Citing aspirations of Prophets Moses (PBUH), Jesus Christ (PBUH) and Mohammad (PBUH), he said in his inaugural address to the NAM Conference on 'Human Rights and Cultural Diversity' that human rights have roots in religions.



Ahmadinejad said that according to religious commands no one has the right to exert dominance on others and ignore their human rights on any pretext.



He regretted that in the current situation in the world, the lofty goals of human rights have been targeted in the name of international campaign against terrorism.



"They have established secret prisons and are kidnapping anyone they want at airports without any legal jurisdiction."

He drew the attention of the dignitaries in the conference to the humanitarian calamities taking place in Iraq and said that the US invaded Iraq to topple Saddam Hussein's regime for possessing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).



"Now, that Saddam has gone and the WMD were not found, the US forces continue with occupation triggering violence in the country in which hundreds of innocent people fall victims to the conflict every day."

He said that for 60 years, the Zionist regime has occupied the Palestinian territories, made several million Palestinians homeless, killed several thousand Palestinians and targeted Palestinian leaders while enjoying support from certain states who have veto powers.



On Iranian peaceful nuclear program, President Ahmadinejad said that Iran is signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and respects Safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but certain states have violated prestige of the United Nations Security Council by approving resolutions against Iran.



He said that the international community supports Iranian peaceful nuclear program citing the backing of the NAM member states for Iran.



Ahmadinejad said nuclear states should respect other nations' nuclear rights envisaged in the NPT and should not create obstacles in the way of nuclear programs of other nations as they have done in the case of Iran.



He reiterated that Iran is ready to provide the NPT member states with its civilian technology under supervision of the IAEA.



He said  that monopolistic and self-centered approaches as well as economic, political and cultural hegemony have created an undesirable and egrettable situation in the world today.



"Human rights and freedoms are still being violated by bullying powers in many parts of the world. Millions of people are still deprived of food, health, hygiene, housing and proper education," said the president.



"Economic powers are still taking advantage of their economic capabilities to impose their domination over others. While a great part of the globe is blanketed in poverty, hunger and illiteracy, the wealth of the world is being spent on arms, used merely to kill human beings. Still huge numbers of people are being slain and displaced as a result of military expeditions," said the president.



In another part of his address, Ahmadinejad said, "I announce here today that with the Grace of God, public resistance and support of the leadership, Iran's nuclear case is closed from our point of view."

The two-day Non-Aligned Movement's Human Rights and Cultural Diversity conference kicked off in Tehran Monday.



More than 100 delegations from NAM member countries are attending the conference with 56 participating at the ministerial level.



The conference was inaugurated by President Ahmadinejad.



The Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, the current NAM chairman, and the Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr mottaki addressed the opening ceremony of the conference.



The conference is expected to have a significant effect in promoting the role of the Non-Aligned Movement in international affairs.



The main purpose of the conference is to address the question of how different cultures can attain mutual understanding in the modern world and thereby lay the foundation for universal definition of human rights.



Ahmadinejad lauds OIC efforts to strengthen Muslim unity



President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad here on Monday praised great efforts made by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to strengthen unity among all Muslim nations.



He made the remark in a meeting with the OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, held on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Conference on 'Human Rights and Cultural Diversity'.



He also appreciated great strive by the OIC chief to help establish regional peace and support Islamic values.



Ihsanoglu, for his part, stressed the importance of key role played by the OIC in consolidating the unity among world Muslims.



The NAM conference kicked off in Tehran this morning with a speech by President Ahmadinejad.



More than 100 delegations are attending the two-day conference including 56 foreign ministers and the ministers whose portfolios deal with human rights issues.



Ihsanoglu is attending the ministerial meeting as a special guest.



Iran, North Korea to defend independent states at int'l arena

 

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday that Tehran and Pyongyang can defend rights of independent states at international bodies including the United Nations and the Non- Aligned Movement (NAM).



He made the remarks in a meeting with the foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Pak Ui Chun.



The meeting was held on the sidelines of the NAM Ministerial Meeting on Human Rights and Cultural Diversity which is underway in Tehran on September3-4.



President Ahmadinejad also welcomed promotion of Iran-DPRK ties in all fields.



Meanwhile, the North Korean minister appreciated hospitality of Iranian government and its nation and conveyed Pyongyang's warm greetings to Iranian officials.



"Pyongyang supports Iran's stand on peaceful nuclear program," Pak Ui Chun said.



He said Iran is playing key role for strengthening regional peace and stability.



The minister called for further promotion of Tehran-pyongyang relations.



President: Iran's scientific achievements belong to all Muslims



President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad here on Monday voiced Iran's readiness to exchange valuable experiences in different fields with all Islamic nations particularly Algeria.



The Iranian president made the remark in a meeting with Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci, on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) conference on 'Human Rights and Cultural Diversity'.



