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On 12 July 2000, President Mohammad Khatami of Iran concluded an official visit to Germany by participating in a debate on dialogue among civilisations with the distinguished religious scholars, Hans Küng and Josef van Ess. The debate was chaired by President Johannes Rau of Germany. Below is an edited transcript of the discussion.
President Rau: Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you to this dialogue in the Palace of Weimar. Here the President of Iran will take part in a dialogue which concentrates on understanding and communication between our nations and our different ways of life. I am very grateful that Professors van Ess and Kiing agreed to participate in this dialogue. We will first ask our guest to put forward his views and then we shall proceed to questions, discussion and analysis.
President Khatami: In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
Mr President, distinguished professors, dear authence, I always find it delightful to be present among the educated and thinkers, but this particular gathering is even more pleasant and memorable because of the elevated status of German culture and thought and their chief symbol - Weimar.
More than a year ago at the European University Institute in Florence I referred to a necessity in today's world. I said that dialogue among civilisations and cultures is a concept arising from continued efforts to get closer to the truth and to reach understanding. Dialogue is a logic that comprises talking and listening; "dialogue of civilisations" requires listening to other cultures and civilisations.
Today's world is searching for a new basis on which to regulate human and social relations. Such a basis, in my view, is a dialogue in which East and West are not the subject of "dialectic" but parties to a conversation and partners in discussion. Dialogue entails a clear and precise understanding of the world's cultural geography. It means taking a critical look at the "self" and the "other". It means paying attention to heritage as well as being serious about learning new experiences. Dialogue concerns humanity's needs today and tomorrow. Therefore, opening a new door towards understanding global realities, and finding new viewpoints in the East and West, are prerequisites of real dialogue between civilisations and cultures.
The basic question...