Posted on 08/23/2006 6:06:13 PM PDT by sionnsar
WASHINGTON - Despite a diplomatic standoff over nuclear weapons and other difficult issues, a former Iranian president is making plans to speak next month at the Washington National Cathedral. The former president, Mohammad Khatami, would be the most senior Iranian official to visit Washington since Islamic fundamentalists seized the U.S. Embassy in 1979 and held Americans there hostage for 444 days.
The Iranian Embassy in Washington closed in April 1980 and there have been no formal relations between the two countries since then, although U.S. and Iranian diplomats on some occasions have participated in multinational meetings, such as on Afghanistan.
Several former diplomats and members of Congress have been lobbying publicly for the Bush administration to deal directly with Iran on its nuclear program and other divisive issues.
A State Department official, who was not authorized to be identified by name, said applications for visas had been received from Khatami and several Iranians who would travel with him.
The applications are under review, the official said.
Meanwhile, Iran formally responded to a package of Western incentives aimed at persuading Tehran to suspend uranium enrichment, with officials saying Tuesday that they have offered a "new formula" to resolve the dispute.
Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, hand-delivered Iran's response to ambassadors from Britain, China, Russia, France, Germany and Switzerland, state-run television said, without disclosing details.
There was no immediate reaction from the Bush administration, where the proposal was under study.
At the Cathedral, the Rev. Canon John L. Peterson, director of its Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation, said U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan had invited Khatami to participate in a conference Sept. 5-6 to promote dialogue.
He said the church's center "thought it would be appropriate to invite the president to speak on the role that the three Abrahamic faiths can play in shaping peace."
"We have a special commitment to embracing the children of Abraham," he said, referring to Muslims, Christians and Jews.
"The Church calls upon us to engage in reconciliation and understanding by having conversations with people with whom we might disagree," he said.
Evan Anderson, deputy director of the Center, said the former president was in Dubai preparing to apply for permission to visit the United States.
"Any headway that is to be made in U.S.-Iranian relations is very important," Anderson said. Religious groups should play a role in fostering dialogue with Iran, he said.
Khatami would speak at the Cathedral Sept. 7 on the role of Muslims, Christians and Jews in improving world understanding.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. ping
The Episcopalians had better be careful: the Mohammedans may claim that his speaking there has converted the cathedral into a mosque.
It's infuriating and outrageous. I'm running out of adjectives
It is a travesty indeed and good on your wife for speaking out.
"Meanwhile, Iran formally responded to a package of Western incentives aimed at persuading Tehran to suspend uranium enrichment, with officials saying Tuesday that they have offered a "new formula" to resolve the dispute."
Does the above mean that Iran has offered a "new formula"? If so, expect more talks and dancing around.
I read yesterday in the Australian, in print not on the web, saying the following:
"The Tuesday August 22, deadline was not the Security Council deadline but a deadline that Tehran imposed upon itself. If Iran flatly refuses to suspend enrichment, then there will, fairly soon, be more talks in the Security Council." "A rebuff would not yet trigger immediate action by the UN Security Council, which passed a resolution on July 31 giving Iran a month to halt enrichment or risk sanctions."
"The Church calls upon us to engage in reconciliation and understanding by having conversations with people with whom we might disagree," he said."
The Church may call upon us, the IRI Mosque does not and Khatami is a Fraud.
ping
Muslims invited to speak at the National Cathedral: 1
Christians invited to speak at the National Cathedral: 0
(No, I'm not saying Anglicans aren't Christians. I'm discounting apostates as Christians, including those apostates who happen to be from the Episcopal church. I don't count RC Cardinal Mahoney as a Christian, either.)
This is crazy. I hope the DC Freepers protest loudly
this is the triple, quadruple, ...n covenant. all are saved without coming to jesus, or maybe only if they dont.
wasnt the muslim religious figure who preached at the national cathedral's 9-11 service also protesting israel at the same time?
For those who are unaware, this phrase is a codeword for Islamic supremacy. Islam of course has nothing whatsoever to do with Abraham, but conveniently molests his corpse in the name of a spurious moslem ascendancy. The full phrase, as used by moslem termites, is "the three Abrahamic faiths, led by Islam."
Probably this is well known to the turd from the national cathedral who is happily undermining Christianity for the sake of his islamic masters.
Allow me to humbly suggest that same is blinded by his/her ideology and unaware of the consequences...
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