For various reasons, a general mention of Iran might not bring out a lot of positivity.
Since 1979, the Islamic republic has been involved in seven wars, with two (Yemen and Syria) ongoing.
It was thus a matter of interest when last Tuesday, the Embassy of Iran marked International Day of Peace by awarding artists who participated and won in the World Cartoon Festival on ‘Silencing the Guns in Africa’.
The festival seeks to use art to create awareness about the African Union’s initiative to achieve a conflict-free Africa, prevent genocide, make peace a reality for all and rid the continent of wars.
Speaking during the award ceremony, Iranian Ambassador Jafar Barmaki said through the festival, the embassy accelerates calls to action by assimilating 2020 and 2021 themes in culture and heritage.
“At least 1,000 people die each day from gunshot wounds, and three times as many are left with severe injuries,” he said. “If the deaths, injuries and disabilities resulting from small arms were categorised as a disease, it would qualify as an epidemic.”
The third position in the regional category was taken by Boniface Andala (prize money $200), second place by Edwin Njue ($300), while the winner was Samuel Muigai, alias Igah ($400).
The winners globally were Michael Gomez from Cuba (third position) receiving $2,000, Ares also from Cuba (second position) who got $3,000, and the overall winner Carlo Gomez from Brazil, who took home $4,000.
In a follow-up interview with the Star, Barmaki said the idea was developed from a proposal by former Iranian President to the UN almost 17 or 18 years ago, saying instead of the clashes among states, we need to have dialogue among civilisations.
On why Iran is focused on this issue, Barmaki, who is the former head of the African directorate in Tehran, said, "This is an important project for Africa as you can see clashes and conflicts all over the continent, in the countries and even between countries.
"These kinds of issues will prevent the countries from paying attention to development because they have to spend money on war, conflicts and clashes. Look at what has happened last week in Kenya. Laikipia."
You use the talent of artists and then send your message in a very peaceful, funny way which is more attractive than to enact laws and develop policies
Barmaki said parties should use peaceful ways of solving their problems because no one wins through fighting.
On the choice of cartoons, the envoy said while there are several ways you can send out your message to the target audience, it is important to make it effective.
"Why don't we use the funny or comic ways? It is attractive. You use the talent of artists and then send your message in a very peaceful, funny way which is more attractive than to enact laws and develop policies."
Of the artworks they collected from around the world, at least 1,000 "beautifully send the message", and offer the opinion of other people from other backgrounds in solving African problems, he said.
"AU's 2021 theme is 'Year of the Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want'. So I thought to myself, merging the Silencing of the Guns and the arts and culture themes could be a very good idea," Barmaki said.
The diplomat also addressed other areas of engagement, among them geopolitics, trade, Covid-19 and the war on terrorism.
There has been increased interest in Africa by Iran. Why is that?
The new administration, which started almost a month ago, is going to have more focus on Africa because we believe there are lots of opportunities in Africa.
We also have a lot of capacity to help the continent and this country. For sure, we are here to expand the relations. This is what my colleagues all over Africa are doing as we have more than 20 embassies in Africa. They have been there for several decades.
Look at the Kenyan embassy, for example. We started our diplomatic relations 50 years ago and this year, we are going to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic relations since 1971.
If you look at the Iran House of Innovation and Technology, which was inaugurated almost seven months ago, we are offering technologies we have acquired in the last 43 years under the sanctions. They are thus locally made technologies, and we are ready to share with Kenya solutions like nanotechnology.
I have a project that will make Kenya the first country on the continent to receive nanotechnology science, and other countries can get it from here.
This is because our foreign policy focuses on different areas, including Africa, which is important.
We believe African people were under oppression for many years, and we sympathise with them and would like to help them because it is a win-win situation. We help them to acquire what they need then we also get our benefits. This is what we were looking for.
I have several ideas I have shared with the government of Kenya, and I'm seeking their assistance in helping me to provide facilities, then you will see more job creation and revenue, especially for foreign currencies and tech transfer. Why do you have to wait for the others to give you some products? Why don't you produce? We are here to do this.
There are ongoing conflicts in some of the countries Iran has embassies in. What is Iran doing to silence the guns there?
We have embassies in Ghana, Nigeria and the DRC, so I'm not going to speak on their behalf.
But talking about the overall foreign policy of Iran to Africa, we are ready to help. But first, we need to have the consent of their governments. We don't like to interfere.
However, we are also ready to help them by offering our experience. Iran dealt with Daesh (ISIS) in Syria and in Iraq. We have very good experience and success in combating extremism and terrorism in those countries with the help of the governments, and that is very important.
