Just released:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 24, 2004
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
I am very disappointed in the recently disputed parliamentary elections in
Iran. The disqualification of some 2,400 candidates by the unelected Guardian
Council deprived many Iranians of the opportunity to freely choose their
representatives. I join many in Iran and around the world in condemning the
Iranian regime’s efforts to stifle freedom of speech — including the closing of
two leading reformist newspapers — in the run-up to the election. Such
measures undermine the rule of law and are clear attempts to deny the Iranian
people’s desire to freely choose their leaders.
The United States supports the Iranian people’s aspirations to live in
freedom, enjoy their God-given rights, and determine their own destiny.
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