By Alba ȥla
The diplomatic relationships between Iran and Albania started off in 1992 and saw a steady development in all fields. The Iranian presence through investments, diplomatic presence and the cultural foundation Saadi Shirazi is noticeable even now. Albania on the other hand still does not have an embassy in Teheran. This has not impeded the two countries to develop a relationship of collaboration that cuts across many fields such as economy, culture etc. His Excellency, Alibeman Eghbali Zarch, the ambassador of Iran is definitely happy to be in a place where “weather, mentality and hospitality” make him feel at home. He talked to Tirana Times about pleasantries such as poetry ad the musical Persian languages and also “un-pleasantries” such as nuclear power and global disputes.
On culture
The ambassador is proud to confirm that the Persian cultural influence goes a long way back in Albania. Some of the best writers like the Frasheri brothers, Vexhi Buharaja, Hafez Ali Korca used to compose poetry in the Persian language. In urban centers like Elbasan, Persian was a second language two centuries ago. Indeed the ancient civilization has had an important influence on the world literature and philosophy through its main figures like Hafez, Saadiu, Kajam, Ferdus, etc. Mr. Eghbali Zarch shares the opinion of many Albanian and Iranian personalities who consider culture to be the most important and reliable capital over which to develop the relationship between the two countries.
Iranian culture is present in Albania also through the publication of the Perla magazine, a publication of the foundation “Saadi Shirazi”, which features parts of the works of the best writers form both the countries. “There has been a natural preservation of the cultural links between Albania and Iran and now you can see some translations in Persian of the most contemporary Albanian authors,” the ambassador explains.
Economic Investment
Iran is a fast growing economy with powerful energy, chemical industry, handcrafted products and hospitality sectors. The ambassador explains the recent economic progress of his native country with impressive attention to detail. Large exports and a significant construction nexus including ship building, road network construction etc are indicators of a booming economical situation with the potential to invest significantly abroad.
It has also been experimenting successfully with new sectors in car industry, launching its own cars like “Samand”, and projecting other ones like “Tondar” and “Sarir”. Important novelties and technological progress have made this country be self-sufficient in the medical and pharmaceutical fields. Theoretically there is the potential to have an import-export relationship between Albanian and Iranian traders. Both can benefit form the unique products that might be not available domestically. Iran produces and exports some food products of high quality, but Albania can also take advantage of its geographical Mediterranean position.
Iran according to Mr. is one of the ten leading countries in the building of hydro power and thermo power plants and could use these capacities and expertise to help Albania which has faced several power crises due to very low domestic producing capability.
“I certainly hope that in the context of our increasing economic ties with Europe, our trade volume with Albania as well as bilateral investments will reflect this as well. This requires a better knowledge about the reciprocal capacities and stronger collaboration will,” the ambassador adds. To him it would not be surprising that Albanians would want to invest in Iran since he has a vision of this economic relationship as reciprocal. His impressions on the regional context are generally positive. He sees the Balkans moving steadily toward progress and integration and wishes for sustainable stability.
The nuclear hot potato
We could not avoid the topic of nuclear power and the presence of Iran’s government in the headlines of global press as well as the heated controversy over the purposes for which Iran can exploit the nuclear capacities it is developing. The ambassador explains that to him, the image of his country is victim of a “unilateral propaganda.” The ambassador explains that in the past Iran has made several efforts to become a committed party of the anti proliferation treaties. Nevertheless, countries like USA, Germany, France and large multinational corporations invested heavily in Iran to build nuclear power facilities through contract with the previous regime. When the regime changed (when the Islamic Republic was proclaimed) they left their investment unrealized. Such is the example of the Bushheri power plant. Hence Iran approached Russia to have this plant completed. Iran’s aims the ambassador confirms are completely peaceful and the use of nuclear power has been targeted for domestic purposes to generate electricity, help agriculture and the oil refineries. “It was the Scientific Institute of Stanford which predicted first Iran’s need for nuclear energy,” the ambassador claims, “and recommended a plant of 200.000 megawatts to be done until 1994.” Since then Iran’s nuclear energy progress has been halted given the conflicts in the region. As a member of the NPT (nuclear proliferation treaty) Iran has never benefited form it’s just right to get technological assistance in developing its capacities.
What to the ambassadors seems unjustified is the politicization of a technical issue.
Middle East peace and Iran’s role
The assertions that Iran and Saudi Arabia are at heads about Iran’s regional impact is according to the ambassador the product of manipulative media. He stresses that Iran has a commitment to respecting and assisting Muslim countries. This has been proved through current high-level delegation visits and continuing cooperation efforts.
The Gordian knot of the Middle East conflict can be approached through a sincere treatment of democratic values, the ambassador surprisingly explains. Part of the international community has not respected the Palestinians’ electoral will that resulted in the election of Hamas. Iran believes that only cooperation at the largest scale can solve something like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has proposed in this regard a referendum. Safety and stability in the region can not be achieved if the people who live thera re not given a chance to be the decision makers of their own fate.
This is also valid for Iraq, which by virtue of being Iran’s immediate and large neighbor makes the latter be interested in the Iraq’s lasting stability. The halt of civilians suffering and killing and the respect for the people’ elected government are the two pillars of Iran’s stance toward Iraq.
It causes him sadness that his country has been recently listed alongside Israel as two countries which are trying to bring havoc to the world (BBC poll). The ambassador explains that the best summary of the Iranian culture and civilization essence can be found right at the entrance of the UN where the famous lines of Saadi Shirazi are inscribed in the wall:
Of one Essence is the human race,
Thusly has Creation put the Base;
One Limb impacted is sufficient,
For all Others to feel the Mace.
The verses tell the story of people that love peace and have a strong feeling of solidarity and humanity. As an example he brings the hospitality of Iran towards millions of Afghani and Iraqi refugees.
Gratitude to Albania
The ambassador is grateful to have found in Albania people whose values are so close to those back home: peace loving, hospitality, civilized behavior. He has only one desire: to add a successful chapter in the long book f the history of cooperation between two nations that are far away in geography but very close in values.
