>
> Full transcript: Ahmadinejad interview
>
>
http://tinyurl.com/2rcmcj
>
> Last Modified: 13 Sep 2007
> By: Jon Snow
>
>
http://www.channel4.com/
>
> We've dissected the Ahmadinejad interview
> live on Channel 4 News last night and have
> produced a comprehensive verbatim translation
> and the original video in Farsi.
>
> Q: Mr President, thank you very much for
> agreeing to talk to us tonight. Let me start
> with Iraq. Both the UK and the US have accused
> Iran of fighting a proxy war inside Iraq.
> Is that true?
>
> A: In the name of God, first I would like to
> express my greetings to all your good audience
> and a good evening to all the people of England.
>
> What you are saying is an allegation; we also
> accuse the English and the US of occupying and
> violating Iraq. I think the US and Britain should
> amend their own views and behaviour; if they
> want to blame others for their defeat then they
> can be sure that their defeats will be repeated.
>
> Obviously we do distinguish differences between
> England and the US in Iraq. We think that the
> British government has more quickly and more
> successfully realised the situation in Iraq,
> and withdrawing from Basra was the right thing
> to do and we hope they will continue this.
>
> We are the country that has sustained the most
> damage from the lack of security in Iraq because
> the nations of Iraq and Iran are closely
> intertwined - our nations have been friends for
> thousands of years. Every year millions of Iraqis
> and Iranians travel to each others' countries and
> the security of Iraq has a direct impact on our
> security and vice versa. We want security in Iraq.
> And let me tell you one thing - you know the
> people of Iraq are a great nation with culture
> and civilisation, they have always been against
> occupations and they still are.
>
> Q: It is true that there are factions that you
> support in southern Iraq you support. Therefore,
> do you regard it as a victory for Iran that the
> British left Basra?
>
> A: Does the English government think it has been
> defeated by Iran in Iraq or by the people of Iraq?
>
> Q: Well, by Iran. By formal forces - Revolutionary
> Guard - all sorts of people who are supporting the
> factions in southern Iraq.
>
> A: Well you are wrong, you are definitely wrong
> and this will mean future decisions are also mistaken.
> We feel that both England and the US should
> understand the conditions of Iraq; the nation of
> Iraq is a courageous nation, a great nation that
> is against occupations and will not tolerate
> occupation. The Iraqi people do no need the Iranians
> in order to defend themselves they are able to
> defend themselves.
>
> Q: It's very difficult for us to find the
> division between the influence in southern
> Iraq, where you have a lot because of they
> are your Shia brothers and sisters, and actual
> military involvement. The British say they have
> troops killed by bombs made in Iran.
>
> A: Well look, we have influence all over Iraq
> because we have good relations with them.
> We have historical good relations with the
> Kurds in Northern Iraq and the president of
> Iraq is Kurdish and friendly and sincere with
> us - we talk about private issues together.
>
> We also have a sincere relationship with
> the Sunni sect in Iraq, the head of the
> Iraqi Parliament is Sunni and he has a very
> good relationship with us and also the
> prime minister of Iraq is Shia and has a
> good relationship with us. Your problem,
> the problem of England and the US is that
> you do not have a good relationship with
> any of them. The problem is that you are
> uninvited guests.
>
> Q: Can you use your influence to help free
> the five British hostages who are held there?
> Four security men and a computer technician
> who have now been hostage for over a hundred
> days. Would you use your influence?
>
> A: We can help to sort out the problems in
> Iraq regarding the re-establishment of
> security and peace. We can help the occupiers
> to leave Iraq and we have announced this
> repeatedly. If the US and the English governments
> amend their behaviour and direction in Iraq
> they won't have any problems and there won't
> be any need for these problems.
>
> We feel that they should officially recognise
> the nation of Iraq and the rights of its people.
> The problem is that they have gone there for the
> oil and to dominate the region and the people
> of Iraq have stood up before them and until
> they recognise the rights of the Iraqi people
> this will continue and it has nothing to do
> with Iran. We will be prepared if the Iraqi
> government asks us, to help the with the
> problems in Iraq.
