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20 December 2002

Bush Says Iranian Leaders Must Respect Will of Their People

(President addresses Iranian people on Radio Farda) (560)
President Bush expressed U.S. solidarity with the people of Iran and
their continuing quest for a more free society and accountable
government in a radio broadcast to the Iranian people on the
Farsi-language Radio Farda.
In his December 20 remarks, Bush said he and the people of the United
States "continue to stand with the people of Iran in your quest for
freedom, prosperity, honest and effective government, judicial due
process and the rule of law. And we continue to call on the government
of Iran to respect the will of its people and be accountable to them."
The president said that in response to Iranian complaints over their
government's censorship and restrictions of information, the United
States will make Radio Farda's broadcast of news, music and cultural
programs available almost 24 hours a day.
"The people of Iran want to build a freer, more prosperous country for
their children, and live in a country that is a full partner in the
international community. Iranians also deserve a free press to express
themselves to help build an open, democratic and free society," he
said.
Closing his remarks, Bush said that if Iran "respects its
international obligations and embraces freedom and tolerance, it will
have no better friend than the United States of America."
Following is the text of President Bush's address to the Iranian
people:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
December 20, 2002
RADIO ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT TO THE PEOPLE OF IRAN ON RADIO FARDA
THE PRESIDENT: I'm pleased to send warm greetings to the people of
Iran and to welcome you to the new Radio Farda broadcast.
For many years, the United States has helped bring news and cultural
broadcasts for a few hours every day to the Iranian people via Radio
Freedom. Yet the Iranian people tell us that more broadcasting is
needed, because the unelected few who control the Iranian government
continue to place severe restrictions on access to uncensored
information. So we are now making our broadcast available to more
Iranians by airing news and music and cultural programs nearly 24
hours a day, and we are pleased to continue Voice of America and VOA
TV services to Iran.
The people of Iran want to build a freer, more prosperous country for
their children, and live in a country that is a full partner in the
international community. Iranians also deserve a free press to express
themselves to help build an open, democratic and free society.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Iranian people, particularly the
families of the many Iranians who are in prison today for daring to
express their hopes and dreams for a better future. We continue to
stand with the people of Iran in your quest for freedom, prosperity,
honest and effective government, judicial due process and the rule of
law. And we continue to call on the government of Iran to respect the
will of its people and be accountable to them.
As I have said before, if Iran respects its international obligations
and embraces freedom and tolerance, it will have no better friend than
the United States of America.
Best wishes for a bright future, filled with knowledge and information
and freedom.
END
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)