IRAN REITERATED ITS REJECTION OF NORMALISATION WITH US
By IPS diplomatic Correspondent Nina Kamran
TEHRAN 24th Jan. (IPS) Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi reiterated Monday Tehran's opposition to normalisation with the United States, saying conditions were still not "quite right" for such a move.
He also rejected a suggestion made earlier by the Head of the Kish island Trade Free Zone that Washington could possibly open a consulate in this Persian Gulf Iranian island, saying Iran's position toward America was clear: "We have no relations (with Washington) so there can be no talk of consulates being opened anywhere in Iran''.
However, he did not ruled out the presence in Iran of US business firms, providing it was based on non-interference in the affairs of the regional countries.
"We consider the US role in the region from various angles. One of these angles can be economic. If this role is based on non-interference in the affairs of the regional countries, we will welcome the presence American companies in order to contribute to economic development of the region", he added.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the10th International Conference on Persian Gulf entitled "Persian Gulf Towards the 21st Century", Mr. Kharrazi said Iran negotiate with all countries and is in the "vanguard of talks and dialogue based on mutual respect and the principle of equality" and we will welcome the presence of US companies in order to contribute to economic development of the region, "but taking into account that conditions between Iran and the US are not the same, the issue of holding bilateral talks could not be considered", he said, without emphasising.
In contrast, Mr. Kharrazi pointed out to the "close" relations established between Iran and the European States, noting that these ties have now reached their "highest level during the past 20 years".
Asked why is that then Iran accepts sports and scholar exchanges with America but refuses to talk on resumption of relations, he observed in soccer, the two countries are equal with one another in a symbolic sense and play in a game in which no one is better than the other (sic), the Foreign Minister said in reference to a recent friendly match between the two sides in Los Angeles which ended in a 1-1 draw.
"All we have said is that if relations are not based on mutual respect and equality there would be no reason for negotiations. If in the scene of politics like soccer game equality is prevailed we would have been ready for negotiations," Mr. Kharrazi pointed out, quoted by the official news agency IRNA.
Reacting immediately, Mr. James Rubin, the States Department's senior spokesman said there was nothing new in Mr. Kharrazi's remarks.
"He repeated same old statements", Mr. Rubin observed.
Iranian analysts observed that the issue of relations with Washington is ultimately decided by the ayatollah Ali Khameneh'i, the conservative leader of the Islamic Republic who is staunchly opposed to any negotiations with Washington
The United States cut all diplomatic and trade relations with the newly installed Islamic regime of Iran after Iranian students stormed the US sprawling Embassy in Tehran in November 1979 taking more than 50 American diplomats as hostages for 444 days.
Rejecting the US military presence in the Persian Gulf, Mr. Kharrazi said Iran views this presence as a sign of military rivalry in order to sell more weapons.
"The military presence of the US is worse than the security problems stemmed from the two devastating wars in the region and we don't agree with that" he told participants at the conference that includes experts from the United States.
Repeating Iran's never heard call on other Persian Gulf Arab States to join Tehran to look jointly after the peace and security of the region, Mr. Kharrazi said "Naturally the area will not face a sustainable security unless it is addressed by the region's countries".
Criticising Persian Gulf Arab Sheikhdoms policy of "buying security through stockpiles of weapons and reliance on foreign powers", Mr. Kharrazi warned that not only experience has shown that neither of the two policies has been able to ensure the security of the regional states, but also has led to arms race, imposed huge costs on the regional budgets, contributed to economic and political instability, increased the presence and influence of great powers in the region, intensified divisions and at the end destabilises the area.
Commenting on relations between Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that claims the sovereignty over the three Iranian islands of Abou Musa and the Great and Small Tombs situated strategically at the entrance of Persian Gulf, Mr. Kharrazi escaped the dispute, observing emphatically that relations between Tehran and all the Persian Gulf states have improved compared to the past and relations with the UAE "was not an exception."
However, he described recent contacts between President Mohammad Khatami with his UAE counterpart as "a sign of normal relations between the two neighbouring States".
Arab states, including Syria, Iran's only "strategic ally" among Arab nations routinely supports the claims of the UAE.
Experts and researchers from 21 countries including Japan, Italy, Russia, Pakistan, UK, US, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are taking part at the meeting.
Calling on all the nations of the world, specially the Muslims to join hands in order to solve the problems remaining from the past century in Afghanistan, Iraq, Chechnya, Palestine and Kosovo, through co-operation, Mr. Kharrazi said the recent economic crisis of South-eastern Asian nations not only demonstrated the mutual vulnerability of nations, but also proved the interdependence of political, social and economic matters. ''This experience tells us that in an interdependent world, it is possible to be mutually vulnerable'', he observed.
"To secure their dominant positions, globally powerful economies are fast converging, and in some cases merging. The same must be done by Persian Gulf countries", Mr. Kharrazi suggested. ENDS IRAN US 24100