Rasoul Movahedian, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, told The Scotsman that Scotland and Iran shared "similar views" on many issues, such as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and nuclear non-proliferation.
And he said there was "fertile ground" for a stronger relationship with the controversial government of Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"I think that Iran and Scotland enjoy similar views on many regional and international topics and issues," he said. "The views and the position of this present government of Scotland pleased many people in Iran and enabled us to make a distinction between Scotland and England.
Indeed, I bet the anti-imperialists were dancing gleefully, cans of Irn Bru in hand, down Tehran's Bobby Sands Street after the news of last May's election filtered through.
Not quite as sexy as Norway nor the Republic, nor Poland nor even (whisper it very quietly in earshot of the Holocaust Denier ) I.s.r.a.e.l. but hey, international recognition’s international recognition, isn’t it?
Play your cards right Alex, and they'll be naming a bus-shelter after you too soon.
5 comments:
I wonder if there is a McDonalds on Bobby Sands Street?
A story about nothing. It is called diplomacy, I suppose not something Unionism has ever had much need for.
It must really hurt the post colonialist mindset that Scotland is beginning to find her own way in the world. So aye we mibbe will dance a jig with a can of irn bru in hand, much preferable to being a unionist desperately trying to hang onto a long lost empire.
And the poet and hunger strike leader is remembered in lots of places throughout the world. What is Unionism known for apart from intolerance and belligerence?
Saor Alba!
Anonymous
“I wonder if there is a McDonalds on Bobby Sands Street?”
No, since it’s a country full of Shiites, I guess there isn’t a demand for American fast food outlets. And with Mr Sands’ own preferences for interior design there’s probably a joke somewhere there.
Tony
“It is called diplomacy, I suppose not something Unionism has ever had much need for.”
Read the article again, it’s quite clear the SNP are embarrassed with this particular episode of “diplomacy”.
”It must really hurt the post colonialist mindset that Scotland is beginning to find her own way in the world.”
Not really, more curious to see who’s next on the list for the Bould Alex, North Korea perhaps?
“So aye we mibbe will dance a jig with a can of irn bru in hand, much preferable to being a unionist desperately trying to hang onto a long lost empire.”
Huh?
Have you seen some evidence of my latent neo-imperialist leanings on here?
Care to point them out?
And it was the Iranians not the Scots whom I guessed would be dancing with their Irn Bru when the news of the SNP minority government came through. I guess the majority of Scots were sitting in the pub in deep despair with a very deep Johnnie Walker when the news of the SNP “victory” came through last May.
”And the poet and hunger strike leader is remembered in lots of places throughout the world.”
Seriously Tony, have you read any of his poetry?
If you have, then you’ll know exactly why he decided to become a gangster instead of the next Seamus Heaney.
“What is Unionism known for apart from intolerance and belligerence?”
I hate to break it to you, but outside our own wee country Unionism (or at least the Northern irish version) is not known or cared about at all. Full stop. And whilst a few beardy lentil-chomping dread-locked lefties in the Milan Alternative Arts University or wherever might still carry a torch for Bobby, that’s about it. No one cares about Northern Ireland anymore.
Oh well.
Saor Alba!
And a Briontanach go deo! to you too.
>>Have you seen some evidence of my latent neo-imperialist leanings on here?
Care to point them out?<<
I've never visited before, though as a unionist I assumed that came with the territory. So I take it that you are all for handing back the colony in the north of Ireland?
>>I guess the majority of Scots were sitting in the pub in deep despair with a very deep Johnnie Walker when the news of the SNP “victory” came through last May.<<
Perhaps some, mainly eedjits who believed the doomsday media campaign and those with an inherent interest. Oh and I'm sure a few Orange pubs might have been quite upset, since they realise the writing is firmly on the wall over the future of the six counties.
>>Seriously Tony, have you read any of his poetry?
If you have, then you’ll know exactly why he decided to become a gangster instead of the next Seamus Heaney.<<
Thanks but I prefer my own narrative, not some deeply jaundiced Unionist one.
>>No one cares about Northern Ireland anymore.
Oh well.<<
Why oh why do Unionists when confronted with their bankrupt position, or the violent sectarian actions of their supporters always attempt to even the score by falsely claiming that one side is as bad as the other, or that no-one cares. You only delude yourself.
>>Saor Alba!
And a Briontanach go deo! to you too.<<
Showing your class?
As far as not attacking Iran, are you in the same position as Salmond, the churches and most sane people in the world? Or are you with the Waco Dave vances of this world, you know kill em all?
>>Have you seen some evidence of my latent neo-imperialist leanings on here?
Care to point them out?<<
I've never visited before, though as a unionist I assumed that came with the territory.
In other words, no,you haven’t seen any evidence.
So I take it that you are all for handing back the colony in the north of Ireland?
The only colony I’m aware of in the "north" of Ireland is the Puffin one on Rathlin.
Northern Ireland, along with England, Scotland and Wales is an integral part of the United Kingdom; none of those countries are being held in their present position against their will. If at any time in the future (as set out under the Belfast Agreement) a majority decide that we should leave the UK, then as a democrat I’ll accept that decision, although with sadness.
>>I guess the majority of Scots were sitting in the pub in deep despair with a very deep Johnnie Walker when the news of the SNP “victory” came through last May.<<
Perhaps some, mainly eedjits who believed the doomsday media campaign and those with an inherent interest. Oh and I'm sure a few Orange pubs might have been quite upset, since they realise the writing is firmly on the wall over the future of the six counties.
Well, you’ll probably know what the score was in the “Orange” pubs better than I, but taking account of the fact that more than 65% of the electorate did not vote for the separatists, then I think you may be underestimating the adverse reaction to the SNP’s victory.
>>Seriously Tony, have you read any of his poetry?
If you have, then you’ll know exactly why he decided to become a gangster instead of the next Seamus Heaney.<<
Thanks but I prefer my own narrative, not some deeply jaundiced Unionist one.
You didn’t amswer my question, have you read any of Sand’s poetry or not?
>>No one cares about Northern Ireland anymore.
Oh well.<<
Why oh why do Unionists when confronted with their bankrupt position, or the violent sectarian actions of their supporters always attempt to even the score by falsely claiming that one side is as bad as the other, or that no-one cares. You only delude yourself.
Have you actually read my comments above, or are you just answering something you imagined I said?
>>Saor Alba!
And a Briontanach go deo! to you too.<<
Showing your class?
No, I reserve the right here to reply in my "native" tongue, though I think I might well have made a grammar mistake; no doubt someone will correct me.
As far as not attacking Iran, are you in the same position as Salmond, the churches and most sane people in the world? Or are you with the Waco Dave vances of this world, you know kill em all?
You’re moving off on a tangent somewhat here Tony.
I’ve made a post gently lampooning the fact that Iran wants to be best mates with the SNP, I wasn’t advocating the carpet bombing of Tehran.
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