He reiterated that Iran's scientific achievements belong to all Muslim nations throughout the world.



He underscored the need for expansion of cooperation among Islamic countries.



As to various commonalties between Iranian and Algerian nations, President Ahmadinejad said promotion of Tehran-Algiers relations would benefit both countries as well as all regional states.



For his part, the Algerian foreign minister announced his country's readiness to boost all-out ties with Iran.



The NAM conference kicked off in Tehran this morning with a speech by President Ahmadinejad.



More than 100 delegations are attending the two-day NAM conference including 56 foreign ministers and the ministers whose portfolios are related to human rights issues.



Ahmadinejad: Iran, India to stand by each other



President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday that the Iranian and Indian nations share historical and cultural commonalties and will stand by each other forever.



Ahmadinejad told visiting Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukerjee on the sidelines of a Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) ministerial meeting in Tehran that expansion of Tehran-New Delhi cooperation would be effective in restoring peace and security to the region.



"The Islamic Republic of Iran sees no limit on expansion of bilateral ties with India," he said.



The president underlined that his country welcomes expansion of mutual cooperation in all fields, noting that trade, energy, science, technology and culture are among the areas in which both countries can cooperate with each other.



The Indian minister, on his part, said that his country gives priority to having relations with Iran, adding that no problem can tarnish bilateral ties, and that India was looking forward to finalization of the Peace Pipeline project between Iran, India and Pakistan.



President: Iran, friend of all African states including Ghana

 

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday that Iran is a friend of all African states including Ghana and there is no obstacle to expansion of mutual ties.



According to the Information Bureau of Presidential Office, Ahmadinejad made the remark in a meeting with the visiting Ghanaian Foreign Minister Akwasi Osei Adjei on the sidelines of a Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meeting in Tehran.



The president added that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to put its constructive experiences at the disposal of Ghana.



The Iranian and Ghanaian nations enjoy brotherly relations, and both countries cooperate with each other in international fora, he said, noting that big powers are opposed to cooperation among independent countries, but Tehran is determined to expand ties with other states.



The Ghanaian foreign minister, for his part, appreciated the Iranian government and people for their hospitality, and called for expansion of all-out relations between the two countries.



The two-day summit of NAM foreign ministers opened in Tehran on Monday morning with a speech by President Ahmadinejad.



President receives NAM FMs



President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad here on Monday received foreign ministers of a number of NAM member states on the sidelines of the NAM Ministerial Meeting on Human Rights and Cultural Diversity, which opened here on Monday.



The following is excerpts of dialogue between President Ahmadinejad and foreign ministers of Nicaragua, Guinea-Bissau, Oman, Bahrain, Bolivia, Syria, Venezuela and Belarus:



**President Ahmadinejad to Foreign Minister of Nicaragua Samuel Santos:

Iran is determined to further expand ties with Nicaragua. Both countries should strive for welfare of progress of their citizens by mutual cooperation.



Santos: Joint cooperation commission of Iran and Nicaragua has been activated and would hopefully work to implement mutual agreements.





**President Ahmadinejad to Foreign Minister of Guinea-Bissau Maria da Conceicao Nobre Cabral:

Iran regrets internal clashes in Guinea-Bissau and is happy with promotion of peace and stability there. There is not impediment to expansion of mutual ties.





**President Ahmadinejad to Foreign Minister of Oman Yousif Bin Alawi:

Iran is ready to help storm-stricken people of Oman.



Alawi: Oman favors further expansion of mutual ties.





**President Ahmadinejad to Foreign Minister of Bahrain Shaikh Khalifa Bin Ahmed Bin Mohammed al-Khalifa:

More cooperation between Iran and Bahrain would make enemies disappointed. Iran will remain supporter of the Bahraini nation and government.





**President Ahmadinejad to Foreign Minister of Bolivia David Choquehuanca:

Iran is ready for all-out relations with Bolivia. Iran welcomes political ties with the country.





**President Ahmadinejad to Foreign Minister of Syria Walid Muallem:

Big victories are always achieved hard and unity and coordination among Muslim states is the only way to defeat the enemy.



Relations and cooperation between Iran and Syria on regional level and the world of Islam should expand.





**President Ahmadinejad to Foreign Minister of Venezuela Nicola Maduro:

Iran is firm for all-out expansion of relations with Venezuela, including in the area of mutual intestment.



Maduro: Iran has the right to access peaceful nuclear energy.





**President Ahmadinejad to Foreign Minister of Belarus Sergei Martinov:

Tehran wants cooperation with Minsk in global forums given significance of the cooperation. NAM should be promoted by active members of the alliance, including Iran, Belarus and Venezuela in three parts of the world. Iran and Belarus share many potentials for mutual economic, industrial and energy cooperation.

Tehran, Sept 3, IRNA