IRIN Interview: Iranian Ambassador Seyed Seraj Uddin Mousavi

With world attention now focused on the reconstruction of Afghanistan, one of the key players set to emerge is its neighbour - Iran. In an interview with IRIN, Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Seyed Seraj Uddin Mousavi emphasised the importance of stability and peace in the country, reaffirming his government's commitment to the reconstruction process with a pledge of some US $560 million. Such money will prove well spent in the long term, he said, maintaining that Iran would benefit immensely from a strong and stable Afghanistan. According to the veteran diplomat, there are 2.8 million Afghans refugees in his country - making Iran host to the largest number of Afghan refugees in the world today, and costing Tehran a staggering US $6 billion a year. Last week a major effort to repatriate hundreds of thousands of them began under a tripartite agreement between the Iranian and Afghan governments and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Mousavi called on the international community to work harder on securing stability and job creation for the beleaguered nation, adding that Iran was now ready to help in whatever capacity the interim government or the United Nations saw fit. "It is now up to the other side to tell us where they would like our assistance and when," he said. QUESTION: How would you describe Iran's role in the reconstruction efforts currently under way in Afghanistan? ANSWER: Let me emphasise that Iran's first priority in Afghanistan is stability, security and peace. Once these factors are achieved can we begin on the issue of reconstruction - not before. If there is not going to be peace or security in Afghanistan, Iran - like neighbouring Pakistan - will be the first country affected. Indeed, for this reason Iran is one of the pioneers regarding the issue of reconstruction inside Afghanistan. Already our government has allocated US $560 million for this effort - US $170 million of which will be paid between 2002 and 2003. Given the fact that we share a joint border of 936 km with Afghanistan, if there is going to be stability in that country, we, as its neighbour, will be one of the countries that benefits most. Conversely, if there is going to be instability and violence - such as malicious acts by mercenaries and increased drug smuggling along our border - this will have a negative impact on us. Q: You mentioned financial assistance earmarked for reconstruction. Can you give any concrete examples of what your country is doing at the moment? A: As far as assistance from the Islamic Republic of Iran [is concerned], we are ready assist our brothers in Afghanistan in any way they desire - including education, as well as the health sectors. Additionally, if the Interim Government of Afghanistan would like - or the Special Representative of the United Nations, Mr Brahimi, requests - we are ready to assist in the training and education of the Afghan army or police. It makes no difference to us. We are ready to help in whatever capacity they desire. Our financial minister, accompanied by a senior delegation of Iranian officials, has already held high-level meetings in Kabul. We have held joint meetings with Pakistan and UNDP [United Nations Development Programme] in Tehran - announcing our readiness. It is now up to the other side to tell us where they would like our assistance and when. Q: Given the long border your country has with Afghanistan, how does this affect policy decisions in your country? A: As I mentioned before, we share 936 km of border with Afghanistan. We are insisting on the stability of Afghanistan as we - the Islamic Republic of Iran - are set to benefit the most. You might know that more than 3,000 officers and soldiers of our law enforcement forces have been martyred in gun battles with drug smugglers since the Islamic Revolution in 1979 - with many more injured. Afghanistan has been a centre of narcotics, and it is quite natural that it brings some corruption and prostitution to our country. In Iran today there are between two to four million drug addicts - most of them young people. This has had huge social costs for the country, and is just one example of the type of problems Afghanistan has given us over the years. So of course - if there is going to be stability, it will benefit us immensely, which is why it has a direct influence over our policy making. We hope that with the assistance of the international community that the goal of stability can be achieved. All our efforts have been centred on this point. We want to have safe commerce with this country so that both the Iranian nation and Afghanistan can benefit. Q: Since the fall of the Taliban earlier this year, there were numerous reports that Iran was actively working to increase its sphere of influence in western Afghanistan. How would you respond to such a contention? A: I'm sure this false propaganda was made by those who don't believe in the stability of Afghanistan. I can announce formally that our government is coordinating everything directly with the interim government of Mr Karzai in Kabul. Indeed, Mr Karzai in a press conference in Tehran maintained there were good relations and cooperation between our two countries, and denounced these false reports outright. Our choice and our belief is that the benefit of Iran and other neighbouring nations is through this way - to encourage all those Jihadi groups to come together and support the central government in Kabul. Again our aim is stability and peace in Afghanistan. Regarding the reports you mentioned saying that Iran was destabilising the security in Afghanistan, even the sources of those reports have since denounced them, saying they were untrue. Q: How many Afghan refugees are there in Iran today? A: According to our figures, there are 2.8 million. Q: What impact has their presence had on your country economically, socially and politically? A: Unlike Pakistan, most Afghans are not living in refugee camps, but scattered around the country, living