Address by Manouchehr Mottaki, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Iran

 

 

 

At the beginning I would like to extend my gratitude and appreciation to the organizers of this meeting especially the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain for hosting this meeting.

 

Despite all the immense efforts made in the last decades the important sensitive and strategic region of the Persian Gulf still lacks common reliable and efficient security arrangements acceptable to all concerned parties.

 

Current developments in the Persian Gulf region require us to draw a comprehensive plan for required security arrangements in this region more than ever before.

 

During the last four decades different security plans designed by powers from outside the region could not promote stability and security in this region. The consequence is the existing widespread insecurity in the region and conclusion of various military agreements between certain number of regional states with trans regional powers which have turned the region into a big market for arms sale which caused a close arms race threatening regional peace and stability.

 

In the last two decades we have witnessed interference of foreign forces of western countries in the Persian Gulf region which followed by anti west sentiments and formation and development of certain extremist currencies in this region.

 

Presence and function of these western forces in Iraq and Afghanistan not only have not led to the establishment of peace and security for the people in the region but have deteriorated the situation which resulted in massacre of innocent people, intensification of violence and destruction of the infrastructures in this country. All this is the consequence of wrong policies and function of trans regional powers in this region.

 

Currently, all acts of foreign forces in the region have put a big question before the prospect of establishment of a new suitable and far-­reaching security plan in the Persian Gulf region.

 

Without any doubt designing any stable security plan for the Persian Gulf region will be accompanied by many related problems and complications the most important of which is the conflict of the interests of trans-regional powers with that of the regional states in achieving collective security arrangements.

 

Presently presence of huge number of foreign troopers in the Persian Gulf region has not led to the promotion of the regional security but further tensions and conflicts in the region and further vulnerability of the same forces. We believe security in the Persian Gulf region requires full-fledged interaction of the regional states with efficient international players. It goes without question that in this interaction the legitimate international interests shall be recognized by all parties in the region and the regional states all shall have clear understanding of and accountable for the importance of the free flow of oil and energy and reciprocal impact of the regional and international security.

 

We believe we shall not view the regional security only through military or hardware approach. Extended cultural, historical and social commonalties of the people in the region and developed economic and trade cooperation among their governments as well as and policies adopted based on confidence building measures and cooperation on regional and international issues as a comprehensive collection can be applied as a conducive ground for the formation of far reaching and efficient security arrangements in the Persian Gulf region.

 

 

Current critical situation in the region is the result of miscalculated policies of the US administration and its allies in Iraq and continuation of the Zionist regime aggression against the oppressed Palestinian nation and continuous US support for criminal acts of this regime. These all have exposed the Persian Gulf region to serious threats and instability. As it has repeatedly announced before, the Islamic Republic of Iran believes that durable security can be realized through collective participation of the regional states free from any foreign intervention.

 

To this end establishment of peace and security requires us to  remove all provocative elements which have directly targeted the regional security.

 

Therefore in order for us to achieve stable security arrangements in the Persian Gulf region we shall bring the following measures into our consideration:

 

1 - Establishment a common understanding by the regional states on security.

 

2 - Identification and removal of the obstacles to indigenize the security mechanisms of the region by the regional states.

 

3 - Providing all regional states with sense of security irrespective of their geographical and demographic characteristics and economic capacities. To this end all regional states shall participate and cooperate in the related process.

 

 

Access to modem nuclear technologies and promotion of nuclear knowledge are indispensable for continuation of the survival of the humanity. Prosperity of all human beings in the future centuries requires optimum and proper use of modem sciences and existing resources and reserves of our countries. The Islamic Republic of Iran is not exception to this process and attaches high importance to this reality.

 

But unfortunately there have been some efforts to stirring concerns on the peaceful nuclear activities of the Islamic Republic of Iran by certain trans-regional powers with the purpose of depriving Iranian nation from its indisputable right and also damaging friendly ties between Iran and its neighboring countries.

 

I wish to reiterate that the Islamic Republic of Iran is calling for its indisputable rights only within the framework of the provisions of the NPT and its related commitments. The fact is that the concerns which are referred to as the concerns of the international community vis-à-vis the nuclear activities of the Islamic Republic of Iran are only the concerns of a few countries who are trying to interpret and represent them as the concerns of the international community. This occurs while positions and statements of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and our neighboring countries in support of the Iranian peaceful nuclear activities all are indicative of opposition of a great part of the international community (more than [116] countries) to this discriminatory and illegitimate trend for depriving developing countries from accessing to modern technologies and creating a monopoly by certain countries in this respect.

