Mousavi: Green Movement supports Iran's "ethnic variety"

MirHosein Mousavi

Iranian opposition leader, MirHosein Mousavi announced the support of the Green Movement for Iran’s “ethnic variety” in a meeting with Eastern Azerbaijan reformists and reviewed the current situation of the reform movement.

Mousavi maintained that in view of the current restrictions on the media, he “is not optimistic regarding any opening in the media atmosphere.”

In view of all the media restrictions, he maintained that the internet is currently the best method for exchanging information and disseminating news.

The former prime minister of Iran described the approach of the ruling class toward the Green Movement as “unrealistic” saying: “They are caught up in their own fabricated claims that protesters are connected with foreign elements and they subject people to interrogations based on this assumption.”

He maintained that such an assumption can only unite the supporters of the ruling class for a limited time because the truth cannot remain hidden for long.

MirHosein Mousavi also reviewed the events following the controversial elections of last year saying that the Green Movement cannot be evaluated only on the basis of its demonstrations and street gatherings. “The roots of the movement are undeniable,” he maintained; “What is important is that an idea was born!”

He stressed once more the importance of relying on the constitution and in case of problematic areas of the constitution to commit issues to a public poll.

The opposition leader also dedicated a major part of his speech to Iran’s ethnic groups acknowledging that Iran’s ethnicities have not been treated well in the past. He stressed the Green Movement’s support for Iran’s “ethnic variety” but emphasized that “the majority of Iranians believe in national unity and separatists have no place or importance in any part of Iran.”