YouSaid · the spoken record

Hassan Rouhani

lines on the record: 144
first: 2013-09-24
most recent: 2020-09-24
sittings or episodes: 8
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“The right solution to that quandary comes from within the region, not from outside, and must be a regionally provided solution with international support. In the Holy Koran, God the Almighty has promised those who have believed and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession to authority upon the Earth and that their fears will turn into peace and security. It is my sincerest hope that our generation will endeavour to leave a more secure and developed Earth as its legacy for the next generation. I wish all present much success and many blessings.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“The notion that Iran seeks to control other Muslim countries in the region is a myth fanned in recent years in the context of an Iranophobic project. Those who make such claims need imaginary enemies to sustain tensions and sow division and conflict, thereby pushing for the redeployment of national resources away from development. We work to put an end to delusional Iranophobia, setting the stage for building strategic partnerships with our neighbours. Last year I warned against the expansion of violence and extremism. This year too I warn that if the right approach is not taken in dealing with the issue at hand, we will get closer to having a turbulent and tumultuous region with repercussions for the whole world.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Such an agreement could bear a global message of peace and security, indicating that the only way to attain conflict resolution is through negotiation and respect, not through conflict and sanctions. Last year, the great nation of Iran broadly participated in the calm and impressive presidential election and endorsed the discourse of foresight, hope and prudent moderation. Thereafter, they support their elected Government in its effort in building the country. While some of Iran’s neighbours have fallen prey to war and turmoil, Iran remains secure, stable and calm. My Government’s principled policy is to work towards constructive interactions with our neighbors on the basis of mutual respect and with emphasis on common interests.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“If our interlocutors are equally motivated and flexible, and if we can overcome the problems and reach long-standing agreement within the time remaining, then an entirely different environment will emerge for cooperation at the regional and international levels. That would allow for greater focus on some very important regional issues such as combating violence and extremism in the region. Arriving at a final, comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran will be an historic opportunity for the West to show that it does not oppose the advancement and development of others and does not discriminate when it comes to adhering to international rules and regulations.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“The people of Iran are devoted to certain principles and values, at the apex of which are independence, development and national pride. If that obvious fact about the nation is not understood by our negotiating partners and they commit grievous miscalculations in the process, a historic and exceptional opportunity will be lost. As the Assembly knows, during the ongoing nuclear negotiations this year, the Iranian Government took some initiatives that created favourable conditions, which resulted in the new phase, the Geneva Joint Plan of Action. We are determined to continue our confidence-building approach and transparency in that process.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“I believe that mutual adherence to the strict implementation of commitments and obligations and avoidance of excessive demands in the negotiations by our counterparts are the prerequisites for the success of the negotiations. A final accord regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme can serve as the beginning of multilateral collaboration aimed at promoting security, peace and development in our region and beyond. The people of Iran, who have been subjected to pressures especially during the past three years as a result of continued sanctions, cannot trust any security cooperation between their Government and those who have imposed sanctions and created obstacles to their ability to satisfy even their primary needs, such as food and medicine. Sanctions only create further impediments to long-term cooperation in the future.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Although some of the observations and actions of our counterparts have created certain doubts regarding their determination and realism, we hope that the current negotiations will lead to a final accord in the short time that remains. We are committed to continuing our peaceful nuclear programme, including enrichment, and to enjoy our full nuclear rights on Iranian soil within the framework of international law. We are determined to continue negotiations with our interlocutors in earnest good faith and on an equal footing, based on mutual respect and confidence and on recognized international norms and principles, removing concerns of both sides.