[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 52 (Monday, December 30, 2002)]
[Page 2188]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Radio Remarks to the People of Iran

December 21, 2002

    I'm pleased to send warm greetings to the people of Iran and to 
welcome you to the new Radio Farda broadcast.
    For many years, the United States has helped bring news and cultural 
broadcasts for a few hours every day to the Iranian people via Radio 
Freedom. Yet the Iranian people tell us that more broadcasting is 
needed, because the unelected few who control the Iranian Government 
continue to place severe restrictions on access to uncensored 
information. So we are now making our broadcast available to more 
Iranians by airing news and music and cultural programs nearly 24 hours 
a day, and we are pleased to continue Voice of America and VOA TV 
services to Iran.
    The people of Iran want to build a freer, more prosperous country 
for their children and live in a country that is a full partner in the 
international community. Iranians also deserve a free press to express 
themselves to help build an open, democratic, and free society.
    My thoughts and prayers are with the Iranian people, particularly 
the families of the many Iranians who are in prison today for daring to 
express their hopes and dreams for a better future. We continue to stand 
with the people of Iran in your quest for freedom, prosperity, honest 
and effective government, judicial due process, and the rule of law. And 
we continue to call on the Government of Iran to respect the will of its 
people and be accountable to them.
    As I have said before, if Iran respects its international 
obligations and embraces freedom and tolerance, it will have no better 
friend than the United States of America.
    Best wishes for a bright future filled with knowledge and 
information and freedom.

Note: The President's remarks were recorded at 1:15 p.m. on December 20 
in the Cabinet Room at the White House for later broadcast in Iran on 
Radio Farda. The transcript was made available by the Office of the 
Press Secretary on December 20.