[Marxism] Cuba's Victory at UN Still in Progress: Iranian Commerc Minister

[Walter Lippmann <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

NAM Forum: Cuba's Victory at UN Still in Progress, says Iranian
Minister

As the 2nd Non-Aligned Movement Business Forum unfolds in Havana, acn
spoke with Iran's Minister of Commerce, Sayyed Masud Mir-Kazemi about
the state of bilateral cooperation relations and their prospects.

by Luis Chirino

Interview with Seyyed Masud Mir-kazemi, Minister of Commerce of the
Islamic Republic of Iran

acn--What is your opinion on this Second Business Forum held by NAM
in Havana, which is being attended by representatives of 42 countries
and what are Iran's expectations about it?

Mir-Kazemi--This forum has been welcomed by the chambers of commerce
of many countries, so we expect it will be successful. Cuba has made
a big effort in that regards. On the other hand, the presence here of
so many countries confirms that Cuba is not alone; so this meeting
could be considered as the continuity of the recent victory garnered
by Cuba at the United Nations.

For Iran, this forum and all NAM meetings are very important, since I
thinkthat Non-Aligned nations need to expand multilateral cooperation
and commercial exchange, and thus a higher added value.

acn--Could you brief us about your most recent contacts with Cuban
government officials in regards to the state of bilateral cooperation
relations?

Mir-Kazemi--I had talks with Foreign Trade Minister Raul de la Nuez,
Vice-president Carlos Lage and with Government Minister Ricardo
Cabrisas.

All three meetings were really fruitful; we talked about the
development of bilateral relations, about contracts related to
investment protection, trade exchange in the transport sector and in
specific industrial areas, in which Cuba wants to have Iranian
investment. We also reviewed our current working commitments, as well
as other issues that we will follow up in upcoming governmental
meetings. Cuba and Iran are interested in expanding bilateral
cooperation links; let's not forget that both countries share things
in common, both are being threatened by the United States. In fact, I
personally look forward to seeing our relations quite advanced in the
future. acn-Cuba and Iran established cooperation relations in 1981
and that exchange has grown over the years. Could you refer to some
of the most recent bilateral actions aimed at further expanding those
relations?

Mir-Kazemi--Not long ago, Iran granted Cuba a 200-million-dollar
credit line. Both countries have signed important business deals,
such as the purchase by Cuba of railroad wagons so much needed here,
as well as other equipment. We are now paving the way for Iranian
companies to participate in other Cuban economic sectors, such as
agriculture, the construction material industry, etc. Those issues
are being considered by different ministries in our two countries. At
present, Iran is importing agricultural products from Cuba and at the
same time it is exporting others to the island. Those issues have
also been on my agenda of talks with Cuban officials.

acn--Upon your arrival in Havana, you reaffirmed Iran's political
stance towards Cuba, shortly after 184 UN member nations, including
Iran, voted in favor of the Cuban resolution condemning the US
economic blockade on Cuba.

Mir-Kazemi- As a matter of fact, the vote was a very timely event,
since it revealed that a growing number of countries are becoming
aware of what is going on in the world. You know, many of them were
well aware of that, but they did not dare speak their minds. The vote
that took place at the United Nations was a world demonstration
against US supremacy, against a unipolar world. The countries of the
world wish to live in peace, they reject aggressions.

acn--Iran has kept a firm stance as to the defense of its right to
use nuclear energy with peaceful aims despite the fact that the
United States keeps voicing its threatening discourse. At present,
the world is following with attention that event. Could you elaborate
in this respect?

Mir-Kazemi- Any country that defends its independence and
self-determination will be threatened by the United States. All
countries have the right to use nuclear energy and all nations,
including Cuba, need to use clean energy. It must not be a technology
only at the disposal of a handful of countries. Iran has always been
a peaceful country and when we have faced a conflict it's been
because we've been attacked. Iran is a democratic country; all our
leaders, at all levels, have been elected by the people and our
people know very well the value of their independence and their
revolution, so they firmly defend their rights. On the other hand,
Iran is a powerful country in the fields of technology, economy and
science.

However the nuclear issued raised by the United States is just a
pretext; if that conflict were resolved, they (the United States)
would look for another pretext, because the issue behind all that is
Iran's revolution and independence. We stopped the nuclear project
some years ago, but Washington did not put an end to its policy
against Iran. Now we have resumed the project and I can say that we
are a nuclear country; our people want to use that technology and we
are sure that the US administration will always find a pretext to
back its own interests, either the human right issue or terrorism,
even when they constitute the major terrorist government in the
world. Therefore, we will go ahead with our nuclear energy program in
order to produce that energy and obtain its benefits.

The Iranian minister of commerce arrived in Havana on Wednesday
heading an official delegation that is participating in the 2nd
Business Forum of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Iran and Cuba established diplomatic relations in 1979 and launched
its bilateral cooperation exchange in 1981.


====================================
Walter Lippmann
Havana, Cuba
"Un paraÃso bajo el bloqueo"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
====================================

________________________________________________
YOU MUST clip all extraneous text before replying to a message.
Send list submissions to: Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism