Mousavi advisor: 'Ahmadinejad does not represent Iranian people'

GVF -- A senior advisor to Iran’s opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi has called on activists in Iran’s Green Movement to “bravely” reflect the “oppression” of the Iranian people to the “international community and all international organisation.”

According to the Kaleme opposition website, speaking in a meeting of Green Movement activists, Ardeshir Amir Arjomand stated that “the international community must not punish [Iranian] workers, teachers and deprived sectors of the Iranian nation—who live under the tyranny of an oppressive state—because of the irresponsible adventurism of a president who lacks legitimacy among the people.”

Arjomand also stressed the negative effects of United Nations imposed sanction on Iran, adding that “contrary to baseless claims, the sanctions will have a clear effect on the day-to-day lives of the people, therefore the Green Movement wants an end to the economic sanctions [against Iran]. The harm resulting from these sanctions have a direct impact on the situation of the people’s livelihoods and will create basic problems for using [the country’s] national resources.”

Arjomand, who left the country following the rigged 2009 presidential election once more said, “Mr Ahmadinejad is not the representative of the Iranian people and does not have the right to speak on behalf of the Iranian people in the international stage.” Mousavi’s top advisor argued that Ahmadinejad’s upcoming trip to Lebanon was an attempt to “capitalise” on the situation for domestic purposes and to convince the international community to negotiate over the country’s disputed nuclear issue. “Unfortunately, Ahmadinejad is used to exploiting—[both] politically and personally—the pains and sufferings of others [both] by means of deceitful slogans and actions.”

Referring to Ahmadinejad as a “delusional liar,” Arjomand questioned whether his foreign policy had brought any level of “honour” to the country and whether it was based on “rationale.” He also stated that Iran’s current foreign policy had reached “rock bottom” and added that the country’s national interests as well as the Iranian people’s destiny had been compromised for the “childish fantasies” of the current administration.

“Unfortunately, after each international bluster and adventurism, we must expect Mr Ahmadinejad to yield to [another foreign] power and even to countries with lower degrees [of importance] and the people must also be prepared to put up with new [rounds] of pain and discomfort.”

The university professor also noted that the Israeli government was in fact “eager and in need” of Ahmadinejad’s positions which also play well into the hands of the Jewish State. Many, including activists who support the Palestinians in their struggle for justice, see the illegitimate Iranian president’s actions as serving the interests of Israel and its allies. “Ahmadinejad is not the one paying the price, because he is not [held] accountable, but it is the Iranian people who must pay this price with the sufferings and hardships they will have to forcibly endure,” he said, while stating that Green Movement “condemns” Israel’s acts of hostility in “breaching human rights and human dignity.”

“Our support for the Palestinian people is considered to be a support for justice and people as well as a religious and moral duty.”

“I have to remind our brothers and sisters in the occupied territories as well as Muslim intellectual across the world, that a weak Iran lacking credibility on the international stage with an oppressive government that does not respect democracy and human rights in its own land and towards its own people, cannot be a good advocate for Palestine and [the Palestinians’] righteous goals.”

“Support for the Palestinian people and their goals does not mean interference in their affairs,” the Mousavi advisor reminded. “Our responsibility is to support the Palestinian people and their rights. Our duty is to support the decision and will of the Palestinian people, not to interfere in their internal affairs and to enforce a [certain] opinion upon them.”