Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ardabil Provincial TV, Ardabil
June 26 2009

Iran’s Ardabil protests Israeli president’s visit to Azerbaijan

[Presenter] Following Friday prayers today, representatives of various
strata of society staged a rally on the Sarcheshme Square in Ardabil
[city] to condemn a planned visit to Azerbaijan by the head of the
Zionist regime.

[Reporter interviewing protesters in Azari] What is the aim of the
Israeli [president’s] visit to Azerbaijan?

[Unidentified man, in Azari] The aim of Israel is to work against the
Muslims of Azerbaijan, to separate them from the Muslims of Iran and
incite discord among them. We strongly condemn this action.

[Reporter, in Azari] What is the duty of Muslim Azaris?

[Unidentified protester, in Azari] The duty of Azeris is to unite and
condemn the visit by staging rallies.

[Reporter] What is your message for Israel?

[Another man, in Azari] My message for Israel is: Be calm, criminal
Israel. It is enough. They have to understand that they cannot do
anything.

[Reporter, in Azari] What should be the duty of Muslims in Baku in
this regard?

[Unidentified protester, in Azari] They must be vigilant and they must
decide their destiny by themselves.

[Reporter, in Azari] What is your motto against Israel today?

[Protester, in Azari] Our permanent motto is "Death to Israel". Imam
[Khomeyni] said that it [Israel] is like cancer. We will not be able
to live in peace until it is eliminated.

[Unidentified man, in Azari] A man, who is a criminal, a bloodsucker
and a perpetrator of the killings of children and women and a lot of
crimes in Gaza, intends to come to Baku and meet high-ranking
officials. It is the biggest shame for Muslims. We consider this as
the biggest shame and condemn this strongly.

[Presenter] During the rally, the Israeli flag was set on fire and a
six-paragraph statement was read out. This statement condemned the
killings of women and innocent children by the Zionist regime, and
made a suggestion to the government of Azerbaijan about its relations
with the Israeli government. The statement also said that the
invitation of Shimon Peres indicated the ceding of several Azerbaijani
territories to Armenia. It called for respect for holy shrines,
mosques and religious values in Baku. The statement also urged
Azerbaijani Muslims to protest this action, saying that the diligent
people of Ardabil are ready to defend Iran’s northern border.

Shimon Peres,president of the aggressor, Israel, will arrive in Baku
in a few days at the invitation of the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham
Aliyev.

[Video shows protesters chanting "Death to America", "Death to
Israel", and "Death to Britain". Protesters also held a banner reading
"Ilham is worse than an Armenian; Ilham, fall out with Zionists".]

[translated from Persian]