Addressing a press conference at the end of the 11th ECO summit in Istanbul, President Ahmadinejad said upcoming Istanbul meeting is an historical chance and 'we propose those opposing Iran's peaceful nuclear activities to turn confrontation into engagement.'



Iran calls for enhanced cooperation with region countries



President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said: “Tehran currently enjoys good and close relations with countries in the Middle East region as well as the world.



President Ahmadinejad added: “Boost cooperation between Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan is beneficial for the region and universal peace and security.



President Ahmadinejad also said that the culture of Iranian and Turkish nations maintains the capacity to clearly and efficiently meet the contemporary needs of mankind.



He added that the Iranian and Turkish cultures are capable of solving human communities' problems based on love, friendship and amity, and justice.



The President underscored that countries such as Iran and Turkey are swiftly developing and progressing, and maintain new effective opportunities throughout international relations.



President further heralded a bright and promising horizon for nations such as the Iranian and Turkish nations, while pointing out that the relations between Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkey are fraternal and constructive.



On Iran's economic reforms



On Iran's economic reforms, the President said the plan has been on table since 20 years ago but was taken seriously into consideration since five years ago. 'We take it as a strategic upheaval in Iran's economy.'



Economic reforms plan is tailor-made to Iran's domestic demands and sanctions cannot harm it the least, he added.



On the new UN anti-Iran resolution



On the new UN anti-Iran resolution, passed under support of the US and some of its allies, Dr.Ahmadinejad said the move of Iran enemies at the UN seems like a senseless joke.



Dr.Ahmadinejad stated, "Sanctions have no effect on Iran's programs."



He added that the West planned to harm Iran's economy through sanctions, but they faced economic recessions themselves.



He went on to say that the US and its allies led the world nations for almost 100 years but their recent decline shows that it is now time for them to leave the global stage.



Despite the rules enshrined in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) entitling every member state, including Iran, to the right of uranium enrichment, Tehran is now under four rounds of UN Security Council sanctions for turning down West's calls to give up its right of uranium enrichment.



Tehran has dismissed West's demands as politically tainted and illogical, stressing that sanction and pressures merely consolidate Iranians' national resolve to continue the path.



Political observers believe that the United States has remained at loggerheads with Iran mainly over the independent and home-grown nature of Tehran's nuclear technology, which gives the Islamic Republic the potential to turn into a world power and a role model for the other third-world countries.



On the role of Iran in the world



President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says by continuing the drive towards improving its global economic standing, Iran will become the world's 12th economy in the space of five years.



He added: “The country will boost its status of the economy in the next five years to present itself as the 12th largest and strongest economy in the world.



“Iran now plays an active role in designing new economic models that center on a foundation of justice and respect for all nations,”Dr. Ahmadinejad underscored.



President Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that today the world is in need of new ideas, and a new humane path.



President further pinpointed that the era of hegemonic system and colonial regimes has come to an end, while reminding that those states, which claim to support democracy have put dictatorship on their agenda.



On the torture of students in England



He pointed to secret cells in the West and torture of students and government opposition in the countries, saying, 'They beat people in different ways, while claiming defending human rights and annoying human beings themselves.'



'I have repeatedly said and now too say explicitly that capitalists cannot solve the world problems. If they are really true and claim to be right, they could solve problems in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.'



On Iran-Africa relations



Asked on the Iran-Africa relations, he said the ties are deep-rooted. 'We have close bonds with the African nations but unfortunately a misunderstanding was exaggerated by the West to divide us. Rest assured that the problem will soon be solved.'



On North, South Korean War



Addressing North and South Korean leaders, the Iranian president said, "I humbly advise you to have self-restraint because there is nothing that cannot be resolved through friendship and dialogue."



Pointing to the considerable progress made by East Asian economies, President Ahmadinejad said, “If there is a new war in this region (the Korean peninsula) it will take them 50 years to once again reconstruct their countries and economies.”



"Hence, they will need Western investors to help their economies recover," he added.



President Ahmadinejad expressed hope that both Koreas could resolve their differences through self-restraint and through dialogue based on justice.