The following are excerpts from footage of a ceremony in which Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gives awards to Iranian nuclear scientists. The ceremony aired on Channel 2, Iranian TV on August 27, 2006. Among the award winners are three scientists from the Kashan nuclear site which is defined as containing "enrichment facilities."
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Host: "I hereby invite the honorable president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the esteemed Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to join us and grant the government medals to the select individuals in the realm of our country's nuclear technology, and to grant medals to some of the elite in nuclear technology for peaceful purposes."
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: "Thank you very much."
Host: "I thank the honorable president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. I will now read out the names of the medal recipients. They are requested to come forward and receive their medals from the honorable president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the esteemed Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"First, the esteemed engineer Reza Aghazadeh, the honorable vice-president of the Republic, and head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. He receives the medal of service of the first order. Mr. Aghazadeh, please stay with us to award the rest of the medals.
"The esteemed Dr. Mohammad Ghannadi Maragheh receives the medal of research of the second order. Dr. Ghannadi is the research and technology deputy in the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. He is the head of the academy for nuclear sciences, a lecturer in radiochemistry, who is supervising 18 Ph.D. students. He has published over 50 international articles.
"The esteemed Dr. Jaber Safdari receives the medal of merit and management of the second order, for his planning and management of the AUC production process in Esfahan, and his successful and effective management of the Kashan enrichment facilities.
"The esteemed engineer Solatsana receives the medal of merit and management of the second order, for operating the UCF project in Esfahan, and for supervising the teams planning the UF6 production process.
"The esteemed engineer Ja'far Mohammadi receives the medal of merit and management of the second order, for his notable management of the building of centrifuge taps, and other sensitive and complex components.
"The esteemed engineer Haleh Bakhtiar receives the medal of research of the third order for producing magnesium at a concentration of 99.9%, and for other notable research studies.
"A young female Iranian scientist in nuclear energy for peaceful purposes receives a medal of honor.
"The esteemed engineer Javad Karimi receives the medal of research of the third order for supervising, planning, building, installing, and operating the equipment in the enrichment process in the Natanz pilot, and for his activity regarding the new generation of centrifuges.
"The esteemed engineer Hamid-Reza Mohajerani receives the medal of research of the third order for production management of UCF products, and for his role in planning, building, and installing the UF6 unit.
"The esteemed engineer Ali Hajinia Leilbadi receives the medal of merit and management of the third order for proving he was worthy of operating the first heavy-water facilities.
"The esteemed... The esteemed engineer Abbas Rashidi receives the medal of merit and management of the third order for his management and notable role in the successful operation of the chain of 164 [centrifuges] for uranium enrichment.
"The esteemed engineer Mohammad Fedai Ashiani receives the medal of merit and management of the third order for his role in the AUC production process, and for his management and engineering design of the Kashan site.
"The esteemed engineer Amir Moayyed Alai receives the medal of merit and management of the third order for managing the assembly and engineering of the centrifuges, and for operating the chain of 164 [centrifuges] for uranium enrichment.
"The esteemed engineer Houshang Nobari, for his successful management and execution of the Kashan site plan, receives the medal of merit and management of the third order.
"The esteemed engineer Morteza Behzad, for making complex and sensitive centrifuge components, receives the medal of merit and management of the third order."
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Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: "No one can deprive our people of its right. Today, the Iranian people is united in insisting on its indisputable right. Our people does not accept the claim made by some people that science and technology are good for some people, but bad for others, who might misuse it. Well, it was you [Americans] who misused it. You made weapons, and used them to kill hundreds of thousands of people. Next to us, in the war in Iraq, you used bombs with depleted uranium, and caused the destruction of entire generations. Thousands of sick children, with birth defects and incurable diseases, in southern Iraq, are the result of your presence and your illegal use of science and technology. Therefore, the Iranian people says: It is you who have to reform yourselves. You must set aside the making of nuclear weapons and WMD."
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"Everybody should know: All the efforts of our people are meant to serve humanity, and to promote the peace, well-being, and security of mankind. It has often been said that the strength, honor, and progress of our people are the progress, strength, and honor of all peoples, especially in the region. The progress of the Iranian people does not constitute an obstacle or threat to any country."
