Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: 'West to be blamed for all problems'

18.02.2012

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday slammed the West for foisting problems on the region through interventionist policies, and made a strong pitch for issues to be "solved regionally" at a trilateral summit with Pakistan and Afghanistan. During a joint news conference with his Afghan and Pakistani counterparts, Hamid Karzai, and Asif Ali Zardari, Ahmadinejad said the problems in the region had been thrust from outside. "All problems are coming from outside. In order to promote their goals and ambitions... they don't want to allow our nations to develop," Ahmadinejad said in a clear pointer to the West, without naming any country.

He contended that problems were being foisted on the countries of the region by external powers but did not identify these powers.

"We should stand together to advance and realise our goals... We believe that problems of the region must be solved regionally," said Ahmadinejad, who is locked in a confrontation with the West over its nuclear programme.