De Villepin, Rafsanjani discuss Iraq situation

De Villepin, Rafsanjani discuss Iraq situation
IRNA (Iran's state news agency)
April 24, 2003

Tehran, April 24, IRNA -- Chairman of the Expediency Council of the Islamic Republic Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Thursday the United States is following undemocratic policy in Iraq which will further complicate the situation in the region.

In a meeting with French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, Rafsanjani said that the US waged the war on Iraq without consensus of the regional states, many European nations and especially the United Nations adding that the international community is expected to pay close attention to the humanitarian crisis resulting from the war.

He said that the Iraqi people are happy with collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime and at the same time don't accept occupation of their country by the United States.

"When the Iraqi people are dissatisfied with US occupation of Iraq, the United States cannot reach its hegemonic goals under the pretext of freedom and democracy," Rafsanjani pointed out.

Rafsanjani criticized the US double standard in the international campaign against terrorism, and said that the US launches campaign against terrorists on the one hand, and signs agreement with terrorist Mujahedeen Khalq Organization (MKO) allowing them to remain armed, on the other.

He cited the several million strong demonstrations in Karbala against occupation on Tuesday and said that under such condition, the United States sent general retired Jay Garner to replace Saddam Hussein instead of seeking key role of the United Nations to form a broadbased government in Iraq.

Rafsanjani said that Iran doesn't seek any interest in Iraq and Its doesn't want anything but independence, territorial integrity and freedom of the Iraqi people.

He praised France's brave stance toward the Iraqi crisis and its opposition to the US unilateral approach to Iraq.

Rafsanjani called for serious attention of the European Union (EU) and the United Nations to help resolve the Iraqi crisis and said that the United States should admit that it should not take a decision contrary to that of the Iraqi people, otherwise, the problems in the region will become more complicated.

He emphasized that Iran's nuclear activities are for civilian application of nuclear energy and said that Iran never considers producing weapons of mass destruction (WMD) for humanitarian obligations required by Islam.

Rafsanjani said that the Zionists have effective part in the US decision making adding that unfortunately, the international community doesn't give due attention to the plight of five million Palestinians.

He made it clear that Iran is theoretically against Taliban and al-Qaeda and said that the United States itself created those groups in Afghanistan to cause nuisance for Iran, but, now it has decided to fight them.

De Villepin said that France opposed the war on Iraq and its occupation adding that France supports formation of a national government in Iraq as well as Iraqi territorial integrity and independence.

He appreciated Iran's stance toward the Iraqi crisis and said that France believes that the United Nations should undertake its key role in helping resolve the crisis.

He said that Iran is a powerful state in the region with ancient culture and it is expected to boost its peacemaking efforts on the international scene.

He hoped that an independent and democratic government would be set up in Iraq soon and reconstruction efforts would go ahead.