 

 

With respect to the Iranian nuclear issue we face a concern and an ambiguity. Concern on the part of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the efforts being made to deprive it from its indisputable right. And ambiguity on the other part on the deviation of Iranian nuclear activities. On our part we are prepared to remove any ambiguity in this respect as we have moved so far in this direction. But the other part must also take required measures in order to remove existing Iranian concerns and avoid

 

The Islamic Republic of Iran in response to all its constructive measures faced disappointing and frustrating politically motivated actions by western countries and the US administration. These countries are doing their best to derail the Iranian case from its legitimate and ordinary route and refer it to the Security Council for adoption of their desired resolution against Iran and therefore deprive Iranian nation from its undeniable rights. Unfortunately I must admit that these double standard and unreasonable policies have already struck a heavy blow on the credibility and impartiality of international organizations and especially IAEA.

 

The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that dialogue is the most reasonable way for the settlement of this problem. We have always been stressing this policy. Involvement of the Security Council in this respect does not enjoy any legitimate basis and ground. Given the extensive cooperation extended by my country in this respect, referral of this case to the Security Council does not match with any provisions of the Constitution of the Agency and the NPT safeguards. We think this move will merely complicate the issue.

 

I would like to state that Iran does not welcome any tension or crisis in its relations with other countries. But if its indisputable rights on carrying out legitimate nuclear activities violated or faced policy of threats and sanctions by certain countries, the Iranian people and Government are fully prepared to leave no stone unturned to defend their national pride and legacy.

 

If we feel that our good will is going to be misused or misinterpreted then situation will become harsh for the other side as well. In this case the Islamic Republic of Iran will be compelled to reconsider its cooperation with the Agency.

 

On the threat of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran it must be mentioned that since the victory of the Islamic Revolution we have been facing with problems and difficulties in our economic and technical relations with other countries engineered by the US administration. But despite of all these efforts and all the shortcomings and problems we faced, our people hurdled all obstacles and they gained very brilliant achievements in various fields. Therefore I would like to emphasize that these sanctions will definitely bring no harm to the solid will of our nation and Government to restore their inalienable rights and make us more determined to continue our move toward our independence and self-sufficiency and implementation of our plans for the progress of our country. With respect to the concerns raised on the possible environmental problems which may be caused by the activity of the Bushehr nuclear power plant I must remind that all these installations are under construction according to highest existing and modem standards and technologies under supervision of the IAEA. This has already been admitted by the IAEA and therefore we think these concerns do not have any basis from technical and scientific viewpoints. We think these concerns are stirred because of political pressures exerted by certain powers within the same policy for depriving the Islamic Republic of Iran from its indisputable rights and promoting tension and suspension among the regional states. We hope leaders and officials of our friendly neighboring countries in the Persian Gulf region bring these realities into their full consideration.

 

The Islamic Republic of Iran, emphasizing the nuclear disarmament process in the Middle East, as one of the initiators of this policy is calling the international community to avoid double standard and selective policies in this respect and react seriously to the further development of nuclear arsenals of the Zionist regime which free from any international pressure and supervision and without accession to any related international treaties is developing its illegitimate nuclear programs and activities. To this end the international community shall take legal mechanisms and exert required pressures on this regime in order to make it stop its military nuclear projects and activities and destroy its nuclear arsenal which is considered as the real threat to the peace and security of this very sensitive and important region.

 

 

Current developments in Iraq need to be paid attention more by the international community. We believe continuation of instability and massacre in Iraq is detriment to all of the countries in the region. The Islamic Republic of Iran, emphasizing on Iraq's dependence and integrity, considers assisting to establish peace and security in Iraq, its religious and humanitarian duty and strongly disagree with any kinds of sectarian, tribal or ethnic conflicts. People of Iraq, including Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds, Turkmen and Arabs for a long time coexist peacefully. Unfortunately the inappropriate policies and deeds of foreigners and occupants have caused a very dangerous situation in Iraq. We strongly believe that essential key to solve Iraqi problems and on top of them security problems is withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq and cooperation of the countries of the region with the elected government of Iraq.

