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\nNCRI \u2013 Young Iranian women eager for democratic change look to the example given by Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi and her \u201cmarvelous commitment to democracy and social justice\u201d, former Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi has said. The following is the full text of his speech at the annual Iran Freedom rally in Paris on June 13, 2015:<\/p>\n
Text of remarks by Giulio Terzi, former Foreign Minister of Italy – June 13, 2015:<\/p>\n
Madame Rajavi,<\/p>\n
Distinguished Guest,
Dear Friends,
Let me first of all welcome very warmly the Italian Parliamentary delegation which is with me tonight and welcome in particular a very distinguished personality from the Italy and the European Parliament, the honorable Marco Pannella, who is campaigning very strongly for bringing a transition towards the rule of law in countries like Iran which are suffering because of despotic and extremist regimes.<\/p>\n
The message that this extraordinary gathering should be sending tonight must be one of the strongest support to Muslim organizations like the Iranian resistance, which advocate a tolerant, antifundamentalist, democratic vision of Islam, perfectly reflected in the ten points contained in the political program of the National Council of Resistance of Iran. Especially in Middle East, peace and stability can succeed only if extremism and fundamentalism are defeated.<\/p>\n
The forces of moderation, freedom and democracy should therefore be helped not only by Western Governments but also by all democratic nations throughout the world, and by the individuals who care for human values and freedoms. The majority of States belonging to the Arab League have been supporting over the last four years a democratic transition in Syria, a political settlement in Yemen, an inclusive system of Government in Iraq. But all these efforts have failed, mainly because of the expansionary and sectarian strategies of the Iranian theocracy.<\/p>\n
Since Khomeini\u2019s revolution, Iran has always acted as the guardian of the Shiite community in Lebanon, Bahrain, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq. The regime has established a strong network of Shiite militias: the Hezbollah in Lebanon; the Houthis in Yemen; the Badr Organization, Asa\u2019ib Ahl al-Haq, Kata\u2019ib Hezbollah and the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq; it has also befriended Sunni actors in order to reinforce its regional status and it has developed strong ties with Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza.<\/p>\n
The war against ISIS should not deflect our attention from Iran\u2019s objectives. Tehran’s power grab in Iraq has assured the dominance of Shiite militias, reinforcing dramatically the appeal of fundamentalist organizations like ISIS among Sunni regions.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister al-Abadi\u2019s appointment was welcomed last year by western countries as an inclusive leader capable of ending the sectarian policies of Nuri al-Maliki. But the contrary has happened. The Paris Conference last week on fighting ISIS has provided the latest, telling evidence.<\/p>\n
In Paris, Prime Minister al-Abadi didn\u2019t spell a single word against Iran\u2019s sectarian policies in Iraq and Syria. Instead he stressed time and again that he needs weapons, money, and boots on the ground to encourage Shiite militias\u2019 ethnic cleansing. The very same day President Rouhani stated that never ever he will give up his support to Bashar Assad.<\/p>\n
Is this the \u201cresponsible role\u201d in the region that many people in the West expect from the Iranian regime, or the reward that the \u201c5+1\u201d wish for the nuclear deal?<\/p>\n
Tehran\u2019s meddling in the region aims at compensating shortcomings at home. By exporting fundamentalism and terror under the banner of Islam the mullahs want to preserve their power in Tehran, overcoming the regime\u2019s weakness and inability to address domestic problems. Fundamentalism can only survive by being on the offensive.<\/p>\n
However, more of the population – in particular the youth – is becoming restive and demands change. For the new generation of Iranians, the State should be far less Islamic than its rulers want. The ambitions of the youth go in different directions \u2013 not through making mischief or muscle\u2013flexing, but through higher education, ideas and hunger to be citizens of the world. More and more Iranian women are a force of social change. They look at the example given by Madame Rajavi and her marvelous commitment to democracy and social justice.<\/p>\n
Under these circumstances a firm policy of Western powers and in particular the US, the EU and the Arab countries is needed to put an end to Iranian meddling in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. A clear policy is needed to remove Tehran\u2019s heavy interferences in Baghdad, to assure a democratic transition in Damascus without Assad, and to support Yemen\u2019s stabilization by preventing Iranian proxies\u2019 actions.<\/p>\n
In order to succeed such a policy needs to be linked with the Iranian people, with their desire for change symbolized by the Iranian Resistance and the Mojahedin of Iran.<\/p>\n
Millions of Iranians inside the country and abroad praise the sacrifice of their heroes fallen in the quest for freedom. Those who have been killed and are still suffering in Camp Liberty should be remembered. And the situation in Camp Liberty must \u2013 again – be firmly denounced. We must be proud to stand with them. Thank you.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8m26AjpZlRE<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
NCRI – Young Iranian women eager for democratic change look to the example given by Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi and her “marvelous commitment to democracy and social justice”, former […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":43246,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[175],"class_list":{"0":"post-18525","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-iran-freedom-rally-2015","8":"tag-updated"},"yoast_head":"\n