Reza Pahlavi's Speech at the Global Creative Leadership Summit New York City (25/09/09)

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Reza Pahlavi's Speech at the Global Creative Leadership Summit New York City (25/09/09)
by Darius Kadivar
28-Sep-2009
 

Speech of Reza Pahlavi of Iran Global Creative Leadership Summit New York City 25 September 2009

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a pleasure for me to be amongst you today, and I am particularly grateful to Summit host Louise Blouin as well as Mr. Andelman and the other organizers of this important panel for allowing me to share some of my views with you.

It is somewhat redundant for me to remind this highly informed and distinguished audience of the importance of the Middle East and of its present volatility, and the threat which this dangerous volatility – if unchecked – poses to international peace and security.

You will all agree that gone are the days when crisis and violence in remote places could remain contained and isolated to their particular localities as we go along with our lives. We live in an interdependent world that has become increasingly interconnected, and I need hardly make this point to an audience here in New York City that we are no longer immune from the consequences of what happens in troubled faraway places.

Today, I wish to focus on the role being played by the clerical regime currently ruling my homeland of Iran, which is without doubt one of the main sources of instability and violence in the region today.

In my view, the dangerous threats posed by the adventurous fundamentalist regime in Tehran have reached new heights in the aftermath of the recent presidential election. Iran’s current leadership has lost any semblance of domestic legitimacy and international acceptability. And still, regional adventurism remains the regime’s favorite escape route. By deflecting attention from troubles at home to stiffen the spine of their few die-hard fundamentalist supporters, the regime attempts to replace the legitimacy lost at home with the applause of radical Islamists abroad.

Today, most observers will no doubt agree with an assertion that I have been making for a very long time -- that most Iranians wish to change this fundamentalist political system that has robbed them of their rights, individual liberties and above all, their dignity.

The question now is how the will of the majority is to be advanced against the ruthless determination of corrupt authoritarians? How can internal resistance be sustained in a regime that is ready to resort to any means in order to sustain their hated stranglehold over a defenseless population? Today, all Iranians across the political spectrum, both inside and outside the country, are fully motivated and committed to finding ways of emulating the achievements of other democratic movements. Iranians have closely studied the history of other democracies where people have successfully resisted and finally defeated seemingly invincible dictatorships such as the former Soviet Union and its Eastern European satellite states.

No one expects this to be easy or without risk. Indeed, hard decisions are in store. The blanket suppression by the Islamic leadership has underlined the need for new coordination mechanisms outside and inside Iran and without the constant fear of arrest or harassment. This external and internal coordination advances the struggle of the Iranian people and are necessary catalysts to achieving their ultimate objective of freedom.

It is important for me also to underline the support and understanding which the people of Iran must receive from the international community. Solidarity from world leaders sustains the momentum that is needed in their campaign for the establishment of freedom and democracy at home, and peace and stability in the region.

There should no longer be any doubt that the Khamenei-Ahmadinejad tandem is bent on securing the survival of their bloodstained regime by causing regional mayhem, inventing foreign threats, and then pushing nuclear defense as a requirement of nationalism. Notwithstanding the pros and cons of a policy of engagement as advocated by President Obama, the prospects for any kind of a serious breakthrough in the forthcoming meeting of the ‘5+1’ planned for October 1st seem remote and unrealistic.

To the Iranian leadership, President Obama’s offer of direct talks is not seen as a magnanimous gesture by a new and enlightened leadership for the sake of reducing tensions and resolving old disputes. To the clerics, his offer is a tacit acknowledgement of Iran’s unchallengeable power. The ruling establishment in Iran sees the opportunity of dialogue with the West as yet another sign of encouragement for consolidating its positions. Expectations on the part of those seeking some form of a compromise regarding key issues such as Iran’s nuclear file or its support for terrorist organizations in the Middle East are naïve. Prospects for any kind of a satisfactory resolution of Iran’s nuclear activities appear bleak, particularly in the wake of Ahmadinejad’s disputed re-election. Having shown the stern face of his government domestically and having accused the West of orchestrating the current turmoil in Iran, it is unrealistic to expect a more conciliatory attitude from his government. Under circumstances that hold little prospect for an acceptable diplomatic compromise, other options appear to be confined to the imposition of more sanctions watered down by Russia and China, or the threat of yet another unwanted and potentially catastrophic conflict in the Middle East.

