ID :
60111
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 13:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/60111
The shortlink copeid
Mottaki: Steps will be taken appropriate with US moves
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said here Monday night if Washington would take practical steps towards Iran proving that its policies have really been changed, we, too, would take new steps towards US government.
According to IRNA, the Information and Media Bureau of the IRI Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Mottaki made the comment in an interview with Bahrain’s Al-Bilad daily, confirming that change has definitely been observed in the US political literature.
He added, “That change in US political literature is comparable to the IRI President, Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s sending of a congratulation massage to the American people following the victory of the new US President, Mr. Obama.”
Mottaki reiterated, “In fact, ever since the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, back in the year 1979 this was the first time that such as message was sent by an IRI President to the United States.”
The foreign minister added, “We, too, have changed out literature towards the US President (Barack) Obama, compared to (our literature about) the former president of that country, George (W) Bush.”
In response to the question whether he believes the recent US signals regarding desire for direct talks with Iran are appropriate, or not, Mottaki reiterated, “The problems cannot be solved resorting to talking alone, since in order to resume direct talks between Tehran and Washington serious practical measures are needed.”
He added, “It is true that Mr. Barack Obama has resorted to adopting a new literature towards Iran, but it should not be limited to literature, since as I said the problems cannot be solved resorting merely to talking.”
Our country’s foreign minister in response to another question of Al-Bilad reporter on Turkey’s declared interest in participation in security regime of the Persian Gulf, and whether keeping in mind Turkey’s close stands to the PGCC that would be to the benefit of regional security, said, “Turkey is an Islamic country and one of the regional countries.”
He added, “Iran has during the course of the past yeas taken steps aimed at closer proximity with Turkey and there are on the other hand viewpoints of other regional countries regarding getting closer to Turkey; some countries have practical good ties with Turkey and we definitely welcome that approach.”
The reporter further asked how Iran evaluates proximity between Turkey and Syria. Mottaki said, “As I mentioned Turkey’s proximity with the regional countries is never a cause for concern for us, and we furthermore, welcome Turkey’s closeness to any of the regional countries, or with a cluster of them, such as the PCGG countries.”
The IRI Foreign Minster meanwhile rejected Al-Bilad reporter’s suggestion that recently we have been witnesses to a kind of tension between Iran and the group of countries known as moderate Arab countries; arguing, “I don’t think we can label as tension the currently observed status quo between Iran and those countries.”
He added, “We enjoy good relations with the Persian Gulf littoral countries and more generally speaking, with the entire Islamic countries, while our efforts have always been focused on further expansion of such ties with each and every one of them.”
The Iranian top diplomat added, “Emergence of some kinds of differences of opinion in relations among countries over adopting certain stand is quite natural, and if you would take a look at recent past, you will notice that when the Zionist regime resorted to military operations (in Gaza) there was difference of opinion among countries. (Also), when the Zionist regime invaded Lebanon in the year 2006 some Arab countries during the first weeks after that invasion adopted stands against us; they were not explicit stands of course, but after the clarification of issues, the same countries adopted good and positive stands towards us.”
He said, “The same attitude change was repeated during the course of the Gaza war.”
Mottaki added, “We notice that regarding the aggressions of that regime against Gaza Strip contradictory stands were openly adopted and some (countries) took practical steps aimed at weakening other countries, which we believe is a behavior that does not serve the interests of the Arab, or Islamic countries.”
He said, “We have noticeable capabilities in this region, but are all the same in need of unity, solidarity, and harmony among Arabic and Islamic countries.”
Regarding Tehran-Cairo relations, too, Mottaki said, “We believe Egypt enjoys a very significant status and plays an important role in the region; it is a country with an old, and rather ancient history, with a good and lovely nation. There are great literary personalities in Egypt; at any rate, it is not possible to ignore Egypt and marginalize it, because Egypt is in the center of the (regional) events and developments. That is the country that can be very influential in restoration of the denied rights of the Palestinian nation.”
He said, “From that point of the view, we believe we have shared interests with Egypt, while we are concerned about the prevailing status quo there. What worries us and Egypt alike though, is the existence of the Zionist regime that does not respect any agreement and has during the course of the past decades resorted to ugliest possible war crimes, such as occupation, state sponsored terrorism, and forced evacuation of Palestinians form their homes.”
Mottaki added, “Therefore, we cannot be supporting the entire proposed ways for strengthening the solidarity bonds among the Arab and Islamic countries.”
