Mottaki says Europe`s behavior led to continuation of Israeli crimes

Geneva, Mar 3, IRNA ?

Minister of Foreign Affairs criticized here Monday some European
countries? ignoring of ongoing realities in occupied Palestine,
arguing that this has led to continuation of Zionists? barbarous acts
against Palestinians.

According to dispatched IRNA reporter to Geneva, Mahnouchehr Mottaki
made the comment on the sidelines of the Monday session of the UN
Human Rights Conference in a meeting with the Deputy Norwegian Foreign
Minister, Raymond Johansen.
Referring to his former consultations with the Norwegian diplomat,
Mottaki said, ?During our former meetings we reached the conclusion
that the election of the popular Hamas government was the result of a
democratic election, and that that is inevitably a rational
conclusion, as it would always be.?
He said that Iran welcomes Norway?s independent approach towards
regional developments and that our country evaluates it as a positive
development, adding, ?The Islamic Republic of Iran also evaluates
achieving unity among Palestinian groups as a positive development.?
Mottaki reiterated, ?Serious efforts aimed at ending the siege of Gaza
is a real necessity today, as the Zionist regime by boldly rejecting
the international demand is in fact taking sides against the entire
world.
The Iranian foreign minister focusing on developments in Afghanistan,
said, ?We believe, increased extremism and growth of narcotic drugs
cultivation and trafficking are among the results of the wrong
policies pursued by Bush administration.?
Pointing out that under the current conditions, the approach of the
new US president regarding Afghanistan is still ambiguous, Mottaki
said, ?We think the situation in Afghanistan is quite fragile today.?
According to the report, the deputy Norwegian foreign minister, too,
referred to his country?s foreign minister?s recent visit of Gaza
Strip and his personal observation of the catastrophic conditions of
the Palestinians living there.
On Afghanistan developments, too, Johansen said, ?The US and NATO
policies in Afghanistan have not been harmonized and even the NATO
members? conduct there have not be jointly pursued, as each country is
now controlling a part of the country under its own flag.?
He added, ?The situation in Afghanistan is not satisfactory at all and
we fear lest the dimensions of insecurity would further expand.?
He said that Iran?s role in restoration of peace and security in
Afghanistan is truly significant, emphasizing, ?We appreciate the
humanitarian approaches adopted by Iran regarding the Afghan refuges
for so many years.?

End