Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today Iran gave cultural and spiritual support to Lebanon but sidestepped questions about whether Tehran would obey the arms embargo imposed on Hezbollah in Security Council Resolution 1701. He told the press in a wide-ranging news conference that Lebanon had to manage its own affairs and "we don't interfere." You can read the full translated text of the Ahmadinejad press conference below the fold.
"We give spiritual support to all those who want to uphold their rights because... all nations have the right to defend themselves," Ahmadinejad said. "When we support nations it is a spiritual and cultural support."
As reporters continued to press him, Ahmadinejad said that Iran supports "the peace and permanent stability in Lebanon... and we will fall short of no measure in promoting this goal, whether in culture or spiritual support... or in the role we can play in the international arena."
Israeli Deputy PM Shimon Peres told reporters at another gathering: "We wish and expect that the Lebanese government will govern Lebanon, that Lebanon will remain Lebanese and not Iranian... One should tell the president of Iran -- show us that you can run a country without starvation, without unemployment,without discrimination, without hate and then you will come and run the rest of the world."
PRESS CONFERENCE WITH MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, THE PRESIDENT OF IRAN
UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
11:30 A.M. EDT, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2006(Note: The president's remarks are provided through interpreter.)
PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful. (Pause in interpretation while the president recites verses from the Koran.)
I thank God, the almighty God, for giving me an opportunity to meet with my friends once again and to speak about the important world affairs we face today.
At the outset, I'd like to seize the opportunity to thank the people of New York, the New York police and the security forces here for all their efforts. I know it is not easy when world leaders arrive in New York. The regular life of New York City is disrupted. The movements with cars around the streets and with the convoys leads people to stand behind traffic, and at times they even have to wait before being able to cross the green light on the street. So on my part, I'd like to apologize to the people of New York and thank them for accepting us.
And I was hoping that on this trip I would have an opportunity to meet with people here in New York, to talk with them face to face, to speak with them and meet with them on the streets closely, to see them all and for them to see me and hear what we have to say. But regretfully the pressure of our work program and the current conditions that we face when we travel here has not allowed me to do that. But I do hope in the future there will be an opportunity.
People in the United States, like all people around the world, are highly respected by us. They are good willing people who seek justice. They care and understand the fate of humanity is important, and there are many people here who care. Many people in the United States believe in God and believe in justice.
At the U.N. General Assembly, I raised a new point after covering problems facing mankind today and just sort of reviewing them, talking about some conflicts and wars and the problems we face and the atmosphere of threat we face. I tried to touch on some of the root causes of our problems. Some root causes of today's problems facing humanity have to do with the international system, a system that has remained with us since World War II, emanating from the concept of a group of victors emerging from a world war and ruling the world.
But that is an old system, because it leads some to believe that they have more rights to rule the affairs of the world than others, to run world affairs, and as a result, justice is hurt. As long as this system prevails in the world, it is not possible for all humanity to taste freedom in the full sense of the word, as well as justice in the full sense of the word.
When we look at the Security Council, we see that some members of the council are, in fact, only one party -- are one party to many conflicts in the world, they are involved, in fact, in many conflicts around the world. They have had a direct -- they are a direct party to many conflicts and have created them. Nonetheless, they sit in judgment of world affairs at the Security Council when they are party to the conflict themselves.
We think and feel that the system must change. We believe that all nations should enjoy equal rights, for all human beings should be respected, all nations must be respected. All have the right to a dignified life and to enjoy justice, and more importantly, perhaps, to enjoy peace and tranquility. International organizations must, therefore, pave the way so that -- and lead the way so that all nations can, without any pressure or imposition of political or economic nature, to defend their rights and feel that they're able to do so.
The world system must be able to absorb the confidence and the trust of all nations around the globe in order to implement and enforce justice in the best manner. Regretfully, there is great mistrust among the nations and people today because they feel they are unable to find and achieve their rights through international fora.
We must find a solution, for 60 years of past failed experience is perhaps enough. The world conditions have changed. Many governments and groups that had no role in World War II, regretfully are impacted by the consequences of World War II to this day. They were dominated by other groups, their rights were ignored and repressed. We, therefore, must strive to achieve a world filled with peace and freedom and brotherhood and humanity and justice. And for that, again, I emphasize that we do need justice, for justice creates love, and justice guarantees viable security, and justice paves the way for permanent stability.
