Iran`s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in Istanbul on Friday that Iran would keep on resisting with the full power at its disposal against all types of oppression and irrational pressure.
The reporter of Turkey`s `Radical` daily, Ms Hilal Kublu asked President Ahmadinejad about his idea on Russia and US interference in internal affairs of Georgia, and whether such matters are the ones he means by criticizing the interference of big powers, adding, `What can Iran and Turkey do in solving this particular crisis?
, and `Is your trip to Turkey meant to expand bilateral ties, or to send messages to world from here?
` Ahmadinejad replied, `The foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is constructed based on countering oppression and irrational pressure, and therefore Iran would resist against oppression and bullying resorting to its entire capabilities.
` The president pointed out that the reason behind the enmity of the big powers against Iranian nation, too, is the same point, adding, `We held comprehensive talks about oppressive relations governing the world and the problems caused by such relations for the Iraqi, Palestinian, Afghan, Georgian and other nations, and we would try to root out such problems from the human society.
` Ms Doigo Gunch from `Sabah` daily asked, `A number of cooperation documents were signed following the first round of talks between the two countries` presidents, but no document to push forth the two countries` cooperation in energy field were among them.
Why is it so, and what will be the process of Iran-Turkey cooperation in the energy field?
` Ahmadinejad replied, `A very good letter of agreement has been signed by the two countries for cooperation in the energy field, including investment in the electricity and gas sectors, and the two sides will try to implement it in shortest possible time.
In yesterday`s joint communique, too, the matter was emphatically mentioned.
He added, `Of course you have to keep in mind that implementation of huge oil and gas contracts is usually time intensive, and they differ with the contracts for exchange of other commercial deals involving purchase of a commodity.
Investments in such fields has certain delicacies and implementing them, too, is time taking.
` Qatar`s Al-Jazeera satellite TV reporter, Yousof al-Sharif asked, `You said at your Thursday joint press conference with President Abdullah Gul that Iran`s nuclear issue is totally political, and you spoke about the US stands.
You also sent message on regional issues and said that if the US forces leave Iraq, Iran will be ready to fill the resulting vacuum.
You elsewhere claimed that Iran is the world`s most powerful country.
Such messages are observed at Arab countries of the region with a high level of concerns.
How would you explain such worries?
` Ahmadinejad replied, `I never said so.
(Did) I say that the US is an occupier force and must leave Iraq, and then we and Turkey should replace the US forces?
I never said so.
What I said was much more important.
Pay close attention: I said that the US power in the region is falling.
The US forces need to be leave the region soon.
He said, `I added that (In that case) there would be a vacuum, and the regional countries would have to help restore security and fill the vacuum.
` Pointing out that the above mentioned argument is quite logical, and that it had been proposed earlier that the regional countries are capable of ensuring the regional security, he reiterated, `There is no need for the others` interference.
We believe entire countries need to support the Iraqi government, since Iraq`s independence, integrity, and security is to the benefit of everyone.
` President Ahmadinejad added, `All such objectives can be secured at a time that the legal Iraqi Government would take the full lead of that country`s security, political and economic affairs.
` CNN Turk network reporter Othman Sirt asked the President, `Mr President! You would exit this hall in a while, to attend the congregational (Friday) prayer at an Ottoman era mosque.
Since congregational (Friday) prayers are regarded as political moves in Iran, what is the meaning of your attendance at this ritual in Istanbul?
` Ahmadinejad replied, `I am very glad to attend such a prayer.
Do you not think the presence of the President of Iran at such a prayer in Istanbul is a major political move?
Boundaries of Islam are far beyond the political and geographical barriers.
The Friday Prayer is a religious-political move.
Therefore, presence at Istanbul Friday Prayer is renewal of solidarity with the people of Turkey.
This is a major political move.
` Iran`s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad added in his interview with Turkish and other foreign reporters in Istanbul, `Four countries of Iran, Turkey, Syria and Iraq have always held continuous talks.
