Text of Address of

His ExcellencyDr. MahmoudAhmadinejad,

the President of Islamic Republic of Iran,

in the

NAM Ministerial Meeting on

Human Rights and Cultural Diversity

Tehran, September 3-4th 2007

In the Name of Most High

"Oh God, hasten the reappearance of the Hidden Imam and grant him health and victory and make us some of his true believers and those who testify to his rightfulness"

Honorable Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I bid each and every one of you welcome and wish you all success,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The creator of the universe created man in the best possible way and made him superior to all other creatures. The diversity and wide range of man's rights is only one of the aspects which differentiate him from other creatures. The wide range of man’s rights which are never limited to a certain number of materialistic rights, has granted him a revered status in the universe. Man’s dignity depends on his divine status. This status has been in exsistence since the creation of universe and will continue for good and physical life is just a part of this status. The eternity of mankind is tied to the eternity of his life and his greatness to the immensity of the entire universe. Mankind’s foremost right is having a good destiny and happiness in every level of his life. This right will not be fulfilled unless he is aware of his entire existence as well as his unique position in this regard. Those who impose limitations on the extent of existence for mankind are actually reducing his rights. If eternity is considered to be mankind’s attribute, then it is his right to be eternally happy. It is mankind’s great right to enjoy both materialistic and spiritual rights at the same time. The human rights are not confined to just food and housing or materialistic needs. The enjoyment of higher rights, of which other creatures are deprived, drives mankind to perfection. Another aspect which differentiates man from other creatures is his right for freedom and highness. The greatest oppression inflicted on mankind by the materialistic states, was their limited definition of mankind’s characteristics, demands and existential potential.

Honorable Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Another right which mankind was cruelly denied of was the one to relate to God’s eternal power which is the measureless source of mercifulness and compassion. Along with his relationship with nature and other humans, mankind is intrinsically and instinctively called upon to relate to his maker who, more than anybody or anything else, is aware of his creation’s potential, capabilities and interests and only he himself deserves to be his God. Divine guidance is an opportunity for mankind and the biggest oppression inflicted on him is depriving him of his right to properly relate to God’s eternal power, through which two sources of guidance have been made available to man: one internal (wisdom) and the other external (revelation). The group who withheld the proper use of wisdom from mankind and brought him petrifaction and inertia as well as the group who stripped him of divine prophets’ guidance have both oppressed mankind and obstructed God’s guidance to serve as a guide of behavior for humans.

Dear Audience,

Moving towards perfection and treading on the path leading to it, is an inalienable human right. Mankind was created on the best basis and qualities. The creator of all existence made man the lord of all other creatures and ordered heaven and earth to serve him and created everything on earth for him. Of all the creatures on earth, it was mankind who was granted a chance to be God’s vicegerent. That is why humans were created as free and equal-to-each-other creatures and based on a common monotheistic nature. God Almighty did not consider language, skin color or ethnicity as giving people superiority over each other. He created humans as equal, just like the teeth of a comb. No human is allowed to enslave another. No human is allowed to seek his benefit in the loss of another. This is the most basic human right.

Good behavior and righteous deeds are the only things which make people superior to one another. Hence, it is a right for the most righteous to be considered as the best humans. The human rights never reach their pinnacle unless righteous and perfect people are in charge of managing people. From this viewpoint, the rule of the rulers is not their birthright but a duty for serving people. Therefore, people of different origins, languages, cultures and ethnicities have no superiority to each other, and such differences only serve to know other people and communicate with them. The only criterion for superiority is the observance of morally right and humanistic behavior. According to this criterion, humans are not supposed to harbor any animosity towards each other and are like brothers who do not seek their benefit in another person’s loss. This approach will definitely eventuate in the promotion of justice which itself has to be the foundation of relations among communities, nations and governments. Irrespective of any ethnicity or culture, human communities are all built around the common human nature comprised of monotheism and justice. This nature embodies a great unity among humans which results in dynamism and diversity paving the way for cooperation, synergy and directing all humans toward a benign and sacred destination.

Humans share a common and divine nature and the directions laid down by prophets are invaluable sources for resolving the conflicts among people. Mankind is free and has a will. God never seals the fate of a community unless its people desire so. The basis of freedom lies within the liberation from enslavement and anything agnostic. The inherent dignity of humans transcends their ethnicity, race, color and language. All humans are capable of securing such dignity by associating themselves with the divine source. Local cultures of nations normally have divine roots, and if one pays close attention, they can easily notice that all these cultures are based on monotheism, affection, fraternity, justice, love and human perfection.

Different cultures are like individual flowers in a big garden. They might have distinct smells, fragrances and colors but without any doubt they all belong to the garden of humanity and, as a result, are lovely.

