ID :
32680
Thu, 11/27/2008 - 22:31
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/32680
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Iran`s Mashai says Iran would welcome Ahmadinejad-Obama talks
TOKYO, Nov. 27 Kyodo - Iranian Vice President Esfandiar Rahim Mashai said Thursday that Tehran would welcome talks between President Mahmud Ahmadinejad and U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, but stressed that such a meeting would only be realized on the prerequisite that it is held in an open manner and the contents are made public.
''Mr. Obama stands at a historically significant crossroads, but there are only
two paths for him -- one which leads to good results through 'change' as
promised in his slogan, the other with extremely grave consequences if he
continues the same policies as previous administrations,'' Mashai told Kyodo
News in an interview upon his arrival in Tokyo.
Mashai, a conservative hawk and close aide to Ahmadinejad, cited the Iranian
president as saying ''direct diplomacy is the best way to peace,'' but Mashai
added that Obama ''must distance himself from the stance (taken by Washington)
so far in order to implement change.''
Asked to comment on the anticipated impact of the change in U.S. administration
on ongoing multilateral negotiations over Iran's nuclear ambitions, the vice
president said it would ''all depend on what policies and stance'' Obama
adopts.
Mashai reiterated Tehran's claim that Iran has complied with the International
Atomic Energy Agency with regard to its nuclear development program and that
U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions against Iran are unfair.
The United States broke diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980 and has slapped
economic sanctions on the country.
During the presidential election campaign, Obama expressed his readiness to
meet the Iranian and North Korean leaders unconditionally. After he was
elected, Ahmadinejad sent Obama a congratulatory message expressing hope for a
change in U.S. policy and behavior in the Middle East.
Mashai, who is also head of the Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and
Tourism Organization, arrived in Tokyo on Thursday afternoon. He is scheduled
to meet Japanese officials including Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone during
his stay through Tuesday, an Iranian Embassy official said.
==Kyodo
''Mr. Obama stands at a historically significant crossroads, but there are only
two paths for him -- one which leads to good results through 'change' as
promised in his slogan, the other with extremely grave consequences if he
continues the same policies as previous administrations,'' Mashai told Kyodo
News in an interview upon his arrival in Tokyo.
Mashai, a conservative hawk and close aide to Ahmadinejad, cited the Iranian
president as saying ''direct diplomacy is the best way to peace,'' but Mashai
added that Obama ''must distance himself from the stance (taken by Washington)
so far in order to implement change.''
Asked to comment on the anticipated impact of the change in U.S. administration
on ongoing multilateral negotiations over Iran's nuclear ambitions, the vice
president said it would ''all depend on what policies and stance'' Obama
adopts.
Mashai reiterated Tehran's claim that Iran has complied with the International
Atomic Energy Agency with regard to its nuclear development program and that
U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions against Iran are unfair.
The United States broke diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980 and has slapped
economic sanctions on the country.
During the presidential election campaign, Obama expressed his readiness to
meet the Iranian and North Korean leaders unconditionally. After he was
elected, Ahmadinejad sent Obama a congratulatory message expressing hope for a
change in U.S. policy and behavior in the Middle East.
Mashai, who is also head of the Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and
Tourism Organization, arrived in Tokyo on Thursday afternoon. He is scheduled
to meet Japanese officials including Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone during
his stay through Tuesday, an Iranian Embassy official said.
==Kyodo
