In a seminar titled “ E.U. – Iran relations, prospect for a democratic change” held in the European parliamentarian institute in Strasburg, President-elect of the Iranian Resistance Mrs. Maryam Rajavi participated and called the Europe, and specially France, to initiate the support for a democratic change in Iran by the Iranian people and resistance.
The seminar chaired by Mr. Edirne Zeller, the president of regional council of Alsace in France, was held on the joint invitation of “French committee for a democratic Iran” and “Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup in the European Parliament”.
Participants in the seminar included: Sid Ahmed Ghozali (former prime minister of Algiers), Lord Slynn of Hadley (the former Judge of the European Court of Justice and the distinguished jurist from the U.K(. , Alejo Vidal-Quadras )Vice President of the European Parliament), Alain Vivien (former deputy minister of European affairs and president of anti-sect commission), Vytautas Landbergis (former president of Lithuania and member of EP), Struan Stevenson ( Vice President of Group of the European People’s Party-European Democrats, Co-Chair of the Friends of a Free Iran), Paulo Casaca (co-Chair of the Friends of a Free Iran, Socialist Group, Portugal), Jean Philip Maurer (member of France national Parliament), Tunne Kelam (, member of Foreign Relations Committee of the European Parliament from Stonia), Mogens Camre) Vice President of the Union for Europe of the Nations Group, Denmark), Yan Zahra Dale ( head of Czech delegation), Pianora Kaupi ( head of the Finnish delegation in the group of European People Party), Dr. Yanoush Onskowich ( deputy chief of the foreign commission of the European Parliament from Poland), Mrs. Edith Bawer ( member of the Women commission of the EP), and a number of other members of the European parliament and members of France national parliament and senate.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi in her speech described the nature of the Velayat-e Faqih, either in brutally suppression of freedom and basic rights of the Iranian people, or exporting fundamentalism and terrorism and stressed that the Iranian regime is the epicenter of Islamic fundamentalism in the heart of middle east crises and is a threat to the peace in the region and in the world.
Mrs. Rajavi said: I try to explain this issue in four articles:
– the policy of the mullahs’ regime is on the irreversible path of extremism,
– the policy which hopes for a behavior change of the mullahs’ regime has failed
– the key to the crisis is in the hand of Iranian Resistance
– And finally, I would like to say that such circumstances necessitate a European initiative directed by France, especially when it holds the chair of European union.
Mrs. Rajavi added: Iran under the rule of mullahs is the heart of Islamic fundamentalism and the center of these crises. Today, the religious fascism not only suppresses the Iranian people brutally, but also it is a threat to the world peace. The world needs a brave initiative for Iran’s crisis. The classic solutions, namely war and appeasement, are in deadlock. There is only one realistic solution which is the democratic change by the Iranian people and Resistance. While nobody wants the Iraq’s scenario be repeated in Iran, all attempts to change the behavior of the mullahs have failed. Therefore, the effective solution is the democratic change by the Iranian people and Resistance.
Mr. Edirne Zeller, the president of regional council of Alsace in France, who chaired the seminar, said: we are facing a reactionary regime in Iran which is dangerous to the region and the world. I’m happy that today we are discussing a change in the course of relations between Europe and Iran. I am so glad that such a big group of representatives support the Iranian resistance.
Dr. Alejo Vidal-Quadras, Vice President of the European Parliament, said: we have been pursuing the appeasement policy in Europe so far, and have tried several plans; but the prove to be futile. Keeping the PMOI in the terrorist list is helping the dictatorship ruling Iran. It has proved today that the correct and genuine solution is the democratic change by the Iranian people and resistance.
Mr. Alain Vivien, former deputy minister of European affairs and member of the French Committee for a Democratic Iran, said in his speech: The Iranian regime has sunk the region from Pakistan to Lebanon and Palestine into insecurity, and has endangered the world security. French Committee for a Democratic Iran welcomes and supports imposition of restrictions and sanctions on Iranian regime.
Paulo Casaca, co-Chair of the Friends of a Free Iran, and member of European Parliament from the Socialist group: the mullahs’ regime seeks hegemony in the region and acquiring nuclear weapon. But the more important is the regime’s meddling in Iraq. This regime by exporting terrorism under the name of ‘martyrdom operations’ is the main source for the continuation of crisis and turmoil in Iraq.