Ahmadinejad says Iran willing to advise Europe on democracy

Mon, 15 Nov 2010

Tehran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Monday that Iran was ready to provide Europe with "its experiences and criteria" on implementing democracy, Fars news agency reported.

Ahmadinejad, referring to protest demonstrations in Europe in general and the unrest in France in particular, said it was time that the political leaders listened to their people.

"It would be to the advantage of the Western leaders to implement justice rather than using violence against their people and suppressing their demands," Fars quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.

"Iran was ready to provide these countries with its experience and criteria so they can again reconcile with their people and get out of the current political deadlock," he said.

Ahmadinejad blamed the political system in Europe and said that people were forced to vote for two or three parties created by the leaders, rather than for political figures they really wanted.

Iran does not have a party system, as in most Western democracies. Most leading officials belong to factions rather than parties and are elected as independent candidates.

Only the reformist wing formed parties in recent years, but they were banned following the disputed presidential election last year that was overshadowed by fraud charges.

The reformists have not acknowledged Ahmadinejad's re-election and several members have been jailed for supporting street protests against the president, on charges of conspiring against the establishment.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/353575,willing-advise-europe-democracy.html.