Iran calls for respect for democratically elected governments

TEHRAN,July 8(MNA) – The interference of military forces in political affairs is not appropriate and democratically elected governments should be respected, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said. “We do not regard the interference of military forces in political affairs and the changing of governments that have come to power through elections as proper,” Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday in reference to the army’s removal of Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi. “It does not befit any democracy that the president changes (as a result of events) on the streets,” he said, adding, “The Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes the fulfillment of legitimate public demands in Egypt but believes that this must be done through legal channels. We believe that democratically elected governments should be respected.” However, Araqchi acknowledged that the Morsi administration had failed to deliver a satisfactory performance, including in the area of foreign policy. Egypt’s territorial integrity and stability and unity between various Egyptian political groups are important for Iran, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said, adding, “Recent developments in Egypt cannot be interpreted as a defeat for Islamic Awakening or a defeat for Islamism. We knew it from the very beginning and had said that difficult years were ahead of the Egyptian revolution.” In addition, Araqchi, who also serves as deputy foreign minister for Asian and Oceanian affairs, expressed hope that the developments in Egypt would positively affect the Islamic Awakening and pave the way for the fulfillment of the main demands of the Egyptian people, which have an orientation toward Islam and oppose foreign meddling especially interference by the Zionist regime. He also asked Islamists and revolutionaries to “not think that everything is over.” The Islamic Awakening is a “continuous” movement, Araqchi commented.