New Iranian president offers 'moderation'

Iranian President-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has pledged to put "moderation and tolerance" at the top of his administration's agenda.

At his first press conference since voters chose him as their next head of state, Ahmadinejad offered Iranians "a government of friendship and tolerance."

"Let's convert competition to friendship. We are all a nation and a big family," he said in apparent reference to the rifts that deepened in the campaign for Friday's runoff election.

"My mission is creating a role model of a modern, advanced, powerful and Islamic society."

And in the first statement of his new government's foreign policy, Ahmadinejad extended a hand of friendship to all nations that are friendly towards Iran, but warned the United States that Teheran could not establish relations with Washington until it changes its "hostile" attitude.

Ahmadinejad added that Iran is determined to carry out nuclear research for civilian purposes.

He told the reporters that Iran has the right to pursue its nuclear programme and will "never give up its legal rights under any circumstances."

However, Iran will continue its talks with the European Union (EU) on the nuclear issue to show moderation in its foreign policy, added the president-elect.

"We are going to talk with them (the Europeans), but I want to point out that no matter whether the talks yield results or not, Iran will never change its policy," Ahmadinejad said, adding that Teheran only make decisions according to its own principles.

Meanwhile, he stressed that mutual trust was vital in the bilateral nuclear talks.

"The two sides must share more mutual confidence, and then the negotiations will go on better," Ahmadinejad said.

But he refused to reveal the exact time of the resumption of the country's highly sensitive uranium enrichment.

Nuclear research

The president-elect also reiterated Teheran's pledge that the nuclear research would never be diverted to military use.

Ahmadinejad defeated former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani with a landslide victory in the presidential runoff on Friday.

During his campaign, Ahmadinejad refused to compromise on Iran's nuclear issue, raising concerns over the prospects for a diplomatic solution to the dispute.

The nuclear talks between Iran and the EU had reached deadlock for months before Iran held the election due to the uncompromising stances of the two sides.

In order to prevent a looming crisis, Teheran and Europe held a round of talks at the end of May, agreeing to virtually suspend negotiations to await the result of Iran's election.

"With preserving national interests and by emphasising the right of the Iranian nation for using peaceful nuclear technology, we will continue the talks," he said.

The United States has accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons and urged the reference of Teheran's nuclear case to the UN Security Council.

Iran has categorically denied the charge, insisting that its nuclear research is just for peaceful purposes.

"We need this technology for energy and medical purposes. We shall carry on with it," he said.

Ahmadinejad said he had no intention to improve Teheran's relations with the United States as long as Washington adopts a hostile attitude towards the Islamic Republic.

"Iran will develop ties with almost all countries in the world except for the United States, for we cannot develop relations with a country which always keeps a hostile attitude toward us," said Ahmadinejad.

He stressed that Iran can and will develop relations just with amicable countries. "As long as Washington keeps behaving like that, there is no need for Iran to develop ties with it."

"The foreign policy of the government is justice, peace and co-existence, and the expansion of mutual, just relations," he stressed.

Iran and the United States have had a hostile relationship for 26 years. Washington, accusing Iran of developing nuclear weapons and sponsoring terrorists, has labelled Iran as part of an "axis of evil" and imposed harsh sanctions on the country.

In return, Iran branded the United States the "enemy of the Islam," calling on all Muslims to frustrate its attempt to control the Middle East.

Wish to 'develop ties with China'

Ahmadinejad expressed his willingness to develop ties with China.

The president-elect told the Xinhua News Agency that he knows China very well and wants to develop ties with China during his term as president.

"I know China very well. During my term of office as Teheran mayor, I had frequent contacts with many Chinese companies co-operating with us, through which I have become quite familiar with China and the Chinese people," Ahmadinejad said.

"Iran is intended to promote relations with all amicable countries in the world, including China," Ahmadinejad stressed.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao yesterday congratulated Iran's new president and expressed confidence that China and Iran would further develop their friendly relations.

Turning to economic policy, the new Iranian president said: "Today we are facing bureaucratic obstacles for domestic and foreign investment. Lack of co-ordinated decision-making has reduced the growth of investment in the country."

He added that his administration would "strongly support the stock market. The stock market, which is the bridge between capital and production, will definitely be developed, but with changes."

"Tackling corruption in all sectors, including oil, is part of a definite policy for our government," he pledged

And he added that, "in all fields, including oil, priority will be given to local investors."

Source: China Daily