President Ahmadinejad of the Islamic Republic of Iran speaking at the World Conference Against Racism Durban Review II in Geneva. The racist states walked out during his address. The majority stayed and cheered his remarks.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
AFP
TEHERAN. Iranian lawmakers yesterday unanimously backed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s choice of defence minister, Ahmad Vahidi, who faces an arrest warrant from Argentina over a 1994 bombing in Buenos Aires.
Dressed in military uniform, Vahidi addressed the Iranian parliament and outlined his four-year plan ahead of a vote of confidence by parliament on the 21-member cabinet line-up today.
Vahidi faced no opposition in the parliament as he elaborated his plans for the ministry, which include "building innovative defence products and expansion of regional and international co-operation with an active defence diplomacy."
Argentina accuses Vahidi of being involved in the bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish community centre that killed 85 people.
In 2007, Interpol formally distributed an Argentine arrest warrant for Vahidi to its 187 member countries.
Argentina has expressed outrage over Iran's nomination of Vahidi and has urged that he be arrested.
MP Hadi Ghavami, who had initially indicated he would oppose Vahidi’s nomination, said in a note read out by the parliament presiding board that he would now vote for the nominee due to the "sinister and meddling position taken by the Zionist regime (Israel)".
Gholam-Reza Karami, head of the assembly’s defence commission, expressed "strong support (for Vahidi) and strong objection to the Zionist lobbies" against Vahidi.
Karami’s statement was cheered by MPs, who chanted, "Death to Israel!"
Vahidi promised that if appointed defence minister he would "boost the deterrent capabilities . . . to change threats into opportunities in order to strengthen national security . . . "
Iranian media says Vahidi will win the vote of confidence as international opposition to him has actually helped unite the conservative Iranian lawmakers in his favour. — AFP.
No comments:
Post a Comment