In letter to Annan, Iran's President proposes global summit against terrorism

Condemning the "alarming" terrorist attacks against the United States, the President of Iran Seyed Mohammad Khatami has proposed convening a global summit against terrorism, according to a document released today at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

In a letter to Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Iranian President stresses that the United Nations is the "appropriate framework to organize this struggle."

The President proposes "comprehensive and inclusive negotiations" on global policies to eradicate terrorism, "followed, at the earliest possible time, by a global summit to register and demonstrate the highest international political will to uproot terrorism and adopt appropriate strategies and measures in this regard."

The letter also warns that the recent attacks "should not be utilized to further stimulate chronic cultural and political misconceptions, stereotypes and prejudices." Instead, he urges serious reflection on "how to dry up pretexts for terrorism."

A solution to the "hideous and dangerous" problem of terrorism requires vision, serious political will, and the active participation of all people, according to the letter, which was sent on Sunday.