The Iranian foreign minister added, “Egypt is going to take the lead of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) in two months’ time and that is an important status with a great responsibility that goes together with it towards regional issues and crises.”
End
According to IRNA, the Information and Media Bureau of the IRI Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Mottaki made the comment in an interview with Bahrain’s Al-Bilad daily, confirming that change has definitely been observed in the US political literature.
He added, “That change in US political literature is comparable to the IRI President, Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s sending of a congratulation massage to the American people following the victory of the new US President, Mr. Obama.”
Mottaki reiterated, “In fact, ever since the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, back in the year 1979 this was the first time that such as message was sent by an IRI President to the United States.”
The foreign minister added, “We, too, have changed out literature towards the US President (Barack) Obama, compared to (our literature about) the former president of that country, George (W) Bush.”
In response to the question whether he believes the recent US signals regarding desire for direct talks with Iran are appropriate, or not, Mottaki reiterated, “The problems cannot be solved resorting to talking alone, since in order to resume direct talks between Tehran and Washington serious practical measures are needed.”
He added, “It is true that Mr. Barack Obama has resorted to adopting a new literature towards Iran, but it should not be limited to literature, since as I said the problems cannot be solved resorting merely to talking.”
Our country’s foreign minister in response to another question of Al-Bilad reporter on Turkey’s declared interest in participation in security regime of the Persian Gulf, and whether keeping in mind Turkey’s close stands to the PGCC that would be to the benefit of regional security, said, “Turkey is an Islamic country and one of the regional countries.”
He added, “Iran has during the course of the past yeas taken steps aimed at closer proximity with Turkey and there are on the other hand viewpoints of other regional countries regarding getting closer to Turkey; some countries have practical good ties with Turkey and we definitely welcome that approach.”
The reporter further asked how Iran evaluates proximity between Turkey and Syria. Mottaki said, “As I mentioned Turkey’s proximity with the regional countries is never a cause for concern for us, and we furthermore, welcome Turkey’s closeness to any of the regional countries, or with a cluster of them, such as the PCGG countries.”
The IRI Foreign Minster meanwhile rejected Al-Bilad reporter’s suggestion that recently we have been witnesses to a kind of tension between Iran and the group of countries known as moderate Arab countries; arguing, “I don’t think we can label as tension the currently observed status quo between Iran and those countries.”
He added, “We enjoy good relations with the Persian Gulf littoral countries and more generally speaking, with the entire Islamic countries, while our efforts have always been focused on further expansion of such ties with each and every one of them.”
The Iranian top diplomat added, “Emergence of some kinds of differences of opinion in relations among countries over adopting certain stand is quite natural, and if you would take a look at recent past, you will notice that when the Zionist regime resorted to military operations (in Gaza) there was difference of opinion among countries. (Also), when the Zionist regime invaded Lebanon in the year 2006 some Arab countries during the first weeks after that invasion adopted stands against us; they were not explicit stands of course, but after the clarification of issues, the same countries adopted good and positive stands towards us.”
He said, “The same attitude change was repeated during the course of the Gaza war.”
Mottaki added, “We notice that regarding the aggressions of that regime against Gaza Strip contradictory stands were openly adopted and some (countries) took practical steps aimed at weakening other countries, which we believe is a behavior that does not serve the interests of the Arab, or Islamic countries.”
He said, “We have noticeable capabilities in this region, but are all the same in need of unity, solidarity, and harmony among Arabic and Islamic countries.”
Regarding Tehran-Cairo relations, too, Mottaki said, “We believe Egypt enjoys a very significant status and plays an important role in the region; it is a country with an old, and rather ancient history, with a good and lovely nation. There are great literary personalities in Egypt; at any rate, it is not possible to ignore Egypt and marginalize it, because Egypt is in the center of the (regional) events and developments. That is the country that can be very influential in restoration of the denied rights of the Palestinian nation.”
He said, “From that point of the view, we believe we have shared interests with Egypt, while we are concerned about the prevailing status quo there. What worries us and Egypt alike though, is the existence of the Zionist regime that does not respect any agreement and has during the course of the past decades resorted to ugliest possible war crimes, such as occupation, state sponsored terrorism, and forced evacuation of Palestinians form their homes.”
Mottaki added, “Therefore, we cannot be supporting the entire proposed ways for strengthening the solidarity bonds among the Arab and Islamic countries.”
The Iranian foreign minister added, “Egypt is going to take the lead of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) in two months’ time and that is an important status with a great responsibility that goes together with it towards regional issues and crises.”
End