President Ahmadinejad made the comment in response to Syrian reporter of `Aksham` daily, Hussni Mahalli on meeting among to regional officials in recent weeks, who added, `Could you trust the Turkish Government in your regional relations and bilateral ties?
` The Iranian President replied, `Do you assume that when the regional officials get together they merely drink tea and speak about the whether in the region?
They definitely exchange viewpoints on significant ongoing regional developments.
We are four neighboring countries, with shared cultures and civilizations and very broad beliefs.
We think there are enough issues to necessitate for ontinuous` holding of continuous four-sided talks.
` Ahmadinejad said that the economic, cultural, political, security, joint investment, campaign against terrorism and organized crime are among the issues that make it necessary for the four countries to hold talks continuously, and to act harmoniously with one another.
He further reiterated, `All such matters are included in the agenda of talks, and they are entirely there to secure the regional nations` interests.
` Focusing on Iran-Turkey relations, he said, `Iran and Turkey have deep-rooted, historic ties and we regard Turkey`s progress as our own country`s progress, being sure that the people of Turkey have the same feeling about Iran.
Our country`s president pointed out that roots of Iran`s relations with Turkey are to be sought in the shared culture of the two countries, adding, `The two countries wish to expand ties as far and wide and possible and their officials, too, are obliged to abide by their nations` demands.
We trust both the Turkish nation and the Turkish Government, we like them, and we like them very much.
` Behrouz Hassani from Iran`s Al-Alam satellite TV asked about Iran and Turkey`s oil and gas cooperation, and whether there is a road map for exporting Iran`s natural gas to Europe through Turkey and if any agreement in that regard has been reached between the two countries?
Iran`s president said that one of the major paths for transferring Iran`s gas to Europe is Turkey and the two countries` experts are trying to pursue the matter till operational phase.
Ms Suda from `Reference` economic periodical asked about the contents and outcome of President Ahmadinejad`s Friday morning meeting with Turkey`s big industrialists, what they expect Iran, and which new investments the two countries have in mind.
Ahmadinejad said that the meeting was very fruitful and satisfactory, adding, `The volume of bilateral trade has been constantly increasing.
` He added, `It was decided two years ago that the volume of Iran-Turkey trade would reach the 10 billion US dollar annually, and that it is today fortunately at the verge of reaching that volume.
We are planning to increase that level to 20 billion dollars a year in less than four years` time and we have not considered any limits for the other sides` investments, announcing readiness for accepting unlimited investments on both sides.
` The president reiterated, `Some obstacles in the way of banking, in customs clearance process, and in transportation were discussed and the two countries` presidents were commissioned to assist towards eliminating them.
` Ugur Urgan from Turkey`s high circulation `Hurriat` daily asked whether President Ahmadinejad has read Friday`s Turkish dailies and noticed the complaints about too much security measures and the problems they have created for citizens and tourists alike, and whether he would like to beg the pardon of them accordingly.
Ahmadinejad said, `I was informed about the matter and I felt very sorry about it.
Of course as you know security measures adopted in Turkey are beyond my control, otherwise, in Iran I do not permit closure of roads where I have to pass through, that would be naturally troublesome for the people.
I am usually among the people, and I wished I could do the same here.
He added, `We had asked the Turkish officials to take it easy, but I guess they are worried about the threats posed form the side of the criminal Zionists.
Although I play no role in creation of this problem, I express my heartfelt love for the dear people of Istanbul and the tourists, and beg their pardon.
` Ahmadinejad also asked the media to create such a tense atmosphere for the terrorists to urge them to retreat, so that both the officials and the people would not be put into so much trouble.
Expressing interest in attending the Istanbul Friday Prayers, he said, `I wished our attendance at the meetings here would have been as easy as attending the Tehran Friday Prayers, so that the people would not have been put in so much trouble.
Iran`s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad added in his press conference with Turkish and other foreign and Iranian reporters, `Zionist regime is responsible for the outbreak of 3 big wars in past 60 years.