openly alongside Iranian citizens. That being the case, they benefit from the same government subsidies - mainly energy and bread, as well as government services - that Iranian citizens do. According to our calculations, our government pays approximately US $3 a day per person for subsidies - energy, bread, electricity, health, education, etc - or an additional US $3 billion a year for the millions of Afghans in Iran now. Additionally, assuming an addiction rate of two million, it costs the Iranian government US $2 [per person] per day - or US $1.5 billion in extra health costs and opportunity losses. Then there is the cost of US $1 billion to maintain our armed forces and law enforcement agencies to deal with the problems along the border. You must remember the vast majority of Afghans entered the country illegally through mountain passes and remote roads. It should also be noted that our economy suffers a loss of almost US $500 million a year in lost trade. Then there are the health and education costs. On top of that, thousands of young Iranians in the job market cannot find work, as those positions have been taken by Afghans. In short, US $6 billion is the bare minimum to sustain such a population - a burden we have been shouldering alone for years. As far as the cultural impact is concerned, it is quite natural that if people from another country, with different traditions, merge with people in a neigbouring country, it will have an effect. Some have married Iranian women and indeed have children. Of course you cannot discount that this won't have any sociological effects on the country. In short, over the past two decades, all of these things have proven losses for our country. Q: Regarding the repatriation programme from Iran to Afghanistan, what are Iran's expectations? A: First of all, we must ensure that Afghans are aware that there is security and stability inside their country. It is quite natural for all human beings to prefer their own land to any other place in the world. This is really not a question of choice. The Afghans left their country because they had no other way. Fortunately, as peace and stability returns to Afghanistan, we are now seeing the first group of assisted returnees, under the supervision of the United Nations, return back to their homeland. I should also mention [that] on the first day of the repatriation programme, another group of people - 146 spontaneously returned back to their country unassisted. The expectation of the Iranian government is for the UN and international community to bring stability, peace and tranquillity to the country - this is the only way the Afghan people will feel safe, as well as to encourage others living outside their country - either in Iran or Pakistan - to return home. Additionally, people must feel there will be a job to sustain them once they return. This is the second priority of the international community. Only then will Afghans who have returned back want to remain. Q: What efforts is your government making to guarantee their voluntary return? There have been reports of people being forced across the border. A: There has been a tripartite agreement between the Iranian and Afghan government and the United Nations regarding this. It stipulates that each year 400,000 Afghans should return to their country, and this is the agreement and process that should be implemented. As I mentioned, we are now seeing people returning assisted to their country as part of the repatriation process - receiving food and non-food related items. At the same time, there are Afghans that are returning back voluntarily, unassisted - demonstrating their enthusiasm and eagerness to return. Q: Earlier this year, Hamid Karzai met with your government's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamene'i in Iran. What was the objective of the meeting, and what was discussed? A: As far as I know, what our Supreme Leader did was to urge the Afghan nation to come together in unity. In Iran, we have an expression: "Come together and try to build your country yourselves." He advised the Afghan people - the different ethnic groups - to put historical problems behind them. The Supreme Leader offered his guidance. Q: And how has the Afghan administration responded to your efforts? A: As you witnessed, Hamid Karzai rejected all those reports made by the American government that Iran was interfering with Afghanistan's internal affairs. Moreover, he formally announced his appreciation for the cooperation demonstrated by the Iranian government, as well as the years of assistance and help Iran gave to the Northern Alliance. Q: Security and stability remain a major concern inside Afghanistan. What role, if any should the international peacekeeping forces have in the country? A: This priority - peace, stability and tranquillity in Afghanistan - depends on the needs of the Afghan interim authority. These international forces, under the supervision and command of the United Nations, could be very useful as long as there is a necessity for their presence. We believe there should be overall peace in Afghanistan - not just in one part. But these priorities should be decided by the Afghan government. Q: How would you sum up your government's main concern in Afghanistan? A: Peace and stability. Q: As the world's attention is focused on Afghanistan, what does the international community need to do now with regard to reconstruction and humanitarian affairs? A: In my view, I think the international community needs to come to the scene more seriously. It is our feeling that that hasn't happened yet. For example, this year there has been a huge cultivation of poppy inside Afghanistan. Some people estimate that 4,000 mt of opium will be harvested this year, and yet the entire world consumption of opium is 2,000 mt. In short, we are going to have double the consumption of the world this year alone. Now more than ever, the international community must work harder on sustaining the priorities of stability and job creation, to create a stronger Afghanistan.