This is what I'd like to say to you. And I hope that all those involved will be able to respect justice, to submit to justice, and to make every effort to help realize justice because it will benefit all. Those who seek justice are more -- have more followers, are loved more then, therefore, can guarantee their long-term interests more.
Therefore, it's clear that all humanity seeks justice throughout the world from the saddest -- most saddened corners of the world. Whether in South America to the eastern corners of the world, in the Pacific to the west and north, everyone wants justice. In Africa, over 52 countries are in search of justice as well as in Asia and in Europe, in Northern America too.
It is therefore incumbent upon world leaders to move hand in hand to help lead nations towards justice, a true and complete justice, and I believe the media have a very important to play in this respect -- for media upholds the rights of the people, for media supports peace and security as well as stability, and therefore, media must call for peace and justice, for justice will benefit everyone. Nobody, except people who are selfish, will benefit from injustice. The vast number of human beings in the world by nature seek justice.
I hope that in the very near future we will bear witness to the establishment of a true sense of justice in the international system, along which we will be followed by peace and love and permanent peace in the world.
(Speaks in Farsi.) Thank you.
STAFF: It is the common practice in this house the first question goes to the president of the U.N. Correspondents Association.
You have the floor, Masseur.
Q Your Excellency, allow me to welcome you on behalf of United Nations Correspondents Association. I want my -- my question to you will be in the form that you are one of the most highest profile leaders who are here at the United States now at this point in time, and there are concerns, as you know, about Iran's nuclear program. And they want to -- they believe that they -- the Western powers believe that you are at a threshold of creating a bomb which you have denied time and again.
And in the fact that you talk about justice and fairness to everybody, what is it that you can do at one point in time to assure the international community completely and totally that this will not be the case, that you will not make a nuclear bomb and that you reach it -- Iran, the country which is for justice and everything will not seek to destroy any country, including Israel.
That is what is the perception which has to be corrected, and I think it's very important that you tell the world community that this is what it is.
Thank you.
PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: Thank you very much.
In addition to being -- to speaking on behalf of the press here in the United Nations, I'm sure that you raise a question on the minds of many here. The authorities in the United States, I believe, are aware that Iran's nuclear issue is a political one with no legal background. For 27 years, United States government officials have hostile with the Iranian government and by default against the development of our country.
For 27 years, spare parts or even passenger airplanes have been denied to us. These will have no military uses, but nonetheless, we've been denied even such technology.
So it seems to us that the question is political. Let us remember that for eight years, the United States supported an aggressor to attack Iran. We had just freed ourselves from a dictator who depended on the United States, who was violent towards his own people, who put down regular demonstrations and used guns to silence people. We did not have any elections in his time. Our officials and authorities were chosen in other corners besides popular corners, and people rose to establish a republic, to introduce freedom and democracy.
We expected that the United States government would support the initiatives taken by the Iranian people. But from day one, hostilities arose. There were, of course, acts of terror. There were confrontations in our country, and we have been under siege, including an economic sanction, from the first day of our revolution, almost -- almost from 1979 -- even before our government institutions were able to shape, we were in the initial stages of drafting a constitution, having parliamentary elections -- we were placed under sanctions. And not only that, this has continued for 27 years under various pretexts.
Today the pretext happens to be the nuclear issue. We have been for many years a member of the IAEA. We have been a signatory. We are a signatory to the NPT, and we've demonstrated a largest volume of cooperation with the IAEA. Iran has provided the IAEA the largest number of documents that any country has ever given -- even in the past several years, all the works that we have done. We have also seen that the IAEA has published many reports, numerous reports saying that they do not see any violation of the treaty requirements of NPT by the Iranian government.
So when we talk about concerns about Iran's nuclear issue, I want to say that it's not the nuclear bomb that the American government is afraid of, for there are countries in our region who are armed with a nuclear bomb, and they're supported, by chance, by the United States government. Now, how is this? In Iran, we say you -- there are two skies over one ceiling, or two kinds of wind running over the same ceiling. It doesn't seem plausible. They are not concerned about the bomb. But it seems to us they like to prevent the development of our country, as they have in the past.
We were ready for a dialogue. However, some countries believe that they can speak for the entire world community. Let us recall that in a declaration that was very transparent, 180 member states of the non-coalition movement recognized Iran's right to nuclear technology. I am at a loss in understanding what else we need to do to provide guarantees.