` BBC Arabic TV`s Muhammad Awn asked President Ahmadinejad after greeting him in Persian language, `There are two major issues in Middle East region currently, one regarding the indirect Syria-Israel talks through Turkey, and the other one on evacuation of Israeli forces from Lebanon`s Sheba Farms, what do you think about the two issues?
` Ahmadinejad pointing to the importance of the posed question, said that the more occupied territories there will be freed the better, and cause for more happiness of the Muslims, adding, `Yet, none of such measures would solve the problem caused by the Zionist regime.
` He added, `This is a sixty year old wound and so long as the cause for it has not been recognized curing it would be impossible.
` Ahmadinejad said that the Zionist regime is a fully forged and usurper entity, adding, `We need to seek the main root for the Middle East problem in order to cure that wound, but just keep in mind that during the past sixty years there have been three big wars in the region in which five million people became homeless and hundreds of others lost their lives and the Zionist regime has been responsible for the outbreak of all of them.
` Our country`s president pointed out that the shadow of threats is cast over the entire region and that the Zionist regime is also responsible for that, arguing, `That fake regime is the root cause for all these problems.
` He added, `Some big Western powers, as you know, have been dreaming during the past one hundred years to occupy this region, and after defeating the Ottoman Empire they managed to achieve that goal, since that empire was resisting like a strong dam against their penetration, but after its collapse they entered the region broadly.
` Ahmadinejad said, `The newcomers were in need of camps for their long term staying in the region, since they did not traditionally posses any regional camps, which was why they prepared a political scenario and after a satirical show, relying on gun points and making homeless the majority of the Palestinian nation, they gathered a number of criminals from around the globe and imposed that forged and criminal regime to regional nations.
` He said that the objective of the West in establishment of the Zionist regime has been pursuing the goals of the old time colonialist powers against the entire regional nations, adding, `The original motto of that regime was from the Nile to the Euphrates, and they meant to exert their hegemony over all regional nations.
` Pointing out that the Zionist regime was established to make wars, enter its entire neighbors` territories aggressively, sow the seeds of discord in the region, and pave the path for the exertion of the hegemony of the big powers in the region.
He reiterated, `By highlighting the Holocaust issue I meant to point out the above mentioned facts and to lift the veils off a historic lie.
` The President pointed out, `If we wish to end the problem of occupation, the problem of war, the problem of Palestine, and the problem of the Middle East, we need to survey the roots of that regime, but the Zionists and the big powers, in order to mislead the world nations` public opinion accuse us of having antisemitist tendencies, which is another big lie.
` Iran`s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad added in his press conference, `Zionists are neither Jews, nor Christians, nor Muslims, they are followers of no monotheist faith, they are merely members of a criminal party.
` President Ahmadinejad pointed out that Iran has proposed a humanitarian, democratic way to solve the Palestine problem, adding, `We proposed that a referendum needs to be held at the entire land of Palestine so that its whole residents, including the Jews, the Christians and the Muslims would be able to decide their own country`s fate.
` He added, `This proposal is made based on the Charter of the United Nations, the international laws, and the rules of democracy, but those that claim to be the standard bearers of democracy do not accept this solution.
` President Ahmadinejad said, `But I humbly tell you that the expiry date of that regime is over now, that it is segregated in the world, that the world nations and many governments are fed up with it, and that it is left alone even in its own region.
` Ahmadinejad pointed out that even the big governments, too, have come up with the conclusion that the expenses of keeping the Zionist regime are exceeding the amount of its incomes, which means the era of occupation is approaching its end.
` He reiterated, `The best thing to do for those that established this regime is to de-establish it and to clean the mess.
They should permit the people of Palestine to choose a political system for themselves,,,` Another reporter, Kamal Ahmad, from Turkey`s Wakit` daily said, `At the beginning of the press conference you spoke of the hard times that the world nations are suffering from.
`As we see, the neo-colonialists are now oppressing the peoples of Afghanistan, Iraq, and other vast regions in the world.
