Leader casts vote in runoff elections (30.6.2000)Tehran, June 30, IRNA -- The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei cast his vote at ballot box 110 at Imam Khomeini Husseiniyeh shortly after voting started for the second stage of the Majlis election at Tehran, Rey, Shemiranat and Islamshahr constituency. Voting started in the said constituency at 9 a.m. (local time). The four hopefuls in this stage are Rasoul Montajab-Nia, Seyed li Akbar Mohtashami-Pour, Elias Hazrati, and Ali Akbar Rahmani.
There are 2,124 ballot boxes set up by the Interior Ministry for this stage of the
elections, including 1,950 fixed boxes and 174 mobile ones for rural and urban
areas. Leader-Appointment Leader appoints Lotfian to new post (29.6.2000)Tehran, June 29, IRNA -- Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei here o Thursday
appointed Brigadier General Hedayat Lotfian as the deputy chief of the general
headquarters of the armed forces in charge of inspection division. "Upon a proposal
by the chief of the general headquarters of the armed forces and in view of your valuable
record... in sensitive military and disciplinary forces, you are appointed as deputy chief
of the general headquartes of the armed forces," the leader's decree read in part.
The leader noted that Martyr Sayyad Shirazi who fell victim to the dirty hands of the
outlawed Iranian opposition group, known as Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) was the
pioneer of this post, was a founder of this office. he also urged Lotfian to enhance the
status of the armed forces through his insight and by drawing up all-out plans. Lotfian
was the former commander of the law enforcement forces who was replaced on Wednesday by
pilot General Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. Meanwhile, Brigadier-General Akbar
Dianat-Far,
former holder of the post given to Lotfian was appointed deputy head of the recruitment
affairs of the general headquarters of the armed forces. Leader appoints new LEF commander (28.6.2000)Tehran, June 28, IRNA -- The Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei in a message Tuesday evening appointed Brigadier General Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf as the new Commander of the Law Enforcement Forces. The Leader in his message referred to the revolutionary background of Qalibaf, and asked government agencies including the Ministry of the Interior, as well as the Judiciary and the Sixth Majlis to cooperate with the new LEF commander. Ayatollah Khamenei also appreciated the efforts of Brigadier General Hedayat Lotfian, the former LEF Commander. AA/KS END ::irna 28/06/2000 10:41 Leader: Every individual has equally Constitutional Rights (27.6.2000)Tehran, June 27, IRNA -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday every individual has equal rights in Islam and the Constitutional Rights of the Leader, President and other officials are equal with those of ordinary individuals. In a meeting with the chief and officials of the Judiciary on the occasion of the martyrdom anniversary of Ayatollah Mohammad Beheshti, the then head of the supreme court along with 72 top officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran in a terrorist bomb blast in 1981, the Leader paid tribute to Martyr Beheshti and recalled him as the personality who laid the foundation of modern Judiciary following the establishment of the Islamic Republic in Iran. Referring to the conspiracy of the terrorist operation against the then top officials, the Leader said the conspiracy did not produce any result thanks to the faith and intimacy of the people with the Islamic Republic. The bloods of martyr Ayatollah Beheshti and 72 top officials of the Islamic Republic served to strengthen the Islamic Republic and isolated the enemy of the Iranian nation, the supreme Leader said.
The Leader said the judiciary has special status in state affairs, because a healthy
judiciary gradually brings to an end defects in the administration of the state. The
Judiciary is expected to stand against power mongers and stop the wealthy people from
violating the rights of the public and strongly protect the rights of the people given the
authority it enjoys in supervising the affairs and preventing crime. The Leader said
expectations of the Leadership of the Islamic Republic from the judiciary is different
from that of the political groups adding that several political groups launch propaganda
campaign against the judiciary to undermine the judiciary's authority and force the
judiciary to yield to them. "What the Leadership expects from the judiciary is to
portray Islamic justice favorably and to follow the lead of Imam Ali (AS), the first Imam
of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) infallible household in administering justice," the
supreme Leader said. Elsewhere in his address, the Leader said the Islamic Penal Code is
very efficient and there is no need for the judiciary to follow the model of other
countries in administering justice. The Leader advised Judicial officials to work to win
God's satisfaction, because true justice will bring God's satisfaction. Prior to the
Leader's speech, Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi spoke in memory of
the martyrs of the terrorist bomb blast on the Islamic Republic Party headquarters in 1981
and delivered a report on the conference of judicial officials which studied the function
of the judiciary in strengthening justice and security. Advisor to Commander-In-Chief of Armed Forces named (25.6.2000)Tehran, June 25, IRNA -- the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali
Khamenei on Sunday appointed Brigadier General Naser Arasteh as the military advisor to
the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces. "Given your competency,
commitment,
virtues and the invluable experiences you have acquired during the 1980-88 Iraqi Imposed
war and during your term in office as the Army's Deputy Commander, and in response to a
proposal made by the head of the group of military advisors, I appoint you as military
advisor to the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces in charge of ground
affairs,"
the Leader said in his decree. On the occasion of the birth anniversaries of the Prophet (21.6.2000)Tehran - June 21 - IRIBNA - On the occasion of the birth anniversaries of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and the 6th Imam Ja'far Sadeq (AS), President Khatami. Heads of three branches of government and a large number of forign and domestic dignitaries paid a visit to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei on Tuesday. The Supreme Leader congratulated the Muslims on the happy occasion of the birth anniversaries and said there would come a day when the people of the worid would realize the truth of the Islamic message. He lamented the division in the Muslim worid and said the Prophet could act äs a unifying factor for Muslims. He added, that is why there had been a caiculated media and cultural onslaught against the Prophet's character in the recent years. The Supreme Leader called on Muslim scholars and intellectuals to work on introducing the dimensions of the Prophet's character to Muslims and Non-Muslims.He referred to the creation of new grounds for an Islamic revival, especially the establishment of an Islamic government, and added where ever Muslims faced Islam's realities and their Islamic duties with sincerity, God's victory would surely be with them.