Experience in the last several years have proven that the West’s ‘carrot and stick’ approach has simply lacked the kind of leverage that is required for forcing a change of direction in the behavior of the Islamic Republic. However, in view of the recent internal weakening of the political structure in Iran, the imposition of a stricter sanctions regime would fare better if complemented by a robust policy of support for the human rights of the millions of Iranians who have so bravely fought their oppression.

It has always been my view that the regime’s Achilles Heel is none other than the courageous people of Iran. It is about time that they were awarded the acknowledgement and support which they have deserved from the international community. Heartened by such support, popular pressure will build up to such proportions that even the regime will not be able to dismiss it as a foreign plot. It is only under such a build-up of internal pressure that the Islamic Republic of Iran will be forced to change its policy.

After 30 years of economic decline, social upheaval, human rights violations, and international demonization, one can safely assert that the luster of the Islamic Revolution in Iran has vanished. In its place there is now a window of opportunity for the kind of change we all seek. It is my hope that this opportunity should not be wasted.

Recommended Reading:

REZA's CALL: An Iranian Solidarnosc by DK

Official Blog and Website of Reza Pahlavi:


Blog Here
 , Website Here 

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more from Darius Kadivar
 
Faramarz_Fateh

Mr. Karimianpour

by Faramarz_Fateh on

I'd like to ask you a few questions to better understand your position.

1) Does working in Iran qualify a person for being president?  So if someone worked as a moghanni for 25 years inside Iran, that is a major qualification?  Or is it general and political knowledge, common sense, humanity, love of country and better than average IQ?

2) How do you know about this guy's relationships with people of Iran?  A professional relationship with a few people in Iran is sign of what?

Suppose Reza P imported Persian rugs from Iran to the U.S.  So what?

3) I am, like you, not in favor of monarchy.  But, Democracy in name is meaningless.  IRI is a democratic republic.  Are people happy with IRI?

I'd like to suggest that we don't broad brush anyone and any ideology in the way you have.   If I knew enough about Reza P to know he has more guts that his coward father; that is he was similar to the Great Reza Shah in character, I'd vote for him in a nano second.  Unfortunately, I don't have that info and my gut feel tells me he is no Reza Shah.

But I am not willing to broad brush him just yet. 


argebam

How irrational

by argebam on

Look, we carry around our hatrate for 30 years and some times we are so confused who we are against more. Reza Pahlavi, wether we like it or not is a political figure in our time. Some may like him some may not. We eed all our power and opposition to fight Ahmadinejad coup and then IRI. If Reza Pahlavi speaks of Democracy and freedom for Iran and keeps saying "It is not about him it is about Iran", that is a great statement and helpful, even if you do not agree with him. He is well known every where we should use that to our advantage. National interests should be more important than personal views. We need all the help we can get. Some of his most critics, like Dr. Nouri Ala, finds him an asset for the future of Iran, even though he may not agree with him all the time.


Hamid Karimianpour

Reply to Faramarz

by Hamid Karimianpour on

Hamid Karimianpour

 Faramarz, it does not matter whether the Pahlavi family stole $900 million or $300 million dollars. The point is that he should not have stolen even a dime. Many others, including the mullahs, have stolen money too, but that does not clear the Pahlavis from guilt. I live in America too and have to roll up my sleeves and work hard to make ends meet, while he is enjoying the luxury that is not his.

