ISLAMABAD: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday that the much-awaited Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project would be completed by 2014.

Speaking at a press conference at the Iranian embassy, he said work was in progress at a good pace for laying gas pipelines in Iran.

He said Pakistan and Iran enjoyed cordial relations.

Referring to cooperation in the energy sector, Mr Ahmadinejad said Iran would provide 1,000 megawatt electricity to the border areas of Pakistan.

Describing the D-8 summit in Islamabad as highly successful, he said that it would help promote trade and economic ties between the member states.

In reply to a question, the president said Iran was capable of countering all threats.

“There are threats to our country but we know how to defend our country.”

At the D-8 summit, the Iranian president called for a new world order based on equality, justice and a level-playing field.

He said the gulf between developed and developing countries was widening. He said all the resources were captured by the colonial masters who were doing the same under different garbs even today.

He called upon the D-8 countries to stand together to overcome the complex challenges and injustices of the current world system.

Discrimination in the international arena by using the UN Security Council and economic sanctions was a manifestation of hegemonic designs of big powers.

He said these tactics were employed to hamper the growth of independent nations, citing the killings in Pakistan and Gaza.

“Over the past decades we have been witnessing the emergence of a complicated form of colonialism and hegemony which has been tightening its grip on the world resources, imposing its toll on all of us one way or another.”

The president said prejudices and conflicts among nations were instigated in the name of religion such as the situation affecting parts of Asia and Africa. He said that discrimination in the international relations by using the Security Council and prevailing economic mechanisms had caused a widening gap between the rich and the poor and widespread poverty in many countries.

President Ahmadinejad said that independent nations were threatened and coerced through organised campaigns intended to hinder their progress.

“They have been occupying Palestine for decades under false pretexts. The main owners of Palestinian land have either been expelled out of their homeland living as refugees in other countries, or are put in jail and the target of constant barbaric attacks of the uncivilised Zionists. Today, the oppressed people of Gaza have become the victims of the expansionist policies,” he said.

Mr Ahmadinejad said: “Our countries and our nations because of their historical past, rich cultures and unique resources can and must play a prominent role in defining and building the future world order.”

He said that justice, love and freedom formed the foundations of the new order, and recognised as a right for all human beings.

He said human beings were entitled to enjoy sustainable peace, security, welfare and progress because their inalienable rights.

He called for putting an end to hegemony, unilateralism, occupation, arms race and violation of countries’ sovereignty. —Staff Reporter