As translated in to English:
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
His Highness Bahraini Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifah, His Honour Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa, Dr John Chipman, Director General and Chief Executive, honourable guests, ladies, gentlemen:
In the beginning of my speech I deem it necessary to express my deep recognition and appreciation to the Kingdom of Bahrain for hosting this summit. I also express my gratitude for the opportunity that has been granted in this summit to the prominent and valuable authorities and specialists of various countries, especially the regional countries, to voice their opinions and discuss their suggested resolutions to solve the problems and the security threats facing the regional countries.
Respected Chief Executive and honourable participants, presently, there are serious challenges facing the Middle East, Persian Gulf and surrounding countries. The presence of foreign forces in the region, the perpetuation of military and paramilitary conflicts and the killing of innocent civilians, the underground activities of terrorist networks and drug trafficking in the region, the numerous bombings and killings of civilians by the terrorist groups, particularly in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, the constant invasions of the Zionist Regime, the merciless murdering of the Palestinian people and the extended siege of Gaza, the struggle to create religious and racial conflicts are examples of the challenges faced by the regional countries. In addition to this, issues like the interference and unilateral policies of the superpowers in the region, the escalation of the arms race, prioritizing military issues and militarism, disregarding the effective role of some regional countries in the security arrangements, consist of parts of the scheme and the main axis of the superpowers’ security plans to lead them to their personal interests. The strategic and geopolitical significance of our region during the prolonged years has always made it an important commercial channel and at the time being it has attracted the attention of the rest of the world from a political, security, and economic aspect, especially on the grounds of fuel and gas. The element that was meant to fortify the economic foundations of the Persian Gulf regional countries has become a source of insecurity due to the improper interventions of some of the foreign countries located outside this region. Convergence and bilateral economic relations in the region considering the historic, religious and cultural similarities and also the geographic imminence are means of expanding security and strengthening cooperation in our region. As the regional countries develop their objectives in the regional coalition, a broad and effective ground for reducing regional conflicts will be prepared, thus strengthening the political and economic relations of the countries which will be followed by a settlement of security issues.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has always proposed communal security co-operations in the Persian Gulf region during the previous years and has announced its willingness to negotiate with all the countries of the region to find a suitable approach in order to reach this objective. Experience of the two previous decades has shown that a unilateral security and military view towards the security factor of this region cannot provide strategic security. At this point, I deem it necessary to point out the significance of the twelve suggestions of Mr Ahmadinejad, the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) summit in Doha. These suggestions are considered as the most comprehensive approach in regards to regional co-operations in our region where the main aim is to create closer ties between the regional countries and establish sustainable co-operation for regional security. The Islamic Republic of Iran has always welcomed communal and constructive co-operation of these countries in all areas and through these summits it has re-announced its willingness to negotiate and finalize the previously started discussions with all the regional countries in order to arrive at a suitable approach for reaching this objective. At this point, I would like to express my gratitude for the decision of the PGCC summit in Riyadh for the approval of the suggested co-operation with the Islamic Republic of Iran in the proposal of Mr Ahmadinejad.
Honourable guests! Ladies and gentlemen, during the previous four years through increasing co-operation and constant consultation, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has taken effective measures in sustaining stability and security throughout the region. We are of the belief that the regional countries have a great capacity for broadening the cooperation in the political, security, economic, and cultural fields. The process of Iraq’s development has had significant effects on the fate of our region. The establishment of a democratic, powerful, and independent system in Iraq guilds this country into playing a positive and constructive role in the region. We believe that this role can only be ascertained under the banner of a united and responsible Iraq. The Islamic Republic of Iran has always supported the development process of the sovereign democratic Iraqi government and will continue this course. Iraq is currently on the threshold of its decisive parliamentary elections. We welcome the political variety that exists in Iraq and we hope that the recognition of the political wings to the law would lead to the reinforcement of democracy. We believe that this variety has led to more elucidation and has increased the power of choice for the people; however, it is crucial that pluralism does not lead to divisions and ethnicity. Any type of tension and racial, tribal, and religious conflicts in Iraq will harm all the countries of the region and will initially be harmful to the Iraqi people. While respecting the independence and consolidation of Iraq, the regional countries can play an important role in rebuilding and helping the people of this country. The rapid reconstruction of Iraq is the basic condition of re-establishing peace and stability in this country and Iraq is in dire need of its own financial resources and international aid to rebuild the country. However, the occupiers that have destroyed the basic foundations in Iraq have a heavier responsibility in this regard. In addition, the withdrawal of foreign forces from this country is the fundamental solution for the improvement of the political and security situation in Iraq. By taking this course, not only will the situation improve, but the hope for rectifying Iraq’s effective and constructive role in the security arrangements can be achieved. Everyone knows that returning to square one in Iraq is neither possible, nor is it to the benefit to the regional countries.
