Iran's Ahmadinejad stresses commitment to nuclear development, demands respect

AP via IHT ^ | August 22, 2007 | Staff

[Schnucki]

BAKU, Azerbaijan: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday demanded other countries respect its right to atomic energy and said nothing had been achieved by trying to stop the program, in criticisms apparently directed largely at the United States.

"Our aim in developing nuclear technology is the improvement of the well being and living standards of our people," Ahmadinejad told Azerbaijani journalists during a visit to the neighboring former Soviet republic. He added that all nations have the right to peaceful nuclear development.

Without naming any nations, he said "certain forces ... want to deprive our people of this right. They resort to any methods — economic, psychological and military pressure. But despite this, they have achieved nothing. Iran has legally created nuclear technology."

"It would be good if those forces that are hindering us would understand our words and begin to respect the rights of other peoples," Ahmadinejad said.

His remarks came as the United States continued to seek additional U.N. Security Council sanctions against Iran for its refusal to freeze its uranium enrichment program and stop construction of a plutonium-producing reactor. The U.S. administration believes Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

Earlier Wednesday, a senior U.S. envoy dismissed increased Iranian willingness to answer questions about its nuclear program as a smoke screen and said it would not prevent the council from imposing a third round of sanctions.

[Cindy]

Respect is earned, Ahmadinejad.

It’s hard to be respected when one comes off acting like a rabid squirrel hording a pile of nuts.

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[Nathan Zachary]

""Our aim in developing nuclear technology is the improvement of the well being and living standards of our people," Ahmadinejad told Azerbaijani journalists"

But we all know that is a bold faced lie, don't we Ahmadinejad. You told us so yourself, when you told us-repeatedly- what you are hoping to do when you finish developing your nuclear arsenal.