The Persian Flag unfurls in Germany - Holding Award with UNESCO Ambassador Ohoven - At the Museum of Persian Arts

EMPRESS FARAH PAHLAVI RECEIVES THE STEIGER AWARD
Below are remarks of the Empress:
Dortmund - Germany - Sunday, January 23rd, 2005

Your Excellencies:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Ambassador Ohoven,

I would like to begin by expressing my deep sorrow for the terrible loss of life and destruction brought about by the recent catastrophic tsunami in South East Asia. Madame Ambassador, I thank you for your kind and encouraging words. Also, I thank the Steiger committee for honoring me with this special award. I would like to honor the memory of my late husband, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, who with his constant guidance and moral support made it possible for me and thousands of other Iranian women, to realize and fulfill so many dreams.

In this moment of heartfelt honor and appreciation, a strain of agony, sadness and hope runs through me. I am gripped with a sense of sorrow, because many of our dreams turned into a nightmare. I agonize, over the heartbreaking state of affairs in my country, and the suffering that many of my compatriots of all ages and gender, have had to endure in the last quarter of a century. At the same time, this award sends a message of hope to those who fight for social justice, to believe and have faith that, the seeds planted with love and care will survive all calamities and will grow again with the winds of change.
I would like to dedicate this award to all the men and women, some of whom are no longer with us, who helped, and toiled tirelessly with me in the growth of vibrant gardens. I am especially thinking of the brave and committed Iranians, both inside and outside Iran, who have so many dreams and aspirations, and who are steadfast in achieving their goal in spite of all the obstacles that have been placed before them.

Our country is blessed with a rich heritage and culture dating back to ancient times. There are good reasons to feel positive about the future of Iran and its people. Hordes of invaders from the west, east and north have swept over our land. They came in deluge, stayed for a while, and when the floods subsided, left the Iranian identity unscathed. Many times in our long history we have suffered periods of internal discord, confusion, and civil strife but succeeded in emerging stronger each time. It is my conviction that light will prevail over the darkness and Iran will rise from her ashes. In conclusion, I would also like to pay tribute to ambassador Ute Ohoven and all those whose dedication and determination has had such a positive impact on the lives of so many.
Thank you.

http://media.krsi.net/krsi_archive/news/azari-yazdi.wma

KRSI report on Her Majesty Farah Pahlavi's trip to Germany

To Listen Click Here

Krsi's own Mr. Siavash Azari, host of Radio Sedaye Iran 's daily programing interviewed Mr. Yazdi, a prominant Iranian reporter in Germany on Her majesty's latest trip to Germany.
"Today, our great civilization may appear to have died for all time. I believe, however, that our culture is akin to those powerful rivers that disappear underneath the mountains, lost to view, only to emerge later in full force.It will also rise to the surface again, reinvigorated by the values and ideals inherent in our national ethos and buttressed by the historic achievements of our people. From our trials will be reborn spiritual and material triumphs." Pahlavi

"DER STEIGER" is an initiative born from the ideas of companies and private persons in North Rhine Westphalia in Germany. Its goals are the promotion of cultural and social events and conferences in the area. This project is in cooperation with the local governments in Dortmund and Moenchengladbach and in partnership with industries in North Rhine Westphalia. Present were 350 guests including the Prime Minister of North Rhine Westphalia, Mr. Peer Steinbrück, the Lord Mayor of Dortmund, Bochum, Gelsenkirchen,, the former Federal Minister Jochen Borchert, and UNESCO Ambassador Ute-Henriette Ohoven. The prize has been awarded for the first time.