If the governments of the African countries are not ready to seek our help, we cannot step forward. We limit ourselves to other ways, such as using arts.
Countries such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Israel have intensified their activities in Africa and now Iran. Do you see some rivalry in the focus towards the continent?
No, I don't see any rivalry between any countries to be present in Africa. Each country has its own capacity and capabilities. We have some technologies, others don't have. They have some things that we don't. Therefore, let's all be there to work in a peaceful way. We are helping Africa.
We are not going to conquer Africa. My embassy is here to expand the relations in different fields on a political, economic and cultural front. That is why we are trying to send business delegations because when we have business, you will get out products at a cheaper rate than the other countries.
For example, we give you ventilators, which are very important for hospitals at this time, at a much lower price than when you get them from the other countries, sometimes more than half the cost.
This is medical equipment with international licensing, the same quality, same function. Why do you get it at double price while you can get it at half price in Iran?
Don't you think the sanctions against Iran have contributed to this?
Yes, unfortunately, it is. The sanctions that come from only one country is their national, not international law, and it is illegal.
What some countries are doing is forcing others to follow their national law, and it is not right, even for their own national interests.
Look at the tea market, for example. At least 20 per cent of Kenya's tea production used to go to Iran. Now it is less than six per cent.
So, you are losing your market in our country because of following that sanction, which is originated from the national law of one country that is even farther from you than we are.
What impact has Covid-19 had on the bilateral trade between Kenya and Iran?
Covid has its own effects on the relations between countries, not only between Iran and Kenya, but most effects have been because of the sanctions.
But when you look at, for instance, the tea trade, we get our supply from other countries. We are not losing but you are because you cannot sell it to us. That's the issue. Corona has its own effect but I don't think it is more than the sanctions imposed by this one country.
Edited by T Jalio
Covid-19 has ravaged economies across the world. Iran was among the most hit. How is the response and vaccination drive?
Vaccination is a big problem for many countries, including mine. We are now providing from outside the country, while we have our own project, producing internally, which we have done. And some of them have received the licences to be used in Iran.
However, since Iran has almost more than 85 million population, we need to source from outside and we are facing the same problem.
In a recent meeting of ambassadors with Foreign Affairs CS Raychelle Omamo, she complained that you have a contract with certain countries, you pay them but they don't deliver the vaccines.
We are also facing the same problem. It shows we have to learn that we need each other. We have to join hands to stand on our feet. Let's help each other, let's have our technologies and not be dependent on others, especially for those issues that are very important for the safety and the health of the people. In some areas, you need to be self-sufficient.
One of the areas we would like to cooperate with the private sector of Kenya is the medical sector. It is one area we are going to have joint ventures producing some of your needs and to be a source for other African countries, especially with the African Free Trade Zone, which is going to increase the trade between African countries from 16 per cent to 60 per cent.
We are ready to put factories in different fields and not only will you have the technology but also the investment, jobs, foreign currency and revenue increase.
You have very good infrastructure, well-educated people and a strategic location. But we need more help because sometimes, the private sector is not in a situation to do everything.
Iran has had issues with how the war on terrorism is undertaken. What is the matter?
We have to be very careful with such initiatives because some countries are using such issues against the independence of other states.
They are trying to use the war on terrorism against the states they don't get along with.
Iran is trying to be self-sufficient and it is not following the policy of big powers because we believe we have to decide for ourselves, not others imposing themselves on us and deciding for us.
It, thus, is not right to use some of these things to say our Revolutionary Guard are a terrorist group. Why? Because they fight ISIS?
We believe that ISIS, Boko Haram and al Shabaab are all connected to those countries. Why are some of these groups in Africa? Because they want to justify their presence.
When those groups aren't there, how can they justify their presence and military bases here?
This is what happened in Iraq. Saddam Hussein didn't have any chemical weapons but you heard it everywhere.
What did they do with this country? They destroyed it and its economy and then ISIS came in, spread to Syria and now here in Africa.
What is your comment on the developments in Afghanistan?
We believe that all groups should have a say in the government. Such countries cannot be led by one group. This is why I say dialogue is the most important way to get out of this.
Again, we are going to have some other groups fighting Taliban in Afghanistan because they didn't let the others have a share in the government.
If you are trying to be selfish let's say so, nobody is going to tolerate your selfishness. Otherwise, I try to be humble and ask you to join me in governing.
We need to allow other groups to get in. We have different ways of sharing power with different groups and we have very good examples around the world.
