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Iran-Terrorism-UN /POL/
Iran's FM, Annan discuss UN-led anti-terror campaign
Tehran, Sept 28, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi and
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan discussed on phone Friday an
international anti-terror campaign as well as the latest developments
in Afghanistan.
Annan expressed gratification with the Islamic Republic for taking
up an "active diplomacy" through conducting intense lobbies with the
European Union, following the September 11 terror attacks in the
United States.
He said it was important for the world countries, especially
Europe, to be kept abreast of Iran's stance on the recent world
developments.
"The United Nations has put the issue of dealing with terrorism in
its agenda," Annan said, adding the campaign would go ahead smoothly
provided that the world countries stick to the central role of the
UN in the fight.
He said he was striving to find "appropriate mechanisms" to
help Afghan refugees who have flooded the country's borders with
neighboring countries since a U.S.-led attack on the alleged
terrorist bases in the country has loomed large.
Kharrazi reiterated the UN's central role in the campaign
against international terrorism, saying "the Islamic Republic of
Iran believes that the United Nations should become the axis of the
anti-terror fight so that the necessary unanimity for the campaign
against this ominous phenomenon is achieved."
"The UN should attend to the fate of the Afghan people and
provide the necessary assistance for them," the Iranian foreign
minister added.
Iran was quick to condemn the September 11 attacks that left over
6,000 people dead or missing at the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon despite the fact that it does not have diplomatic ties with
the United States since U.S. Embassy staff were held captive for 444
days in 1980 by Iranian revolutionary students.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday said that "the
Islamic Republic of Iran will not provide any help to America or its
allies in case they attack" the ruling Taliban militia in Afghanistan,
accused by Washington of harboring the mastermind of September 11's
attacks on U.S. trade and defense centers, Osama bin Laden.
"America does not have the competence to guide a global movement
against terrorism, and...Iran will not participate in any move which
is headed by the United States," the leader said.
Iran says the campaign against terrorism should be led by the
United Nations.
President Mohammad Khatami, in a meeting with the visiting EU
delegation on Wednesday, called for a fundamental campaign against
terrorism in which all world nations will stand prominent in the
struggle.
He said the international community is justified to deal with
terrorists in a manner it sees appropriate provided there was
sufficient evidence of the guilt of the suspect or suspects.
Former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said here Friday
Iran is ready to take part in a UN-led anti-terror campaign provided
that the United States does not impose its ideas.
"If the United States decides not to impose its own will, we are
ready to join the anti-terrorism coalition under the umbrella of the
United Nations despite our differences with the United States,"
Rafsanjani told worshipers at the weekly Friday congregational prayers
at Tehran University.
BH/AK
End
::irna 14:47