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- At the kind invitation of the Government of theIslamic Republic of Iran, the 30th Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session of Unity and Dignity) was held in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran on 27-29 Rabiul-Awal 1424H (28-30 May 2003).
- The Conference was opened with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran.
- His Excellency Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, delivered a speech in which he welcomed the Ministers and delegates participating in the Session.
He said that our world today, notwithstanding its great achievements, is a world of fright and conflicts; it lives in fear of violence, discrimination, terrorism, poverty, insecurity and war; we therefore need the might of Islam as a religion of knowledge and a path of morality to deliver the world from the current frightful situation. His Excellency expressed his belief that the world today is buffeted from two sides by violent dogmatists on the one hand and hegemony seekers on the other, adding that, while terrorism and fanaticism have distorted the human and liberal image of religion and mankind in general, force, hegemony and unilateralism have harmed the righteous concepts of freedom and democracy. It is therefore essential to keep away from terrorism and unilateralism, and our way to achieve these aspirations, as Islam which seeks freedom, justice, high moral values and democracy. His Excellency stated that any outlook or tendency advocating or justifying discrimination, hatred, violence and oppression is alien to the spirit and essence of Islam. Similarly, any power trampling upon the aspirations, independence and sovereignty of nations through resort to force is alien to freedom and civilization. He stressed the importance of alliance for world peace based on justice, instead of conflicts and wars, saying in this context that policies built on violence, tyranny and dictatorship can only lead to war. In order to rid the world from the scourge of war, its roots must be extirpated.
