Moscow, NU Online
The Head of the World Assembly for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thoughts (WAPIST) Ayatollah Mohammad-Ali Taskhiri said on Saturday (30/9) that today Russia is availed with a golden opportunity to approach the world of Islam, given that the two need each other.

Ayatollah Taskhiri, who is currently in the island of Rhodes in eastern Greece to attend the international gathering on `Dialogue among Civilizations' , made the remark while speaking to reporters.

<>"Today, the world Muslims hate the US and some Western states and Russia can mediate to fill such a gap through establishment of rational ties between West and the world of Islam," he added.

Turning to Russia as a neighbor of the world of Islam and observer member of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), he said that given its Muslim population of 20 million and favorable cooperation with Islamic states, Russia can attempt to get closer to Islam.

About the world's first female space tourist, the Iranian-born American citizen Anousheh Ansari, he said, "The success of any Iranian, particularly in scientific fields, makes us happy.

Ayatollah Taskhiri pointed to the significant message inherent in the measure, namely that science is considered as the means for human progress as well as development of affection and friendship.

Concerning the ongoing 14th International Conference on Dialogue Among Civilizations (September 27-October 1) in the Greek island of Rhodes, he underlined that dialogue among civilizations and the intellectuals of world communities is very effective and fruitful.

"During such gatherings, views are exchanged, various dimensions of stances of participants are explained and common points in different grounds are specified," he added.

Elsewhere in his speech, Taskhiri said that despite announcement of the UN nuclear watchdog that there is no proof of Iran's deviation from peaceful nuclear path, the US and some Western states attempt to prevent the country's progress in the sector.

"They have politicized the issue, while this is a technical matter and should be treated within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) rather than by the United Nations Security Council.

"Meanwhile, the West's silence on Israel which owns 200 nuclear warheads and has not signed NPT proves the dual standard of the West," he added.

The five-day event is attended by 560 outstanding social and religious figures from 26 countries, including Iran, Russia, Greece, Uzbekistan, India and Yemen among others.

Major cultural and scientific topics including civilizations and their development, immigration, inter-faith dialogue for a better society, education and youth as well as the role of internet in social affairs are on the agenda of the conference. (irn/dar)