Those powers posses weapons of mass destruction and they commit all types of mischief against the mankind.
The same posers have found fault with the nuclear program of Iran and are after imposing mounting pressure against you.
How do you evaluate such double standards?
` Ahmadinejad confirmed the Turkish reporter`s comments, arguing, `They are opposed to the advancement of countries like Iran and Turkey.
They wish us to remain dependent on big powers for good.
They are the enemies of our development programs, otherwise the nuclear program is nothing, but a pretext for them.
` He added, `Fifteen years ago when there was no sign of the nuclear program the United States unilaterally imposed sanctions against us, under such conditions that we had just got rid of the imposed war that the Western governments had intrigued against us and we were thinking about reconstruction.
` Stressing that they imposed sanctions against us without having any pretexts to do so, and repeating that the nuclear program is today merely a pretext, he said, `let me narrate a memory for you.
Tow years ago we discussed the nuclear issue at the US Foreign Relations Council.
`The members of that council had a meeting with me.
They asked many questions and I replied ot all of them.
At the end one of them said: We confirm that what you are doing is legal and within your rights` range.
You have the right to be benefited from the nuclear energy and you have not breached any of your commitments, but there is a problem.
If we would permit you to take advantage of the nuclear energy, tomorrow Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, too, would demand the same.
What could we do with them then?
!` He said, `I told them what is wrong with that?
If it is a right for entire nations, permit them to use it, and if it is not, do not use it yourselves either.
Of course they had no convincing response.
Basically, they do not want to permit such countries as Turkey, Iran and egypt to become advanced countries.
` Ahmadinejad said that the IAEA has been established to pursue two objectives, namely disarmament of the countries that have atomic bombs, and assisting the ones that do not have access to the nuclear energy to posses it, but the big power have so far not permitted it achieve any of those objectives.
The Iranian president added, `They have not only not yield to getting disarmed from their horrendous nuclear weapons so far, but also manufactured the fifth generation of those deadly bombs on the one hand, and kept on creating obstacles in the way of the other countries that wish to have the nuclear power for peaceful purposes.
` Iran`s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad added in his press interview in Istanbul Friday that Iran would in near future launch its first domestic satellite to the space.
President Ahmadinejad said addressing the audience, `I want to inform you of a first hand news today.
The Americans sanctioned us 28 years ago, but that is not the whole story.
` `They also imposed a number of sets of embargoes, whose single purpose was the block the path of our progress.
But thanks to all those sanctions, we are now a nuclear country, and will by grace of God very soon launch our first Iranian made satellite.
` The Iranian president reiterated, `This satellite, the rocket that would launch it, and the land station from which it would be launched are entirely made in Iran, by the talented Iranian scientists and technicians.
` He pointed out that the Islamic Iran is today also among the top five world countries with advanced bio-technology expertise, the top in nano-technology field, and that the Iranians have achieved all such high objectives thanks to the US, and US backed sanctions, which our nation is decided to resist against.
Ahmadinejad also referred to Turkey`s membership at the EU, arguing, `This membership is in the first place going to benefit the EU, and in the second place it is to the benefit of the region, since Turkey is a great civilization-building country whose membership would benefit them in strengthening their ties with the the region.
` He added, `Turkey is an important and trustworthy connection bridge, but notice how many preconditions they (the Europeans) set (for Turkey`s EU membership).
It is because they do not want our countries to became advanced.
` Ahmadinejad said at the end, `I wish to summarize my feelings regearing Iran-Turkey relations in a couple of sentences: We believe Iran and Turkey can complete the shortcomings of one another and their cooperation would lead to the emergence of a big power at the service of security of the region and the world peace.
`We need to strengthen our beliefs in the might of ourselves, and to pave the long path towards the peaks of pride resolutely.
`Fortunately, both nations comprehend such needs deeply, and know the bright path they need to pave is in need of strong will power.
We love the Turkish nation from the bottom of our hearts, and this love has roots in the history of our beliefs.
We will remain by the side of one another for good.