>
> Q: Can we move onto the nuclear issues then.
> Today Dr Larijani has repeated there will be
> no freeze on the enrichment of uranium.
> And immediately America is calling for UN
> sanctions - that's the UN, not just America.
> What will happen if there are sanctions
> against you?
>
> A: Well look, the nuclear issue is very clear.
> We are a member of the agency and we work
> within its framework and we have observed
> all our obligations but unfortunately we have
> not used all our rights in the way that they
> are put in the agency's regulations and the
> main reason is the American's hostility
> towards the Iranian nation.
>
> The Iranian nuclear issue is a political one
> which the US is pursuing and the main reason
> is American enmity to Iran. They have always
> been our enemies and it is not that important
> to us. From the beginning we have said that
> things should be done through the agency and
> the agency is fulfilling its obligations.
> What the Americans say is not important
> to us.
>
> Q: Your secrecy indicates you do want a bomb.
> Many people would say you feel threatened by
> Israel, by Pakistan. You do want a bomb
> don't you?
>
> A: We don't need a bomb, we are fundamentally
> opposed to the bomb for various reasons.
> The main reason is we are ideologically
> against bombs and politically it is
> not beneficial.
>
> Q: If that's true, will you take me to
> (the nuclear research facility at) Natanza?
> That place no-one has been further than
> their front door. Would you take me there?
>
> A: Would the British government allow us
> in to see their nuclear installations?
> Or the American government allow us to
> see their nuclear installations? We under
> the observation of the agency, the agency
> comes to visit.
>
> Which country has done what we have done?
> Isn't that asking too much?
>
> Q: Let me ask, hand on heart - you do not
> want a bomb? A: What do we want a bomb for?
> The British and Americans have them - what
> does that serve?
>
> No we don't need it and we have a solution
> for the Israeli Zionist Regime. We told them
> that they should let the Palestinians express
> their views in a referendum so that the people
> can chose - we think that this is a
> humanitarian approach. We are fundamentally
> opposed to war.
>
> Q: You have said that you want Israel off
> the map. You really cannot accept the
> existence of Israel?
>
> A: We do not accept or officially recognise
> Israel. They are occupiers and illegitimate.
> But our approach is humanitarian. I ask
> you where is the Soviet Union now - has it
> been wiped out or not? It has been wiped
> out without a war. Let the Palestinian
> people chose.
>
> It will happen.
>
> Q: But you speak with more determination.
> The collapse of Soviet Union was a
> surprise - you're saying you want Israel
> off the map now.
>
> A: Because we analyse the problems of the
> region meticulously. We do not deceive
> ourselves. We say a regime that does not
> have a proper philosophy of existence, which
> is an occupier which bullies people, and which
> is without culture and civilisation and which
> has all the powers of the region against
> it - this cannot survive.
>
> Q: Do you regret denying the holocaust?
>
> A: I had asked a couple of questions about
> the holocaust and I'm sorry that some European
> politicians and governments instead of
> responding to a couple of scientific questions
> by a university lecturer, they made it
> a political issue.
>
> I asked these two questions and I ask them
> of you now. First, if the holocaust is a
> historical fact then they should investigate
> it because we allow everything to be
> investigated.
>
> Q: But documentation is enormous...
>
> Do we have more evidence about the holocaust
> or about freedom, mathematics and physics?
>
> Q: There are people watching this programme,
> whose parents, sisters and aunts perished
> in the concentration camps.
>
> A: Why are you accusing me? My question
> is pretty clear - I say if a historical
> event has happened we should let the
> scientists investigate it - maybe new
> dimensions will be uncovered and new issues
> will be discovered - why don't they allow it?
>
> This is suspicious. And then my second
> question is, if the holocaust had taken
> place where did it take place? What role
> did the Palestinian people play?
> The Palestinians were innocent.
> Why should they be punished, why
> should their land be occupied, why should
> they be killed and why should they be
> turned in to wanderers? These are my
> two questions.
>
> Q: The issue will remain and I think the
> majority of people in world will not
> agree with you.
