By IRNA,
Tehran : Iran’s Foreign Minister said in response to a Martyr Beheshti University student’s question here Saturday Iran-Egypt relations issue is beyond sphere of changing a street’s name here, or there.
Manouchehr Mottaki reiterated that the issue of street names’ change has already been dealt with and finalized, adding, “Egypt is an important country, and since that country’s great nation have already asked for restoration of ties with Iran, our president in his visit of Abu Dhabi announced Tehran’s readiness for normalizing ties with Cairo, and it is therefore now Egypt’s turn to take a step in that regard.”
According to IRNA reporter, the head of Iran’s diplomacy apparatus said, “We meant to let the Egyptian nation know Iran’s stand about the matter.”
CREATION OF OPPORTUNITIES AT ECONOMIC FIELD
Mottaki said at the student gathering that one of the achievements of the country’s foreign diplomacy has been creating opportunities for the Iranians to have presence at international markets.
He reiterated that the possibility for Iranian firms’ presence in various parts of the world at a broader level was provided during the course of the past two and a half years.
IRAN’S SHARE OF THE CASPIAN SEA
Another student asked about Iran’s share of the Caspian Sea.
Mottaki replied, “The discussions on defining the border lines of each country in the sea does not mean dividing the sea into separate parts, since it is related merely to exploitation of the resources under the sea bed, which are mainly energy resources.”
Mottaki asked the audience to pardon him for not presenting figures and statistics till the end of the related negotiations, reiterating, “The viewpoint of the country’s foreign diplomacy in this regard is based on observation of justice and promotion of cooperation among the littoral countries of the Caspian Sea.
QOLHAK GARDEN ISSUE STILL PURSUED
A reporter asked whether the disputed ownership issue of Qolhak Garden with the British Government is till pursued by Iran. Mottaki replied, “We have filed a case at the judiciary on the matter and any verdict issued by that source would be acceptable for us.”
IRAN OPPOSED TO ALL TYPES OF TERRORISM
In response to another question, the head of Iran’s diplomacy apparatus stressed that the Islamic system is opposed to all types of terrorism and condemns them entirely.
Mottaki meanwhile reiterated that there is a clear distinction between terrorism and liberation movements, although the Westerners try to pollute the waters and fish in that respect.
The foreign minister added, “The Palestinian nation is fighting for the liberation of its motherland and that can by no means be called a terrorist move.
US ACTS LIKE OLD TIMES MACHOS, BULLYING IN TOWNS’ DISTRICTS
Iran’s top diplomat then criticized the US policies and conduct here and there in the world, particularly in the Middle East region, which he said resembles the behavior of the old times machos, bullying in various districts of towns and cities.
He further elaborated, “In old days one of those machos fell into a well. One of the residents of the neighborhood threw a rope down and asked him to hang to it so that the people could pull him out, but the macho said, ‘How could I do that and take my hand off my waist while preserving my prestige?!”
Mottaki said that the US status in Iraq is just like that macho, adding, “During three rounds of talks with the Americans there, we told them the reason why their policies there have faced defeat and how to restore security in Iraq, but the Americans response was just like that macho.”
Iran’s top diplomat reiterated that Iraq’s neighbors presented a 14 article proposal for restoration of peace, security, and stability in Iraq at their gathering in Tehran, whose articles was also confirmed during their gathering in Kuwait, but the Neocons in US seem to be faced with a vacuum regarding decision making in their foreign policy scene.”