 

Today’s friendly ties between the Government of Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq is the natural consequence of fixed and principal policies of Iran towards Iraq. Our anticipation that foreign troops would be caught into difficulty has now been actualized. We believe by strengthening the central government of Iraq, putting an end to occupation and the assistance of all countries of the region to Iraq's development and prosperity and its reconstruction, the stability and security will be formed in Iran.

 

The Islamic Republic of Iran in case the United States administration changes its attitude, is ready to help this administration to withdraw its troops from Iraq and the whole region which we believe is in favor of all countries and nations of the region.

 

From our perspective new Iraq in the region is a reality and the trend of development in this country is irrecoverable. Completion of political trend in Iraq and supporting democratically elected government of Iraq and acceleration in handing over all of the affairs to the government and withdrawal of foreign troops from the country are fundamental solution for the improvement of political and security situations in Iraq. By paving this way not only the situation could be improved but also there would be hope to see Iraq play a constructive role in security arrangements of the region. Situation in occupied land of Palestine is still painful and severe. The Zionist regime’s expansionist and aggressive policies and actions are still victimizing innocent Palestinians.

 

Palestinian legitimate and elected government is under various pressures, aggressions and restrictions. Not paying appropriate attention to this issue by the international community, has encouraged the Zionist regime continue and intensify its policies which negatively influenced the stability and security in the region. Courageous resistance of the Lebanese against dastardly attack of the Zionist regime to Lebanon and the Lebanese prideful victory which caused glory and proud to all Muslims and freedom-lovers in the world, proved the fragility of the power of this regime. In our opinion this resistance against the Zionist Regime’s aggression can bring new opportunities to create peace and security in the region and thus, the countries of the region should use these opportunities. The countries of the region, themselves are able, by unity and cooperation, to stop Israeli’s aggressions and help defenseless Palestinians to restore their legitimate rights. Efforts of the over-regional countries should lead toward stopping the Israeli’s aggressions. These measures can help stability and security in the whole region of the Middle East and certainly the Persian Gulf region.

 

 

Islamic Republic of Iran by considering the results of plans which presented in last decades, believe the most efficient ad practical security plan for the Persian Gulf is “collective security plan” with the participation of all countries of the region. It is obvious that to fulfill this valuable goal the following measures should be taken into consideration:

 

1 - To continue confidence building plan in member states’ foreign policy

 

2 - To tie individual security of the countries with the collective security of the members.

 

3 - Mutual guarantee for open flow of energy and facilitation of trade exchange.

 

4 - Presenting an appropriate definition of the goals and positions of new security system in the framework of global security and make it accompany with general security system of the world.

 

In addition to this, relying and paying attention to efficient elements such as neighborhood, deep common historical interests, believing in Islam and closeness and strong ties among the cultures and traditions of the people of the region, all play important role in strengthening communications and as result going towards unification of interests.

 

Our clear message is peace, cooperation, dialogue and participation Islamic Republic of Iran on the threshold of [28th] year of its establishment is in its apex power, stability and security. Iran considers cooperation and integrity in the Persian gulf region as its first priorities and knows well that it would face numbers of difficulties and in this regard difference of opinions are quite natural but we should try to solve the problems through discussion and understanding.

 

Undoubtedly, Islamic Republic of Iran due to its population characteristics and social, economic and security infrastructures is considered one of the most important players and powers in the Persian Gulf region. Geopolitical situation of Iran and being located in the heart of the Middle East as the linkage of western and eastern parts of the region make the presence of Iran in any security arrangements in the region.

 

Conditions of recent two decades show that any kinds of plan to create security arrangements by neglecting Iran is doomed to fail.

 

At the end, I state the readiness of Islamic Republic of Iran to cooperation with countries of the region in different fields to create an effective and practical regional security arrangement. Islamic Republic of Iran believes despite all difficulties and dangers which face the region right now, the countries of the region themselves have the ability to solve the problems and pave the right path. Of course, fulfillment of this issue is conditioned to the termination of foreign powers interference in the affairs of the region. Instead of inappropriate interference, the over-­regional powers can help faithfully to the creation of peace and security in the region. In our opinion, Islamic Republic of Iran, the Persian Gulf cooperation council member states, Iraq and Yemen can together create a better atmosphere in the region.

 

 

Vasalam-o-Aleykom va Rahmattolah va Barakatoh