He said Hizbullah's victory over the Zionist Regime was due to their knowledge of Islam
and fulfilment of their Islamic duties and added the solution to the Palestine problem was
continuing on the same path. Ayatollah Khamenei referred to how the former Soviel
Republics rediscovered their identity after decades of Soviel ruie, despite the 'Illusion
of Soviel invincibility and said the Palestine problem would never be forgotton and the
Palestinian lands, just like south Lebanon, would one day return to the Islamic
Ummah. Leader: Majlis symbol of country's dignity (18.6.2000)Tehran, June 18, IRNA -- The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali
Khamenei said on Sunday the sixth Majlis should put into practice every article of the
Constitution of the Islamic Republic to alleviate the sufferings of the people. In a
meeting with Members of Parliament (MPs), the Supreme Leader said the Majlis is expected
to respect the dignity of human being and give priority to easing the economic hardships
and work to remove poverty which is the cause of discrimination and inferiority
complex.
The Leader felicitated the MPs on their election and said the people have pinned their
hopes on the Majlis, calling on the MPs to endeavor to carry out their heavy
responsibility regardless of material considerations. The Supreme Leader said Majlis is a
symbol of the dignity of the Islamic Republic, a place for making legislation and is of
popular nature contrary to the parliament under the deposed Shah. The Leader said in
addition to the weaknesses and backwardness in the past, the enmity of the arrogant powers
with the Islamic Republic of Iran has caused numerous difficulties, and
therefore, the MPs
are expected to observe piety, sincerity and their cooperative sense in dealing with the
difficulties and do their best to solve the problems. The Leader recommended that
implementing the Constitution of the Islamic Republic can alleviate the sufferings of the
country and called on Majlis to provide the executive branch of the government and the
judiciary with legal authority to fully enforce the Constitution of the Islamic Republic
and remove the shortcomings in its implementation. The Leader also advised the MPs to
supervise the performance of executive officials and provide the government with the legal
authority it needs to carry out specific plans essential to the public. Ayatollah Khamenei
said Islam has called for safeguarding the dignity of human being and the father of a
family would feel inferior when he could not afford to provide his family members with
their basic needs while a number of people are accumulating wealth illegally and leading a
luxury life. The Leader said poverty, unemployment and economic difficulties are the tools
used by the enemy in its campaign against the Islamic Republic and the sixth Majlis should
pay attention to the economic difficulties of people, fight corruption, misuse of the
public fund, and discrimination and remove administrative and judicial
shortcomings. Prior
to the Leader's remarks, Majlis Speaker Hojatoleslam Mehdi Karroubi extended felicitation
to the Leader on birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and thanked the Leader for
his guidelines to the MPs. Karroubi said the sixth Majlis will work to fully implement the
Constitution of the Islamic Republic and that the constitutional rights should be honored
in line with financial support for people by providing them with employment
opportunities. Leader: Iran always seeks peace, but a just one (18.6.2000)Tehran, June 18, IRNA -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said in Tehran on Sunday the rights of the Palestinian nation cannot be denied. In a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Supreme Leader underlined the delicacy of situation in the Middle East and said the solutions offered for the Middle East issue until now have not respected the rights of the Palestinian nation. The Leader said, ''Living in hope of justice is a great asset of humanity so that the human community should not be driven to a direction in which the hope of justice diminishes.'' Ayatollah Khamenei said, ''We always seek peace, but a just peace.''
