IRAN’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS AZERBAIJAN WILL NOT IMPROVE REGARDLESS OF THE RESULTS OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS: LEADER OF SOUTH AZERBAIJAN NATIONAL AWAKENING MOVEMENT

Today.Az
cs/52657.html
May 29 2009
Azerbaijan

Interview Day.Az with Dr. Mahmudali Chehraganly, leader of the South
Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement, who is currently in political
emigration in the United States.

– What do you expect from the upcoming presidential elections in
Iran? Will the results of these elections change something in the
country?

– No changes will happen. The dominant ideology of Iran did not undergo
any changes. Iranian autocracy behaves as if it were a representative
of the God on earth.

– Who, do you think, will win these elections: the reformers,
conservatives, or …

– Elections and presidency are a kind of a show in Iran. All these
reformers and conservators are the government camp. For example,
the representative of the moderate clerics Mehdi Karrubi, former
Premier Mirhuseyn Musawi and current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
in fact, do not differ much from one another. They just want to show
that people elect their President by themselves. These four candidates
have been serving the ruling regime for already 30 years.

– How does Iran assess Obama’s peacemaking gestures?

– The Iranian authorities build their policy irregardless of the
gestures and policies of the US Presidents. Iran is playing its own
game whatever representatives of the United States or Europe say. As
for the people of Iran, they are sick and tired of living in isolation
and conflict situation. They support an adequate response to Barack
Obama’s peacemaking gestures.

– And what does the US public think of Obama’s policy on Iran?

– Changes have occurred in the approach of the US authorities not
the public. The United States had been at war for eighth years under
George Bush’s reign. The Balkan wars, Afghanistan and Iraq have left a
deep moral, social and economic trace on the US public. The US people
do not want war any longer. The US public does not want to spend
U.S. taxpayers’ funds on wars. The US budget debts reach 2 trillion
dollars. In addition, war has left many killed and wounded. In the
result of economic crisis the U.S.A faced the difficulties that it
has not had since the Second World War. Taking this into account,
the U.S. administration wants to take time out to gather powers
again. And softening of position on Iran is connected with this.

– Do you have regular contacts with the US political circles? What
do the politicians think of Iran’s policy and its nuclear program?

– Naturally, I have regular contacts them and I am watching the
U.S. media closely and I am taking part in various events. The United
States are looking forward to the end of this year. They want to
know exactly what is behind the nuclear program and the strategy of
Iran. Great events are expected around Iran from the beginning of
the next year. New alliances might appear. The U.S. elite wants to
improve the economic and moral situation in their country and allow
the Iranian regime to learn more about it. Then it will decide what
to do with Iran.

– Does Iran intend to make compromises due to international pressure?

– It is necessary to distinguish between the people of Iran and
the authorities. The Iranian public wants to live in an atmosphere
of cooperation with the rest of the world. But this country is not
ruled by the people. The authorities do not intend to disavow their
positions.

– How will the election influence the relations between Iran and
Azerbaijan?

– Iran’s attitude towards Azerbaijan will not improve regardless of
who wins the presidential elections in Iran. Armenia and Armenians
are a strategic partner of Iran. Iran’s attitude towards Azerbaijan
will not change.