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Iran not to cease cooperation with IAEA: Mottaki

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Feb 20, IRNA
Mottaki-EP-Address
Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs Manouchehr Mottaki said at an address to the European Parliament (EP) in Brussels Monday night that Iran is determined to keep on close cooperation with the IAEA in pursuing its peaceful nuclear program.

Stressing that the Iranian nation favors holding polite, and logical, dialogue with the entire world, and that President Ahmadinejad's government, too, pursues that policy as the nation's representative, Mottaki stressed, "The Iranian nation meanwhile insists on its right to have access to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes."
In response to those EP representatives who had suggested that Iran, too, had better pursue the path formerly paved by Libya regarding its nuclear program, Mottaki said, "The Libyans might have been pursuing military objectives in their nuclear activities, and at any rate, their decision has been based on their national interests." He agreed with the EP Speaker on the point that it would serve everyone's interests not to let chaotic conditions prevail in the world.

Mottaki advised his counterparts in EU, "As representatives of our nations at diplomatic field we are obliged to eliminate obstacles on the way of peaceful solution to international crises."
Mottaki added, "I have talked to my Belgian counterpart, and before him with the Russian and many other countries' foreign ministers on the guarantees Iran is ready to give to ensure the peaceful nature of its nuclear program."
He said that the confidence-building process is a two-way issue, and Iran is in need of making sure about the truthfulness of the European's intentions in their meddling in our country's nuclear program.

On anti-Islamic cartoons published in a less famous Danish daily, Mottaki said, "I told my Danish counterpart Mr. De Gutch that keeping in mind our bilateral friendly ties we expected the Danish government to adopt a more logical stand in that respect."
Mottaki said, "The issue has noting to do with safeguarding the freedom of expression, but is rather totally an anti-cultural move that should not be hidden behind the banner of freedom."
Turning to the victory of Hamas in Palestinian elections the Iranian foreign minister said, "The Palestinian elections were held based on a democratic process, based on which the PA Parliament has taken shape and Hamas would also soon establish its government." He added, "Hamas leaders have travelled to many countries after their party's political victory, including to Russia, Egypt, and quite naturally to Iran. I believe the Middle East analysts should study the process of developments in occupied territories
painstakingly and meanwhile everyone has to learn to respect the decision of the Palestinian nation."
Focussing on the political and social freedoms in Iran, Mottaki said that freedom of expression is observed in Iran and we have free press, that did not exist during the past regime.

On execution of criminals in Iran, our country's foreign minister said, "The toughest decision adopted in Iran's judiciary system is on execution of a criminal, and there are various phases for overseeing such verdicts."
He added, "All the same, a death penalty might be annulled in Iran right before execution of the decree upon a mutual agreement between the families of the victim and the criminal.

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