15 July 2009
Clinton Tells Iran’s Leaders Now Is the Time for Engagement, July 15, 2009
By Stephen Kaufman
Staff Writer
Washington — Iran’s leadership should respond to President Obama’s offer of engagement over its nuclear activities, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says, adding that the opportunity “will not remain open indefinitely.”
In remarks to the Council on Foreign Relations, a foreign policy research center in Washington, Clinton said July 15 that neither she nor the president “have any illusions that dialogue with the Islamic Republic will guarantee success.” But she said they both understand “the importance of offering to engage Iran and giving its leaders a clear choice: whether to join the international community as a responsible member or to continue down a path to further isolation.”
The choice for Iran is clear, she said. The country has the ability to become a “constructive actor in the region” if it stops threatening its neighbors in the Middle East and supporting violent extremists.
From the U.S. perspective, direct talks with Iran “provide the best vehicle for presenting and explaining that choice.” Iran does not have a right to develop nuclear weapons, but “it does have a right to civil nuclear power if it re-establishes the confidence of the international community that it will use its programs exclusively for peaceful purposes,” she said.
“We remain ready to engage with Iran, but the time for action is now. The opportunity will not remain open indefinitely,” Clinton said.
The secretary’s remarks come less than a week after President Obama said Iran’s progress in responding to the international community’s offer of talks over its nuclear program, as well as the fulfillment of its international obligations, will be re-evaluated when the Group of 20 major economic powers meet in Washington in September. (See “Iran’s Approach on Nuclear Offer to be Re-Evaluated in September.”)
Clinton also described the violent crackdown against Iranian citizens in the wake of the country’s presidential election as “deplorable and unacceptable.” U.S. officials were appalled at how Iranian voices have been violently quelled, and at the government’s efforts to hide its actions by “arresting foreign journalists and nationals, and expelling them, and cutting off access to technology,” she said.
On the Middle East conflict, the secretary said Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab states all need to take action to make progress toward resolution. She repeated U.S. opposition to Israeli settlement building and said the Palestinians need to improve security and act forcefully against incitement.
She urged active Arab support for the Palestinian Authority and for steps to improve Arab relations with Israel. She also said Arab countries need to “prepare their publics to embrace peace and accept Israel’s place in the region.”
For both sides, “sending messages of peace is not enough. You must also act against the cultures of hate, intolerance and disrespect that perpetuate conflict,” Clinton said.
WORLD SHARES COMMON CHALLENGES
The challenges of the 21st century include preventing nuclear proliferation and dealing with climate change and pandemic disease, Clinton said.
“No nation can meet the world’s challenges alone. The issues are too complex,” she said. The international community must overcome the obstacles that are preventing it from transforming common interests into common action. At the same time, she said, the Obama administration recognizes that “no challenge can be met without America.”
The secretary said the administration is pursuing “smart power,” by combining its defense, diplomatic and development resources to advance its foreign policy goals.
“Smart power translates into specific policy approaches in five areas. First, we will update existing and create new vehicles for cooperation with our partners; second, we will engage with those who disagree with us; third, we will elevate development as a core pillar of American power; fourth, we will integrate civilian and military action in conflict areas; and fifth, we will leverage America’s varied sources of power, including our economic strength and the power of our example,” Clinton said.
The United States will lead with diplomacy, even in cases where it is dealing with adversaries, “by inducing greater cooperation among a greater number of actors and reducing competition,” which Clinton says will help redirect the global balance from “a multipolar world … toward a multipartner world.”
But the secretary also said the Obama administration’s focus on diplomacy should not be seen by adversaries as a sign of weakness to be exploited.
“We will not hesitate to defend our friends, our interests and, above all, our people, vigorously and when necessary with the world’s strongest military,” she said.
A transcript of Clinton’s remarks is available on America.gov.
