February 14, 2006 - 16:24 AMT
Mottaki: Muhammad Cartoons Aim at Clash of Civilizations
Cartoons of prophet Muhammad published in Danish press are a mean step evidencing of religious intolerance, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki stated in the course of a news conference in Armenia. In his words, it is a calculated propaganda move aimed at clash of civilizations. "Protest actions in Islamic countries are a serious reality and European countries should pay attention to these. The Danish government should apologize and punish the guilty in compliance with the Danish law," Mottaki said. As of the statement of US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice that Damascus and Teheran are guilty is inflaming inter-religious discord, the Iranian FM said, "Rice's statement is not true. She lies often." Manouchehr Mottaki urged European countries to include the matter of respect of prophets in the agenda of their discussions to avoid similar incidents in the future. «Armenian-Iranian relations are best evidence of mutual respect of religious feelings,» Iranian FM said.