thr 039
U.S.-Attacks-Iran /POL/
Iran ready join UN anti-terror campaign - Ex-president
(RECASTS with more quotes, writes through)
Tehran, Sept 28, IRNA -- Former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi
Rafsanjani said here Friday Iran is ready to take part in a UN-led
anti-terrorist campaign provided that the United States does not
impose its own will.
"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.
He described the September 11 terrorist attacks on Washington and
New York as "a new sort of war and implementation of a new strategy
for terror." Rafsanjan stepped up his warnings for precautionary
measures before "the more dangerous forms (of terrorism) are
implemented."
Washington has been considering strikes against Afghanistan, a
country mostly controlled by the Islamist Taliban regime, which it
accuses of giving shelter to terror suspect Osama bin laden.
On Wednesday, White House officials said that Washington remained
open to exploring anti-terrorism cooperation with Iran but warned the
Islamic Republic to choose sides soon in the coming war on global
terrorism.
"We should reach a common definition of terrorism" and find out
the manifestations of terrorism, Rafsanjani said, noting that all
efforts should be made under the auspices of the United Nations. "The
United Nations should lie at the center of all efforts."
"I know it is not any easy task, but since the future of humanity
is in danger, we must strive to fight terrorism," he said.
"I took the podium at the Friday prayers to notify the United
States that our people have proven to be unhappy with these tragedies
and are also concerned that such tragedies may be repeated in another
form somewhere else," Rafsanjani added.
"The incident in the U.S. can help to an end to the insecurities
and instabilities which currently hold a grip on the world,"
Rafsanjani said, noting that the world is replete with "dirty and
terrorist-breeding bases."
"From the very beginning, Iran adopted a clear stance with our
officials and media adopting an anti-terrorism stand," said Rafsanjani
who currently chairs the state Expediency Council, the highest
arbitration body in the Islamic establishment.
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami swiftly condemned the terrorist
attacks and called for "effective measures to eradicate terrorism."
"We expressed sympathy with the Americans while they have never
shared our grieves and even were happy with our miseries."
Rafsanjani said the attacks on the U.S. landmarks which have
allegedly left some 6,000 feared dead can be viewed from a positive
and negative perspective.
"A unanimous expression of sympathy, holding round table talks,
expert debates and discussions for eradication of terrorism and the
United Nations' readiness for resolving this global sinister are among
the unprecedented positive aspects," Rafsanjani said, stressing the
need for establishment of a "global coordination to fight terrorism."
He, however, qualified the "crisis management" in the United
States as "weak" and said, "The American statesmen proved a weak
performance in controlling the recent crisis."
"Confusion has also hit the arrogant American administrators who
are for the first time experiencing such a trauma."
Rafsanjani criticized the states harboring the Iraq-based
terrorist Mujahideen Khalq Organization (MKO) and said: "We have been
suffering from terrorism for over 22 years (since the 1979-Islamic
Revolution) and we have tasted this bitter phenomenon and the arrogant
powers have not only not sympathized with us but also welcomed the
terrorists."
The MKO, officially outlawed in Iran because of a long record of
political assassinations, bomb blasts and terrorist activities
committed by its members in Iran since 1979, was forced to move its
headquarters to neighboring Iraq from where it launches sporadic
attacks against the Islamic Republic with Baghdad's encouragement.
Over the past few days Iran has expressed its opposition to any
unilateral, retaliatory U.S. move against the Afghan ruling Taliban
who is said to be harboring Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect in the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
Washington wants Afghan-based Islamic militant Osama bin Laden
"dead or alive" for what it sees as his guiding hand in the suicide
hijack attacks on New York and Washington two weeks ago in which
thousands were killed. Bin Laden has denied any role in the attacks.
The United Nations has announced that a humanitarian crisis of
alarming proportions at Afghanistan's borders with Iran and Pakistan
has already started and that food supplies are good only for a week.
Iran has announced it has set up eight camps to house some 200,000
Afghan refugees now stranded in its border who have fled their country
in anticipation of a U.S. attack.
Rafsanjani sais the United States should offer enough proof
before launching any military attack against Afghanistan. "I do not
say that the Americans' accusations are baseless, but I say that
they should offer evidence."
"The United States has, either voluntarily or involunatarily, not
offered proof" that bin Laden masterminded the deadly attack.
Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi in a phone
conversation with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan Friday 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."
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.
AK/AK
End
::irna 15:17