I have said to the dear gentleman here that there is no provision in the NPT that says that we do not have the -- that perhaps says that we need the vote or the confidence of the U.S. government to have peaceful nuclear technology. There's no such provision. Especially coming from a country that not only has an immense nuclear arsenal, but is developing new nuclear bombs -- the second, third generation -- that are even more frightening than previous nuclear bombs, and that is even today supporting countries that produce nuclear bombs.
Now, this to us seems that it should be of more concern. If we consider and accept that there is a logic behind what we are saying, too, then we have to also ask the right questions. Should Iran shut down every technological development in the biological field, in the medical field and in the chemical field? Because in any of these fields there is a possibility of a dual usage or possibly a chemical bomb.
So when we speak of justice, we mean that everyone is equal, when we act within the framework of international law and we follow the provisions of NPT.
Now, if the U.S. government submits a report, as a member of an NPT, I would like to ask, what have they done to destroy their nuclear weapons? To what extent? Where are these weapons, and who inspects their weapons program? They, too, need to submit a report. And it's also important for the IAEA to also publicize the extent of work they've done in Iran, for example, versus what they've done elsewhere, let's say the United States.
We've acted in a very transparent manner. I've even invited journalists and members of the press to visit our nuclear facilities with me. I opened the doors and let them see what we do. So it's very important to make the nuclear facilities program a transparent one, for it is a technology for development and growth. It should be used for agricultural growth as well as growth in other industries. There's no need to hide such development.
Those who seek to violate the provisions of the Non-Proliferation Treaty or nonproliferation international program are those who hide it, but we've actually given information to the IAEA. We've invited international world community to visit our facilities.
Now, we are told by some that you have to gain our trust and confidence, but we don't have any criteria developed for confidence- building as such. It may take a hundred years or more for you to gain confidence in what we do. What are we supposed to do given the context, then, in the past 27 years have demonstrated so much hostility towards our nation -- well, and let us not forget, you are just a few countries talking like that with us.
Our logic is quite clear and simple. I think everybody understands what we're saying. We say that nuclear fuel cycle for peaceful purposes -- granted, if it's a good thing -- should be good for everyone. I mean, if it's a bad act, it should be bad for everyone -- it should be bad for everyone.
Throughout our history our country has not taken away the rights of any other country, has not initiated war against any other country, has not been an aggressor, has had no territorial claims over other countries.
We love all nations and countries. Last year, let us recall, when the Katrina happened, my administration announced readiness to dispatch relief aid to the victims of Katrina. We suffered from the pain that the victims of Katrina suffered when we saw bodies floating on waters, when we saw homeless people, we felt that we need to help.
This comes, might I say, from our religion, but also from our culture, from our beliefs. We believe in peace everywhere. And so when we speak of Palestine, it's because we don't want to see war there. We don't want a continuation of displacement and death and destruction, the destruction of homes, the death of young people on their way to school or from school to home. We want people to feel safe and secure and not fear imprisonment.
So our proposals on Palestine are quite clear. We have proposed a referendum. We've had enough of an experience over 60 years, all failed, tens and tens of solutions, simply because they did not give justice to all sides. Justice means allowing as well the Palestinian people to decide over its own fate. It is a right they must enjoy. It is the right of all human beings. Why should some people do not recognize such rights for the Palestinian people directly? It seems to me that it's the Palestinian nation that would be convenient if it is wiped off the map of the world. Why should a nation be destroyed as such? They are human beings, they have children, women, daughters, men. They care for each other. They're human beings who have been living in that homeland for many years. They have been displaced, though.
On the other hand, there has been an effort to bring others from all over the world to place in that territory. Now, this is unprecedented in world history. Where in the U.N. Charter is this allowable and permissible? Is there a law that endorses -- not so much permissible, but a law that endorses the displacement of a whole nation and its replacement by another group, and the establishment of a state by the second group to rule the fate of the first group?
Now, even if Ahmadinejad, even if I as a person would keep my silence, do you think that such injustice will go unnoticed, such aggression will go unnoticed? This is a wrong assumption to make because nations are awake and they move forward, nations will reawaken, and they have already, might I say. So it's wrong to think that this is a problem with me, with Ahmadinejad as a humble person. No, it is a question of our humanity. You're facing public voices in Venezuela, in Argentina, in Brazil, in Sudan, in South Africa, in China, Indonesia, Japan and China, all across the world people are upset by the aggression committed there.