>
> A: Well you are wrong. Carry out a referendum
> in Europe and the European people would
> agree with me. If the English government
> and the German government and all the European
> governments, if we go to international
> organisations and carry out a free referendum
> in Europe you will see that the European
> people will agree with me. I just raised
> a couple of questions,
> I did not make a judgement.
>
> Q: Let me take you back to the present
> problem of the nuclear. Are you saying
> you will never cease enrichment?
>
> For what reason should we stop?
> Why don't the Brit and Americans stop?
> Why should we stop?
>
> Q: You don't fear an American or
> Israeli bomb?
>
> A: Because we are peaceful. For what reason,
> who is going to fight us, tell me? Is England
> going to fight us?
>
> No no, for what reason? Some people in America
> do exist who would like to use military force
> when they have lost a logical argument however
> there are many wise people in the US too.
> We see that as a very small probability,
> however we are ready for anything.
>
> But I ask you, why shouldn't the US be stopped
> if we who are just starting a nuclear programme
> are being stopped? Is our peaceful approach
> a danger and the US bombs not a danger?
> What sort of logic is that? I think one
> cannot run the world on such a logic.
> This is a defeated logic.
>
> Q: When you were elected the poor believed
> you'd reduce their suffering - but with high
> unemployment - the poor are poorer - can you
> afford these conflicts with outside world?
>
> A: I'm very happy that you speak as a
> representative of our nation, that's very
> interesting. Where have you heard that our
> people say such things?
>
> I have also mentioned this before the election
> and our people made their choice with full
> awareness and Iran has stood up firmly regarding
> the nuclear issue. You can see in all the
> cities and rural areas, our nation is shouting
> out for it - it belongs to them. The government
> belongs to the people and works for the people.
> In Iran there isn't a distance between the
> government and the people, we are one.
>
> Q: Contact between the US and Iran has so
> far been between ambassadors - one in Iraq
> and one here but negotiations have to be
> at top.
>
> Would it be useful for Gordon Brown or
> Nicolas Sarkozy or Angela Merkel to be
> directly involved?
>
> A: We would welcome that, we are interested
> in dialogue with Mrs Merkel, Mr Sarkozy with
> the respected Prime Minister of England - we
> don't have any problems with communication.
> After the revolution they were all against
> us and then our nation succeeded and we
> actually announced that we would forget
> about the past. we want to have friendly
> relations - if someone wants to impose on
> us then we won't accept it.
>
> In friendly conditions we would talk
> to everyone - in fact we prefer to work
> more with the Europeans because we think
> in a way that the European nations have
> also been innocent, the European people
> have suffered two wars and the European
> people carry the weight of conflict, they
> stand in the shadow of threats and we
> think you can work better with
> the Europeans.
>
> Q: You started tonight by sending your
> good wishes to the people of the United
> Kingdom. Can you reassure British parents
> and say that no Iranians are involved in
> the killing of British solders?
>
> A: I tell you and I also tell the good
> people of England; the people of England
> saw the good will of the Iranian people
> regarding the navy personnel. We are deeply
> sorry about the events in Iraq, we are
> also sorry about the Iraqi people being
> killed as well as that your soldiers
> are being killed.
>
> We think that this war should not exist.
> There can be friendship and peace - why
> should there be an occupation in which
> killings take place? Our message is that
> of friendship for all - we like all nations
> we also like all human beings. Whoever is
> killed we are distressed, we don't rejoice
> in it because your soldiers are also human
> beings, poor things, they do not know
> where they are.
>
> These fifteen English naval personnel
> they did not even know where they
> were - why should English youth come
> to Iraq and be killed - for what reason?
> The English people should be in their
> country and serve their own people.
> We are not happy we would like to have
> peace and friendship for every one - we
> have mentioned that we are prepared to
> help end the war so that there is peace
> and brotherhood for all.
>
> Q: President Ahmadinejad Thank you very
> much indeed for agreeing us to talk to
> us, I'm very grateful.
>
>
http://tinyurl.com/2rcmcj
>
>
http://www.channel4.com/
