Ahmadinejad Resents Being Treated 'Like a Four-Year-Old'
According to this account from state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting of a speech by Iranian President Ahmadinejad, Tehran feels belittled by the incentives that have been offered by the West for it to give up its nuclear ambitions.
May 17, 2006
Iran - IRIB News - Original Article (English)
Tehran: "They
think they are dealing with a four-year-old child, and want to fool him into
exchanging gold for a few nuts and candies," President Ahmadinejad said,
alluding to the West's recent incentives regarding Iran's nuclear program. [
]
President
Ahmadinejad made the remarks at a very large gathering of people in Markazi Province,
in his thirteenth visit to the region since taking office.
"We
advise you to abandon the literature of the colonial era," the President
said, recommending that Europe not sacrifice its own interests for the
expedience of others [America and the Zionist regime].
"We seek
nothing but our legal rights, enshrined under the NPT [Non-Proliferation
Treaty]," the Chief Executive asserted, adding that the law governs everyone,
and so everyone must return to it.
"We pin
no hope on your benevolence, but please do no do evil to us," the
President said, in his rejection of the European trio's 'incentives.' The
President's remarks were interrupted by repeated calls of "Ahmadinejad, we
love you."
Ahmadinejad
affirmed that Iran is in no need of European help to achieve scientific
progress.
"We
have thus far remained committed to all conventions, and you should remain so
too," he said, adding that now, it is the West's turn to show commitment
to established conventions.
The
President advised Europeans not to act in a manner that inhibits other NPT
members carrying out their responsibilities or makes them abandon the NPT and give
up on international bodies.
He vowed
that intimidation would fail to hinder Iran from restoring its legal rights.
"They
are holding a stick over our heads, and then call on us to give in to their incentives
… The era of bully is over," the President underlined.
Ahmadinejad
said his nation felt bitterness over Europe's efforts, which persuaded Iran to previously
suspend its uranium enrichment, when it realized that Europe's promises were
empty.
President
Ahmadinejad proposed that all nations that have mastered the uranium enrichment
cycle suspend their facilities, to allow an independent committee to verify
which countries had diverted uranium [for military purposes].
VIDEO FROM IRAN: AHMADINEJAD EXCLAIMS, 'IRAN IS NO FOUR-YEAR-OLD'
Iranian News Channel, Iran: Excerpts from a speech delivered by Iranian President Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, wherein he rejects European incentives, May 17, 00:003:29, MEMRI
"The enemies of the Iranian people should know: Confronting this people will bring them nothing but defeat, humiliation, and misery."
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad