Today Iran is a pioneer in independence and security Fedel Castro

[Abdur_Rahman]

WIRE: 05/08/2001 5:20 am ET

Cuba's Castro to Build Political Ties with Iran

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Cuban President Fidel Castro said on Tuesday he wanted to build political ties with Iran, which he hailed as a pioneer for independence and security.
Despite gaping differences between the theocratic Islamic Republic and the Caribbean communist island, the two countries have one major thing in common -- the enmity of the United States.

"I have not come for commerce, this is a political visit" the gray-suited Castro told his host President Mohammad Khatami at a welcoming ceremony at the beginning of three days of meetings with Iranian leaders.

"We have an open agenda to discuss ties. I have come with many questions."

Castro praised Iran for what he said was its role in combating imperialism after the 1979 revolution which toppled the U.S.-backed Shah.

"Today Iran is a pioneer in independence and security," he said at a Tehran palace, formerly belonging to the Shah.

Cuba and Iran are both subject to economic sanctions and political pressure from the United States. Both have a policy of reaching out to other states spurned by Washington.

"Our cooperation...is in order to create an international system in which the sovereign rights of all peoples and their right to seek freedom are respected," said Khatami, who is widely expected easily to win elections set for June 8.

"We must create a world in which no country can impose its will on other nations," the beaming Khatami said. "A world with justice freedom and security, not bullying, domination and injustice."

Sugar-exporting Cuba and oil-rich Iran have expressed interest in broadening trade away from traditional exports into new products such as medicines and industrial goods.

The two leaders have met twice before, in Havana last September and at an earlier summit of non-aligned leaders in South Africa.


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[Abdur_Rahman]

Ayatollah Khamenei, Fidel Castro meet

Tehran, MAy 9, IRNA -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei met with the visiting Cuban President Fidel Castro
Wednesday afternoon.
Ayatollah Khamenei in the meeting referred to the foundations of
the Iranian nation's Islamic beliefs and the role their strong belief
in God played in their firm resistance against the global arrogance,
particularly the US hegemony.
"It is based on such beliefs and mentality that the Islamic
Republic of Iran regards any resistance against arrogance in the world
as a righteous move," said the Iranian Supreme Leader.
Highlighting the numerous commonalties between Iran and Cuba,
including resistance against the US global hegemony, Ayatollah
Khamenei said, "our resistance against the US hegemony is based upon
our Islamic beliefs, since in Islam, resistance against injustice is a
value.
The Iranian leader elaborated that the main objective of religions
is being at the service of the mankind and fulfillment of the people's
needs.
He said that Islamic logic is today capable of answering the
mankind's demands of the day.
Ayatollah Khamenei meanwhile criticized the Christian churches of
the day for remaining often silent or indifferent when they encounter
injustice, while observing justice is the highest need of the mankind.
The supreme Iranian leader further remarked that the Islamic
mentality has eliminated the spiritual gap from which the mankind
suffered today. He also stressed the utmost importance that Islam
attaches to observing justice at all circumstances and under any
condition.
Ayatollah Khamenei added, "authentic religious thoughts are based
on a deep philosophy and a strong logic and the main reason why the US
administrations are at odds with the Islamic Republic of Iran is the
practical effects of the Islamic mentality on the world masses' minds.
He also said that the secret of the Islamic Revolution's
successful resistance against the US pressures is the people's
religious mentality, based on which "we consider the American regime
as an arrogant power, seeking a unipolar world, to which we seriously
object."
Reiterating that the American regime is weak and extremely
vulnerable today, the Ayatollah stressed, "the US grandeur is quite
fragile today and if that objective is materialized, it is a great
service rendered to the mankind, including the American nation."
Ayatollah Khamenei assured Fidel Castro that Iran and Cuba can
achieve that goal, hand in hand.
During the meeting, attended also by Iran's President Seyed
Mohammad Khatami, President Castro expressed his heartfelt delight
over his presence in Iran, which he said is a valuable, divine
country.
Fiel Castro said that Iran is the center of spirituality in the
world today and told Ayatollah Khamenei that his words on Islam and
religious values had deeply impressed him.
Terming the western approach towards different civilizations and
religions as discriminating, Castro said in the West high budgets
are allocated to projects aimed at deviation of the mankind's minds
from the sheer truths and realities.
Castro denounced the Western hegemony and said that the West, and
particularly the US administrations, despite their vast propaganda,
act in a totally uncivilized manner.
He agreed with Ayatollah Khamenei on the point that the US is
extremely weak today, adding, "we are today eye-witness to their
weakness, as their close neighbors."
The Cuban President further stressed, "we are not scared of
America today, and the Cuban nation is stronger than ever in the past,
forty years after the victory of its revolution."
He once again agreed with Ayatollah Khamenei on the point that
Iran and Cuba can hand in hand defeat America.
The 74-year-old Cuban leader, leading a ranking delegation of
officials and businessmen, arrived here Monday night on his first-ever
visit to Tehran for a three-day stay.
His visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran is mainly aimed at
expanding ties between the two nations, in addition to drafting the
future scheme of the G-77 of developing nations, whose presidency is
currently held by Tehran.
Castro has already held talks with President Mohammad Khatami and
Parliamentary Speaker Mehdi Karroubi.
The two countries have always enjoyed strong cordial relations and
Cuba has always backed the Islamic Republic's stances at international
scenes.
NA/HM
End