Baghdad Conference will be continuation of Istanbul

21 April 2012 | 18:41 Code : 1900337 From Other Media
Fars News Agency's Interview with Kazem Jalali, Secretary of the National Security Committee of Majlis
Baghdad Conference will be continuation of Istanbul
 Kazem Jalali, secretary of the National Security Committee of Majlis, in an interview with a foreign policy reporter of the Fars News Agency with regard to the Istanbul Conference, said: “These negotiations should be studied from different aspects. First, these negotiations showed the dignity of the people of Iran and were done from the stance of power and within the framework of protecting their nuclear rights. Furthermore, Iran had never left negotiations; rather it was the Westerners who had proposed issues in the previous negotiations that deviated from the trend of talks. In my view, Westerners should review their behavior. We must also consider the reasons for the return of Westerners to negotiations.”
 

Jalali further added that the Westerners have witnessed Iran’s resistance and its serious move in defense of its nuclear rights. They understood that the people of Iran have not, and will not, stop their movement and have achieved incredible progress. Noting the point that Western countries thought that by imposing sanctions, sending Iran’s nuclear dossier to the UN Security Council, and by ratifying different resolutions they will weaken the people and government of Iran he said: “They thought that these measures would reduce the people’s will and force the Islamic Republic to give up its goals, but sanctions and the use of threats could not weaken their stance.”
 

The Secretary of the National Security Committee of Majlis stated: “Developments in our region practically showed the Western world that the balance of power is to the benefit of Iran and Iran is more powerful than before.”
 

Jalali, while mentioning the upcoming elections in the US and France, expressed this view: “These elections and high prices of energy and gasoline, and the need to create calm and stability in the field of energy have forced the presidents of these countries to move in such a way that the balance returns to their benefit in order to succeed in these elections. Therefore, the Istanbul negotiations were very important for them.”
 

Regarding the remaining time until the Baghdad Conference, he stated: “It is the Westerners who should secure the confidence of the people of Iran, for Iran’s public opinion does not trust some policies of certain Western countries. Past negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 have shown that the Westerners do not stand by their commitments.”
 

Jalali further added that from the issue of suspension of enrichment to the agreements reached in the Tehran negotiations and before for the Tehran reactor on the issue of modality, it was always the Western party that was not prepared to honor its commitments. And even though Iran declared its readiness to take some measures to remove their doubts, they demanded new issues to be addressed as well.
 

While noting that the West’s behavior during this time has created mistrust in Iran’s public opinion, he stated: “It is the responsibility of the West to secure confidence. In order to do so, it should return from the deviating path it has chosen (i.e., discussing the nuclear issue of Iran in the Security Council, illegal resolutions followed by illegal sanctions against Iran). In my opinion, in order for the negotiations to return to their right place, the Westerners should compensate for their past measures.”
 

Jalali reiterated: “I believe that the Baghdad Conference will be the continuation of Istanbul. Until then, no negative moves should be made. I believe that the Baghdad negotiations will be positive.”
 

Regarding the issue of the Additional Protocol and the NPT, he said: “One of the issues proposed by the Westerners is ratification by Iran of the Additional Protocol to the NPT. Acceptance of the Additional Protocol is voluntary and Iran has never rejected it in its totality. But if the literature used by the opposing party is based on force and threats, Iran will never ratify the Additional Protocol.”
 

Jalali further added: “Iran’s reasoning has always been that we have accepted all international rules, but the Western party has never taken a positive step.”
 

While pointing out that Iran is a member of NPT, he said: “All international rules and protocols are comprised of two parts; first, the rights of the countries and second, their responsibilities and obligations. Usually, they watch, with utmost care, Iran’s obligations but they do not pay attention to its rights, and this is wrong.”
 

The Secretary of the Majlis National Security Committee, while mentioning that it was agreed in Istanbul that Iran’s nuclear activities be based on the NPT, further added: “It seems that this is a great success and if the Westerners honor their commitments, the nuclear issue of Iran will certainly lead to a desirable result. Iran has accepted the NPT and, so far, has moved within its framework.

Regarding the reaction of the Zionist Regime and some Arab countries following the agreements between Iran and the P5+1 in Istanbul, Jalali said: “The Zionist Regime always prefers that Iran be faced with crisis and threats and, hence, it is naturally worried about Iran’s agreements in the international arena. But I believe that there is no point for Arab countries to be worried. We have always declared to these countries that the power of Iran is the power of the Islamic world.”