Fletcher speaker discusses U.S.-Iran relations

Former Under-Secretary General of the United Nations Giandomenico Picco called for the United States and Iran to "begin an open dialogue" at his lecture in the Cabot Intercultural Center yesterday morning.

Picco said that "most current issues between Iran and the U.S. are negotiable ... [but] someone needs the courage to step forward and start [the discussion]."

"Iran and the U.S. are, in some ways, perfect partners in terms of domestic politics," but the countries refuse to take the necessary steps to become functional partners, Picco said. "We need to look for individuals on both sides who are willing to break the spell."

Picco focused the lecture on his role within the U.N. under Bill Clinton. Picco said that while the United States and Iran had chances to resolve their differences, creative problem-solving was not utilized.

"It is important to de-emphasize the myth that institutions can sign agreements," Picco said. "Individuals are the ones that do that, and they need to start thinking outside the box."

The countries had made headway in their relationship at a September 2000 U.N. meeting. Picco convinced President Clinton to remain at the session long enough to hear Iranian President Mohammad Khatami's speech. This was, according to Picco, a significant diplomatic feat for both countries.

Standard protocol usually dictates that the U.S. president speaks first and then leaves immediately afterward. Under the guise of a security issue, Picco moved Khatami's speech from 25th to 4th on the list of speakers, and Clinton remained to listen. "I'm not known for doing things by the book," Picco said.

"Although this was a technical success, nothing really came of it," Picco said. He attributes this breakdown in relations between Iran and the U.S. to a lack of personal responsibility in both governments, and politicians' desire to maintain the status quo.

He added that individual politicians' constituents restrict their actions and are liable to focus on re-election votes, rather than diplomatic progress, when making controversial decisions.

The United States and Iran have had a rocky relationship over the last 50 years. The 1991 Iraq war was a major cooperative victory for the two countries, but the 1979 Iranian takeover of the American embassy has been a source of intense friction.

Picco believes that any potential developments, however, remain blocked by what he called "ghosts": Perceptions of the Middle East and Iran that continue to negatively influence diplomatic relations.

Although Iran has made numerous attempts over the last 25 years to forge economic partnerships with the U.S. -- even going as far as to present a large oil field exclusively to American companies -- frozen political relations between the two countries have impeded any serious economic relations.

Picco said that in Iran, a very slow decision-making process at the technical level impedes the country from making the best deals on international oil sales. Although the U.S. has done without Iranian oil for about 25 years, its influence in the Iraqi oil fields could make the economic situation even worse for Iran.

"If the U.S. and Iraq sign a production-sharing agreement with international oil distributors, it might create a competition for Iran that it won't be able to recover from," he said. Most Iranian oil is currently earmarked from European and Japanese markets.

"We must remember that collective responsibility doesn't exist in diplomacy," Picco said. "Institutions are comprised of individuals, and until some start coming forward with new ideas, this situation won't improve."

Picco served for 22 years at the U.N., where he was Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs. During this time his notable achievements included leading U.N. efforts to release Western hostages in Lebanon and heading the negotiations leading to the cease fire between Iran and Iraq.

He was also heavily involved in the diplomatic efforts leading to the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. In 1999, Kofi Annan appointed Mr. Picco as his personal representative at the rank of Under Secretary General for the Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, a 2001 project organized by Khatami.

Picco's speech, entitled "U.S.-Iran Relations and Developments in Southwest Asia," was a part of the Charles Francis Adams Lecture Series.