Iran: Civil Society Alarmed over UN Referrel

[democratic]

http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Politics&loid=8.0.274487649&par=

Tehran, 10 March (AKI) - Prominent Iranian journalists, economists and human rights actvists, including Nobel peace prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, are expressing growing concern over the country's plunging international reputation over the nuclear dispute. Together with many other Iranians, most dissenting voices from Iran's civil society support what they see as the country's right to nuclear technology, but they say that the Islamic Republic's autocratic government lacks credibility to argue the case.

"I'm convinced that the Iranian nuclear programme doesn't represent any threat to the world, and I urge the government to do everything possible to convince the international community that its intentions are peaceful, says Ebadi.

"If the world doesn't believe the words of Iran's representatives, the blame for this must go to the non-democratic nature of the regime that governs the country," she adds.

Her view is shared by opposition political activist Khosrow Seif. "Possessing nuclear technology is a right which has to be recognised to all the nations of the world, but it is not surprising that the international community does not trust an anti-democratic regime like the Iranian one," he says.

[TAPat]

1. How much did CondiBot pay

these folks to say that?!? :o
She must have some "front money" out of the HUGE amount the State Dept. is asking for!

[democratic]

2. .

Don't let your belief in peace turn into a show of support for the Iranian dictatorship. It not only makes you look bad it makes the entire movement look bad.

[TAPat]

3. I did not say that I support the Iranian Government nor

did I intend to imply it.
I simply wanted to point out that the State Dept. is asking for funds to do just this sort of thing.

[mom cat]

4. As they are with Venesuela.