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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Greg Rixon |
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FORMER IRANIAN PRESIDENT TO SPEAK WASHINGTON – Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami will present an address at Washington National Cathedral on September 7, 2006 at 7:30 pm. Attendance at the address will be by Cathedral invitation only. No additional requests for invitations can be accepted, but as many requests as possible that have been received will be honored. President Khatami served as Iran’s president from 1997 to 2005 and was the first reformist president following the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Elected with the broad support of women and young adults, Khatami is credited with the promotion of the rule of law, democracy, and the inclusion of all Iranians in the political decision-making process. His 1998 U.N. statement calling for a dialogue among the world’s civilizations and cultures prompted Secretary General Kofi Annan to declare 2001 the U.N. Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations. In February of this year Khatami founded the International Institute for Dialogue among Civilizations and Cultures in Tehran. Khatami presently participates in the High-Level Group of the United Nations’ Alliance of Civilizations. He is one of 20 international leaders called together by U. N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and the prime ministers of Spain and Turkey to counter the deterioration of relations between societies and nations. The Alliance seeks to establish a relationship of mutual respect between civilizations and rejects religious and political extremism. His visit to the Cathedral will follow a meeting of the Group at the United Nations in New York, September 5th and 6th. The Reverend Canon John L. Peterson, director of the Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation at the Cathedral noted that Khatami’s visit is wholly appropriate at this time of increasing global tensions, since the former president intends to speak on the role the three Abrahamic faiths can play in shaping peace throughout the world. “The Cathedral is a place of reconciliation that opens its doors to people of all faiths, and we have a special commitment to embracing the children of Abraham. We have found that the Cathedral is an important platform for dialogue and open discussion,” he said. Of Khatami’s visit Cathedral Dean, the Very Reverend Samuel T. Lloyd III said, “President Khatami’s commitment to a dialogue between civilizations and cultures is an important component in the peace process. This is much needed in the world today.” Dean Lloyd noted that Khatami is regarded as a man of peace and moderation. Khatami will be speaking on the role the three Abrahamic faiths—Judaism, Christianity and Islam—can play in shaping the peace process. For additional information, please call (202) 537-2221 or go to www.nationalcathedral.org for updates. | |