Let us recall what happened recently in Lebanon. No matter what religion or belief people belonged to, they condemned what happened in Lebanon, because people are more aware.
Even yesterday, in New York, we saw that after a few days of heavy propaganda in the media -- there were even ads as long as a whole page -- a hundred people, maybe, more or less, gathered -- support, perhaps, with their Zionist agenda. And their buses were all the same. It seems they had rented buses to all come here together, or maybe these buses were -- I mean, I don't even know if, you know, were these people paid.
But what I do want to say is that there are hundreds of millions of other people around the world who spend their own money to gather, demonstrate, publish and raise awareness about the aggression that happens in Palestine and condemn those acts.
Now, some people think if they accuse me as being a terrorist, as a murder, as being anti-Jew, that they can solve the problem that is in Palestine. No, I'm not anti-Jew. Jews are respected by everyone, like all human beings, and I respect them very much.
Let us remember that in Palestine there are Muslims, Christians and Jews who live together. We speak of the Palestinian nation, of a people all in all, embracing everyone. I never have said the Muslims in Palestine alone should decide about their fate. They used to live freely together. But ever since the arrival of the British, with the imperialistic goals they had, and then the arrival of the Zionist system of thinking into that land, the problems were created.
So why not let the people there decide for themselves? And then let's see what happens. Let's give that a chance.
STAFF: (Off mike.)
Q Yeah. Thank you, Mr. President. Eric Shawn of Fox News. For 18 years your country hid its nuclear program, until it was revealed by a dissident. The IAEA says there are still many questions left with your nuclear program. Mr. President, why should anyone trust what you say?
PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: Well, I believe that we need to put this in context. For over 27 years, we feel under attack, and the U.S. government calls us a terrorist.
Now let us recall that a large number of our government officials were assassinated by a group who are recognized as a terrorist here but nonetheless get to walk in the U.S. Congress and lobby against the Iranian government. Many of my own friends lost their lives walking on the streets in Tehran with their wives and children. They were assassinated by these same terrorists that you're referring to, and they, let us recall, were then later supported by the U.S. government.
We have not hidden anything. We are working transparently. We are working within the framework of the NPT. And according to NPT provisions, every country has the right to enjoy the fuel cycle.
Six months before giving UF6 to centrifuge machine, we have to inform the agency. We've even taken that step to inform them when uranium enrichment occurs, when the activity is happening, six months in advance, according to provisions.
It's interesting that American officials should say that we're hiding things. Now, let us see; will the American groups or government allow the press to come and visit their nuclear facilities, their nuclear weapons arsenals?
We've opened everything for everyone to see. If you come to Iran, you can go and see it for yourself. It's actually an open area. Students go and visit it. Teachers do. University professors go and see it. Even the people who work in the forest or even people who graze their sheep there. I'm talking about villagers. People go and visit there. They know where everything is.
The bottom line is we do not need a bomb, unlike what others think. Regretfully, some believe that the nuclear bomb can be effective in international relations. They're wrong, because the time for nuclear bombs has ended. We know that. These nuclear arsenals will not benefit anyone. We have to spend -- they have to spend, so to say, (so to say ?), so much money destroying them.
If the nuclear bomb could have saved anyone, it would have prevented the collapse of the Soviet Union. If the nuclear bomb could have created security, it would have prevented, perhaps, September 11. If the nuclear bomb could have done anything, it could have, perhaps, stopped the Palestinian intifada.
Today is a time of thought and ideas. We know that and we've felt that across the world. And let me say that at the same time, we are Muslim, and based on a decree given by the leader of the Islamic Republic, moving towards having a nuclear bomb is banned and forbidden. Therefore, no one has the right to move in this direction. In our country it is not permissible.
Now, let me say again I believe this all is a political issue. At least the politicians know it is, and of course, they have an outlet to speak their view as well.
STAFF: (Inaudible) -- please, Lebanon.
Q (Name inaudible) -- Beirut. Mr. President, we all know how important your role is in Lebanon and Syria and in the Middle East. Will you be ready to press the Hezbollah to disarm in order to get peace in Lebanon?
PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: Iran is a large and powerful country. Its spiritual influence in the world is very effective. Naturally, given the long civilization of the country, we have an impact on the region.
