On Human Rights:
(In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly)
"Unfortunately human rights are being extensively violated by certain powers, especially by those who pretend to be their exclusive advocates. Setting up secret prisons, abducting persons, trials and secret punishments without any regard to due process, extensive tapping of telephone conversations intercepting private mail... have become commonplace and prevalent."
On Nuclear Weapons:
(At Columbia in Q&A)
"Our nuclear program, first and foremost operates within the framework of law. ...[And] they are completely peaceful. We don't believe in nuclear weapons, period."
Ahmadinejad said Iran's nuclear program was for electricity generation.
On the nation of Israel:
(To Scott Pelley in a 60 Minutesinterview Sept. 23 in Tehran)
PELLEY: Mr. President, you say you love all nations. I have to assume that includes the Nation of Israel.
AHMADINEJAD: Israel is not a nation. Well, we like the people, yes, because they are victims as well. They used to live in their own countries, in their own cities. They were given empty promises, false promises. They said that we are going to give you jobs, we are going to give you security. And they pushed the local Palestinian people out and made them refugees and also made refugees of another community. In other words, from thousands of miles away, people have been emigrating to this country and they are living in fear every day. And we feel for them. Last year in my speech I said that the Zionist entity should open the borders and the gates. Let the people decide where they want to go and settle. They are good people as well. We have no bones to pick with them. We are against terrorism. We are against wrong policies. We are friends with all people, Jewish people, Christians, different people of different faiths. We are, well, we’re in contact with them. Here in Iran there are Jewish communities; there are Christian communities; we’re all friends. Also, non-Muslim countries, we help them when a natural, let’s say, calamity breaks. We love all people. We are opposed to Zionism, occupation, terrorism, dropping bombs on behalf of people when they are inside their own homes, killing men, women, and children. Very openly I have said time and again that I oppose these.
PELLEY: If the Palestinians reach an agreement with Israel for a two-state solution, will you then recognize Israel as well?
AHMADINEJAD: Well, the decision rests with the Palestinian people. This is exactly what I’m saying.
On the Holocaust:
(At a meeting with Quakers in NYC)
He backed off earlier comments which questioned the magnitude of the Holocaust, calling it "a reality of our time, a history that occurred." However, he still said the Nazi murder of 6 million Jews required more research.
On Global Domination:
(In an address to the United Nations Security Council)
AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): A scientific and careful analysis shows that the root of the present situation lies in two fundamental factors.
Without doubt, the first factor lies in the relations arising from the consequences of the Second World War. The victors of the war drew the road map for global domination and formulated their policies not on the basis of justice, but for ensuring the interests of the victors over the vanquished nations.
Therefore, mechanisms arising from this approach and related policies have not been capable of finding just solutions for global solutions since 60 years ago.
[Second,] some big powers still behave like the victors of the world war and regard other states and nations, even those that had nothing to do with the war, as the vanquished and humiliate other nations and demand extortion through condescending positions similar to that of the master-servant relationship of the Medieval ages.
They believe that they should have more rights than others and also are not accountable to any international organizations.
On the Occupation of Iraq:
On Iraqi refugees:
"Iran and Iraq are two countries with great nations. Insecurity in Iraq will inflict the most damage on Iran."
Ahmadinejad made left a clear impression that Iran is prepared to fill the void of leadership created by the occupation of Iraq. But he was mum on the issue of opening the borders to refugees.
He did say that Iran is receiving Afghans though. According to PressTV, Ahmadinejad said that more than 2.5 million Afghans live in Iran legally and enjoy all legal rights. "Certain Afghan groups have entered Iran illicitly. A legal position should be adopted towards them to preserve the rights of Afghan refugees."
On Homosexuality:
(At Columbia)
“In Iran, we don't have homosexuals, like in your country. We don't have that in our country. In Iran, we do not have this phenomenon. I don't know who's told you that we have it.” This statement was removed from the official transcripts printed in Farsi in Iran.
On Iran's plans in the global community:
(In address to the United Nations Security Council)
Today, the problems that people around the world face are mainly rooted in the disregard of human values and ethics, and also in the rule of the selfish and incompetent.
Friends, ladies, and gentlemen, the only sustainable way to the betterment of mankind is the return to the teachings of the divine prophets, monotheism, respect for the dignity of humans, and the flow of love and affection in all relationships, ties, and regulations, and to reform the present structures on this basis.
To fulfill this objective, I invite everyone -- everybody to form a front of fraternity, amity, and sustainable peace, based on monotheism and justice, under the name of "Coalition for Peace," (ph) to prevent incursions and arrogance and to promote the culture of affection and justice.
I hereby announce that, with the help of all independent, justice-seeking and peace-loving nations, the Islamic Republic of Iran will be heading down this path.
Monotheism, justice, and compassion for humans should dominate all the pillars of the U.N. And this organization should be a forum for justice, and every member should enjoy equal spiritual and legal support.
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On respect:
According to a USAToday report, at a dinner Tuesday night with 60 journalists and Iran scholars, Ahmadinejad listened in silence for more than an hour, taking notes as attendees commented and asked questions. He then responded to each statement, addressing his questioner by name.
For a man who's country has been dragged through the mud for the past five years in the Western media to come to the United States and address the United Nations with humility that is so entirely uncharacteristic is shocking. Everyone anticipated "Madman Iran" outbursts, but there were none. Everyone expected blatant anti-US rhetoric, but on the whole, there was none. Everyone expected words of violence and threatening speech, but instead there was a dissertation on the Islamic views on modern international events.
Was this calm, religious speech on respect and peace a rouse? Was it designed as a public relations stunt to improve the image of Iran? Probably. But if the people of the United States feel threatened by such a display, perhaps they are looking in the wrong places.
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