In These New Times

“We (the NAM members) call for establishment of justice in the international relations and abolition of the monopoly on the global management system by a number of Western countries who have put their interests before everything and trample the other countries’ rights,” Ramin Mehmanparast said in an exclusive interview with Press TV on the sidelines of the 16th NAM Summit in the Iranian capital in Tehran on Friday.

Mehmanparast pointed to Israel and the West’s plots to prevent Tehran from hosting the NAM summit, and noted that such antagonistic campaign aimed at “deceiving the public opinion and portraying Iran as an isolated and insecure country” has ended in failure.

“At the current juncture, it was very difficult for the US and its allies to tolerate the participation of some prominent figures in the Tehran summit, including Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and a number of others,” the Iranian top diplomat pointed out.

“They (Israel and the West) do not like the NAM to turn into a powerful movement and counterweigh their power,” he said.

Mehmanparast praised Morsi as “the current symbol of revolution” in the Middle East” who “has a lot to say for the region and Muslim world.”

The Iranian diplomat welcomed Morsi’s Thursday speech at the NAM summit which touched upon critical international issues, including the reforms required in the international economic structures, resistance against global hegemonic policies as well as the actions of the Israeli regime.

Mehmanparast argued that differences of opinion in the NAM, which incorporates120 members, are normal, adding, “The important point is the willingness of the member states to work together and share opinions to resolve the existing issues.”

“I think a bright future awaits the regional countries, particularly Iran and Egypt,” he added.

Mehmanparast pointed to NAM’s discussion on the Syrian crisis and noted that all the members of the NAM agreed upon a number of points on Syria, including opposing any foreign interference in Syria and sanctions against the country and supporting the efforts of the UN-Arab League’s new peace envoy to Syria.