Your honour, Chairman, respected participants, the situation in the occupied lands of Palestine is still deplorable and painful. The aggressive and expansionist measures of the Zionist Regime and the merciless assault on the vulnerable and defenceless Palestinian people are troubling and regretful.
While expressing its concern and condemning the measures of the Zionist extremists in the defamation of the sacred sites of Qods and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the support of the Zionist Regime for this measure and the attacking of the defenceless Palestinian worshippers, the Islamic Republic of Iran warns against the ill consequences of such unlawful, inhumane, and provocative actions. The perpetuation of such policies and measures is a threat to the whole region, and will provide the grounds for instability and insecurity. The persistence of this regime in the continuation of building towns, in the occupied regions of the West Bank and Bait al-Muqaddas (Jerusalem) and destroying the houses and farms of the people of Palestine is in evident contrast with the international laws and regulations and clearly shows their expansionist intentions and plans.
The governments and nations of the region expect, on the basis of the Goldstone report on the 22-day war in Gaza, the resolution of the Human Rights Council and the recent sanction of the United Nations General Assembly, the international enquiry in relation to the war crimes that have been committed in Gaza will take place and the criminals will be prosecuted according to the law. The global community’s lack of proper attention to this issue has encouraged the Zionist Regime in the perpetuation and intensification of its inhumane crimes in which the negative impacts on the stability and the security of the region cannot be controlled. In these circumstances, helping the Palestinian people in order to decrease their sorrows and deprivations is the obligation of all Islamic and justice-pursuing countries. In this respect, with unity, solidarity and cooperation, the countries of the region are capable of ending the aggressions of this regime towards the defenceless people of Palestine and helping them in reaching their legitimate rights. Any type of effort in regards to restoring a durable peace in the region will not be possible without the complete attainment of the Palestinian Nation’s rights. The Palestinian Nation has the right to continue its legitimate and lawful resistance until the time when they attain their right to an independent Palestinian country across the occupied lands, the freedom of the honourable Qods, and the return of all the refugees to their homeland. We believe that until the time that the oppressed Palestinian nation reach their legitimate rights, the efforts for peace will yield no result.
Respected guests!
The government and nation of Yemen needs growth and development now, more than ever. The Islamic Republic of Iran has always supported the unity, sovereignty, security, independence, and also the development of Yemen; Iran has also had a small share in the course of Yemen’s development, particularly during the past few years. We must be united on these principles and we must not consider these clashes to the benefit of Yemen and the region. These conflicts do not have a military solution and the precedent of the previous five years’ clashes confirm this idea. We have always discussed the different aspects of these issues during our negotiations with the authorities of Yemen and other countries of the region. Internal conflicts gradually gained regional dimensions and now apply severe strain on the resources for development of the people and government of Yemen. This is while our fellow government, Yemen, is in dire need of these resources that are provided by the people, for the development of the country. In the meantime, the other victims of these conflicts are the people of Yemen who have been made homeless by these conflicts which have unfortunately led to a significant amount of casualties.