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“We are of the view that the nuclear issue can be resolved only through negotiation, and those who may think of other solutions would be commiting a grave mistake. Any delay in reaching final agreement only raises the costs — not only for us but also for the economies and trade of the other parties, as well as for the development and security prospects of our region. No one should doubt that compromise and agreement on that issue are in everyone’s best interest, especially that of the nations of the region. The nuclear negotiations between Iran and the 5+1 Group have continued during the past year and the past few months, with seriousness and optimism on both sides. According to all international observers, the Islamic Republic of Iran has carried out its commitments in good faith.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“We in the Islamic Republic of Iran consider interaction and confidence-building among the States of the region as fundamentally essential for conflict resolution. We support any measure to promote cooperation among Islamic nations to combat extremism and threats and aggression, and in that connection we are prepared to play our permanent constructive and positive role. The oppressive sanctions against Iran go on, in continuation of a strategic mistake against a moderate and independent nation in the current sensitive conditions in our region. During the past year, we have engaged in the most transparent possible dialogue to build confidence regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme. We placed serious and honest negotiations on the agenda, not as a result of sanctions or threats but rather because of the will of our people.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Last year I tried to fulfil my country’s role in the realization of peace at both the regional and international levels by putting forward a proposal about a world against violence and extremism, which met with general support. In the tumultuous and chaotic region of the Middle East, Iran is one of the most tranquil, secure and stable nations. All the nations of the region have to keep in mind that we are in the same boat. Thus, we need broad cooperation with regard to social and political issues, as well as security and defence issues, with a view to reaching common and durable understandings. Had we had greater cooperation and coordination in the Middle East, thousands of innocent Palestinians in Gaza would not have fallen victim to the aggressions of the Zionist regime.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“They represent the familiar voice of an Afghan weary of war, of an Iraqi victim of extremism, of a Syrian fearful of terrorism and of a Lebanese worried about violence and sectarianism. I believe that if countries that claim to lead the coalition do so to continue their hegemony in the region, they are making a strategic mistake. Obviously, since the pain is better known by the countries of the region, those countries can better form a coalition and agree to shoulder the responsibility of leadership in countering violence and terrorism. If other nations wish to take action against terrorism, they must come to their support. I warn that if we do not muster all our strengths against extremism and violence, and if we fail to entrust the task to those in the region who can succeed, tomorrow the world will not be safe for anyone.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“There are moderate politicians and elites in our region who enjoy the confidence of their peoples. They are neither anti- nor pro-Western. Aware of the role of colonialism in the backwardness of their nations, they do not neglect the role of their nations in reaching the development that they seek. They do not absolve the West of its misdeeds, but they are also aware of their own failings. Those leaders can assume positions of active leadership by attracting the confidence of the people in their societies and can establish the strongest national and international coalitions against violence. The voices of such leaders are the true voices of moderation in the Islamic world.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“In the past year, perhaps few people could have forecast the fire that rages today, but now uninhibited violence and extremism present an imminent threat to the world. It is self-evident that without an accurate understanding of the causes of the current situation, we will not be able to find the right solutions. Today, I shall again warn against the spread of extremism and the danger posed by the inadequate understanding of and incorrect approach to that phenomenon. The Middle East longs for development and is weary of war. It is the natural right of the peoples of the fertile lands of the Middle East to live in peace and prosperity. In the past, colonialism denied them that right. Today, the shadow of war and violence threatens their security.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“When sanctions set in, deep hatred for those imposing them also begins. When the atmosphere of the Middle East becomes securitized, there will be a similar response. The interests of Western countries in our region are tied to their recognition of beliefs and the desire of the people for democratic governance in the region. The establishment of Al-Qaida, the Taliban and modern extremist groups has demonstrated that one cannot use extremist groups to counter an opposing State and remain impervious to the consequences of rising extremism. The repetition of such mistakes, despite the many costly experiences, is perplexing. Let us recall that Iran had invited everyone to dialogue before the criminal act of 11 September. We also called for a world against violence and extremism before the outbreak of the current violent atrocities.