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Velayati: Iran should keep its nuclear achievements at any price

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Jan 11, IRNA -- Presidential election hopeful Ali Akbar 
Velayati stressed here Tuesday that Iran should keep its nuclear 
achievements at any price. 
He made the remarks in a press gathering in IRNA headquarters on 
his programs for the upcoming presidential election which was attended
by IRNA officials and correspondents. 
He approved of Iran`s policies and tactics in nuclear negotiations
and said Tehran should safeguard its nuclear technology and also 
continue its policy of cooperating with the International Atomic 
Energy Agency (IAEA) while going on with negotiations with European 
countries. 
He dismissed the remarks of some people who believe that Iran 
might gain new things in case it forsakes its nuclear achievements and
stressed that nothing could ever compensate for the loss. 
Touching upon the issue of human rights, the former foreign 
minister pointed to the fact that Iran and western countries looked at
the topic from two quite different perspectives which were rooted in 
each side`s traditions and beliefs and stressed that Iran would never 
surrender to pressures to admit their views. 
Saying that different societies judged the issue according to 
their beliefs, traditions and ideals, he said that Iran relied on 
religious teachings in dealing with many issues introduced as human 
rights topics by the west and even in many cases joined forces 
with Vatican against secular demands particularly in cases pertaining 
to family values. 
He stressed that the issue of human rights is presently 
manipulated by the US as a means of pressing other countries which do 
not approve of American views and values. 
The Advisor to the Supreme Leader for International Affairs 
wondered why the countries that were providing military bases and 
financial support for the US while lacking any form of democratic 
structure were not referred to the United Nations Human Rights 
Commission. 
Velayati further referred to promoting regional cooperation, 
expanding ties with neighboring countries, following up the policy 
to eliminate any kind of tensions with neighboring states as well as 
with other world countries which will bring economic flourishes to the
country as his foreign policy priorities as president. 
He also pointed out that he would embark on strengthening ties 
with developed and progressive countries which could provide up-date 
technologies to Iran while reinforcing relations with third world 
countries as his other foreign policy priorities. 
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