I'd like to stress that Lebanon's internal affairs is its own affairs. We don't interfere in its affairs. We don't want to because we believe the people in Lebanon, various groups in Lebanon, are strong enough to discuss issues among themselves and resolve problems with each other. We speak at an international level. We like to fix problems at an international level and do not involve ourselves, and would not like to, in internal affairs.
Q On Lebanon, I'm not sure I understood precisely your answer. Are you going to respect the resolution and not shift any weapons to Hezbollah, which you support?
And on Iran, could you give us any details on your meeting with Italian leader Prodi and whether you've come to any kind of an agreement with the EU-3 on timing?
PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: I responded to the first part of your question. We give spiritual support to all those who want to uphold their rights because, even according to the U.N. Charter, we believe that all countries have the right to legitimately defend themselves. When we support nations, it's a spiritual and cultural support. That is our position, and it is a clear position.
As far as the meeting with the Italian leader is concerned, it was a very good meeting. We both spoke about our viewpoints. Our relations with Italy are a very long and historical one that are also expanding and growing. We are interested, I would like to say, to have relations with all countries based on the framework of international law, including mutual respect, friendship ties. And Italy is a country that we are interested in having such relations with.
We know that in one session alone you cannot arrive at all forms of agreement, but the Italian and Iranian authorities are meeting on all levels, and we are interested in expanding relations on regional issues, as well as on international issues.
Q Delah Ramaz (ph), al-Haya (ph).
Mr. President -- Mr. President, I -- yes, Mr. President, I understand the importance of the spiritual support that you have just spoken about towards Hezbollah and others, but there is a resolution called 1701 and there is demand of countries to respect an arms embargo to anyone in Lebanon other than the legitimate government. You have twice evaded saying clearly whether you plan to respect -- (audio break) -- implemented. So can you kindly be forward and say will you stop giving Hezbollah arms? And will you implement that draft -- that resolution? And do you support, by the way, like you did last year, the tribunal of an international character for the assassinations in Lebanon, including the assassination of Prime Minister Hariri, and which the president of France called a crime against humanity?
Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: Thank you very much.
Are you a representative of the U.N. amidst things? (Laughs.) I mean, you are definitely very powerful in making sure that the resolutions here are enforced.
Well -- or are you against Hezbollah?
Q (Off mike) -- a resolution that clearly demands of all countries to stop armament to any party in Lebanon other than the legitimate government.
PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: Thank you very much.
Yes, we support actually peace and permanent stability in Lebanon, and we will fall short of no measure in promoting this goal. Whether it's in the cultural or spiritual support that we can render or whether it is the role that we can play in the international arena, we will do our best.
And this is the fundamental principle of our foreign policy, and it does not preclude Lebanon.
Q (Name off mike) -- Le Monde. The French president, Jacques Chirac, when he was here, offered for the EU-3 to resume negotiations with Iran, provided there are two goodwill gestures from each side; he would stop for the EU-3 requesting sanctions, and for Iran, which would be a suspension of uranium enrichment. What's your answer to that proposal?
PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: As far as the nuclear issue is concerned, we have carefully examined the package given to us by the EU-3, by the European group. Some expected us to actually turn it down right away. But given the recommendation by the U.N. Security Council, we were determined to read it carefully, to give an appropriate answer. And for the period that we were examining it, regretfully a resolution was passed. We didn't understand and couldn't understand why a resolution was passed in the midst of an examination of a package. We think it was probably under pressure by some powers who constantly want to place pressure on countries.
The secretary-general told me to disregard what has happened for the time being; resort to diplomacy, and please write a response to the package. In our response, we delineated a clear framework for the continuation of negotiations based on a legal framework, as well as on the principle of justice. We maintain that that is a very good foundation for working together.
Mr. Chirac also proposed that we'll talk until we arrive at a negotiation level. We are talking, and we accept that. And negotiations, let us remember, needs a framework, and we need to know who the parties to the negotiation are, and what the prerogatives and the responsibilities of each party are, and what guarantees there are on enforcement measures. You see, we have some bitter experiences from the past. We've talked on numerous occasions, we've been given promises on numerous occasions but the promises fell short of happening. We even had and have had nuclear agreements with the United States that were unilaterally abrogated and put down. We have had similar agreements with Canada, with Europe, other places, that were unilaterally abrogated.
And so therefore, we decided to propose a framework within our legal responsibilities, under international law, so we know what that framework is for negotiations, so that it is clear who will support the decisions taken as a result.
