Khatami Says War on Iraq Blatant Violation of UN Resolutions
President Khatami told a group of local officials and people here that if the war is not stopped its consequences would be many times more dangerous for the region and the entire world than the Vietnam war.
He called on the UN and concerned governments of the world to practice global coexistence, peace and justice.
He, IRNA reported, said that the only fruits this war would produce are death and the massacre of innocent civilians and escalation of extremism and violence.
"Do you think you would be able to check the actuation of nations by dictatorial methods?" asked Khatami.
He said that war will only lead to more violence. "When you allow trouble seekers and extremists to use violence your response will be violence," he added.
He said the U.S. military invasion of Iraq would undoubtedly jeopardize the interests of those who have launched it because it is intended to secure their own interests.
"This war is a humiliation and disrespect to the UN and I hope the UN would come to its senses and take whatever action is needed to restore peace and coexistence," the president added.
He referred to the protests that have been held both domestically and worldwide against the war, and noted that the time is most appropriate for reasserting the concepts of "dialogue among civilizations" and "coalition for peace" instead of bolstering the campaign for a coalition for war to solve conflicts and differences on the global scene.
He said that the reality is that the green light for war has also become the green light for violent seekers and extremists to resort to violence in response to issues affecting peoples and countries. Stressing that no country has the right to determine the fate of another sovereign state, he said that Iraq is a sovereign state and as such is entitled to be respected in its territorial integrity and its fate decided by its people on the principle of "one country, one vote."
He said that the indiscriminate campaign against weapons of mass destruction worldwide is one-sided, the campaign having excluded the weapons of mass destruction that are in the possession of the U.S. and other countries sufficient to destroy the entire planet.
Today, certain people put their faith on the destructive power that is actually out to impose its rule on others and through force, aggression and violence and seeks to dictate its wishes on nations, said Khatami.
The president blasted the moves and threats of certain countries aimed at disturbing the peace in the region as well as its tranquility.
"Today, we are witnessing the flames of the devastating fire of war disturbing the peace and calm in the region," he said.
Calling the U.S. invasion on Iraq as an "uneven" war, Khatami said the war has been waged on Iraq on the basis of a dangerous illusion and unjustifiable goals and motivations backed by the military superiority of a country that wants to dominate the world.
He said the Iraqis are an oppressed nation long dominated by a dictatorial regime which has deprived them of freedom.
"No one supports the ruling Iraqi regime. The Iranian nation will never forget the war and damage it sustained from the Iraqis," he added. Nevertheless, he questioned why the Iraqi people should be made victims of big powers' ambitions.