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“They result in various adverse psychological and behavioral consequences that are today manifested in the form of violence and murder in the Middle East and North Africa, even attracting some citizens from other parts of the world. Today, violence is being spread to other parts of the world like a contagious disease. We have always believed that democracy cannot be transplanted from abroad. Democracy is the product of growth and development, not war and aggression. Democracy is not an export product that can be commercially imported from the West to the East. In an underdeveloped society, imported democracy leads only to a weak and vulnerable Government. When commanding generals set foot in a region, do not expect diplomats to greet them warmly. When war begins, diplomacy tends to end.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Muslim people, who daily recall their God as merciful and compassionate and have learned the lessons of kindness and empathy from their Prophet’s teachings, see such defamation as part of an Islamophobic scheme. The strategic blunders of the West in the Middle East, Central Asia and the Caucuses have turned those parts of the world into a haven for terrorists and extremists. The military aggression against Afghanistan and Iraq and inappropriate interference in the developments in Syria are clear examples of that erroneous strategic approach in the Middle East. As part of a non-peaceful approach, aggression and occupation target the lives and livelihoods of ordinary people.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Terrorism germinates in poverty, unemployment, discrimination, humiliation and injustice, and it grows in the culture of violence. To uproot extremism, we must spread justice and development and not allow the distortion of divine teachings to justify brutality and cruelty. The pain is exacerbated when such terrorists spill blood in the name of religion and behead in the name of Islam. They seek to keep hidden the incontrovertible truth of history that, on the basis of the teachings of all divine prophets, from Abraham to Moses, from Jesus to Muhammad, taking the life of a human being is akin to killing all humankind. I am astonished that those murderous groups call themselves Islamic. What is more astonishing is that the Western media, in line with them, repeat that false claim, which provokes the hatred of all Muslims.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Extremism is not a regional issue with which only the nations of our region have to grapple. Extremism is a global issue. Certain States have helped to create it and now fail to withstand it. Our peoples are currently paying the price. Today’s anti-Westernism is the offspring of yesterday’s colonialism. Today’s anti-Westernism is a reaction to yesterday’s racism. Certain intelligence agencies have put blades in the hand of madmen, who now spare no one. All those that have played a role in founding and supporting those terror groups must acknowledge their errors that have led to extremism. They need to apologize not only to the past generations but also to the next. To fight the underlying causes of terrorism, one must identify its roots and dry up its sources.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“They do not speak a single language; they are not of a single skin colour and not of a single nationality — they have come to the Middle East from around the world. They do, however, have a single ideology: violence and extremism. They also have a single goal: the destruction of civilization, thus giving rise to Islamophobia and creating a fertile ground for further intervention of foreign forces in our region. I deeply regret to say that terrorism has become globalized from New York to Mosul, from Damascus to Baghdad, from the easternmost to the westernmost parts of the world, and from Al-Qaida to Daesh. The extremists of the world have found each other and have put out the call: “Extremists of the world, unite”. But are we united against the extremists?”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“At the outset, Mr. President, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations on your well-deserved election as the President of the General Assembly at its sixty- ninth session. I also express my appreciation to His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon for all his efforts. It is my genuine hope that this year’s session of the General Assembly brings the world, in its current critical situation, a step closer to security and tranquility for human beings, which is of course a fundamental goal of the United Nations. I am from a region of the world whose many parts are currently burning in the fire of extremism and radicalism. To the east and to the west of my country, extremists threaten our neighbours, resort to violence and shed blood.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“As stated in the Holy Koran: “And certainly We wrote in the Book after the reminder that (as for) the land, My righteous servants shall inherit it.” (The Holy Koran, XXI:105)”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We should accept and be able to open up new horizons in which peace will prevail over war, tolerance over violence, progress over bloodshed, justice over discrimination, prosperity over poverty and freedom over despotism. As beautifully stated by Ferdowsi, the renowned Iranian epic poet: “Be relentless in striving for the cause of good; Bring the spring, you must; Banish the winter, you should.” Notwithstanding all the difficulties and challenges before us, I am deeply optimistic about the future. I have no doubt that the future will be bright, with the entire world solidly rejecting violence and extremism. Prudent moderation will ensure a bright future for the world. My hope, aside from personal and national experience, emanates from the belief shared by all divine religions that a good and bright future awaits the world.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“So, on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I propose, as a first step, the consideration by the United Nations of a project to be known as “A World Against Violence and Extremism”. Let us all ride this wave. I invite all States, international organizations and civil institutions to undertake a new effort to guide the world in this direction. We should start thinking about a coalition for enduring peace across the entire globe instead of ineffective coalitions for war in various parts of the world. Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran urges the Assembly and the entire world community to take a step forward by accepting our invitation to join A World Against Violence and Extremism.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“With efforts commensurate with the political will of the leadership in the United States, and hoping that they will refrain from following the short-sighted interests of warmongering pressure groups, we can arrive at a framework to manage our differences. To this end, equal footing, mutual respect and the recognized principles of international law should govern our interactions. Of course, we expect to hear a consistent message from Washington, D. C. In recent years, a dominant message has been heard reiterating again and again that the military option is on the table. Against the backdrop of this illegal and ineffective assertion, let me say loud and clear that peace is within reach.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In this context, the Islamic Republic of Iran, insisting on enjoying its rights and the imperative of international respect and cooperation in this exercise, is prepared to engage immediately in time-bound and results-oriented talks to build mutual confidence and ensure the removal of mutual uncertainties with full transparency. Iran seeks constructive engagement with other countries based on mutual respect and common interests and, within the same framework, does not seek to increase tensions with the United States. I listened carefully to the statement made by President Obama today in the General Assembly.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction have no place in Iran’s security and defence doctrine, and contradict our fundamental religious and ethical convictions. Our national interests make it imperative that we remove any and all reasonable concerns about Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme. The second objective — acceptance of and respect for the implementation of the right to enrichment inside Iran and the enjoyment of other related nuclear rights — provides the only path towards achieving the first objective. Nuclear knowledge in Iran has now been domesticated and nuclear technology, including enrichment, has already reached an industrial scale. It is therefore an illusion and extremely unrealistic to presume that the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme could be ensured by impeding the programme via illegitimate pressures.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Rather, it is based on a profound recognition of the state of technology in Iran, the global political environment, the end of the era of zero- sum games and the imperative of seeking common objectives and interests in order to reach common understanding and shared security. Put otherwise, Iran and other actors should pursue two common objectives as two mutually inseparable parts of a political solution for Iran’s nuclear dossier. First, Iran’s nuclear programme — and for that matter, that of all other countries — must pursue exclusively peaceful purposes. I declare here, openly and unambiguously, that, notwithstanding others’ positions, this has been and always will be the objective of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Peace, democracy and the legitimate rights of all countries in the world, including in the Middle East, cannot and will not be secured through militarism. Iran seeks to resolve problems, not to create them. There is no issue or dossier that cannot be resolved through reliance on hope, prudent moderation, mutual respect and the rejection of violence and extremism. Iran’s nuclear dossier is a case in point. As clearly stated by the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, acceptance of Iran’s inalienable rights constitutes the best and easiest way of resolving this issue. This is not political rhetoric.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The Iranian people, in a judiciously sober choice in the recent elections, voted for the discourse of hope, foresight and prudent moderation, both at home and abroad. In foreign policy, the combination of those elements means that the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a regional power, will act responsibly with regard to regional and international security and is willing and prepared to cooperate in these fields, bilaterally as well as multilaterally, with other responsible actors. We defend peace based on democracy and the ballot box everywhere, including in Syria, Bahrain and other countries of the region, and believe that there are no violent solutions to world crises. The bitter and ugly realities of human society can be overcome only through recourse to and reliance on human wisdom, interaction and moderation.