Unfortunately some powers have declared war against these cultures and think of nothing but destroying the traditions and customs of different nations in the world in order to keep them under their illegal sway. They consider local cultures as defenses against their domineering wishes. However, we think that cultural diversity bears witness to mankind’s greatness and contributes to the positive exchange among nations. Local cultures are culminated in the creation of prosperous societies for all humankind

Dear audience, 

If cultural diversity is not based on the common divine nature, then its outcomes will be autocracy, arrogance, monopoly, and seeking one’s benefit in another’s loss. When monotheism is denied and when people only care about their own interests, then, without any doubt, the first victim will be the human rights. When justice is ignored and injustice and inequality become habits of the arrogant, and when some people clearly and publicly declare that, due to their having more weapons, they are superior to other people and can deprive others of their rights, then human rights are doomed.

Today, maverick and self-based initiatives, economic, cultural and political domination as well as monopolized profiteering have all caused an unpleasant and regrettable situation for mankind. In many parts of the world, human rights and freedoms are still being suppressed and trampled by the domineering powers. There are still millions of people suffering from the lack of nutritious food, sanitation, clothes, housing and education. Economic powerhouses are still taking advantages of their powers in order to dominate others. The majority of the world today is still engulfed by the darkness of poverty, famine and illiterateness, whereas the global wealth is spent on making weaponry used for the purpose of human destruction. And there are still people getting killed, homeless and displaced by military incursions.

The sad story of Palestinians has been going on for the last 60 years. The usurper Zionist regime has continued to exist through murdering thousands of people, displacing millions of the original inhabitants, razing hundreds of farms, gardens, and demolishing cities and villages in the occupied lands. 

This regime, levels the houses of Palestinians while they are inside them, slaughters the children, declares its schedule for the assassination of Palestinian figures, and has imprisoned thousands of Palestinians. The occupiers of Palestine are after the destruction of Palestine’s cultural heritage through complete besieging and closing borders, destruction of vital infrastructure, and demolition of religious, educational and historical places. It is shameful that such a barbaric regime is supported politically, economically and militarily by the powerful countries. It is ludicrous that the efforts made by other nations to prevent this regime from committing his atrocities and try it in international courts are stymied by those aforementioned countries. Utilizing veto rights in order to uphold the violators of the human rights is the best example of inequality and discrimination.

Arrogant powers claming they support human rights, obviously have no respect for the votes and choices made by Palestinians. They try their utmost to nullify the will of Palestinians through imposition of sanctions and political and economic pressures. Look at the situation in Iraq. Under the pretext of toppling Saddam whom they had backed for years against Iran, and discovering weapons of mass destruction, they occupied a great nation that is a member of UN and has a 7000-year-old civilization just in order to fulfill their long-term objectives of energy domination. Saddam is now gone and no trace of any weapon of mass destruction has been found but the occupiers are still present in Iraq and insist on staying there. Their excuse for staying is the violence they themselves have set in motion. Since the occupation of Iraq, more than 160 thousand people have been killed and more than 600 thousand have been wounded and millions have been displaced. The occupiers are even opposed to the constitution and the elected-government of Iraq. They are shamelessly encroaching upon the rights and lives of the people of Iraq and are churlishly asking for a government change. In order to fill the pockets of their companies, they resort to any kind of slaughter and crime. They have imposed thousands of military forces and various types of weaponry on the people of Iraq and are shamelessly lodging accusations against others.

They set up covert prisons, abduct those who oppose them at the airports and torture them in their fearsome prisons. They even tap the telephone calls of their own people and auction off their dignity for the sake of the profit of their companies.

However, it is absolutely regrettable that UN mechanisms for human rights are misused by bullying powers which have targeted the independent nations. Ignorance of violations of vast and internalized human rights in many parts of the world as well as instrumental utilization of human rights in order to put political pressures on some countries are all indicative of the reign of a double standard which has dealt huge blows to human rights.   

You have witnessed the reaction of some of these arrogant powers with regards to Iran’s nuclear issue.

Iran is an official member of International Atomic Energy Agency and a signatory to Non-proliferation Treaty and has consistently observed their rules. However, some monopolist and bullying powers have mustered all their diplomatic and media influences to place a heavy pressure upon Iran to deprive it of its most alienable right. To do so, they stoop to use every kind of dirty trick and mischief like making political and military threats and imposing economic sanctions. They have gone as far as victimizing all the merits of the Security Council for the fulfillment of their own political interests and illegal wishes. They have publicly and hideously insulted the peace-loving and justice-seeking nation of Iran which enjoys a brilliant civilization and has always craved for global peace and security. Although it is completely against the rules written by them, they even took the nuclear issue of Iran to the Security Council and passed resolutions against Iran and tried to deny Iran of its rightful right by imposition of sanctions.

