Ahmadinejad: Iran-Egypt Ties Serve Both Nationsˈ Regional Interests

Tehran, Feb 7, IRNA – President of Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in an interview with Egyptˈs Nile TV, ˈRelations between Iran and Egypt would be to benefit of both nations and secure entire Muslims and regional interests.ˈ According to IRNA, President Ahmadinejad referred to the two nations as great nations with deep cultural and historical roots emphasizing the importance of restoring full comprehensive relations. He noted that Iran and Egypt have numerous potential for expansion of relations, adding, ˈWe can cooperate in various scientific, technological and industrial fields with each other.ˈ Ahmadinejad meanwhile referred to the Egyptian Revolution as a move to the benefit of the entire region, arguing that presently the regional equations have changed and relations between Tehran and Cairo would be to the benefit of both countries. The Iranian president elsewhere in the interview referred to the power, advancement, and prestige of Egypt as the power and prestige of Iran. ** Iran and Egypt inheritors of two great civilizations Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the Iranians and the Egyptians are the founders of great and influential cultures and civilizations in the world, reiterating, ˈIran and Egypt have 10 thousand years of culture and civilization and we are after humane relations.ˈ In response to a question whether normalizing the Iran-Egypt relations depends on US agreement, Ahmadinejad said, ˈI believe the two Iranian and Egyptian nations existed at a time that the United States did not exist.ˈ He added, ˈWe existed, but they did not.ˈ The reporter asked whether normalizing the Egypt-Iran relations would assist Iran break the western imposed sanctions. The president replied, ˈWe have been sanctioned throughout the past 34 years and we know how to deal with the sanctions. Under no set of sanctions we have never before nor would ever in the future change any of our polices towards the region, or the international community. Naturally, the two countriesˈ good relations would be to the benefit of the two nations, the world Muslims, and the human beings.ˈ Ahmadinejad said, ˈIn Iran there is not obstacle for restoration of relations with Egypt; I have also said in the past that we are fully ready for cooperation and this it to the benefit of the two nations. For instance, in economic field Egypt has much potential and if we would cooperate with each other we would get self sufficient in dealing with those who intend to impose their policies against us.ˈ He said that such cooperation could be in scientific, technological, agricultural, and tourism fields and Iran-Egypt cooperation would also affect the regional equations, while the enemies of the two nations are opposed to such relations. The IRI president said that Iran is ready for comprehensive relations with Egypt, adding, ˈIran and Egypt are independent and great regional nations, and the two nations decide their fates all by themselves.ˈ He said, ˈIran-Egypt relations have enemies who spread rumors, bring up issues of side and marginal importance and replace them with the major issue.ˈ The head of Iranian government reiterated, ˈWe are the supporters of the Egyptian nation and government and the Egyptian government, too, supports the Iranian nation.ˈ Ahmadinejad considered the Egyptians as a great and pious nation with outstanding personalities and countless talents, with historic background and so foreign interference in Cairoˈs decision making is ruled out, as the Great Egyptian nation is mature and independent and no one can dictate anything against this nation. **Great perspective for Egypt-Iran relations He said that the perspective of the two nationsˈ relations is very bright, adding, ˈDecision for expansion of relations with Egypt has been on the table long before the 9th and 10th governments came to the scene in Iran and I, too, pursued the same policy.ˈ Ahmadinejad said that expansion of relation with Egypt is a national decision in Iran, saying, ˈThis decision would remain in effect and the future governments would pursue it more seriously. The regional conditions, too, would urge us to pursue it quite seriously.ˈ He also referred to the similarities between the Iranian and Egyptian revolutions in response to a question, adding, ˈIn Iran the revolution was for independence, freedom, advancement, justice and divine values and the Egyptian nation, too, are after independence, justice, freedom, and the divine and humane values.ˈ ** The Syrian nation must build their future themselves In response to a question on Syria, he said, ˈOur efforts are aimed at approximating the Syrian groups and harbingering compromise among them, holding free and fair elections, is that the nation would decide about its fate all by itself.ˈ Ahmadinejad added, ˈThe prevailing conditions in Syria bother us, because regardless of who gets killed, they are all Syrian people.ˈ He added, ˈIn Bahrain, too, we pursue the same policy and we have told them to sit and come to terms with each other and hold free and fair elections.ˈ **The Zionist regime is an imposed one The president in response to a question on the threats of the Zionist regime said, ˈWe are not scared of any force, even from the masters and the supporters of that forged regime.ˈ He added, ˈThis regime is imposed against the region so that the westerners would be able to sell weapons and sow the seeds of discord among us.ˈ The Iranian political leader said the if Iran and Egypt were ready to sever the hands of the Zionists off the occupied lands harmoniously there was no need to any war. And if the regional nations would be united no problem would remain in the region. ** Fall of capitalist mentality Elsewhere in the interview he reiterated, ˈWe must solve the regional problems all by ourselves because the oppressor powers are merely after exerting hegemony over the oil wells, the energy resource and the wealth of our nations.ˈ Ahmadinejad reiterated, ˈThe US government has got weaker compared to twenty years ago. At that time it was much stronger than today. America is faced with many problems today.ˈ He said that the capitalist mentality is both theoretically and practically on the verge of collapse. The Iranian president said that the westerners are deprived of the power to comprehend and properly analyze the Iranian issues, arguing, ˈResorting to, telling leis and deceiving they are after sowing the seeds of discord.ˈ/end