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Warmongers are bent on extinguishing all hope. But hope for change for the better is an innate, religious, widespread and universal concept. Hope is founded on the belief in the universal will of the people across the globe to combat violence and extremism, to cherish change, to oppose imposed structures, to value choice and to act in accordance with human responsibility. Hope is without a doubt one of the greatest gifts bestowed upon human beings by their all-loving Creator. And moderation means to think and move in a wise, judicious manner, conscious of time and space, and to align exalted ideals with a choice of effective strategies and policies, while remaining cognizant of objective realities.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Violence and extremism leave no space for understanding and moderation as the necessary foundations of the collective life of human beings and modern society. Intolerance is the predicament of our time. We need to promote and reinforce tolerance in the light of the religious teachings and appropriate cultural and political approaches. Human society should be elevated from a state of mere tolerance to one of collective collaboration. We should not just tolerate others. We should rise above mere tolerance and dare to work together. People the world over are tired of war, violence and extremism. They are hoping for a change in the status quo. This is a unique opportunity for us all. The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that all challenges can be managed successfully through a smart, judicious blend of hope and moderation.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Those sanctions are violent, pure and simple, whether called smart or otherwise, unilateral or multilateral. They violate inalienable human rights, inter alia, the right to peace, the right to development, the right to access to health and education, and, above all, the right to life. Sanctions, beyond any and all rhetoric, cause belligerence, warmongering and human suffering. It should be borne in mind, however, that their negative impact is not limited merely to their intended victims; it also affects the economy and livelihood of other countries and societies, including the countries imposing sanctions. Today violence and extremism have gone beyond the physical realm and, unfortunately, have afflicted and tarnished the mental and spiritual dimensions of life in human societies.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Here I should also like to say a word about the criminal assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists. For what crimes were they assassinated? The United Nations and its Security Council should answer this question — have the perpetrators been condemned? Unjust sanctions, as a manifestation of structural violence, are intrinsically inhumane and against peace. Contrary to the claims of those who pursue and impose them, it is not the States and the political elite that are targeted; rather, it is the common people who are victimized by such sanctions. Let us not forget the millions of Iraqis who, as a result of sanctions cloaked in international legal jargon, suffered and lost their lives, and the many more who continue to suffer throughout their lives.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“While condemning any use of chemical weapons, we welcome Syria’s acceptance of the Chemical Weapons Convention and believe that access by extremist terrorist groups to such weapons poses the greatest possible danger to the region and must be considered in any disarmament plan. Simultaneously, I would underline that any illegitimate and ineffective threat of use, or the actual use of, force will only lead to the further exacerbation of violence and crisis in the region. Terrorism and the killing of innocent persons represent the ultimate inhumanity of extremism and violence. Terrorism is a violent scourge and knows no national borders. But violence and extreme actions, such as the use of drones, against innocent people in the name of combating terrorism should also be condemned.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Apartheid as a concept can hardly describe the crimes and the institutionalized aggression committed against the innocent Palestinian people. The human tragedy in Syria represents a painful example of the catastrophic spread of violence and extremism in our region. From the very outset of the crisis, when certain regional and international actors helped to militarize the situation through the infusion of arms and intelligence into the country and active support for extremist groups, we emphasized that there was no military solution to the Syrian crisis. The pursuit of expansionist strategies and objectives and attempts to change the regional balance through proxies cannot be camouflaged behind humanitarian rhetoric. The common objective of the international community should be a quick end to the killing of the innocent.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Military intervention in Afghanistan, Saddam Hussein’s imposed war against Iran, the occupation of Kuwait, military interventions against Iraq, the brutal repression of the Palestinian people, the assassination of ordinary people and political figures in Iran and terrorist bombings in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon are examples of the acts of violence committed in that region in the past three decades. What has been and continues to be practiced against the innocent people of Palestine is nothing less than structural violence. Palestine is under occupation; the basic rights of the Palestinians are being tragically violated, and they are deprived of the right of return and access to their homes, birthplace and homeland.