http://www.tehrantimes.com/Index_view.asp?code=184546
December 11, 2008 Terrorism, most important challenge: Iran's envoy UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK (IRNA) -- Iran's Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations Mohammad Khazaee said on Tuesday that terrorism is the most important challenge facing the international community. Addressing a UN Security Council meeting on threats posed by terrorist groups to international peace and security, he said that Tehran condemns any kind of terrorism in the world. He underlined the need for all-out struggle against the ominous phenomenon of terrorism by the international community with the UN key role. Briefing the audience on Iran's contribution to international campaign against terrorism, organized crimes, drug trafficking, money laundering, he said that Tehran has made great strides to combat al-Qaeda and extremist groups within the framework of the UN resolutions. The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a major victim of terrorism, has always supported the UN efforts to fight terrorism, Khazaee noted. He reiterated that though terrorism has no identity in terms of culture or religion, it has posed threat to all countries, cultures and religions. Referring to recent terrorist operation against Iran, he said some 14 Iranian policemen who had been taken hostage by a notorious armed bandit group, operating on border areas with Pakistan, eastern Iran were killed by the bandits. Stressing the importance of sincere, unpolitical, unselective, and decisive fight against terrorism by all world states, the Iranian envoy regretted that certain states are making use of the phenomenon as a tool to achieve their political objectives. He also condemned double standard policies as well as selective and discriminatory approach in fight against terrorism and the terrorist groups. Condemning the Zionist atrocities in the Palestinian occupied lands, Khazaee reiterated that the measures taken by the Israeli regime is a clear manifestation of the state terrorism in the world. The Iranian ambassador urged the International Community, particularly the Security Council, to counter such crimes. He also condemned support for the terrorist Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) by certain countries, saying the Islamic Republic of Iran has been the target of terrorist activities of the group in the past three decades. Explaining terrorist operations by the MKO in Iran over the past 30 years, he said the group has been involved in terrorist operations against Iran following the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and during the Iraq-Iran war. Although the MKO is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries including the U.S. and EU, several members of the group are currently enjoying reception in various European states and the US, Khazaee said. The Islamic Republic believes that there is no difference between various forms of terrorism and the terrorist groups and that the phenomenon should be countered without any exception, he added
