This is Senator Carl Levin.
Thank you for the opportunity to extend my best wishes to the Iranian diaspora in convention in France.
 These are days of extraordinary challenge for the people across the Middle East. Violence, civil war and repression are the threat to security and liberty of millions.  Ethnic, religious and political minorities are especially vulnerable.
It is essential that the United States play an active role in promoting security and freedom in the region, and that is especially true with regard to Iran.
 There is no question that the repression, violence, and human rights violations continue in Iran, especially against minorities and women.
I also join in your cause on Iraq to secure the safety of the residents of Camp Liberty, to prevent further harm from those who are doing the harm to those who still live there and to hold accountable those responsible for violence against the camps residents. While s small portion of the camp liberty residents have been re-settled safely outside of Iraq, it remains imperative that the international community including the United States provide a safe home for all the camp residents.
 We look forward to the day when free, democratic governments are in power in the Middle East, governments that uphold universal values of human rights and liberty. I thank you for your commitment to work toward that goal in Iran.