Thursday, 11 May 2006
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here Thursday that Iran will defend the legal rights of the Iranian nation and all other free nations.
Responding to the questions raised by the audience after delivering a speech at a gathering of the educated, students and instructors at University of Jakarta, he made the above comment in reply to a student who asked about the reason for Iran's insistence on using peaceful nuclear technology.
Stressing that the opposition of Iran's opponents to the country's nuclear activities has nothing to do with their anxieties over possible deviation from peaceful path, he said, "Expression of anxieties by the enemies is just a big lie.
"There are many bullying countries, whose arsenals are full of nuclear and chemical weapons. They launch war anywhere in the world and use a variety of weapons. Besides, they have equipped many states, in particular the Zionist regime, with various types of nuclear arms."
The president said this proves that they are not worried about nuclear weapons, given that they test a new weapon every day and threaten world nations with these weapons. "In view of this, how can they oppose nuclear weapons?"
He noted that in fact, what they oppose is the scientific progress of nations such as Iran and Indonesia, given their will for monopoly on science and technology to be used as a medium for hegemony over the world nations.
Turning to nuclear technology as one of the world's most advanced and most updated technology and a collection of various sciences, he said that any country wishing to reach the peak of progress should access such a technology.
"If the Iranian nation allows the enemies to impose something on it today, there will be no end to their desires, given this is the feature of the world despotism. It will not stop, unless it deprives the nation of its independence and dignity.
"In fact, our resistance is a move to preserve our independence, given that any nation yielding its rights will certainly have to suffer from the consequences of dependence" he added.
Ahmadinejad said that another reason for the resistance of the Iranian nation is to defend the rights of all nations.
"We will support the rights of other nations including Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Egypt, South Africa, Turkey, Algeria and other independent nations," he said.
The chief executive referred to the drastic reduction of fossil energies and said that nuclear energy is a clean and sustainable type of energy and inflicts the least damage on the environment.
"In the near future, all nations will need nuclear energy. Iran should generate 20,000 MW/hrs of nuclear energy over the coming decade," added the president.
In reply to the question of a student from University of Jakarta, majoring in international relations, about the priority of Iran if its relations with the West are established, he said, "Given the high importance of peace and tranquility to us, we should first of all call on the West to quit their negative acts.
Concerning the possibility of cooperation between Iran and Indonesia in the field of nuclear research, the president said that during the present visit an agreement on scientific and research cooperation was signed, which places special focus on modern technologies, such as nuclear one.
About cultural ties, Ahmadinejad referred to Indonesia as a powerful and friendly country and hoped that through the efforts of both sides relations in the sector will be revived.
IRNA Thursday May 11, 2006
