"Iran 'seeks Europe ties,'" from the Gulf Daily News, with thanks to Anthony:
TEHRAN: President-elect Mahmood Ahmadinejad said yesterday he wants to develop ties with all countries, especially in Europe, provided they respect Iran's "democratic choice", the student-run news agency Isna reported. "We want equitable and advancing relations with all countries in the world, particularly with the Europeans. But we advise Western countries to treat us in a way that does not show prejudice," said Ahmadinejad, who is to take up his duties as president in August.
I.e., we advise Western countries to play the dhimmi, or else.
"Western countries ... cannot profess to be defenders of democracy and free choice and at the same time attack the democratic attitude of the Iranian people, as demonstrated by the participation of 30 million voters in the presidential election," he said to a group of Iranian ministers.Ahmadinejad said his government would focus on the "population's problems and build a country that is better equipped to respond to enemies of the people."
Robert--
That's the same ad I was about to place in my local alternative newspaper and on Craig's List. Now people will be confused.
Europe does not trust Iran. There is a still-widespread hope that the beast can be captured with kindness, but nobody has any illusion about its nature. Incidentally, France's defeat on the Olympic bid has something to do with Chirac's loser personality (as has been shown by the public payback inflicted on him in the European Parliament by a Finnish commissioner). He has insulted and bullied too many people, and I feel sure that some of the votes that handed the Olympic Games to London were done on an "anyone but Chirac" basis. I have been saying that Chirac is yesterday's man, and this event strengthens my view.
I agree with you, Paolo: Iran doesn't fool anyone over here, not even the Leftists.
The winds are changing in Europe. Sarkozy will be the next French president, and the Christian Democrat Angela Merkel will replace Schröder in Germany. Yesterday I gave Fjordman's blog a look, and I read something that I had noticed for a few months: Denmark is leading what seems to be an anti-PC social revolution (particularly regarding illegal immigration), and many European countries are following their lead. Five years ago, some of the adopted policies would not have any political support, but the tendency is for things to get better in the future.
I don't have high hopes for the UK, but if Germany and France change their immigration policies and their stance concerning Muslim countries, there might be a chance for Europe after all.
Paolo wrote...France's defeat on the Olympic bid has something to do with Chirac's loser personality (as has been shown by the public payback inflicted on him...
I saw Chirac on TV today, he just got back from Singapore (or wherever the OC announced London won), and boy, did that guy have a long face. Man he was sitting pretty 8 months ago and now hiw world has just fallen down, the blows just keep coming, caught panning English and Scottish cuisine, losing the Constitution, losing the Olympics, EU falling apart, France being Islamisized. Don't let the screendoor hit you on the way out!