The Leader referred to the Zionist regime's insistence on its oppressive practices in the Middle East fully backed by the U.S., and said the Islamic Republic of Iran has clearly stood against Zionist practices and believes that the rights of the Palestinian nation cannot be ignored, nor can the rights of several million Palestinian refugees be overlooked. The Leader said if a real solution is available for the Middle East issue, it should take into account the rights of the Palestinian nation. Ayatollah Khamenei said the United Nations is capable of undertaking effective part in the settlement of the Middle East dilemma, but said in the meantime, ''We are not satisfied with the stance of the United Nations and the UN Security Council in helping resolve international issues because the world body does not follow a single standard in dealing with international issues.'' The Leader pointed to the withdrawal of the Zionist regime from southern Lebanon and said the United Nations and the person of the Secretary-General have had effective role in implementing the UN Security Council Resolution, but noted in the meantime that the Lebanon-Israel dispute has not come to an end, because the Zionist regime has not yet withdrawn from the entire Lebanese territory. The Supreme Leader said the Islamic Republic of Iran supports the Lebanese people vindicating their rights adding that the dispute between Lebanon and the Zionist regime should be resolved in a way that all the Lebanese territory be handed over to Lebanon. The Leader lauded the services of Hezbollah of Lebanon and said Hezbollah managed to contain the Zionist Regime's war-mongering attitude while evacuating troops from southern Lebanon. The UN Secretary-General presented a report to the Supreme Leader on the withdrawal of the Zionist regime from south Lebanon and the UN activities on border demarcation and called for Iran's assistance in helping resolve the Middle East dilemma. Annan expressed pleasure with the tranquility in south Lebanon and said Hezbollah has an important role in securing peace in southern Lebanon. ''I hope the United Nations Resolutions on the Middle East will be implemented with assistance of regional states,'' Annan said. SS/AH/RR End ::irna 18/06/2000 17:09 Leader tells Wahid: US interference in other states has been their main affliction (15.6.2000)Tehran, June 15, IRNA - The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed-Ali
Khamenei, told visiting Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid here Thursday that
Washington's interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states has been their main
affliction. He said for about 150 years the common enemies of the Muslim world had
consistently tried to divide Muslim nations and pit them against each other, and observed
that the Islamic Revolution in Iran had returned the station, the status and the true
cultural and religious identity of Muslims to them. The Leader of the Islamic Revolution
said that Indonesia is a leading Muslim state in many respects, and recommended that Iran
and that country explore all avenues for closer relations in all areas. The visiting
President of Indonesia Abdurrahman Wahid appreciated the opportunity of his meeting with
the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, and commented that the founder of the Islamic
Republic, Imam Khomeini, had returned Muslim nations their pride, their dignity and their
self-esteem. He said as the President of his country, he too, would support the idea of
broader relations between Iran and his country. Leader stresses prevention of unbridled expansion of cities (14.6.2000)Tehran, June 14, IRNA -- Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a meeting with officials of Ministry of Housing, here Wednesday stressed the urgent need to draw up macro housing policies and contain the unbridled expansion of large cities. Referring to the growth of population and the subsequent housing problems, specially for the youth, the Leader added housing and other economic woes have manifested themselves as serious psychological, ethical and social issues which should be tackled through comprehensive planning. Ayatollah Khamenei further underlined the need to fulfill the promises given regarding the supply of affordable housing to the public, adding, ''One way for the public and especially the lower income strata to be able to get access to housing is to support and strengthen the Housing Foundation.''
The Leader also underscored the importance of building townships. He added that the
townships, in addition to mosques, should also incorporate security, recreational centers
and educational facilities. The Leader referred to the the need to build houses resistant
to natural disasters, using international standards. He added the buildings should be
reflective of people's needs and appropriate to their cultural and spiritual values.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei said besides skills and experience, spiritual
criteria are necessary to ensure success in handling the affairs in various sectors.
However, values such as honesty, overlooking personal gains and preferring the public
interests instead can expedite state of affairs. Political and factional considerations at
the managerial level and in governmental bodies are issues that delay achieving goals and
prolong the problems, the Leader noted. Prior to the Leader's remarks, Minister of Housing
and Urban Development Ali Abdolalizadeh presented a report on the ministry's activities
and its future plans. Leader condoles with Syrian nation on President Assad's demise (11.6.2000)Tehran, June 11, IRNA -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a
message to Bashar al-Assad, expressed his condolences over the death of his father,
President Hafez al-Assad. President Assad died of a heart attack on Saturday at the age of
69. In his message, the Leader praised President Assad as one of the prominent resistant
figures of the Arab and Islamic world who rendered great services to the Syrian nation and
the Arab world during his fruitful life. No doubt, the message further stressed, President
Assad was a pivot of resistance among frontline states and an important factor in saving
the line of resistance against defeats viz-a-viz the Zionists and their allies.
