YASER AFARAT DENOUNCES IRANIAN LEADER AS "ANACHRONISTIC"
BRUSSELS 24TH Jan (IPS) "The Leader of the Islamic Republic is an anachronistic man cut from the realities of our time, clinging to absurdities" said the President of the Palestinian Authority in his first reaction to an earlier statement by ayatollah Ali Khameneh'i who had described him as "idiot and traitor".
Speaking to the European Information Agency (EIA) after his meeting Monday with European Union Foreign Ministers and Commissioners at the EU Head Quarter ikn the Belgian Capital, Mr. Arafat said for him and other Palestinians who are fighting for the liberation of their occupied land, hearing such "nonsense's is nothing new".
The Palestinian "president" was in Brussels to discuss new EU's financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority.
In a speech pronounced on 7th January marking the so-called "International Qods Day", an event celebrated only by the Iranian clerical rulers, the lamed and embattled leader of the Islamic Republic ayatollah Ali Khameneh'i had violently criticised Mr. Arafat for his "peace of braves" with Israel.
Using the most vulgar vocabulary which is of his own trademark, Mr. Khameneh'i said the legendary Palestinian leader was lacking basic political knowledge for, by accepting negotiation with the Zionists, he proved he is "both idiot and traitor".
His abusive remarks drew sharp criticism from Iranians inside and outside. In a letter addressed to Mr. Arafat, the Association of Iranian Journalists Abroad (AIJA) told him that the words ushered by Mr. Khameneh'i, "a man who everyone knows that he lack both religious authority and political legitimacy not only does not represent the true feeling of the Iranian people for the struggle of Palestinian for an independent statehood under your leadership, but are also in total contradiction with the stated policy of President Mohammad Khatami".
Considering the important role played by Mr. Arafat and his Fath organisation in providing vital propaganda, training and logistic facilities to grand ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and his supporters, both clerical and civilians opposing Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the harsh and indecent words employed by the ayatollah Khameneh'i against the "old man" surprised many Iranians.
When Mr. Arafat came to Iran in the early days of the victory of the Islamic revolution, he was granted a hero welcome by the new masters of Iran, including Mr. Khameneh'i who would do his best, loosing no occasion to be seen and photographed with the Palestinian guest.
"For me and other Palestinians who, after years of unabated struggle and fighting to achieve our legitimate rights and fulfil the aspiration of our people, are now negotiating with the Israelis for the creation of our independent State, foolish declarations and ridiculous statements from Iranian leaders have the least of importance", Mr. Alireza Saqafi, a free lance Iranian journalist based in Brussels quoted Mr. Arafat as having told the European Information Agency.
"Unfortunately, our ears are filled with such nonsense ushered from Tehran. The present Iranian rulers are a bunch of impotent, indecent, ill-intentioned, incapable people belonging to the past who, not understanding the realities, they continue to support forces of destruction. The tide of history would washed them away", Mr. Arafat pointed out.
The Iranian hard line ayatollahs staunchly denounces Mr. Arafat's struggle for securing an independent Palestinian State by providing support for Palestinian organisations, both Islamic fundamentalist and leftists opposed to peace process while at the same time they accept, though half heatedly, Syrians negotiations with Israel for recuperating the occupied Golan Heights.
"Like with the United States, the ruling clerics Middle East policy is limited to a no to Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, daring not to oppose President Hafez Asad even though he is engaged on the same road", noted an Iranian political observer. ENDS IRAN PALESTINE 24100