Interview
with the head of the Iranian chair at the Yerevan State University, the editor-in-chief
of the "Iran and Caucasus" international magazine Garnik Asatrian.-According
to some specialists the victory of the Islamic fundamentalist famous for his extreme
conservative views Mahmud Ahmadinejad in the presidential elections of Iran is
a regressive step against the background of reforms in Iran. What do you think
as a specialist?- I don’t think that Mr. Ahmadinejad’s election is a regressive
step. It’s the choice of the people. This shows that the regime has deep roots
in the society. And separate opposition demonstrations were simply for decorative
proposes but not basic. – Did you wait for such results?- I wasn’t sure
that the people of Iran would vote for the regime. Finally voting for Ahmadinejad
meant to say "yes" to the regime and its policy and "no" to
half-democratic reforms of 8 years, which Mr. Khatemi did. I highly appreciate
Mr. Khatemi as a cultural worker, humanist, as a man who was the author of the
"Dialogue of civilizations" conception but I can’t consider positive
two terms of his presidency.- What do you mean?- The period of Mr. Khatemi’s
presidency was interesting; there were some freedom in the sphere of cloths, literature
and other spheres but it was weak in general. The provincial, centrifugal intentions
have already been noticed. Especially at that time the factor of the Republic
of Azerbaijan was overstatement. I mark negatively the foundation of the consulate
of Azerbaijan in Tavriz, the obvious instigations of the Azerbaijani politicians
among the Turkish speaking population of Iran. Certainly the fundamental grounds
of economic development since Rafsanjani’s period were continued during 8 years
of his presidency. Agriculture, energy, heavy industry were developed, some steps
were taken to change the Iran image formed by the USA. But this didn’t strengthen
the factors of security. The centrifugal powers became active what was bad for
the country.- Will the Islamic fundamentalist president strengthen the national
security?- I must mention that the Islamic fundamentalism doesn’t have the
same meaning in Iran as the Vahabists are. There are quite different in Iran;
the Iranian radicalism closely connects with the Iranian nationalization. I think
that Mr. Ahmadinejad, being radical will assist in strengthening internal conjunctive
spheres which make country a country. This is a multilingual, multinational country
and needs in a special policy. In this case I think that the people of Iran has
elected rightly.- What do you think about the mutual treats of Mr. Ahmadinejad
and the US Minister of Defense Donald Ramsfield on the experiments of nuclear
power?- Frankly speaking I wonder why Iran which has the tradition of State
system for about 3 thousands years mustn’t have the possibility of peaceful using
of nuclear power. And one of the neighbor countries, which has 50-60 years of
State system, can have such a possibility. I understand the anxiety of the Western
regions. The nuclear power and bomb mustn’t be in the hands of terrorist groups,
organizations or in the hands of those countries that have terrorist inclination.
But Iran isn’t like that. The Iranian State system has proved during three thousands
of years that it is a bearer of rather balanced principals. And the territorial
balance will be formed if Iran has the possibility of using the nuclear power.-
So do you believe in Mr. Ahmadinejad’s promises that the nuclear power will be
used only for peaceful proposes?- Yes, I believe.Melanya
Barseghian
