07 November 2012
A Delegation from Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) participated in a session held in the Foreign Policy Research department of the CSR on 5 November 2012.
In this session, first Dr Mahmood Vaezi, the head of Foreign Policy Research Department welcomed the visiting delegation and introduced the CSR and its activities in different areas of research. Then, Dr Fabrizio Tassinari, the head of Foreign Policy and EU Studies of the DDIIS said that the DIIS is the only research institute in Denmark which conducts research in the field of foreign policy. Then, he described the present situation of Europe given its existing economic and social crises and requested the Iranian side to give its opinion on the current situation in Europe and the future of relations between Iran and the EU. The Iranian side replied that given the continuation of fiscal and economic crises in the euro zone, Europe has become weaker compared to the past and rational interests have gained a more important status than European ones. Also, it is predicted that existing crisis would last, at least, several years leading to less solidarity among the EU states. Regarding the future of relations between Iran and the EU, the Iranian side maintained that the lack of an independent Europe as policy towards Iran as well as the EU's compliance with the U.S. policies would not be in the EU interests in the long term due to its need for energy resources and market for its exports and investment. The Danish side responded that in the past Europe tried to play the role of a "honest broker" in relation between Iran and the West, but at the present situation, it can no longer play such a role.
In the rest of session, given the fact that three other members of the Danish delegation were researchers from the Middle East studies group, some issues related to the recent developments in the Arab world and especially, crisis in Syria were discussed and the Danish side showed its interests to have the views of the Iranian side regarding these developments. The Iranian side while mentioning the EU's contradictory stances towards the developments in the Middle East and the EU's double standards in dealing with what is going on in different Arab countries, said that the people's ambition for participation in determining their desting in all Arab countries including Syria should be respected, but any foreign intervention by regional countries or great powers in the aggravation of crisis and only lead to the aggravation of crisis and killing of more people. There fore this would not be a sound solution for resolving Syrian crisis. The Danish side while accepting the EU's selective treatment of the Middle East developments in many cases. Observed that European powers are seeking their own interests and we should explain their behavior accordingly.
In the end, the two Sides showed their interests to continue the contacts and scientific exchanges between the two institutes and declared that such contacts would be useful for removing misunderstandings and facilitating more interactions leading eventually to the amelioration of bilateral relations.
