Every year August 24-31 is observed as Government Week in Iran to mark the martyrdom anniversaries of the late president Mohammad Ali Rajaie and his prime minister Mohmmad Javad Bahonar, who were killed by a bomb planted by the terrorist Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) at the prime minister's office in Tehran on August 30, 1981.

Government Week provides a good opportunity for political experts in the areas of domestic and international affairs to make critical comments on the performance of the Iranian cabinet.

Accordingly, the TEHRAN TIMES will seek the opinions of several state officials in that direction.

In today's interview, the TEHRAN TIMES will be examining the performance of President Khatami's administration in the area of foreign policy in an interview with a member of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Mohammad Kianoush-Rad.

Q: Mr. Kianoush-Rad, how do you evaluate the performance of President Khatami's administration in the area of foreign policy? A: Although the administration should have adopted more creativity and boldness in developing its foreign policy, its performance in that area has so far been positive. Such creativity and boldness certainly could have helped the administration solve the problems created by the misunderstandings regarding Iran's stances on world issues.

Iran's foreign policy is seriously affected by the conditions prevailing in the country and the decisions made by internal political camps. The same self-centered and unchecked approaches that are practiced to undermine the performance of the administration in running internal affairs influence Iran's foreign policy, which is a clear defiance of the independence of the administration and the Constitution.

Q: Has the administration ever been able to confront such self-centered practices? A: The stances adopted by the administration on international issues have greatly raised the status of the Islamic Republic in the eyes of world public opinion. These include Iran's position on Afghan developments, its condemnation of the Taleban militia and the Al-Qaeda terror network, and its prudence in abandoning measures that could be used as a subterfuge against the Islamic Republic by major world powers.

Iran needs to be bold and needs to be prepared to take risks in order to successfully participate in the global arena. The Islamic Republic should activate its diplomacy to present clear responses to resolve misunderstandings. The same diplomacy will certainly help Iran in its efforts to challenge the unilateral policies of the United States.

Q: It appears that President Mohammad Khatami's thoughts have taken the lead from Iran's foreign policy apparatus. What is your view? A: President Khatami's thoughts and ideals are different from the performance of Iran's foreign policy team, in that he has been far more active on world issues. Therefore, Iran's foreign policy apparatus must try to keep pace with Khatami's efforts to promote Iran's status in the international arena.

Khatami's initiative on Dialogue Among Civilizations is a modern approach in Iran's foreign policy that has so far made a significant contribution to decreasing tension between the Islamic Republic and other countries. However, it is regrettable to see that the foreign policy apparatus has failed to promote the idea at the international level, as it should. Iranian consulates and embassies throughout the world have a role to play in propagating and encouraging that idea.

Q: Some analysts of Iran's foreign policy maintain that the Islamic Republic has not successfully made use of the opportunities that later became threats. What is your opinion in that regard? A: There are two sides to the story of Iran's performance in the area of foreign policy. The performance of President Khatami's administration and that of the Iranian system of government.

Q: Are you trying to say that there is a dual system of making decisions in the area of Iran's foreign policy? A: The performance of the Islamic Republic regarding world issues does not manifest the decisions made by the foreign policy apparatus.

This is what has made the international community dubious in its relations with Iran. They seem to be confused about how to adjust their policies to meet Tehran's expectations.

I believe that the most fundamental measure that Iran's foreign policy apparatus must adopt now is to identify the decision-making processes and channels in order to send articulate messages to the world.

Iranian officials have to try to arrive at a concrete understanding of what is happening in the global arena. Furthermore, the decision-makers in the area of foreign policy seem to disagree on the principles of Iran's national interests. That is the reason why there is serious vacillation in determining Iran's national interests.

Iran's national interests regarding such issues as Palestine, the Caspian Sea, the three Persian Gulf islands of the Lesser and Greater Tunbs and Abu Musa, as well as the Afghanistan issue have not yet been realized as they should.

Q: How do you evaluate Iran's diplomacy in establishing ties with European states? A: Iran has so far been successful in that area, but President Khatami's administration needs to make more efforts in that direction.

Q: What is your opinion of Iran's performance in developing relations with its neighbors and other Middle Eastern states? A: One objective that Iran has consistently been pursuing since the 1979 Islamic Revolution is convincing the international community that Iran has never had any expansionist aspirations and will by no means interfere in the internal affairs of other nations. Even in light of the anticipated U.S. attacks on Iraq, the Islamic Republic has never attempted to use the situation to take advantage of its western neighbor.

Iran's foreign policy is based on mutual respect and good-neighborly relations. However, there have been certain deficiencies in Iran's efforts to expand ties with other countries. But now the role world powers play in determining the policies of Iran's neighbors must be taken into consideration.

On the other hand, officials must remember that Iran's relations with other countries will never improve unless we drop certain stances blocking such efforts. However, this should never mean that Iran would abandon the basic values and ideals of the Islamic Revolution.

Iranian officials must take into consideration the fact that world powers have a direct influence on the policies of certain neighboring states.

Therefore, Tehran must direct efforts in the area of foreign policy to harmonize relations with other countries with a view to securing its national interests.