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With the devastating Iran war approaching its third week and its repercussions increasingly being felt across the world, the Global Baku Forum in Azerbaijan saw a rising chorus calling for a diplomatic way out.
On its second day, the annual gathering presented at least one counterpoint: press ahead with the US-Israeli offensive.
Among the voices in favour of diplomacy: the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta, who co-led his country’s peaceful transition to independence from Indonesia in 2002.
“It was obvious that a US-Israeli intervention in Iran would have a cataclysmic side effect, and it’s happening,” Ramos-Horta said at the forum. “And of course, the economic impact does not stay there in the region. It has very negative multiplying effects all over the world. Didn’t they think of that?”
“Africa is especially hard-hit by the energy crisis, and women often bear the brunt,” said Hafsat Abiola, President of Women in Africa. Abiola is also the Global South Lead at Project Dandelion, a women-led global campaign for climate justice.
“We don’t have time for war. There’s a real war being waged against all human beings on the planet, which is the climate crisis,” she said. “And we need to get past our differences and work together to save the planet for human life and for all life.”
Not everyone at the Global Baku Forum was in favour of a diplomatic solution, however, or at least not for now. Texas Congressman Van Taylor, a military veteran, is a staunch supporter of US President Donald Trump.
“I served as a US Marine in Iraq. I saw Iranian spies come into the country and literally commit violent acts against the United States troops that were in Iraq,” Taylor told Euronews. “President Trump worked very hard to try to get a diplomatic solution. For many years, unfortunately, the Iranians were not interested in stopping their terrorism. They wanted to continue it, and they continue it today as we speak.”
EU stalwarts call for diplomacy and compromise
But former European Commission President Romano Prodi, whose job was to find compromises, said it’s high time a diplomatic was found in order to end the conflict.
“We are in such a horrible moment, you know, in which you have to exchange ideas, and you have to understand whether people, and let’s say leaders, are ready to compromise,” Prodi told Euronews. “Because after months of madness, compromise is the only thing to do.”
Another veteran of the European Commission said the war and its impact on Europe show the need for an EU with stronger foreign, defence and energy policies.
“Diplomacy is the only way to follow in the future, but unfortunately, things are not like this for the moment,” said Dimitris Avramopoulos, former EU migration commissioner. “Unfortunately, power is above diplomacy for the moment. And this is a very negative development. It’s as if we have not learned from the mistakes committed in the past,” added Avramopoulos, who also used to be Greece’s defence as well as foreign minister.
“If this crisis continues, we are going to have more waves of migrants or refugees towards Europe, because Europe remains a safe destination,” Avramapoulos, a member of the forum’s board, told Euronews. “And I don’t know whether Europe is prepared to accept a new wave of migration for the moment.“