Mr Chairman, the Islamic Republic of Iran believes that a peaceful approach accompanied with negotiation which is not reliant on force, is the ultimate solution to resolving internal issues in Yemen and we must strictly avoid interference in Yemen’s domestic affairs. On the basis of its clear foreign policies and without the intention of interfering in Lebanon’s domestic affairs, the Islamic Republic of Iran has always been an ally of the Lebanese government and people and seeks the reinforcement of the process of internal solidarity in Lebanon. Fortunately, with the efforts that have taken place and the hindsight of Lebanon’s faction leaders, stability and peace has returned to the country and we hope that with positive and constructive feedback from all political factions, the new national unity government could prepare the path for construction, development and deepening regional co-operation. We are of the belief that fortifying the path to convergence in Lebanon is considered an important and decisive element in the process of increasing regional stability and unity. Without a doubt, co-operation and positive feedback from Lebanon’s partner countries must lead to the assistance for achieving the choice of the majority of this country to prepare the grounds for cultivating national unity. This view, in parallel to respecting the legitimacy of the national resistance of Lebanon can play a major role in maintaining stability, security and development in Lebanon. One of the main concerns of the Lebanese government and people today is the perpetuation of the expansionist policies and measures of the Zionists and the daily threats of the Tel Aviv leaders. Considering the communal responsibility in the path of maintaining peace and security in the region, it is expected that all the governments employ their influence and position in the area of regional and global issues, including the international supervisory institutions to prevent the transgression of the Zionist regime and the measures that contradict standards and regulations governing global peace and security and in the congregations of the global community in order to enforce that regime to follow and respect the rights of the Palestinian Nation and regional nations.
Mr Chairman, honourable guests, ladies and gentlemen!
Our era is the era of nuclear energy and clean energy. The fossil resources, such as fuel, are approaching depletion and the future generations require nuclear energy in order to continue their multidimensional development. In this regard, despite the pressures inflicted by the West, the Islamic Republic of Iran will continue to develop its peaceful nuclear energy programme under the supervision of the Agency and is persistent on the path of negotiation and discussion and believes that using threats and sanctions for confronting peaceful programmes of the developing countries and manipulation of the international organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Security Council by some nuclear countries will not only have a reverse effect, but it will undermine these systems such as the non-Proliferation Treaty. While emphasising the necessity of ridding the Middle East region of nuclear weapons, as one of the initiators of this policy, the Islamic Republic of Iran announces that the regional nuclear disarmament of different regions of the world is not possible or feasible without genuine and comprehensive nuclear disarmament throughout the entire world and, leading before all the countries, the five major nuclear powers of the world. We consider the recent negotiations as a deviation from the main resolution declared for the non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament of the entire world. We should speak of nuclear disarmament, not the reduction of the nuclear weapons; and this point is an important issue which may be covered on another occasion.
Respected Chairman, distinguished guests.
Attaining security and stability needs serious cooperation of the countries that live alongside each other in this region. Undoubtedly, the similarities and time-honoured relations of the regional countries in political, economic and cultural areas had provided a suitable ground for maintaining and increasing security in the region. Security and economic development are two related concepts where the countries of this region can, in effect, assist the development of the people through maintaining one another’s security. The Persian Gulf region possesses extensive capacities, where a great deal of these capacities has been left untouched. Economic co-operation and regional convergence will build trust and security, which will result in the growth and development of the region’s people. Increasing commercial relations, adopting security policies to confront common threats, particularly in countering the menace of terrorism, increasing the cooperation in the free commercial zones, reinforcing and facilitating the regional transportation system, participating in joint investments, cooperation in the area of preserving the environment, particularly in the shared waters of the Persian Gulf, and confronting the alarming phenomenon of sand storms and their destructive effects, where good decisions have been made in this area, increasing cultural co-operations and many other plans, they will cause the growth of regional union and evidently, regional security. This course can only be achieved through the friendship and proximity of the governments and people of the region. The negotiations and meetings I have had with the regional countries’ high-ranking officials have proven to me that this matter is the shared dream of all the nations of this region. In the end, I would like to thank once more the organisers of this council and the warm congregation and request for more of such opportunities for all of us from the compassionate Lord. With thanks to the IISS and the Kingdom of Bahrain for convening and hosting this very important summit.
