Iran will never allow any al-Qaeda terrorists to use its territory

  
 

 

  
 

 
 

        

  
            Kabul, Aug 13, IRNA -- President Mohammad Khatami declared on Tuesday that Iran will never allow any terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda network, to use Iranian territory.
          Addressing a joint press conference with President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, Khatami said that Iranian border with Afghanistan is very long, nevertheless, Iranian border guards strongly deal with any suspicious movements along the Iran-Afghan border.
          The president said that Iran has already handed over 16 suspects accused of links with al-Qaeda to Saudi Arabia in line with the international campaign against terrorism adding that Iran does the same with any suspects of cross-border sabotage by extraditing them to their native country.
          "Also, in future, we will proceed with this practice in accord with anti-terrorist fight of the international community," Iranian president said.
          Answering a question put forward by CNN reporter about extradition of al-Qaeda suspects in line with international campaign against terrorism and the extent of Iran's cooperation with the United States in this respect, President Khatami said that everybody in the world knows to what extent Iran had been bitterly engaged with the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
          "Iranian nation and government have suffered heavy damage from Taliban rule in Afghanistan and al-Qaeda terrorist group, an example of which was the assassination of eight Iranian diplomats and IRNA reporter at Iranian consulate in Mazar-i Sharif in August 1998 by the al-Qaeda terrorists," he said.
          Liberation of Afghanistan and establishment the present government in Kabul has been a great help for Iran, President Khatami said adding that the US knows fully well that establishment of Afghan government was not so simple without Iran's support to put an end to Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorist group in Afghanistan.
          "We are victims of terror and terrorism and have always been serious in fighting it. But, there are many cases which the terrorists who dealt blows to Iran enjoy assistance and affection from the big powers," President Khatami complained.
          He said that terrorism is an ugly phenomenon and campaign against terrorism should be carried out under the aegis of the United Nations adding that the international campaign against terrorism should not be used as a means to impose one country's unilateral approach on the other nations.
          He said that in addition to extradition of terrorist suspects to different countries, Iran proved in practice its opposition to terrorism.
          "We leave it to the judgment of the world public to affirm Iran's serious actions in fighting terrorism," Iranian president said. 
          An Arab reporter asked the president about easing tension with the United States taking into account dialogue of civilizations, to which he said, "Dialogue of civilizations is a subject concerning the politicians which may be different in practice. But, I believe that the United States is suffering from misunderstanding and wrong interpretation of its power and national interests.
          "Former US administration had adopted a procedure which was logical and closer to the interests of the international community, but, the present administration is misusing the September 11 terrorist attacks as a pretext to embark on war and violence in the international community.
          "Washington is pursuing its unilateral approach while the world community is inter-related and aggression on one part of the world, will not save another part from war," he declared.
          Khatami said that the war-mongers should not think that war will only put pressure those under aggression, because violence will bring violence and aggression will bring aggression.
          "The mentality that the nations should surrender to force, will trigger terrorism and cause more harm," Iranian president said.
          "The international community is currently in dire need of understanding. Those who are most powerful should shoulder the greatest responsibility to restore peace in the world community," he
said.
          He said that the root-cause of Iran-US relations dates back to the past originated from the US wrong approach toward Iran.
          The US politicians should abandon complacency and illusion and embark on admission of reality and shifting their policy in line with the interests of the American nation and that of the international community, President Khatami reiterated.
          Iran will stand by the Afghans as it did in the hard times in the past two decades, President Khatami said adding that Iran worked hard in Bonn, Geneva and Tokyo conferences to help establish Afghan interim administration in Kabul.
          "We see ourselves beside the Afghan people and will move ahead with cooperation with Afghanistan to boost stability in the neighboring country based on mutual interests," he said.
          He said that Iran is opposed to any interference in Afghan affairs and will never do so adding that Afghanistan currently needs assistance not interference from the other countries to make good on the hardship of the past.
 

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