More than 120 leaders of various countries have
congregated in Iran’s capital Tehran on 26 August to take part in the 16th
Non-Aligned Movement Summit to discuss, debate and deliberate upon the problems
faced by various nations across the World in which Prime Minister of India,
Dr.ManMohan Singh is also a participant. Iran which holds chair for three consecutive
years is in an upbeat mood as the Non-Aligned Nations meet in that country is
likely to serve as a platform to present its grievances and if possible arrive
at a unanimous decision in that country’s favour.
Iran is at present weathering a storm in the form of
tough sanctions which would, to a certain extent badly affect its economy
imposed by US and European nations with its categorical rejection of the
direction of developed countries like US, France, Britain et al to curtail its Uranium Enrichment Programme as the latter
apprehend the manufacturing of nuclear weapons could ultimately prove to be a
threat to the developed countries and also West Asia as a whole, especially its
bête noire Israel. With the
imposition of sanctions coming into force US and many European countries as
well as nations allied with them have reportedly stopped the import of crude
oil which serves as the most important source of Iran’s foreign exchange
reserves. Even India which is in good terms with US as per the instructions of
the latter has been compelled to reduce the quantity of crude oil supplies from
Iran.
Imposing sanctions on any country is to squeeze and
force it to submit to the demands of the countries which dwell upon the country
to put an end to a policy adopted by that nation which turns out to be the victim.
In the case of Iran, the developed countries aim at compelling Iran to stop the
Uranium Enrichment Programme once and for all. Iran, in spite of the sanctions
imposed the developed countries remains unshaken and defiantly proceed along
the path charted by it. Since that country’s export of crude oil supplies to
the ‘enemy countries’ is somewhat negligible, the sanctions are bound to affect
it adversely only to a lesser extent. Iran’s animosity towards US and its prodigy
Israel is well-known the world over. Since 1979, as it was in that year the Islamic
revolution broke out against the then pro-US regime of Shah Reza Pehlavi who
was virtually a puppet of US. As an aftermath of the revolution Shah was ousted
from power and an Islamic government took over the reins of governance under
its Supreme spiritual leader Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeni. The Islamic govt, from
the very outset of its reign took an anti-US policy, consequently Iran became a
thorn in the flesh of US. Though many govts came and went the anti-American
attitude still remains as such. Now that Ayatollah Ali Khameini is the
religious Supremo and Mehmood Ahmedi Nejad, the President, the decades old
enmity has culminated into a stage of no-return with the incumbent government
of Iran engaging in the Nuclear Enrichment Programme. As far as US and Israel
are concerned Iran making a nuclear weapon is detrimental to the existence of
Israel. The reported accidental deaths of about 5 nuclear scientists are
alleged to be the handiworks of Israel’s secret agency Mossad which allegation
Israel has neither denied nor owned up the responsibility. Israel is determined
to obstruct Iran from making a nuclear bomb at any cost as that country
apprehends a nuclear attack by Iran whenever the latter succeeds in
manufacturing the nuclear weapons.
In the meantime a report to the effect that Israel
is preparing to strike at the communication and electricity facilities of Iran
thus breaking all communication facilities there and also drown Iran in the
darkness before demolishing its nuclear sites as also the camps of the atomic
scientists who are staying in its vicinity.
The Non-Aligned Summit in Tehran is therefore at a
critical juncture and Iran is poised to draw the attention of the threat it
faces from Israel, US and other European countries. It is supposed to touch
upon the unilateral sanctions slapped on it by US and its allies and will
certainly seek the support of the Non-Aligned heads of State gathered there to
adopt a resolution unanimously condemning the arm-twisting tactics of US and
its allies.
Similarly the developments in West Asia especially
the Syrian imbroglio will come up for detailed discussion among the heads of
nations assembled at Tehran. It is to be noted that Iran is a close ally of
Syria, hence there is nothing wrong to arrive at a surmise that Iran is likely to
play a mediator role to avoid the blood-shed in Syria.
It is imperative that to avoid a genocide in Syria,
actually what is going on there is genocide itself, with Syrian Army under the
leadership of its President Bashar-Al-Assad and Free Syrian Army led by rival
leaders are engaged in a no-holds barred battle and as a result most victims who
fall to the bullets are the innocent civilians. Countless numbers of civilians
are fleeing the country fearing for their life and countless numbers are
displaced.
A solution to the ongoing crisis in Syria is a must
and the Non Aligned nations are expected to play a positive role. A resolution to
that effect is likely to come up during the meeting.
Another prominent issue threatening almost all participant
countries is the menace of terrorism which needs to be wiped out from the face
of the earth by the collective efforts of all countries across the world. The
Non-Aligned meeting could play a cardinal role in tackling this global menace
along with other nations which are also prone to terror attacks anytime.
The Palestinian issue is also certain to come up for
hot discussions during the Summit. Palestine Authority President Mehmood Abbas
is participating in the deliberations and it is expected that the need for a
free Palestine State composed of territories of 1967 level might be a hot
topic. Ismail Haniyah, Prime Minister of Gaza and Hamas leader has backtracked
from attending the Summit.
A clear picture is likely to emerge within one or
two days, then only we would come to know how far the Summit has proceeded.
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