You are quite aware that over 30 years ago, we did have agreement to build the Busherh reactor facility. However, the parties to the agreement, which were the Europeans, unilaterally decided to disregard the agreement, and so the Busherh reactor remains suspended.
Its operations for completion have not gone through.
We have the right to criticize governments for falling short of rendering their side of their agreement. We want guarantees. So we have, therefore, offered a framework, and we are negotiating within that framework. And we believe that those negotiations are moving on the right path. Unless -- hopefully others will not disrupt the work in small ways perhaps. We think that it is a constructive path to take.
Q (Affiliation inaudible.) (Through interpreter.) Mr. President, since the president of the United States has not responded to your letter, what is your message to the American people?
PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: Our response is clear. We believe that all nations have the right to live in a dignified manner, and we believe that the American nation is a great nation. We've never had problems with the American people. The problem comes from the American government directed towards the people of Iran, really. Our people don't have any problem with the American people because our people too seek justice and peace, just as people in the United States do.
We ask for peace around the world, but we also stand up when there is tyranny against us, when there is oppression, when people like to force their will on us. So to say -- we won't submit to that, never, and we like people here to understand that.
Q Mr. President -- (name inaudible) -- Channel 10. Yesterday, I approached you and asked you a question, and after you found out that I'm an Israeli reporter, you ignored me. I want you to know I'm an authentic Palestinian Jew. My family arrived to this area in 1882 when the Turks ruled this area. So I think I deserve an answer from you, even according to your definitions.
One thing, can you clarify once and for all, do you seek the destruction of Israel or don't you seek the destruction of Israel?
PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: We love everyone around the world -- Jews, Christians, Muslims, non-Muslims, non-Jews, non-Christians. We have no problem with people. What we object to are acts that are inappropriate against us or acts of occupation, of aggression, of violence, of displacement, of nations. We have no problem with regular people. We have no problem. Everyone we respect. Everyone should enjoy their legitimate rights.
But again, I repeat that we oppose -- (audio break) -- and murder, and we say that loudly.
STAFF: (Audio break) -- and Financial Times afterward.
Q Yes. Mr. President, Frank Usiardo (sp) from CBS News over here. Good morning, sir. Question: You're talking about negotiations. First of all, at what point during the negotiations do you foresee suspending enrichment of uranium?
And you talked about guarantees just before that. What kind of security guarantees are looking for in the negotiations?
PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: We are not talking of getting security measures. We are able to protect ourselves and our security. The experience of the eight-year war should have shown that to everyone in the world. You know, the world powers were behind Saddam. Our country was fighting with empty -- with no real arms, but it was the power of our young people that upheld the territorial integrity of Iran.
What we speak of are guarantees of enforcement of the provisions agreed upon, where we, for example, as I gave the example, had agreements in the past to -- nuclear agreements for peaceful purposes, building reactors, et cetera. Not only were those neglected, but they also neglected agreements to provide, say, helicopters to us, to provide spare parts for civilian aircraft to us. So we want to make sure that whatever we agree on has a guarantee of enforcement.
But speaking about suspension, our position on suspension is very clear. In the package given to the Europeans, we've discussed that. We have said that under fair conditions and just conditions we will negotiate about it -- under fair and just conditions, I repeat.
Thank you.
We'll tell you when the time arrives. We will inform everyone when the time arrives.
STAFF: Raise your hand, please.
Q Sure.
STAFF: Go on, please. Go on, go on, go on.
Q Shall I? Okay. Sure. Mr. President, you and President Chavez did not really address the concerns of your own citizens in the speeches you gave at the General Assembly. Both of you primarily expressed your anger at the United States and American hegemony.
Since you just visited Venezuela and both of your countries are large oil producers and members of the OPEC, is this the new close relationship an alliance between Iran and Venezuela, as well as the speeches you gave, a type of alarm for the energy industry and a threat to the United States?
PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: No, not at all. We do not seek to represent a threat to any country. We have relations with all countries, you must know, and we like to have friendly relations with all, you must know.
I'd like to point out here that despite the support of the American government of a former dictatorial regime in our country, after the victory of the revolution, the late Ayatollah Khomeini said that beside two countries that we consider are illegitimate is the apartheid system of South Africa first, and the occupying regime of Jerusalem. We like to have friendly relations with all countries. Our Imam and our people were saddened, but yet forgot the support of the United States, gracefully, of the former regime in Iran, because we have practically sought good relations with everyone, and we still do.
