khalijefars News, Blogs, Art and Community
We begin tonight’s edition of A Window to the Fatherland with Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh reading one of his poems from the book of his collected works.
Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:
We will continue the program with a report from our senior correspondent Mohammadreza Shaheed about his recent trip to US to cover the official visit of the French President Emanuel Macron to Washington.
Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:
How did get to cover this story?
Mohammadreza Shaheed:
Every time a French president is travelling for official visits journalists will register their names to follow them. This time Macron was going to discuss the Iran nuclear deal with President Trump and it made it even more important to go. All in all there were 70 journalists and technicians from France’s Channel 2 TV to cover this trip.
The media people have to be stationed before the arrival of the French President in Washington and I was lucky to be placed in the best location to cover the news of his trip.
Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:
Are there any restrictions as to which journalists can cover these events?
Mohammadreza Shaheed:
The name of journalists are given to a special committee for registration but there are no restrictions as to who wishes to be included in the press corps, unless there are not enough seats on the plane for all of them, then the rest have to arrange for their own flight and the government reimburses them.
Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:
Who is qualified to receive a Legion de Honour?
Mohammadreza Shaheed:
People apply to receive it, but a special committee first reviews their qualifications before giving it to them. It is given to French nationals as well as people from other nationalities. Mr Ahani has also received it.
Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:
Where you present when Macron arrived?
Mohammadreza Shaheed:
No I was not. I had registered to cover his arrival at the White House and cover his appearance alongside with Mr. Trump. It was a funny situation when I contacted you as I noticed that there was this open door to the back garden and I borrowed a ladder from the gardener to get into it and report from there but then some one shouted at me and made me aware that I should not be there but they did not question me for my action.
Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:
How did you find the atmosphere inside the White House?
Mohammadreza Shaheed:
Trump has had 27 meetings with world leaders since he assumed power. These meeting can take half an hour and up to eight journalists can attend. This time there were two French journalists among them. However I was among the journalists who were present at George Washington University.
Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:
What was your question to Macron?
Mohammadreza Shaheed:
I said we have a leader in Iran who says he is a divine gift from the skies and then a president who is elected by the people and a nation who looks into the skies with despair. The first time I interviewed a French president it was Mr Sarkozi. My voice was really shaken when I raised my question to Macron.
Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:
Since Macron’s trip to US, Netanyahu has become more aggressive and bombed Iranian positions in Syria.
Mohammadreza Shaheed:
Macron did not mention anything about Netanyahu and only spoke about the need to preserve the nuclear deal. Some people argue that we must stand against Trump’s policies as they may lead to the partition of Iran. I think the continuation of the Islamic republic regime and its nefarious actions will actually lead to this disastrous consequence.
If there were any single leader in the world to help overthrow the Iranian regime it would certainly be Mr. Trump.
Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:
How did you feel when you saw the mummified body of Reza Shah?
Mohammadreza Shaheed:
It is not a happy scene when you see someone is dug out of his or her grave. And this is not just for Reza Shah’s body.
Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:
Stay with us for this edition of A Window to the Fatherland and share it with your family and friends.
