Speech by John baird at Free Iran Rally in Paris
John Baird,former foreign minister of Canada
Madame Rajavi, friends, it’s a great honor and a great privilege to once again join and to stand in solidarity with all of you and with the people of Iran,We come together to support the people of Iran in their great struggle. For years, far too many Western governments have tried to find a moderate faction within the regime in Tehran.
This conciliatory approach has failed and it has been nothing short of appeasement. We must not ignore the people of Iran and we must not ignore their desire for change.
Over the past six months, the people of Iran have shown great courage in protesting on the streets in more than 140 cities. They are desperately fighting for regime change. And friends, it is time to stand with the people of Iran and to give them our full support.
Today, we join Madame Rajavi, a woman of great courage and of great determination. And we gather in Paris to stand with the people of Iran, to support them in their quest for freedom, for equality, and for democracy. To call on the regime and the mullahs in Tehran to stop plundering the wealth of the Iranian people.
Friends, today we join with the people of Iran to deliver a simple message to the mullahs: it is time to end the repression, it is time to end the corruption, it is time for change, and it is time for the mullahs to go.
Friends, it is my great honor and privilege to introduce a leader with great courage who has always stood up against the regime in Tehran, even when it was not popular to do so, to support the Iranian people. Ladies and gentlemen, join me in giving a very warm welcome to the 22nd prime minister of Canada, Stephen Harper.
