CUBA AND IRAN TO FIGHT JOINTLY THE UNITED STATES

by a Special Correspondent

TEHRAN 10 May 2004 - (IPS) - Iran and Cuba reached the conclusion that together they can tear down the United States.

The decision to bring down and defeat the United States was taken during a meeting, Wednesday, in Tehran, between the 74 years-old Lider Maximo of Communist Cuba and the 76 years-old leader of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Ali Khamenehe'i.

He (Castro) once again agreed with Ayatollah Khameneh’i on the point that Iran and Cuba can hand in hand defeat America, the official Iranian news agency IRNA quoted the Cuban leader, after he was assured by his host that Iran and Cuba can achieve that goal, "hand in hand".

In the meeting, both leaders denounced the Western hegemony and agreed that the US is extremely weak today and stressed that they are not scared of America today.

"The Cuban nation is stronger than ever in the past, forty years after the victory of its revolution", Mr. Castro assured Mr. Khamenehe'i.

The fight against Washington that has kept both Iran and Cuba on the list of nations under US sanctions, describing them as "rogue states" and "terrorists supporting" was also highlighted in a joint communiqué issued Thursday after the departure of Mr. Castro for Kuala Lumpur.

The two nations have agreed to take "joint special measures" against sanctions and pressures imposed on the third world countries and condemned these pressures that are in line with the creation of a "domineering uni-polar world order", the agency added.

The communiqué did not said however what measure Iran and Cuba would take to counter US sanctions imposed on them and some other nations like Sudan, Libya, Iraq or North Korea.

The two countries have also pledged, the statement said, to continue their efforts for the establishment of a fair economic regime that "helps the third world countries to move on the road toward prosperity as well as social and economic development".

Iran and Cuba also condemned the "dual and politically-motivated treatment" by some international bodies of certain countries in issues related to human rights and its use as a political weapon.

They stressed the role of "cooperation" instead of "confrontation" as a new formula for international détente, IRNA quoted from the communiqué.

"Tehran and Havana believe that a dialogue among cultures and civilizations will pave the way for international understanding, tolerance and cooperation in order to improve and human rights," it said.

The two countries, they said, back world countries' right to complete and indiscriminate human rights, but also condemn pressures aiming to establish alien styles in developing countries, irrespective of their history, culture, identity as well as their religious and moral values.

Iran and Cuba have both been condemned for gross violation of human rights at the recently concluded United Nations Human Rights Commission that also rejected the US out of the Commission.

The two nations voiced support for the "legitimate rights" of the Palestinian people, their struggle for achieving independence as well as their call for the complete return of the refugees.

They also condemned the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in the occupied lands.

Iran and Cuba condemned terrorism in all its shapes, especially state terrorism, saying they were interested to cooperate in the regional and international scope in this regard.

Castro left Tehran with "unforgettable memories", assured that the "friendship and respect between Iran and Cuba will deepen and become closer by this visit", Castro said at a press conference held jointly with the Iranian President Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Khatami.

Both leaders described the visit and their talks as "positive" and "constructive", stressing that the objective of the visit was "to "consolidate relations between Tehran and Havana.

Praising Castro's personality, Khatami said "the more one befriends Mr. Fidel Castro, the more one becomes interested in him," adding, "I think all Iranians share this feeling with me."

Of the discussion held with the Cuban leader, Khatami said: "We did not seek something new; just the determination to continue and consolidate our relations."

"The capacities of the two countries for cooperation in scientific, industrial and trade fields are far more than existing figures", the embattled Iranian president observed, adding that their joint economic commissions should try to explore new avenues.

Trade with Cuba is currently running below 20 million dollars a year.

Castro, who received an honourary doctorate from Tehran University for his "contributions to justice, humanistic ideals and the fight against discrimination" also expressed delight at having broken his record of sleeping, by snoozing for six hours in the former imperial palace north of Tehran.

"Can you believe it -- I have broken my own record of sleeping; I have slept for six hours, and very peacefully -- it was an Olympic record", IRNA quoted the Cuban leader as having said.

"As I woke up, I wondered where I was, whether I was dreaming," Castro added, looking happy and smiling. ENDS IRAN CUBA CASTRO 10501

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