Discrimination causes terrorism: Iranian president

Xinhua, China
Sept 9 2004

MOSCOW, Sept. 8 (Xinhuanet) — Iranian President Mohammad Khatami
on Wednesday condemned the Beslan hostage tragedy and said the root
causes of terror could be found in the “discrimination” of peoples,
according to reports reaching here.

“Without looking at the roots it is impossible to fight terrorism. The
roots can be found in the same places where security forces impose
a discriminatory policy and people suffer from this,” Khatami said
following talks with his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian in
Armenia’s capital Yerevan.

“Unable to find an adequate response to this fight they (discriminated
people) take harsh steps. This is why when you condemn terrorism you
must also condemn violence,” he added.

Khatami also spoke out against the way certain terrorists want to
present their acts under the mask of religion. “They besmirch the
religions that preach peace and humanism.” Enditem