The Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has for months now been in the midst of a major row with Western governments, specifically the United States and Britain. He has threatened to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Latest reports are that the US is ready to attack Iran. World in Wales reporter Mari Higurashi asked Iranian students: "What do you make of your president?"
Mehdi, 21, studying civil engineering, says “He does not have enough experience to manage the whole country.” Reza, 27, also civil engineering student, who had attended Mr. Ahmadinejad’s lecture in Tehran, added “As a lecturer, he is good, but not suitable for a president. He is too restricted and cannot stand people criticizing him.”
When asked what is the biggest challenge in Iran, Mehdi tells World in Wales, “We have political and economical problems, both are related. Previous Iranian governments tried to achieve first one then the other, but we have to deal with them together. A Constitution, freedom and democracy are basics to develop a country’s economy. But the current government is ruining the both.” “Our president can ruin our country in six months. For developing countries like ours, even one day is important.” He suggests that “it is important to learn from developed countries. Besides, we need to maintain good relations, including the US.”
Reza points out, “The problems can be explained from three aspects. Those are financial, freedom and political. If we have freedom of speech, we can influence government and modify their policies. We also have financial problems because the government does not know how to use money, and so they are ruining our rich natural resources.”
Keivan, 28, a Research Fellow in Business Studies, says “Iranians need first, human rights; second, human rights; and third, human rights. Human rights is a basic need for developing countries that have potential such as Iran. Iran has ample human resources because we had a good education system and achieved early modernisation. These cannot be created over night, it is an incremental process.”
*Wolrd in Wales, 13 February edition
Photo from BBC Website, only for this blog (Not in World in Wales)
