Sanctions will not slow nuclear programme: Ahmadinejad

"Those who have regulated and designed the resolutions against the Islamic republic of Iran need us more than we need them," Mr. Ahmadinejad said.

July 09, 2010 08:42 am | Updated November 28, 2021 09:21 pm IST - Abuja

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. File photo

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. File photo

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today said that new sanctions imposed on his country would not slow the country’s progress on its nuclear programme.

“Those resolutions are only paper,” he said.

Mr. Ahmadinejad today joined other seven heads of states and governments to attend the seventh D-8 summit of developing nations in Nigeria’s capital Abuja.

“Those who have regulated and designed the resolutions against the Islamic republic of Iran need us more than we need them,” he said.

The U.N. resolution to impose sanction on his country because of nuclear quest cannot deter Iran from pursuing its interest in nuclear energy, he said.

He noted that Iran is not interested in the nuclear power race.

He slammed U.S.’ dictatorial attitude towards other nations and blamed Western countries for the ravaging global financial crisis.

Earlier on his arrival yesterday he had called the United States a self-declared leader.

“The U.S. regards itself as the self-declared leader of the nations of the world but everyone knows this is a dictatorial attitude,” he had said.

The theme of this year’s summit is ‘Enhancing Investment Cooperation Among The Group’

Mr. Ahmadinejad addressed a press conference at the meeting attended by leaders from Bangladesh, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan and Nigeria.

He said: “What are the reasons behind the emergence of an economic melt down and crisis in the world. They have committed acts of plundering of the economies of the world.”

He said the Western powers employs colonial tactics in dealing with the weaker nations and tries to bring them under their perpetual control.

“These same countries have planned to dominate the whole world and bring every thing under their own control. They have no respect for other nations. And during the time of colonialism, they plundered the wealth of nations, character of nations and the spirit of nations”. The Iranian leader said.

D-8 summit in the oil rich African country is meant to boost the economic co-operation between member countries.

At the summit, Malaysia handed over the chairmanship of the D-8 to Nigeria.

Malaysia took over the D-8 chairmanship on July 8, 2008 at the sixth summit in Kuala Lumpur.

To be discussed at the summit are the D-8 Roadmap for Economic Cooperation (2008-2018) which was agreed on at the conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2008 with the purpose of boosting expanded economic co-operation between member countries of D-8.

Also expected at the end of the summit is an Abuja declaration that would address factors that could lessen the effect of and challenges confronting member states as a result of factors like global recession, world energy question, climate change and global warming and food security, transportation, and world trade.

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