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- http://www.abcnews.go.com/print?id=7421719'This Week'
Transcript: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Exclusive
Interview Between ABC's George Stephanopoulos and Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
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- *Sunday, April 26, 2009 —*
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: During the last administration, no other
world leader next to you was as critical of the American
administration as Mr. Chavez.
- Yet, look at this picture right here.
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- Is this a picture that you would like to see, you and
President Obama? And what do you think the Iranian people would
think of you and President Obama meeting, shaking hands, engaging
in conversation?
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- AHMADINEJAD: Well, we are calling for peace and security for
all. We would like international relations to be based on justice
and friendship.
- Wherever a hostile relationship turns into friendship, that
would make us happy.
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: President Obama says that's exactly what he
wants right now. He says he wants a new beginning in a
relationship with Iran. He sent a message to the Iranian people on
the occasion of the Nowruz holiday where he called Iran a great
civilization.
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- He talked about the Islamic Republic of Iran, where he
signaled that he wasn't interested in regime change, and he talked
about his vision for the United States/Iranian relationship.
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- *OBAMA: It's a future where the old divisions are overcome,
where you and all of your neighbors and the wider world can live
in greater security and greater peace".*
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: Do you share that vision?
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- AHMADINEJAD: You need to appreciate that the American
administration, 29 years ago, unilaterally cut its relations with
Iran. In the past 29 years, different U.S. administrations have
opposed the Iranian people. Now they say that we have given up
that enmity. That's fine.
-
- We have welcomed such comments. But an administration which,
up until yesterday, was saying that I'm going to kill you, and
today says that I'm not going to kill you, is that sufficient?
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: So there is change, though. What will Iran do
in response?
- The United States has said that the United States is ready to
talk with Iran and the other great powers -- Britain, France,
Germany, Russia and China.
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- Are you prepared to sit down at those talks without
preconditions?
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- AHMADINEJAD: Well, previously, first of all, I sent a
congratulatory message to Mr. Obama. This was a major decision,
although the Iranian people were very much dismayed with the
conduct of previous U.S.
- administrations. And I was criticized here at home, in Iran.
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- Nevertheless, I did that. I am yet to receive a response.
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- With the European group and the American group, we will talk.
We have announced as much that we are going to negotiate. But...
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: When will you join those talks?
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- AHMADINEJAD: ... again, based on justice and mutual respect.
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- Well, after everything is said and done -- well, planning
needs to be made and timetables need to be set.
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- We believe in talking, in negotiating, based on sincerity and
respect and justice. But the U.S. administration severed its
relations with us.
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: But that was the past administration. And now
President Obama said he is prepared to sit down along with the
other European powers without any preconditions. And it sounds to
me as if you're suggesting now Iran is the one with the
preconditions echoing in fact the policy of the last U.S.
administration.
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- Are there preconditions or not? Why not sit down right now
with the U.S.
- and the European powers to discuss the nuclear program?
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- AHMADINEJAD: Last year we proposed a package of proposals for
talks, everyone knows that in this year many changes, developments
have unfolded on the international stage. Many new issues have
been added to the agenda, so to speak.
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- And we are reconsidering our proposed package. We are adding
new issues to the realm, if you will, of the talks. And we are
going to make that public as soon as possible. We are always ready
to talk...
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: Why not now?
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- AHMADINEJAD: ... with no preconditions.
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- What should I do?
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: Tell me your proposal.
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- AHMADINEJAD: Should I share that with you, sir?
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: The world, American viewers.
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- AHMADINEJAD: We are going to do that officially. We think that
we should prepare the ground so that all states and peoples can
have their say. We are ready to contribute to international
security, peace, and global friendship and global disarmament.
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: you say you want to talk on the basis of
respect, the president has expressed his respect for the Islamic
Republic of Iran. And he said he is ready to talk.
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- I just want to know, when will Iran sit down with the United
States and the European powers to discuss the nuclear program?
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- AHMADINEJAD: Well, the nuclear issue of ours is a special
issue. We think that the nuclear issue needs to be resolved in the
context of the agency and regulations. we are just utilizing our
legal rights.
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- I have no reservations when it comes to talking.
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: So you're ready to talk without preconditions?
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- AHMADINEJAD: No, no. We should just have a clear-cut framework
for talks.
- The agenda should be clear.
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- But so far we have only heard this from the media, the
newspapers, that they're interested in talking. And obviously
they're going to receive a response from the papers. I was fully
expecting Mr. Obama to participate in the Geneva Conference. What
issue is more important than racial discrimination?
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- The United Nations has organized...
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: Yes, sir, since you bring that up...
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- AHMADINEJAD: ... such a conference. I don't think or believe
that Mr.
- Obama supports racism. However, the gentleman should have been
there and should have condemned outright racism and racial
discrimination.
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- This is a good possibility for talks and cooperation. We
should all cooperate with one another to help...
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: What he doesn't...
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- AHMADINEJAD: ... racism to go away from the international...
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: What he doesn't agree...
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- (CROSSTALK)
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: If I may -- excuse me, sir, if I may express
his position, is the idea that Israel is a racist state.
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- OBAMA: " I found many of the statements that President
Ahmadinejad made, particularly those directed at Israel, to be
appalling.