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Let me say in all sincerity before this world Assembly that, based on irrefutable evidence, those who harp on the so-called threat of Iran are either a threat against international peace and security themselves or promote such a threat. Iran poses absolutely no threat to the world or to the region. In fact, in its ideals as well as in actual practice, my country has been a harbinger of just peace and comprehensive security. Nowhere in the world has violence been so deadly and destructive as in North Africa and West Asia.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Propagandistic and unfounded faith-phobic, Islamophobic, Shiaphobic and Iranophobic discourse indeed represents a serious threat to world peace and human security. That propagandistic discourse has assumed dangerous proportions through the portrayal and inculcation of presumed imaginary threats. One such imaginary threat is the so-called Iranian threat, which has been employed as an excuse to justify a long catalogue of crimes and catastrophic practices over the past three decades. The arming of the Saddam Hussein regime with chemical weapons and support for the Taliban and Al-Qaida are just two examples of such catastrophes.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In that context, the strategic violence that is manifested in efforts to deprive regional players of their natural domain of action, containment policies, regime change from the outside and efforts to redraw political borders and frontiers, is extremely dangerous and provocative. The prevalent international political discourse depicts a civilized centre surrounded by uncivilized peripheries. In that scenario, the relation between the centre of world power and the peripheries is hegemonic. The discourse that assigns centre stage to the North while relegating the South to the periphery has led to the establishment of a monologue in international relations. The creation of illusory identity distinctions and the current prevalent violent forms of xenophobia are the inevitable outcome of such discourse.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Yet another reflection of the same cognitive model is the persistence of the Cold War mentality and the bipolar division of the world into the “superior us” and the “inferior other”. Fanning fear and phobia around the emergence of new actors on the world scene is still another. In such an environment, governmental and non-governmental, religious, ethnic and even racial violence has increased, and there is no guarantee that the era of quiet among major Powers will remain inviolate under the pressure of such violent discourse, practices and actions. The catastrophic impact of violent and extremist narratives should not — in fact, must not — be underestimated.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“At this sensitive juncture in the history of global relations, the age of zero-sum games is over, even though a few actors still tend to rely on archaic and deeply ineffective ways and means of preserving their old superiority and domination. Militarism and the recourse to violent and military means for the purposes of subjugating others have shown themselves to be failed examples of the perpetuation of old ways in new circumstances. Coercive economic and military policies and practices geared to the maintenance and preservation of old superiorities and domination have been pursued in a conceptual mindset that negates peace, security, human dignity and exalted human ideals. Ignoring differences between societies and globally imposing Western values as universal values represent further manifestations of that conceptual mindset.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The firm belief of our people and Government in enduring peace, stability, tranquillity, the peaceful resolution of disputes and the reliance on the ballot box as the basis of power, public acceptance and legitimacy has indeed played a key role in creating such a safe environment. The current critical period of transition in international relations is replete with dangers, albeit also with unique opportunities. Any miscalculation of one’s own position, and of course those of others, will cause damage on a historic scale; a mistake by one actor will have a negative impact on all others. Vulnerability is now a global and indivisible phenomenon.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Alongside those fears, however, there are new hopes — the hope of the universal acceptance of “yes to peace and no to war” by the people and the elite all across the globe; and the hope that dialogue will be preferred over conflict and moderation over extremism. The recent election in Iran represents a clear, living example of the wise choice for hope, rationality and moderation by the great people of Iran. The realization of democracy consistent with religion and the peaceful transfer of executive power showed that Iran is an anchor of stability in an ocean of regional instabilities.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Mr. President, at the outset, I would like to offer my most sincere felicitations on your deserved election as President of the General Assembly and to seize the moment to express appreciation for the valuable efforts of the Secretary-General. Our world today is replete with fear and hope — fear of war and hostile regional and global relations; fear of deadly confrontation between religious, ethnic and national identities; fear of the institutionalization of violence and extremism; fear of poverty and destructive discrimination; fear of decay and the destruction of life-sustaining resources; fear of the disregard for human dignity and rights; and fear of the neglect of morality.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)