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Iran not supporter of terrorism - Iranian spokesman |
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Written by Samira Ali Gutoc
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Tuesday, 05 August 2003 |
Rhetoric - this was how Iran's advisor to the Iranian foreign ministry described US' labeling of Iran as part of the Axis of Evil. US' move was a "bad example and was not even welcomed" by the international community according to Dr. Hamid Reza Assefi.
In today's launching and press conference of the “Conference on Dialogue of Civilizations” hosted by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at the New World Hotel in Makati, Iran's representatives sought to promote Iran's role in promoting the culture of peace and understanding. "We cannot solve problems by accusing each other of the problems of the world," said Dr. Hamid Reza Assefi, referring to US' "unilateral" attack on Iraq, a perceived supporter of terrorism by the US. Assefi is spokesman to the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, head of the 6-man Iranian delegation to the first of its kind RP-Iran bilateral cultural event on Dialogue of Civilizations.
Assefi also clarified that Iran's nuclear activity was "peaceful" and that Iran cooperated with the International Atomic Energy Commission. This is in the light of post-Iraqi US policies eyeing Iran as part of its anti-terrorism drive. Iran was one of the countries which opposed the presence of US armed troops in Iraq.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople said there was "no incompatibility" in the Philippine position of being part of the US' coalition against terrorism, placing Iraq as part of the Axis of Evil, and the idea of dialogue. "The whole world is supporting the anti-terrorism drive," Ople said. Saying the DFA activity to be in support of Iranian President Mohammad Khatami's proposal to the 53rd United Nations General Assembly, Ople cited "There is no correlation between international terrorism and Islamic beliefs. Most Muslim countries of the world are moderate," he added. He cited the Philippine case of being "a dialogue of two peoples (Muslims and Christians) with diverse cultures." 2001 was declared by the UN to be the year of the Dialogue of Civilizations.
Muslim leaders welcomed the event as a way of promoting peace. ARMM Governor Parouk Hussin remarked that the activity was relevant in a country with "cultural conflicts." "Part of misunderstanding is tribal, religious and cultural differences, which need to be bridged," Hussin said.
On the issue of Saddam, Assefi described him to be a "dictator." "Nobody was happy with Saddam," referring to leaders in Middle East region. He said it was the "responsibility (of Iranians) to support" the newly installed government in Iraq.
Assefi denied Saddam was in Iran in answer to journalist's query on reports of the deposed Iraqi President being sighted in Iran.
The 3-day conference was dubbed the first of its kind, convening academic experts, diplomats and professionals in the metropolis. Other conferences on the same topic are proposed to be held in Mindanao State University-General Santos and Cagayan de Oro's Mindanao Capitol College.
Iran and the Philippines hold joint bilateral relations in the field of petro-chemical trade. Iran is also one important member of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), which supports the Philippines' bid to be a member of the said group.
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