Statement by Iran’s President KHATAMI
STATEMENT
BY
His Excellency Seyed Mohammad Khatami
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
The 56th Session of The United Nations General Assembly
New York, 10 November 2001
(Excerpts)
"The commencement of the new century and millennium was regrettably marred by blood and gloom. In 2001, terror and violence persisted and scores of defenseless innocents became victims of the blind hatred and rage of governments and terrorist groups. One of the most brutal and savage crimes of this range was the terrorist attack against American citizens."
"The decisive, immediate and unequivocal global condemnation of the terrorist attacks of September 11th represents the emergence of a public attitude and common political will all over the world to counter terrorism in all its manifestations, irrespective of motives, perpetrators or victims. The Leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran spoke of "Jihad against this evil phenomenon" so as to highlight the genuine view of Islarn and the Islamic Revolution vis-a-vis terrorism and violence."
"Regrettably the expectation of the global community of its political leaders to transform this strong public sentiment to a logical, just and comprehensive response to terrorism where its root causes could be addressed has yet to be met.
Immediately after the carnage of 11 September, and in the name of the People and Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I expressed sympathy with the American nation and all the victims of this criminal act."
…
"The threat of terrorism should not be underestimated, nor should its devastating consequences be measured only in the visible realm of politics. Terrorism cannot be attributed to any religion or nationality; nor can it be eradicated through rage and violence. Terrorism is the chronic menace of our era, rooted in the mentality of violence, the logic of might and the practice of injustice and discrimination. When spirituality, ethics and fairness find no room in the realm of politics, economy and culture, and when discrimination, marginalization, exclusion and application of double standards push justice aside, the world is bound to face alienation, despair, extremism and lawlessness. And in such a climate, terrorism finds a fertile ground for growth."
"The tragic events in the U.S. could not have happened without utilizing modern tools of technology. Technology is the ultimate achievement of instrumental reason, while for many years, our great thinkers have cautioned us to avoid unconditional submission to instrumental reason, warning of the threats and tragedies that it could generate."
"On the other hand, some of the great thinkers of our time have ascribed atrocities such as fascism to the reign of mythological speculation. They have attributed the emergence of fascism not to the expansion of rationality but to the evasion of rationality and succumbing to the reign of myth."
…
"The world has yet to overcome the horror and disbelief caused by the malicious terrorist attacks of the 11 th of September against thousands of innocent people, while the most destructive and modern weapons are being used in one of the most deprived parts of the world and against an oppressed and dispossessed people. Once again history repeats its sad experience that war triggers war."
"The American nation has experienced one of the most brutal forms of terrorism, where the blind hatred of terrorists did not even allow the burned up fractured corpses of the victims of the tragedy to be recovered. Today this nation can be seen alongside other nations, who have suffered from injustice and despotism for years and even centuries."
"We should have empathy with the suffering people of our time anywhere: in the occupied Palestine, in the oppressed Afghanistan, in New York or Washington, or in any corner of the globe."