Ahmadinejad: Iran, Bolivia are allies (updated II)

Yesterday, Evo Morales, Bolivia’s President, and his counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Iran) had dinner with orphan children at a mosque at Tehran, after fast beginning ,over Ramadan’s first day, the most important Islamic world celebration. Both Presidents sitting on the floor ate a wheat and vegetable soup with bread and cookies.... Morales said to be surprised with Iran’s industrial advances and added that it was something great to be united since indigenous culture was a culture which uses dialogue and he would apply this knowledge all over the world. President Morales pointed out no one could question Bolivia’s bonds with Iran, and never more an USA’s ambassador would order to change a Government authority. Besides that, Morales said that Bolivia would go on supporting nature care since the biggest responsibility was not only with indigenous peoples but also the entire world.

Iranian President thanked Evo Morales for having visited his country and he expressed that despite distance between Bolivia and Iran they have similar thoughts and Bolivia was a country which was entitled to strengthen bonds with those countries it considers right.
Finally, Ahmadinejad said that Iran and Bolivia would continue working together with a justice and peace message.

Bolivian President Evo Morales, who is currently on a two-day trip to Iran, has visited various sectors of the South Pars gas field.

Morales, accompanied by Iran's Oil Minister Gholam-Hossein Nozari and other senior officials, visited gas development facilities, as well as a petrochemical unit and other sites in Assalouyeh, the closest land point to the South Pars gas field. The Bolivian president, who arrived in Tehran on Monday, said in a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that his visit to Iran aimed to enhance bilateral ties in the fields of commerce, industry, agriculture, gas and oil.  President Ahmadinejad said that Tehran and La Paz would 'remain supportive of one another under any circumstance'. The growing ties between Iran and Latin American countries, including Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Bolivia have raised concerns in Washington, which has been trying to isolate Tehran over its nuclear program.

 2008-09-02 17:13:02 - TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran and Bolivia will «stick by each other» said hardline Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Tuesday, in comments sure to provoke concern in Washington.
Ahmadinejad's statements came at a joint press conference with leftist Bolivian President Evo Morales in Tehran. He said the two government weren't interested in U.S. concerns about their close ties.
«We will stick by each other's side and will be supportive of each other. (I) had extensive talks with Mr. Morales on this,» he said. «The geographical distance between the two countries is long but our hearts, thoughts and wills are very close.  Ahmadinejad also praised Morales for «standing up to foreigners,» a reference to the United States.  Like Iran in the Middle East, Bolivia and its ally Venezuela in South American have been vocal critics of U.S. policy.  «It is not important what bad-tempered governments say about our relationship. For us, it is significant that we move with wisdom in the path of interests of our people,» the Iranian president added.  For his part, Morales said Iranians and Bolivians «would like to see how their leaders fight imperialism and defend the interests of their countries. «In the past, Bolivia was not allowed to change its ministers or ambassadors. It had to be done through the U.S. ambassador. But today, freedom-seeking in Latin American nations is spreading,» he told reporters.  Bolivia, which has large natural gas reserves, wants help from oil and gas powerhouse Iran to further develop its energy sector. Morales also visited oil-rich Libya before arriving in Tehran.  Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told Morales late Monday that resistance by Bolivia and other South American countries against the United States will pay off.  «The awakening of the Latin American nations and their will to fulfill their rights is an auspicious event which definitely will make the big powers unhappy,» the state television Web site quoted Khamenei as saying. Khamenei urged Morales to maintain his opposition of U.S. policies.  «Hegemonic powers will obviously pressure you because they are opposed to such spirit, but resistance against these pressures and reliance on God will lead to victory,» Khamenei was quoted as saying.  In response, Morales said, according to Iranian television, «A sense of freedom-seeking is taking shape in Latin America. Struggles and popular uprisings in Latin American nations against America's imperialism is inevitable. Latin America will never be America's safe backyard to plunder and pursue its wicked ideas.  Iran and Bolivia signed a joint statement that calls for expansion of their cooperation in energy, industry and trade between the two countries. Energy-rich Bolivia and Iran established relations in September 2007 when Ahmadinejad made an official trip to La Paz to sign trade and energy accords. Their growing ties have raised concerns in Washington. During his visit to Bolivia, Ahmadinejad promised the country US$1 billion (¤680 million) in investment money, aimed mostly at developing its oil and gas industry.