Meanwhile, through unity and solidarity, Iran tried to, on one hand, warn them about their unlawful actions and make them realize their incorrect ways, and on the hand to clarify the issue by standing beside and constantly keeping in touch with its friends and independent countries. 

I am obliged to clearly announce that today by the grace of God Almighty and the steady persistence of the Supreme Leader of Islamic Republic of Iran and thanks to the assistance from our friends; we believe the nuclear issue is closed. The majority of countries have recognized our right to have access to nuclear power and a couple of remaining countries have no choice but to do so. The trend of discussing Iran’s nuclear issue at IAEA is legal, right and beneficial to all.

Here in this magnificent gathering, I would like to intimately thank the selfless efforts of the member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement especially in the ministerial meeting in Kuala Lumpur and the summit of heads of states in Cuba, the honorable president of Malaysia, the eminent president of Cuba and also the members of the Board of Governors for their support. I would like to declare that unlike what the monopolist countries claim; Iran is after the peaceful use of nuclear energy and intends to use it for the betterment and welfare of all nations. Under the supervision of IAEA, Iran is ready to offer its achievements in this field to other members of this agency in form of educational programs.

I would like to give a piece of friendly advice to all those who treated Iran in such an antagonistic way: do not do the same to other members of IAEA. All nations must be allowed to enjoy their rights in an atmosphere filled with friendship and the rule of law.

During the time when the world was divided between two poles of power, the advent of the Non-Aligned Movement was a message of hope for the independence-seeking countries. The movement’s struggle against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, Zionism, and all forms of foreign aggression, occupation, domination, interference or hegemonyas well as against great power and bloc politics has to be praised and lauded.

Today with the fall of the former Soviet Union, the domineering powers are after imposing their uni-polar system on the world. Because of this and other humanistic reasons, the responsibilities of the member states of Non-Aligned Movement are even greater and more serious than before and we now have more reasons to stand together and, hand in hand, add to our voices. We have to question the new global strangulation and the uni-polar dictatorship by certain warmongering and bossy countries. Nobody has any right to remain silent when the world suffers from occupations, crimes and warmongerings. Today, more than any other time throughout history, the human rights are trampled and humanity humiliated. Today, some countries are trying to impose their wishes on the world in the name of "globalization", dominate the world in the name of "modernity", expand their "capitalistic rule" over the natural resources and global markets in the name of "free market", and occupy and plunder other countries in the name of "democracy". It is essentially not possible for domineering powers to bear the existence of independent states or the ones not aligned with them. That is why they have announced several times that you are either with us or against us. They consider anyone opposed to them or not allied with them as enemies.

Dear Friends,

Basically, human rights are a religious and monotheistic concept brought to us by divine prophets Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ, and Mohammad (PBUH). Such a concept can still serve as a thinking and theoretical foundation for reigning in oppression and injustice and promote the spirit of love and brotherhood in the world.

Unfortunately, a second concept of human rights has been faked in recent decades. It is not a humanistic concept but a political and domineering tool used against justice. Now, they commit atrocities, torture humans, and foment global insecurity world in the name of "human rights". Although, certain countries are the biggest producers of and consumers of atomic and chemical weapons, they try to impose their own interests and values on the world in the name of human rights and even appoint themselves as the judges of the world. Although, they mastermind many wars and coups in the world, and run international torture sites like Guantanamo, they surprisingly talk about prisoner rights. Although they commit the most heinous crimes against women and their families, they claim to be the advocates of "women rights". Although they have stood against the votes of people in Iran, Palestine, Iraq etc, they claim to be the adherents of "democracy".

Instead of rejecting human rights or abusing people under the guise of human rights, we now have to find a new way which is reconsidering human rights as a project based on spirituality and justice to ensure dignity for all mankind. Bonding of human rights and divine religions is a significant truth found in the nature of all monotheistic faiths.

Without any doubt, the logical and basic dialogue among the members of the Non-Aligned Movement may lead to the closeness of different views and approaches to each other. The Non-Aligned Movement conference on human rights and cultural diversity is an important step forward in defining the factors necessary for establishing an international system of rights based on spirituality, justice, fairness, human dignity and values, and respect for other cultures. These are all the necessities of a desirable life.

Honorable Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I wish to seize the opportunity to invite all the member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement to reconsider the theoretical rudiments of human rights so that certain countries can not define human rights in their own malicious ways shaped by their political and economic objectives. This way, thinkers and philosophers of the world will be able to submit their views on human rights in a friendly and free atmosphere.

Honorable Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

This is the promise and glad tidings of all the prophets to all humans: the future will belong to the righteous. On the day when the world is ruled by a perfect man who calls upon people to follow friendship, affection, justice and God’s servitude, humanity will start to enjoy all his rights. Of course, those who construe the human rights in terms of their own interests, think that this day is far away, but we believe that it is close at hand. Let’s hope it will come soon enough.