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Khatami with CNN challenges US foreign policy escalating terrorism

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New York, Sept 5, IRNA
Khatami-Interview with CNN
U.S. foreign policy is furthering terrorism in the Muslim world, and negotiations are the only way to resolve the impasse over Iran's nuclear program, former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami told CNN while on a two-week visit to the United States.

In an interview with CNN, Khatami said American policies have "only increased, and will only increase, extremism in our region." He defended Iran's support for Hezbollah, calling the Lebanon- based group 'a resistance movement to Israeli aggressions'.

Asked what he would tell President Bush if he could speak with him, Khatami replied: "I would tell him that the United States, with all of its might and resources, can, side by side with the good people of the Middle East, bring about a new experience and the creation of democracy and the advancement of democracy, even though the way to democracy may have been slow originating in the Mideast.

"With a change of the language going from threats to mutual understanding, the United States can have a better position in the region.

"And, quite frankly, I would tell him that the policies that the United States has chosen unfortunately have brought about the wrong sentiment toward the United States and has only increased, and will only increase, extremism in our region."

He argued that the U.S. invasion of Iraq has increased hatred for the United States in the Mideast, leading more young people to join terrorist groups.

Denies Iran wants nuclear weapons
Though no longer in the Tehran government, the former president is the highest-ranking Iranian to visit the United States since the 1979, triumph of the Islamic revolution.

Khatami has not been invited to meet with any U.S. officials but is speaking at private engagements. He is scheduled to take part in a conference of the Alliance of Civilizations at the United Nations in New York, and he has been invited to speak at the National Cathedral in Washington.

Khatami stood by his government's contention that Iran is not trying to build a nuclear weapon.

"It has never been the policy or the mind-set of any branch of the Iranian government to pursue atomic weapons, which can be the source of vast numerous killings in the world," Khatami said.

He admitted that Iranians "are definitely worried" that the United States could lead an attack against their country and "hopeful that such a thing would not take place."

"Quite frankly, I think the United States has caused itself enough problems in Iraq," Khatami added.

"I personally never said that Israel should be wiped off the map," Khatami told CNN. "I always said and backed fair and equal peace in the region."

He declined to call for a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, instead saying, "People there have to decide." Objections to Khatami's trip to U.S.

Asked about drawing that comparison between US President George W.

Bush and Osama Bin Laden, Khatami told CNN, "I said those who bring about violence have a lot in common," and condemned leaders "who think of themselves as superior."

Terrorism and war "have one origin, one spark, one frame of mind, and we have to keep ourselves away from this," he said.

Khatami, in the CNN interview, also called on Muslim world leaders to show "the true face of the Islamic faith," which he said stands for "peace and equality."
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