Better Days: Venezuela President Hugo Chavez joins Iran President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at an oil rig during Ahmadinejad's
2006 visit
to Latin America.
Ahmadinejad:
'Chavez Will Be Resurrected with Christ the Savior' (Mehr
News Agency, Islamic Republic of Iran)
One of the
most audacious foreign policy initiatives taken by Venezuela President Hugo
Chavez was to court and establish close economic and political ties with
Washington's staunchest opponents, even while being one of its leading oil
suppliers. On the occasion of Chavez' death, this statement of condolence by Iran
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reflects just how close the two men became.
There are those who will miss Venezuela President Hugo Chavez, and there are many who will not. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is certainly one of those who will.
TEHRAN: Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has issued a
statement and sent condolences to the Venezuelan people over the death of Hugo
Chavez, the president of Venezuela.
The text of the President Ahmadinejad's
statement is as follows:
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, and the Merciful.
Inna lillahva Inna IlayhiRajeun (2: 156) (Indeed we belong to Allah, and
indeed, to Him we will return)
Dear friend, Mr. Nicolas Maduro, honorable vice president of Venezuela,
The spirit of a great man of justice and of those who seek
freedom has ascended to the heaven, plunging the world into the grief. Venezuela
has lost its bravest and most courageous son, and the world has lost a wise revolutionary
leader.
In this moment of grief, I would like to express my
condolences to the Venezuelan government and people, his bereaved family, and to
your excellency, over the death of Hugo Chavez.
Hugo Chavez is a name known to all nations. His name is
reminiscent of pure innocence, kindness, fortitude, love for the people and service
to the people. This is particularly true in the case of the poor, and those who
have been victims of colonialism and imperialism at the hands of the arrogant
powers.
He was a deeply pious man, committed to human and spiritual values.
He was a helper to the messengers of God, the global rule of justice, and was a
beloved leader of reform.
With all of his courage, Chavez stood against the unquenchable
interests of the hegemonic arrogant powers. He stood against their erroneous
propaganda, their economic pressure, and even their coup d’états. Yet he was modest
enough to find a moment to put his gentle hands on the head of a child and
whisper the song of freedom and pride into its ears, igniting a spirit of love for
the rest or the child's life.
Chavez was a symbol and was in keeping with the legacy of every
brave warrior and revolutionary in the glorious, yet grief-stricken history of
Latin America. He embodied the spirit of magnanimity of his nation's people and
the people of all nations being oppressed. He was a pioneer of
anti-colonialism, the search for justice, and friendship among nations.
He was a spiritual ballast and a brace for all revolutionaries
and freedom-seeking people in his region and around the world. Indeed, he was
an epiphany and the perfect embodiment of a passionate, idealistic and lovable
Venezuela. And for this, the great nation of Venezuela, with all of it sage-like
wisdom, elevated him to the presidency, and supported him through thick and
thin. For his part, Hugo Chavez exploited every opportunity and marshaled every
lever of power to serve his people, lifting up the name of his nation and
bringing freedom to others.
In the end, he gave his body and soul to this honor-bound
path. Indeed, he is a martyr in service to the Venezuelan people and to preserving
human and revolutionary values. Although it appears that a kind and generous friend
has left us, I am certain that in the hearts of each and every Latin American
and Venezuelan, his heavenly soul and luminous thoughts will be felt every day more
brightly than ever, and will light the path toward pride and dignity for all.
As long as justice, love and freedom live, Chavez is alive. As
long as piety, luminosity, and humanity live, he is alive. As long as nations live
and struggle to consolidate independence, justice and kindness, he is alive. And
I have no doubt that along with Christ the Savior, heir to all saintly and
perfect men, he will be resurrected, bringing peace, justice and perfection to
all.
I again express my condolences over this heavy loss, and pray
to God for happiness, health, welfare, and pride to you and to the Venezuelan
nation.
Your friend and brother Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of
the Islamic Republic of Iran