Venezuela, let us not forget, is a large country with sincere people, with great people, with an independent government, let us not forget, and we must have relations, just as we have relations with India, with Pakistan, with Algeria, with 195 countries in the world. We have relations that are sincere and friendly and close. While the United States, let us not forget, cut its ties with us unilaterally. They look at us with hostility in a very unilateral way. If they change towards us, there too we can solve our problems. The expansion of our ties with the rest of the world is based on the interests of nations and people towards the promotion of peace and justice worldwide.
STAFF: Financial Times.
Q (Through interpreter.) (Off mike) -- correspondent for Financial Times (in Iranian ?), based in Tehran. I happen to be here by accident. The question I have, you speak of the -- you suspended enrichment as a precondition. Is it really possible for Iran to suspend -- consider suspending enrichment once negotiations begin, so to say in the process of negotiations? And if you give a positive answer to this, will the leaders support that or not?
PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: No, no, no. It seems you actually managed to get two questions in the form of one here.
You see, our position is very clear. We work within the framework of the NPT. We seek to find our rights within that framework and nothing more. I don't quite see why so many people are so sensitive about the "enrichment" word. It seems that this enrichment word has become the sort of lingua franca of our time and day.
But let's see, it looks to me that the problem is something else. It seems to me again that the United States government and some European countries should make some changes and alterations in the way they treat the Iranian government and -- (off mike). You see, they can't look at our nation as they have in the past 27 years, sort of trying to impose their views on us because that's not possible. But if they recognize that we, too, as a nation have rights; that they, too, recognize international law, well then, many things are possible, and the concerns, too, will be removed.
Again, we have given another suggestion too. Since they have bombs themselves, they know what bombs are, they're actually more afraid of it, I think. They should destroy their arsenal and I think they'll be less fearful about it and they'll be less suspicious of others.
STAFF: (Off mike) -- we'll go with Indian media there --
Q India --
STAFF: -- and then Irish Times. Please.
Q Okay. Thank you, Mr. President. India's always maintained it has a civilizational relationship with Iran. But at the same time, it does not want to see another country in the region develop a nuclear weapon, and it's urging Iran not to produce a nuclear weapon.
What do you think of this position, also given India's blossoming nuclear relationship with the United States, your archrival right now?
PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: Well, their suggestion is a good one, because we are not seeking the nuclear bomb. I mean, that's quite clear.
Q Your Excellency, I'm not a speaker of Farsi, but there is a debates going on as to what exactly you said at the conference on the World without Zionism. Did you say that Israel, as a state, should be wiped off the map? Or did you say that -- did you say something else? Could you just please specify this, because there is this debate going on.
And if you said Israel should be wiped off the map, that's very scary. If you said something else, perhaps more -- less alarming, perhaps you could tell us.
PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: It's very -- it's quite interesting. I mean, it seems to me that there's a strong Zionist lobby. And it seems to me that I face this question wherever I go, and I have always been ready to answer.
But what I have to say -- we -- no, I am not at all saying that you are a Zionist lobbyist, sir. I'm just saying that wherever I go, I face questions like this.
But I like to say that we are opposed to aggression, we are opposed to occupation, we are opposed to murder and violence, whoever commits them -- does not matter -- whoever is an aggressor, whoever who is the source for displacement or is a murderer. I mean, I'm talking about aggression and occupation as an abhorrent act, wherever it occurs, whether in Palestine that is occupied, whether in Lebanon, in Vietnam, in Iraq. We oppose the -- we support -- we oppose killing on such scale.
And you know, we have tried to offer some proposals on Palestine, the referendum that I discussed earlier, with the participation of everyone.
Now, when you speak of referendum, you're thinking of a process, naturally; you're not speaking of, you know, anything else. It's within the framework of the United Nations Charter. We do believe that the Zionist role in creating conflicts and around the world should be fairly examined by the media. It is a responsibility. Let's not forget that they represent a complex group, a complex organizational system that has been the source of many problems.
Now, we cannot force our will on the vast part of the world, because there is a small group that has a certain interest related to wealth and power. Let's not forget that Zionism is a party that in fact has no religious affiliations. They might say that -- "Well, we're Jews" -- but that's really not true, and that's not the fundamental foundation of Zionism.
