Public Diplomacy, Effective Only If…

New appointments have been made inside the Iranian Foreign Ministry along with merger of some key deputies (links in Persian: 1,2). Iranian Diplomacy has interviewed Mahmoud Khoshrou, former deputy foreign minister, on the implications of the changes.

How do you assess the government’s decision to establish a public diplomacy center?

MK: Running a center for public diplomacy is good news per se, since it means further attention towards the global public opinion and the image Iran is creating of itself for the international community. Public diplomacy is the ‘soft’ tool which unlocks the civilizational, cultural and academic potentials of the country and exploits them to advance our national interests.

However, public diplomacy would bear fruit only if the officials outside the diplomatic apparatus believe in public diplomacy. If they try to mock other countries or the international community with their remarks, of if they continue to talk about ‘global management’, then public diplomacy will be merely a non-starter.

I think a classic example of Iran's success in public diplomacy with global repercussions and persisting effects is Mohammad Khatami's Dialogue of Civilizations initiative. This could be the most powerful diplomatic tool for Iran which is a country with rich culture and ancient civilization.

IRD: Political and economic offices of the foreign ministry have been merged, in order to “increase the efficiency of economic diplomacy” and centralize the affairs as officials have stated. Do you agree with the decision?

MK: These bureaus were unified before Khatami's presidency. In the Reform Government, an economic office was established to coordinate economic apparatuses with our foreign diplomacy. It was meant to increase our economic potentials. I don’t think a re-merger will facilitate administration of economic diplomacy.

In the meantime, the Middle East and African affairs bureaus have been merged and formed the Arab-African Affairs bureau. This also falls into contradiction with two of our basic diplomatic priorities. Middle East affairs are not comparable to any other issue due to their importance and strong link with our national interests. African affairs, on the other hand, are typically of a different nature. Our cooperation with African states revolves around technological and economic issues.

IRD: What do you think of other changes in the foreign ministry?

MK: A new deputy for chairman of the European and North American affairs’ bureau has been appointed. This signals that the government is fully grasping the importance of these regions in its foreign policy. But further attention towards North America and the EU in expense of African countries is something not quite in line with the Tenth Administrations slogans!