Posted on 07/10/2002 1:40:29 PM PDT by knighthawk
TEHRAN - Austrian President Thomas Klestil said on Wednesday that he was not inclined to accept the "axis of evil" accusation of U.S. President George W. Bush as, according to him, the world should believe in the good intentions of countries.
He made the remark in a meeting with the visting Iranian Interior Minister, Abdolvahed Mousavi, in Vienna.
Expressing regret over what he said are the "negative reports" against the Iranian government, he said that the global media would rather keep silent on the remarkable role being played by Iran on international causes such as the anti-drug campaign and Afghan refugees.
He once again reiterated Vienna's readiness to invest in infrastructure projects in Iran and to transfer its technology in areas needed by Iran.
The european union should have an active and multilateral role in the world and give importance to iran," he declared.
Mousavi Lari, during the meeting said Iran welcomes foreign investments.
Turning to the subject of Afghan reconstruction, Mousavi Lari said that infrastructure reconstruction and substitute farming would be most effective in curtailing drug production and trafficking in the country.
Pointing to the serious problem of drug production and trafficking in Afghanistan, he expressed Iran's willingness to help in the campaign to cut production and distribution of narcotics drugs in that country.
lari arrived in Vienna Monday on the first leg of a two-nation tour of austria and turkey.
the visit, which is taking place at his counterpart's invitation, will provide an opportunity for both sides to seek ways to broaden mutual cooperation in various fields as well as forge deeper bilateral ties.
lari's trip to austria will be in the context of general efforts to promote tehran-vienna ties in areas of mutual interest.
Iranian Interior Minister Abdolvahed Mousavi Lari said Tuesday evening that he will proceed to Ankara from Vienna on Wednesday if his Turkish counterpart has not resigned.
Following the resignation of several Turkish ministers from Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's cabinet, many new developments could be expected.
In an interview with IRNA, Lari said that the Iranian Foreign Ministry and the Iranian Embassy in Ankara are following up current developments in Turkey.
The Iranian interior minister is to visit Turkey at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart.
According to the official schedule, Lari and his political and security delegation were to leave Vienna for Ankara on Wednesday.
Lari arrived in Vienna on Monday on a two-day official visit in response to the invitation of his Austrian counterpart, Ernest Strasser.
During his visit on Tuesday he stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a forerunner of anti-drug campaign in the world.
He added that the country's security faces great threats caused by transit of narcotic drugs from Afghanistan.
The Iranian minister made the remark in a meeting with Antonio Maria Costa, Deputy UN Secretary General, Director General of the UN Office at Vienna and Executive Director of Drug Control and Crime Prevention Office.
Over 3,000 Iranian police staff have so far been killed during various anti-drug operations, he said, adding that millions of dollars have also been spent to equip the Iranian police in their anti-drug campaign.
Narcotic drugs are directly related to organized crimes and terrorism, and threatens international peace and stability, Lari reiterated.
Expressing his concern over continued poppy cultivation and massive production of illicit drugs in Afghanistan, he voiced Iran's readiness to cooperate with the United Nations to help replace poppy farms with useful crops and establish a security belt around Afghanistan.
For his part, the UN envoy stressed Iran's great efforts in the area of anti-drug campaign and called on the international community to take serious steps in that regard. The international community should cooperate with the Islamic Republic in the fight against drug smuggling, he said.
During the meeting, reconstruction of the war-torn Afghanistan and participation of both Iran and the UN in the process were underlined by the two officials.
He talks like a liberal. Where has this guy been for in the past years? Iran is supporting international terrorism, the hostage situation in the US Embassy, helping Iraq for years to dodge the UN embargo, mass executions, stoning and amputations and Iran just found a man guity of mixed dancing (woman and men together)!
"Let me talk with Uncle Joe (Stalin)."
History is rife with politicians who are way out of their league.
Austria is just mad because they were part of the original Axis of Evil. They plan to hire Larry Klayman to sue Bush for copyright violation.
They lack standing to sue because they weren't a marquee member.
On Haider's visit to Iraq
Iraq-Austria, Politics, 2/15/2002
The Austrian "Liberty" party on Wednesday defended the visit currently made to Iraq by former leader of the ruling party and governors of the Austrian province of "Karnithia" Yorg Haider, noting that it is a very encouraging visit and aims at completing the country's foreign policy.
News reports quoted Peter Seshroveski, the secretary general of the "Liberty" party " as saying in a statement that Haeder's visit to Baghdad has paved the way before Austria to carry out a mediation role in the Arab role. The statement indicated that the invitation extended to Haider to visit Iraq was not an official one.
For her part, the deputy for the Austrian chancellor and the leader of the "Liberty" party said that Haider's visit to Iraq are for mere humanitarian purposes and to help in alleviating the sufferings of the Iraqi people as a result of the sanctions imposed on them.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/020215/2002021501.html
BWAHAHAHAHA. A belief like that is a sure sign of an idiot leftist. I like Ronnie's approach - Trust, With Verification (said, IIRC, with respect to an arms control treaty with the Soviets).
On another thread, there was an Ayn Rand quote that, paraphrasing, said "Ignoring the reality of the world does not insulate one from the effects of ignoring the reality of the world." Here's a guy who could benefit from the wisdom behind that thought.
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