Monthly archive : "February, 2015"

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It is possible to bridge the gaps between Iran and the West: Richard Bacon MP

It is possible to bridge the gaps between Iran and the West: Richard Bacon MP

Kourosh Ziabari - Iran Review: It’s possible to bridge the gaps that keep Iran and the West apart and actualize the normalization of relations between them. This is the substance and gist of statements made by Richard Bacon MP who talked to Iran Review in an extensive and in-depth interview conducted in December last year. Richard Bacon, a British Conservative Party politician and the Member of Parliament for the South Norfolk constituency, believes that Iran has engaged in constructive negotiations with the six world powers over its nuclear program, and it’s really imminent that it will strike a deal with them to put an end to the decade-long nuclear crisis. On the rise of the terrorist group ISIS in the Middle East, Mr....

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Interview with former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik

Interview with former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik

Kourosh Ziabari - Fair Observer: One of Norway’s most popular politicians, former Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik is probably the world’s first statesman who admitted that he suffered from depression while in office. For his honesty and willingness to speak of his psychological disorder, Bondevik was commended and received thousands of letters offering support. Bondevik was Norway’s prime minister from 1997-2000 and 2001-2005. He is currently president of Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights, which he founded in 2006, and works closely with the Norwegian Nobel Committee, the Carter Center and the Crisis Management Initiative. The Oslo Center is tasked with engaging in conflict resolution plans, peace meditation and...

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Interview with former Icelandic Foreign Minister Jon Baldvin Hannibalsson

Interview with former Icelandic Foreign Minister Jon Baldvin Hannibalsson

Kourosh Ziabari - Fair Observer: We usually don’t find it making the headlines, but Iceland is a nation that has struggled with the question of whether to join the European Union (EU) or not. It has historically played a significant role in regional developments and made important contributions to security and democracy in Europe. Along with Haiti, Mauritius, Monaco, Panama and Vanuatu, Iceland is one of few countries that have no standing army but a limited military. It has been Iceland’s policy to not maintain an army since 1869, however, it is an active and founding member of NATO and joined the Atlantic coalition in 1949. Iceland is an official candidate to join the EU, even though its former foreign minister, Jon Baldvin...

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Interview with Amb. Akbar Ahmed on Islamophobia and interfaith dialog

Interview with Amb. Akbar Ahmed on Islamophobia and interfaith dialog

Kourosh Ziabari - Fair Observer: The terrorist attacks in France earlier this month, which resulted in the death of 17 people, has prompted a heated debate over free speech and religious intolerance. Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical magazine that was targeted in Paris on January 7, has a long history of publishing controversial cartoons, especially those of Prophet Muhammad. The attack on the magazine’s office attracted global sympathy. World leaders from over 40 countries gathered in Paris and marched to show solidarity and express their strong support for freedom of speech. Leaders of Muslim-majority countries condemned the terrorist attacks and made it clear that such acts have no place in Islam. However, the circumstances...

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Interview with former U.S. Congressman Jim Slattery

Interview with former U.S. Congressman Jim Slattery

Kourosh Ziabari - Iran Review: With the rise of the terrorist group ISIS in the Middle East and its intensified campaign against the peoples of Iraq and Syria, which is resulting in increased insecurity and instability in the already-turbulent Middle East, more attention is being paid to the role of Iran in leading a regional front for fighting violence and extremism. Although Iran was not officially included in the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition, there are many American politicians and academicians who lay emphasis on the importance of Iran’s contribution to the global battle against terrorism and believe that the U.S. government’s decision to exclude Iran was wrong. The role of Iran in addressing the concern of violence and...

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