Statement by H.E. Mr. Mohammad Khazaee, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations on the assassination of an Iranian scientist, and the USA drone seizure before the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ambassadorial meeting (11 January 2012- New York)
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Mr. Chairman,
At the outset, I would like to thank you for the opportunity provided to me to raise two issues of utmost importance to my country in this month's COB meeting:
First, I would like to inform the distinguished members of NAM about a sad terrorist incident that had happened this morning in Tehran. In this incident another prominent Iranian scientist, Mostafa Ahamdi Roshan fell victim of a blind terrorist attack. The victim was a Sharif University of Technology graduate in chemical engineering and served as deputy of Iran's Natanz nuclear facility. In this incident two other innocent people were seriously injured, one of whom died later at the hospital as a result of his wounds.
As my distinguished colleagues are aware, this is not the first time that the Iranian scientists come under malicious terrorist attacks. Previously assassination attempts were also carried out against two Iranian prominent physicists: Majid Shahriari and Fereydoun Abbasi Davani (currently heading Iran's Atomic Energy Organization) on 29 November 2010 as a result of which Majid Shahriari was martyred and Fereydoun Abbasi Davani and his wife were seriously injured. In the same series of terrorist attacks another Iranian scientist Professor Massoud Ali Mohammadi, was martyred in front of his house on 12 January 2010.
Based on the existing evidence collected by the relevant Iranian security authorities, similar to previous incidents, perpetrators used the same terrorist method in assassinating Iranian nuclear scientists, i.e. attaching a sticky magnetic bomb to the car carrying the scientists and detonating it. Furthermore, there is firm evidence that certain foreign quarters affiliated to the Zionist Regime are behind such assassinations. As has been claimed by these circles, such terrorist acts have been carried out as part of the efforts to disrupt Iran's peaceful nuclear program, under the false assumption that diplomacy alone would not be enough for that purpose. These quarters have spared no efforts in depriving the Islamic Republic of Iran from its inalienable right to peaceful nuclear energy and called for conducting covert operations ranging from assassinating Iranian nuclear scientists to launching a military strike on Iran as well as sabotaging Iran's nuclear program.
Now, the question remains whether resorting to all unlawful and coercive measures, even terrorist acts, to prevent developing nations from exercising their right to development, including peaceful use of nuclear energy are permissible?
While reiterating the peaceful nature of Iranian nuclear activities, I would like to emphasize, once again, that the Islamic Republic of Iran would not compromise over its inalienable right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and any kind of political and economic pressures or terrorist attacks targeting the Iranian nuclear scientists, could not prevent our nation in exercising this right.
I recall that the Ministers of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries met in Bali, Indonesia on 25 and 26 May 2011 in their final document "strongly condemned a number of terrorist attacks against Iranian scientists, which resulted in the loss of valuable human resources essential to the development of any country." It is highly expected from the NAM countries to likewise condemn, in the strongest term, this recent inhumane terrorist acts.
The second issue I want to raise, is with regard to the case of a US spying drone which was seized by Iranian forces on 4th December 2011. I wish to refresh the memories of my distinguished colleagues that this drone dubbed as the "beast of Kandahar" flying from a US base in Kandahar entered into Iranian territory and was brought down in a region near the city of Tabas by the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
In this regard Minister Salehi sent a letter to H.E. Mr. Mohamed Kamel Amr, the distinguished Minister of the Foreign Affairs of Egypt, the text of which was kindly circulated to all Permanent Missions and Permanent Observe Mission of the NAM Member Countries by the Chair some days ago and I hope you have seen the letter and its content. My intention in asking for the floor at this COB meeting was to raise and discuss the issue contained in that letter with my distinguished colleagues and I appreciate for the time for your attention to this important issue.
This transgression by a USA drone is obviously an act of blatant military air aggression which contravenes all universally accepted existing international norms relating to sovereignty and inviolability of airspace of sovereign countries. This particular type of operation by unmanned flying object is apparently used mainly to collect intelligence for spying purposes. What matters here is both the violation of the Iranian territorial air space as well as espionage which contravenes the basic purpose of peaceful and friendly relationship that should exist among sovereign states and we as members of NAM believe and adhere firmly to these principles.
Of course this is not an isolated case. Nowadays there are increasing reports on the use of drones in targeting military and civilians from Pakistan, Afghanistan to Yemen and horn of Africa.
When this act of aggression happened in Iran we have of course immediately informed the Security Council about this act of violation and I sent a letter to Ambassador Churkin, the President of the Council for the month of December and to Mr. Ban Ki-moon the Secretary General.
We in the NAM have always condemned such unlawful actions against the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Non-Aligned Countries. We have always reaffirmed that the Movement remains guided in its endeavours by its Founding Principles which are also enshrined in the Declaration on the Purposes and Principles and emphasize that the Non-Aligned Movement, should continue to uphold the principles of sovereignty of any State and take effective measures for the suppression of acts of aggression for the sake of international peace and security, and justice.
On this recent act of aggression against my country, we are committed to take all appropriate measures to protect our legitimate rights under international law with regard to our sovereignty and repeal any acts of aggression. We expect full support by the NAM in any demarche including a strong condemnation on the part of international bodies including any action that may be taken in this regard at the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council.
I thank you once again for your kind attention.
To AIFC's knowledge, the office of Ban Ki-moon has not yet responded to Ambassador Khazaee's request.
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