions can once again put the foreign policy of the state in a backward course. Take for instance the Majlis approvals on foreign investment, which have aroused international reactions."

"Alike other aspects of its foreign policies, Iran's policies on the US are affected by global developments and international conditions. National security and interests should have the first say in foreign policy of the state. Any policy would be naturally revisable if national security and interests dictate so. Take for instance the policies of Iran on the US. Before any thing, one should estimate the cost and benefits of the present policy and then decide whether to change it out of national interests. I believe Iran's policy on the US should be reconsidered for the following reasons:"

"A. After collapse of the former Soviet Union, there are certain components, which affect the world policies. The Cold War era policies no longer work in the contemporary era. Our foreign policy on the US is generally affected by the Cold War era beliefs."

"B. Developments in the country and the new version of the foreign policy have provided us with special opportunities in the region and the world. The opportunities have to a large extent freed Iran from isolation. The country has willingly or unwillingly put in a course that need broader pages for development and movement on the international level. The country will face grave obstacles if is provided with the pages without reconsidering its traditional policies."

"C. Global and regional developments have imposed special conditions on the country. The conditions have provided the country with better and more important chances for reforms and turning into more powerful regional power. The global and regional developments might however pose problems and even threats to the country's stability and security. To benefit from all the conditions and repel threats, the country will have to emerge powerfully on all scenes including on the scene of diplomacy with the US."

"D. During the presidency of Mr. Khatami the country witnessed major economic developments, which provided the country with high potential for economic achievements and developments. To guarantee further progress, the country needs to open its doors to global economy. Our producers, industrialists and experts should also have access to markets beyond the borders. To meet the goals, the country needs to have engagement with the global community and ease tension with the US. Severed ties with the US are the main obstacle to entry of Iran's economy to the world market."

"E. Successful experience of Iran's diplomacy in recent years reveal the might of Iran's diplomacy in facing the world's powerful countries. Despite all the problems and barriers, the success has yielded positive results even in connection with Iraq and Afghanistan when Tehran had had to get engaged with the US either directly or indirectly. The strategy of dialogue with the US under present conditions will not only pose any barrier to national interests and principles but will also guarantee national interests and security."

"F. The US has never been so much in need of de-escalating tension with Iran as it is today. Such a condition has provided Iran with the chance to have equal position with the US for engagement."

"Positive diplomatic gesture towards the US would probably ease international problems facing the country's development. The US need for such a diplomacy should not however be taken as a permanent and long-lasting advantage for Tehran. Therefore, it will be necessary for us to benefit timely from the opportunity in the best possible manner."

"Considering the above, I believe it is necessary to revise our policy on the US. Even it will be better for Iran to move forward and ease tension with the US. Naturally, continuation of the ties would depend on reciprocation by Americans and their revising their methods and approaches."

"** Iran is entitled to benefiting from the most sophisticated sciences and technology of the world, including nuclear energy in order to ensure national development and progress. Iran is the inheritor of a rich culture and civilization and enjoys vast human resources and good population condition. Naturally, we signed the NPT in line with our national interests and global commitments. We signed the protocol to benefit from sophisticated technology. We should try to ease concerns, if any, over our using nuclear energy even for peaceful purposes. We should build up confidence. Definitely, the ninth presidential elections can serve as a turning point in the nuclear energy issue if the public have a strong presence in the process. The world would then witness free, popular, and democratic elections, which resulted in election of a president with strong authority. Such a president would naturally be able to form a powerful government. The today world is the world of knowledge and communications. Causes for democracy, peace, global understanding, and human rights are the main components of the world's disciplines. The world is seriously following elections in Iran and respects public votes. The world will become more confident in Iranian government and system if the elections there are fair.

"The elections will raise public applause. In light of the elections, the government will continue talks with other parties of the world even more vigorously than the past. It will depend on the incoming government to decide the level of the talks, emerge strong and build confidence. That's government that distinguishes exigencies.

Our foreign ministry, as the official organ, should take the initiative in the talks. Governments should serve as the pivot in the talks because it is the symbol of unity. Government can through building up confidence and continuing talks emerge successful. I am confident that we will be successful and win global confidence. I am confident that we will continue peaceful use of nuclear energy. We have always been for talks and dialogue throughout history. We should be so. We should find reasons for pressures. We should know to what extent our weaknesses have been the reason for the pressures. We should know how have our internal weaknesses been the reason for the pressures or the pretexts we provided for them and the dangers they felt from our part. We should take both these into consideration. We should really have a realistic approach. We should solve the problem.

We should come to know that Iran's power does not depend on access to nuclear weapons. We should know knowledge is the key to security and power of all countries. Domestic system of any country is the key for its power and strength. Public presence on different social and political scenes are the backbone of any country's power. What's important is power not necessarily country's access to nuclear weapons. So, we should try to devise our policies from this angle. We have fortunately been successful in this connection and relieve concerns over the issue.

"If I am to form the new government of reforms, I will call it the government of national unity and global understanding. This is because of the significance of national unity and its role in establishment of understanding between us and the world. National unity guarantees our national security and interests. We will build understanding with the world based on national security and interests. This is something which should be taken into consideration as a main approach in the globalization period. I mean your attitude should be a globalization attitude. You should have engagement globally. You should act based on national interests. That's an approach that experts pay much attention to. Naturally, a new government would have legally the right to reconsider and revise all the policies of his predecessor. The president should do this wisely and out of a logical and scientific approach. He should criticize the past, assess the strong and weak points as well as threats. He should try to adopt new policies out of scientific approach. The US is the most important and crucial part of our foreign policy. I think Iran is also the challenging part of the US policies. This is interesting. More expert views should be used in the process to devise the new diplomacy. We should recruit the ones with profession and good knowledge in politics and international relations to decide on relations with the US. We should build efforts in line with national interests of Iran and under equal conditions and mutual respect. We should start talks with the US based on mutual national interests. We should sit on the negotiation table without...