And let's not forget that after all, the Prophet Moses was a supporter of peace, was a supporter of justice. He opposed aggression and occupation and he opposed war and the displacement of people. He saved the children of Israel, (B'nai ?) Israel, from the pharaohs of the time, from occupiers, from aggressors of the time, so how can the followers of Moses possibly destroy the homes of people, over their heads, in their homeland; to take and to kill, actually, an infant that is feeding in the arms of a mother?
These Zionists, I want to tell you, are not Jews. That's the biggest deception we've ever faced. Zionists are Zionists, period. But they are not Jews, they are not Christians and they are not Muslims. They are a power group, a power party.
And we oppose the oppression and the aggression that any party that seeks pure power, raw power, goes after. And we announce and declare loudly that if you support that, you'll be condemned by the rest of the world. If you usurp the rights of others, you'll be condemned by the rest of the world. If you displace people from their homeland, the rest of the world will condemn you.
And you, too, must condemn these acts. Everyone should. As a conscience voice we must. Would you like to be displaced from your homeland and replaced by others; and when you raise objections, to be named a terrorist? I really doubt that anyone in the world would like that. So this is an imposition on humanity.
It seems our time is over. But I'd like to --
Q (Through interpreter.) I am Vasil Mosani (ph) from Voice of America. In your remarks, you have mentioned that the leaders and presidents of the world should turn to justice and enforce justice. You are the president of Iran and you have the opportunity to enforce justice. Reports coming from Iran seem to indicate that student movements are being repressed, that justice is not being served for the followers of the Bahai faith, as well as for women who object to the Islamic laws that discriminate against them. And this justice that you speak of in the political realm does not exist. So why are you against that justice?
Thank you.
PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: Thank you very much. In a meeting we had with the Foreign Affairs Council last night, it seemed to me that this is the main question on the mind of many people. I want to give you three figures. There are about 290 million people in the United States, and in Iran we have about 68 million people. Now, there are about 3 million prisoners in the United States. There are about 130 -- there are exactly 130,000 prisoners in Iran, 90 percent of whom are illicit drug traffickers who have been arrested in direct armed conflict with our security forces who will try to prevent the transit of drugs from Iran into Europe and the United States.
Now, let's find out -- and I think you should -- what the composition of the backgrounds of prisoners in the United States is. I asked this question yesterday, but nobody had an answer. Now, let's see, a high percent of American people are in prison, whereas only 0.2 percent of the Iranian population is in prison. Let's just put these figures in proportion.
Now, you know, I like to speak of law as a framework. If you violate a traffic regulation, you will be -- (word inaudible) -- by law. If not, there will be no rule of law. Now, we do have a law in our country, we have a judiciary system, and in fact, our courts are quite independent because the president does not have the right by law to interfere in the judgments of the judiciary. It, therefore, represents an independent power, an independent branch of government. We have a judiciary, we have lawyers, we have judges, we have trials. There are violations under law.
Now let me just clarify what the political situation in Iran is, and for you to understand better. There is a newspaper in Iran that is affiliated with the government and makes a voice supporting for government positions. Three months ago, they had a violation under law and they were shut down. The president could not do anything. Now, I mean, what happened there is really a concept of freedom, a dimension of freedom that we must examine, because if we are to allow insults to happen, if we allow violations of law to happen, then we are acting against justice, we're allowing those with power to tell others what to do. The courts are set up to defend the rights of the people. A citizen might raise a complaint against me; the judge must consider and examine that, and they might give a sentence against me and force me to leave office. This, to me, is the power given to our courts, and it's a dimension of freedom, it is a dimension of democracy that we've obtained. Now let us not forget that there is a possibility of failing to carry out law completely. It's everywhere. It's in our country was well. Sometimes an enforcement official may not carry out his duties in the right way. But we are all involved, we are all responsible, we have to tell people not to do that, we have to make our efforts. And everywhere in the world when you look, such things do happen, and in Iran too. But we believe that the freedom that we enjoy in Iran, and the kind of justice we enjoy in Iran today, is sort of self-grown, homegrown, and we made every effort to get to where we are, and we hope you respect that.
I thank you all. I know many of you had many questions. I am sorry that my time is limited. Our time is really tight. But if you coordinate with my friend, Mr. Zarif, "insha'Allah," I'll meet you in Tehran in the near future in a press conference. Thank you for your time.
END.
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