Text of report by Azerbaijani newspaper 'Yeni Musavat'
The following is the text of a report from Azerbaijani newspaper 'Yeni
Musavat' on 29th November by Samira Vahid entitled "Johragani prepares for
elections"
 

Subhead: "We are trying to win"

Parliamentary elections are to be held in Iran in early 2000. To recap,
the leader of the southern Azeri Turks, Dr Mahmudali Johragani, was not
allowed to run in the previous parliamentary elections. A lecturer of
Tabriz University, who is protesting at the trampling down of the rights of
his compatriots [Azeris in Iran] and trying to awaken the people, he was
subjected to great pressure.

However, despite the attacks on his family and himself, Johragani says
that he will not give up his struggle and intends to run in next year's
elections. That is why we contacted Dr Johragani and asked him if he was
not afraid that troubles would happen to him again.

Saying that he was ready to sacrifice his life to this nation,
Johragani said that 30 million southern Azeris had been exploited since
1918-19: "Human rights are being trampled on and the Iranian authorities do
not want to recognize the nation's cultural rights. In this situation we
can keep silent, forget our past and turn a blind eye to the fact that our
culture is disappearing, or we can fight. Therefore we have staked our
lives on and are not afraid sacrifice them. We are fighting to prevent this
nation from assimilating. We do not want to be disgraced. That is why we
are being beaten up today."

There are two months left before the elections. Dr Johragani said that
he was preparing for the elections: "We are trying to win the elections."
Iran and Azerbaijan recently signed a bilateral agreement on the
extradition of criminals. After this the National Liberation Movement of
Southern Azerbaijan [NLMSA] closed down its headquarters in Baku. A report
disseminated by the NLMSA yesterday says that Johragani voiced his regret
at the event and expressed his displeasure with the Azerbaijani
authorities. During the telephone conversation with us, Johragani said that
he did not interfere in Azerbaijan's internal affairs: "I regard the
extradition of criminals from both sides after the signing of this
agreement as a good thing. However, it is inadmissible to make use of this
to exert pressure on political emigrants defending the rights of their
nation." [Page 8]

Source: 'Yeni Musavat', Baku, in Azeri 29 Nov 99 p*
BBC Mon TCU 291199/** sh/la