FM Spokesman recommends US not to make "big mistake" by denying visa to Iran's President

Payvand:

Aug 7, 2005 Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi on Sunday recommended the United States not to make a "big mistake" by denying visa to Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The Iranian president is scheduled to deliver a speech at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September, IRNA reported from Tehran.

"There is no reason for the US refusal to issue visa for Ahmadinejad. We hope the Americans will not make such a big mistake," Asefi said during his weekly press briefing in presence of domestic and foreign reporters.

"If the Americans cannot host the UN guests, then they do not deserve to have the UN Headquarters at their country and that they cannot prepare suitable ground for holding important sessions of the international body in presence of all its members," he said.

Asked about Iran's Foreign Ministry stance on a request made by British Ambassador to Tehran Richard Dalton to have a meeting with jailed journalist Akbar Ganji, he said, "The Islamic Republic and Foreign Ministry will not allow foreigners and particularly foreign ambassadors residing in the country to intervene in domestic affairs." Asefi said Dalton made an interfering and illegal request to meet Akbar Ganji, adding "Ganji's case is an internal issue. The independent judiciary will make decision on it and no one has the right to interfere in it."

In response to a question on the stance of Arab states on Iran's nuclear program, the spokesman said, "Arab and Muslim countries have different stance.

Several of these states enjoy similar stance with us and others play a passive role. Iran's facilities of advanced technology are not limited just to the country. Such facilities will be at the service of the region and the Islamic states."

Asked about the IAEA Board of Governors' extraordinary meeting, scheduled to be held on Tuesday to discuss Iran's nuclear case, as well as the Europeans' threats on sending the dossier to the UN Security Council, Asefi said, "We are in contact with different states and express our viewpoint.

"Our work is based on legal principles," said the spokesman adding, "We will never fall short of legal justifications for our actions though some countries influenced by the Zionist lobby and the US act contrary to international norms.

"Referral of Iran's nuclear case is not on the agenda of Board of Governors' next meeting. But have no concerns if the case is sent to the UNSC.

"In that case, the Europeans will see whether the outcome would be in their interest or not."

On export of outputs of Isfahan's Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF), Asefi said, "We will sell the products to whatever country demands. There are several demands for such products."

REPORTERS ARE MIRRORS OF SOCIETIES

Asefi recalled the martyrdom anniversary of IRNA Correspondent Mahmoud Saremi in Mazar-i-Sharif in Afghanistan, August 8, as the Reporter Day. He said reporters are mirrors of the society.

He added that fortunately there are many young reporters on the scene of the media, being interested in their work.