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Iran's new president:Scrap all WMDs
(China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-04 06:01
He pledged to pay "special attention to the disadvantaged," in a speech that
also paid homage to the founder of the Islamic republic Ayatollah Ruhollah
Khomeiny, to the "martyrs of the revolution" and veterans of the war with Iraq.
It was the first indication from Ahmadinejad of how Iran will look under his
rule. The first non-cleric to hold the post since 1981, he is Iran's sixth
president since the revolution and will serve a four-year term.
Ahmadinejad has pledged to extend "the hand of friendship" to the
international community, and made clear that he is ready to work with any
country that does not show animosity to Iran.
Landslide victory
According to the constitution of the Islamic republic, yesterday's ceremony
marked the beginning of the new president's assumption of power, but he will
also be sworn in at another inauguration held on Saturday in the Majlis - Iran's
parliament.
Ahmadinejad, the former Teheran mayor, defeated former President Rafsanjani
with a landslide victory of 61.69 per cent of the total eligible votes in the
ninth presidential election in June.
Ahmadinejad earned his positive reputation from the merits of improving the
traffic condition and stabilizing prices in the sprawling and polluted capital
city.
He has an uncompromising attitude towards the nuclear issue and relations
with the United States.
At his first press conference after being elected,
Ahmadinejad said his cabinet would "never give up Iran's legal rights under any
circumstances" and would have no intention to improve relations with the United
States.
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