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: And, frankly, many in the West look at your
speech in Geneva. And they wonder whether you really do want a
better relationship with the West when you deny that there was a
Holocaust when it's an established historical fact, they believe
that you're not showing respect for the West and the beliefs of
the West.
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- AHMADINEJAD: When I was talking against the Zionist regime in
the racism conference, the first proviso for successful talks
would be to give the other party the freedom to speak. Mr. Obama
has the right to have his own opinion, obviously.
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- He is ready to express his points of view. But the Geneva
conference had been organized to combat racism, to oppose racism.
My point of view is that the Zionist regime is the manifestation
of racism.
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: Yet when you speak at that conference, Western
diplomats walk out. Even the U.N. secretary-general condemns your
remarks.
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- AHMADINEJAD: That's fine! That's fine! They are free to have
their own points of view. Why do they want to deny me my ideas
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: Why do you insist on questioning the Holocaust
even when it's established as a historical fact and even when
politicians here in Iran worry that kind of talk isolates Iran?
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- AHMADINEJAD: I'm going to talk about that as well. Don't be
hasty. I have posed two questions over Holocaust.
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- My first question was, if the Holocaust happened, where did it
take place?
- In Europe. Why should they make amends in Palestine? The
Palestinian people had no role to play in the Holocaust. They had
no role, for that matter, in the Second World War.
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- Racism happened in Europe, the amends are made in Palestine?
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- My second question about the Holocaust, if this is indeed a
historical event, why do they want to turn it into a holy thing?
And nobody should be allowed to ask any questions about that?
Nobody study it, research it, permit it to research it. Why?
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: It's the most studied historical event in
history.
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- AHMADINEJAD: If this is a historically documented event, why
do Western states show so much sensitivity towards a historical
event? They do not want the lid to be taken off. I am asking them
to permit studies.
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: Let's talking about something that's happening
right now.
- President Obama has appointed Senator George Mitchell to help
negotiate a peace between Israel and Palestine. Do you support
that effort?
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- AHMADINEJAD: Well, we are asking for the legal rights of the
Palestinian people. What we are saying is that the Palestinian
people like other peoples have the right to determine their own
fate. Muslims, Christians and Jews alike. We should -- they should
allow them to engage in elections, free elections and a free
referendum to determine for themselves their own fate.
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- We must not repeat the mistakes of the past.
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: Do you believe President Obama's new effort is
repeating the mistakes of the past?
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- AHMADINEJAD: Well? I am yet to have a clear idea about Mr.
Obama's Palestinian policy. However, the gentleman's support of
the massacre of Gazans in support for the criminals who were
responsible for that atrocity was a major mistake on the part of
the gentleman. I think that if Mr.
- Obama wants to help with the Palestinian issue, he has to move
in accordance with justice, fair play and also, again, I am
calling for the right for the Palestinians to determine their own
fate.
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: If the Palestinian people negotiate an
agreement with Israel and the Palestinian people vote and support
that agreement, a two state solution, will Iran support it?
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- AHMADINEJAD: Nobody should interfere, allow the Palestinian
people to decide for themselves. Whatever they decide.
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: That's all I'm asking.
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- AHMADINEJAD: It is the right of all human beings.
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: If they choose a two state solution with
Israel, that's fine.
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- AHMADINEJAD: Well, what we are saying is that you and us
should not determine the course of things beforehand. Allow the
Palestinian people to make their own decisions.
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: But if they choose a two state solution, if
they choose to recognize Israel's existence, Iran will as well?
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- AHMADINEJAD; Let me approach this from another perspective. If
the Palestinians decide that the Zionist regime needs to leave all
Palestinian lands, would the American administration accept their
decision? Will they accept this Palestinian point of view?
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: I'll ask them. But I'm asking you if
Palestinians accept the existence of Israel, would Iran support
that?
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- AHMADINEJAD: Can I ask you questions as well?
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: I'm not part of the American government. I'll
put that question to the American government.
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- AHMADINEJAD: I'm asking that people vote.
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: But I have a question for you as president of
Iran.
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- AHMADINEJAD: That's fine!
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: If the Palestinians sign an agreement with
Israel, will Iran support it?
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- AHMADINEJAD: Whatever decision they take is fine with us. We
are not going to determine anything. Whatever decision they take,
we will support that.
- We think that this is the right of the Palestinian people,
however we fully expect other states to do so as well.
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- The U.S. administration, European governments. The right to
determine their fate by the Palestinians should be respected by
all of them.
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: Let me ask one final question. You are up for
election on June 12. If you are successful in this reelection,
what is your hope for the Iranian-U.S. relationship over the next
four years?
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- AHMADINEJAD: Well, Iran and U.S. relations are dependent on
the decision taken by the U.S. administration. Mr. Obama sends us
messages of friendship but in the communique issued by the five
plus one, enmity can be seen. So this is a dual route, if you
will.
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- I have sent a message to Mr. Obama myself. We welcome change.
We are praying to the All Mighty for that. And we will help to
bring change about.
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- STEPHANOPOULOS: Mr. President, thank you very much for your
time.
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- AHMADINEJAD: Thank you. Good luck. And please convey my
regards to the American people.
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