‘Jokes’ from Iranian President

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Sept 16 2004

Iran is ready to assist in the peace settlement of the Garabagh
conflict and Tehran is capable of making every effort in doing so,
the Iranian President Mohamed Khatami said in a meeting with Armenia’s
Yerevan state university students and faculty. Khatami visited Armenia
for two days last week.

“We honor the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty and
support a peace settlement of the conflict. Iran particularly respects
Armenia, and we are ready to take specific steps in this direction”,
Khatami said. The Iranian President emphasized the importance of
eliminating sources of tension in the Caucasus, as “the regional
countries need to develop, which is possible only in the conditions
of peace”.

Khatami addressed the issue of South Azerbaijan in conclusion.
“Annexation of South Azerbaijan to the Azerbaijan Republic is the
funniest joke in the entire history of Iran.” Khatami explained this
by the fact that Iran has recognized the Azerbaijan Republic, and that
residents of Northern Iran have contributed greatly to stability and
the development of culture, history, science, politics and industry of
Iran. “We have no claims on Azerbaijan, but if the issue of unification
is raised, from the historic standpoint, northern Azerbaijanis will
aspire to establish closer ties with their Southern neighbors, but
not the other way round”, Khatami added.