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Mehr News Agency (MNA), Iran
September 17, 2011 Saturday
'Iran concerned over Turkey's decision to host NATO radar system'
TEHRAN, Sept. 17 (MNA) - Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi
said on Saturday that Turkey's decision to host an early warning radar
as part of NATO's missile defense system has caused concern for the
Islamic Republic and many of its neighbors.
Turkey's decision to host the system "has caused worry for the Islamic
Republic and many of its neighboring countries. We do not see any
necessity for the installation of such a system at this juncture that
the region is witnessing various developments," Salehi said in a joint
press conference with his Armenian counterpart Eduard Nalbandian in
Tehran.
The system is ostensibly meant to counter an alleged ballistic missile
threat from Iran.
"We hope that Turkey will be able to provide the necessary
justification in this regard," Salehi stated, adding, "We should not
allow more misunderstanding to occur in the region."
"We have always made efforts to resolve the existing problems in
cooperation with our neighbors and to help improve peace, stability,
and security in the region. We hope that we will prevent others from
paving the way for misunderstanding to occur," he stated.
He also said that regional countries should be vigilant about efforts
meant to create dissension among them.
Nalbandian commented on Turkey's decision and said, "We are pursuing
the issue seriously and will announce our stance after studying (the
matter)."
Judiciary reportedly plans to commute sentences of 2 U.S. citizens
Salehi also replied to a question about the two U.S. citizens, who
were arrested in Iran in 2009.
U.S. citizens Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer, and Joshua Fattal were
arrested by border guards on July 31, 2009 after illegally entering
Iran's territory from Iraq's Kurdistan region. The three were charged
with illegal entry and espionage.
Shourd was released from prison on bail of $500,000 on September 14,
2010 and never returned to Iran. Her case is still open.
On August 22, Bauer and Fattal were sentenced to three years in prison
for illegal entry into Iran. They were also sentenced to five years in
prison on charges of espionage for a U.S. intelligence agency.
Salehi said, "Making decisions about the two U.S. citizens imprisoned
in Iran on charge of espionage, falls within the ambit of the
Judiciary, and this branch has the final say."
He added, "According to the reports received from the Judiciary, this
branch plans to commute the sentences of these two people and is
determined to handle the issue in such a way that justice would be
served."
He also said that leaders of certain regional countries have mediated
in the issue, adding, "We hope the Judiciary will express its view in
this regard in the near future."
He went on to say that the executive branch is not involved in
judicial issues and the consultations held between the Judiciary and
the administration are merely meant to convey the news of mediation
efforts that the leaders of certain regional countries have made.
Salehi expects U.S. to show good will on Iranian prisoners
Elsewhere in his remarks, he said, "We expect the U.S. government to
take this fact into consideration that the Iranians imprisoned (in the
U.S.) are innocent and have been incarcerated based on unfounded
allegations and... we expect them (U.S. officials) to use this
opportunity and show their good will."
The Iranian foreign minister also expressed hope that the case would
be closed in such a way that would bring good news for the families of
the two U.S. citizens and the families of Iranians imprisoned in the
United States.
Iran, Armenia have historical relations
On the relations between Tehran and Yerevan, Salehi stated that the
two countries have historical relations and emphasized the importance
of holding regular talks between officials of the two countries on
various issues, particularly regional developments.
Armenia hails Iran's stance on Nagorno-Karabakh issue
The Armenian foreign minister also said that his country is keen to
increase cooperation with Iran in all areas and expressed satisfaction
with the process of the implementation of the joint transportation
projects.
Nalbandian also thanked Iran for its stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue, which has dragged on since ethnic Armenian forces took control
of the region during a war in the early 1990s.
EP/PA
END
MNA
September 17, 2011 Saturday
'Iran concerned over Turkey's decision to host NATO radar system'
TEHRAN, Sept. 17 (MNA) - Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi
said on Saturday that Turkey's decision to host an early warning radar
as part of NATO's missile defense system has caused concern for the
Islamic Republic and many of its neighbors.
Turkey's decision to host the system "has caused worry for the Islamic
Republic and many of its neighboring countries. We do not see any
necessity for the installation of such a system at this juncture that
the region is witnessing various developments," Salehi said in a joint
press conference with his Armenian counterpart Eduard Nalbandian in
Tehran.
The system is ostensibly meant to counter an alleged ballistic missile
threat from Iran.
"We hope that Turkey will be able to provide the necessary
justification in this regard," Salehi stated, adding, "We should not
allow more misunderstanding to occur in the region."
"We have always made efforts to resolve the existing problems in
cooperation with our neighbors and to help improve peace, stability,
and security in the region. We hope that we will prevent others from
paving the way for misunderstanding to occur," he stated.
He also said that regional countries should be vigilant about efforts
meant to create dissension among them.
Nalbandian commented on Turkey's decision and said, "We are pursuing
the issue seriously and will announce our stance after studying (the
matter)."
Judiciary reportedly plans to commute sentences of 2 U.S. citizens
Salehi also replied to a question about the two U.S. citizens, who
were arrested in Iran in 2009.
U.S. citizens Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer, and Joshua Fattal were
arrested by border guards on July 31, 2009 after illegally entering
Iran's territory from Iraq's Kurdistan region. The three were charged
with illegal entry and espionage.
Shourd was released from prison on bail of $500,000 on September 14,
2010 and never returned to Iran. Her case is still open.
On August 22, Bauer and Fattal were sentenced to three years in prison
for illegal entry into Iran. They were also sentenced to five years in
prison on charges of espionage for a U.S. intelligence agency.
Salehi said, "Making decisions about the two U.S. citizens imprisoned
in Iran on charge of espionage, falls within the ambit of the
Judiciary, and this branch has the final say."
He added, "According to the reports received from the Judiciary, this
branch plans to commute the sentences of these two people and is
determined to handle the issue in such a way that justice would be
served."
He also said that leaders of certain regional countries have mediated
in the issue, adding, "We hope the Judiciary will express its view in
this regard in the near future."
He went on to say that the executive branch is not involved in
judicial issues and the consultations held between the Judiciary and
the administration are merely meant to convey the news of mediation
efforts that the leaders of certain regional countries have made.
Salehi expects U.S. to show good will on Iranian prisoners
Elsewhere in his remarks, he said, "We expect the U.S. government to
take this fact into consideration that the Iranians imprisoned (in the
U.S.) are innocent and have been incarcerated based on unfounded
allegations and... we expect them (U.S. officials) to use this
opportunity and show their good will."
The Iranian foreign minister also expressed hope that the case would
be closed in such a way that would bring good news for the families of
the two U.S. citizens and the families of Iranians imprisoned in the
United States.
Iran, Armenia have historical relations
On the relations between Tehran and Yerevan, Salehi stated that the
two countries have historical relations and emphasized the importance
of holding regular talks between officials of the two countries on
various issues, particularly regional developments.
Armenia hails Iran's stance on Nagorno-Karabakh issue
The Armenian foreign minister also said that his country is keen to
increase cooperation with Iran in all areas and expressed satisfaction
with the process of the implementation of the joint transportation
projects.
Nalbandian also thanked Iran for its stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue, which has dragged on since ethnic Armenian forces took control
of the region during a war in the early 1990s.
EP/PA
END
MNA