 Besides, it is irrelevant what his political ideology is. What matters is that he has never worked in Iran, nor has ever had any professional relationship with any Iranian who live inside Iran. He does not know what it is like to live in Iran and does not represent the people of Iran. In fact, he did not even know what it was like to live in Iran under his father's oppression. Only because he talks about democracy does not make him fit for a political office in Iran. Khomeini too talked about democracy.

Iranians want a democracy, not a Shah.

 


Faramarz_Fateh

Ameri Dream

by Faramarz_Fateh on

10% of Iranian who do believe in Reza P means 7.2 million people.

This is for sure more than # of people who believe in you and me.

Please elaborate as to why you think he is irrelevant.  Just saying he is a joke is really not a good argument.

The reasons I say his time is over is    a) because he did not use this last opportunity to lead and    b) his last name has too much stigma attached to it.

But compared to the leaders of the IRI in the past 30 years, he is not only NOT a joke, but an intelligent, educated and  articulate person who has not ordered any killings or rape; at least not yet.


SamSamIIII

Wether

by SamSamIIII on

 

one agrees with Reza Pahlavi or not ,he sure has one rare commodity that the mullah regime & it's tokhmeh Qaadess malakh supporters don,t have ; being Iranian & that alone makes him legitimate in the eyes of patriots. I for one dont find him charismatic enough but having to choose between Chaffieh crowd of Karbala and an Iranian ,I,m afraid the choice is clear.

Darius jaan, seeing a few blogs by patriots like you re-assures me that the place is not taken over fully by Ommaties yet. Keep up the good work.

Cheers & God speed patriot!!!

 

Path of Kiaan Resurrection of True Iran Hoisting Drafshe Kaviaan //iranianidentity.blogspot.com //www.youtube.com/user/samsamsia


American Dream

liberation08, Faramarz_Fateh

by American Dream on

You are correct.

Who cares about Reza Pahlavi?

I agree, Reza Pahlavi sure is irrelevant.

I personally don't care about Reza P.  His time is over.

Close to 90% of Iranians also believe Pahlavi's time is over.

All in all, Reza Pahlavi is just one big joke.

 

 

 


Faramarz_Fateh

$900M definitely not in Palestine

by Faramarz_Fateh on

Unlike the Billions the IRI sends to and has sent to Palestine, if it is $900M and not $300M, its probably somewhere in the West.  Most likely the Pahalavis and Khameneis use the same banks and bankers.

Mola Jan, please contact Mojtaba Khamenei and he can fill you in all all details. 


Mola Nasredeen

Where's our "900 million dollars" Pahlavis stole from Iranian

by Mola Nasredeen on

nation when they were chased out of Iran?


Faramarz_Fateh

Liberation08 Mola Nas

by Faramarz_Fateh on

How is Reza P irrelevant?  Approximately 9-12% of Iranians support him regardless of which poll or where the poll was taken; inside or outside Iran.  If he only had the vote of Darius, then you would have been right.

Mola Nas, I have a question for you; in all honestly, how much $ do you think the Pahlavis (Reza and the mom) brought out?  The largest estimate is $300M.  All other money related to the Shah is still frozen in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Lets say $300M is low and it was $900M.  How does this compare with what the Mullah's (Rafsanjani, Khatami, Khamenei and the rest of them) have stolen?  

I personally don't care about Reza P.  He's time is over. But lets stop the usual Persian BS.  


Onlyiran

Mola

by Onlyiran on

He gave back the money last year, and that money was sent in equal portions to Hamas and Hezbollah by the IRI as half of their regular monthly payments.


Mola Nasredeen

Where is our Billions?

by Mola Nasredeen on

My message to Reza Pahlavi and his mommy. The billions Pahlavi's family stole from us when they were chased out of Iran.


Darius Kadivar

Patriots Care !

by Darius Kadivar on

But You can always send your complaints to YOUR Favorite IRI Lobby in the US: NIAC or AIC or CAMII ...

Otherwise ... Well then, What Can I tell you ... except:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFE6qQ3ySXE

LOL


liberation08

who cares about reza pahlavi?

by liberation08 on

he is irrelevant