Underlining President Assad's role in further consolidating the Arab and Muslim world, the
message said the role he played in the recent victory of the Islamic resistance in south
Lebanon is undeniable. Since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran the Syrian
government and nation, under the leadership of President Assad, have provided constant
support notwithstanding regional and international ups and downs, the Leader further said
in his message. President Assad had rightfully recognized that the establishment of an
Islamic government in Iran had tilted the balance of power in favor of the revolutionary
forces of the Muslim world, the Leader added. The Leader was confident the noble Syrian
nation would continue in the path the late president tread in his three decades of
successful struggle to preserve national unity, independence and steadfastness against the
Zionists and their allies. "The government and nation of the Islamic Republic of Iran
will continue to stand by the side of the Syrian government and nation and grieves with
them and his bereaved family on his sad departure," the message concluded. ECO Presidents Meet Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution (10.6.2000)Tehran, June 10, IRAN -- Supreme leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had seperate meetings on Saturday with Presidents of Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Afghanistan who are in Tehran to attend the ECO summit. In his meeting with Turkmen President Safar Murat Niazove, the Leader referred to the commentaliteis and good neighborly relations between the two countries and stressed the existing possibility to further boost the Iran-Turkmenistan bilateral ties.
The Leader pointed out that the two states could cooperate in the sectors of oil and gas while stressing that they should not allow foreign attempts spoil their cooperation. In the meeting, Niazov expressed satisfaction with the good relations between Iran and Turkmenistan and said talks had been held on exploitation of oil and gas projects and agreements are expected to be finalized shortly in this regard. In his meet with the Afghan President Burhanoddin Rabbani, the Leader expressed regrets over the continuation of the sufferings of the Afghan people and called for stronger unity among the Alliance groups saying that these groups should sincerely try to remove differences and find a solution to alleviate the sufferings of the war-torn nation and put an end to the war and bloodsheds.
Rabbani commented on the latest development in Afghanistan in particular this year's severe drought in the country. He further thanked Iran for its humanitarian aid to the war-shattered Afghanistan. In another meeting with Kyrgyz President Asgar Aqaiev, Ayatollah Khamenei elaborated on the common bonds and good ties between Iran and Kyrgyzstan and said ECO summit clearly indicated the friendly relationship between the two states.
Emphasizing the security in the region, the Leader said the regional states should try to neutralize attempts by some hostile foreign powers to destabilaze the region. Expressing satisfaction with the growing ties between Iran and Kyrgyzstan, the Kyrgyz President said Iran is one of the ECO founders which play a key role in maintaining peace and stability in the region. The Leader in a meeting with Heidar Aliyev, the Azeri President, stressed improving the ties between Iran and Azerbaijan and said the two neighbors should not pay heed to the hostile actions by enemies. The Leader underlined the need to determine the legal regime of the Caspian Sea saying the Caspian Sea littoral states should cooperate with each other to determine the sea's legal regime to exploit its resources as soon as possible.
Aliyev called for the expansion of Iran-Azarbaijan ties and said the two states have recently more effectively attempted to upgrade the level of their cooperation and the Iran-Azerbaijan joint economic commission would facilitate the realization of this aim. The Supreme Leader also in a seperate meeting with General Pervez Musharaf, Pakistani chief executive, said close cooperation between Iran and Pakistan which are two key elements of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) which would help settle the crisis in Afghanistan.
The unstability in Afghanistan is to the detriment of all the regional nations and thus
the regional states should help solve the afghan crisis without intending to interfere in
the internal affairs of the war-hit country, he added. The Leader expressed the hope the
problems facing Iranians in Pakistan be settled soon. Stressing the need to boost
Tehran-Islamabad ties, Musharaf said his country would use evey possible means to settle
the crisis in Afghanistan noting that the only solution to the Afghan problem is halting
the civil war and sitting round the negotiations table. He concluded by saying the agents
behind the murders of the Iranians in Pakistan would be punished severely. Leader: Palestine belongs to all Palestinians (8.6.2000)Tehran, June 8, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in
a message cabled to Secretary General of Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement Ramedhan
Abdullah said that Palestine belongs to the Palestinian nation and dominant usurpers would
sooner or later submit to this fact. Ayatollah Khamenei said today Muslim and combatant
Palestinian youth shoulder a big historical duty and they should pin their hopes on God's
help and present a future to their people and country given all the hope, faith and
struggle they are enduring. The leader, congratulated Abdullah on recent victory of
Lebanese nation and said, ''the victory in fact belongs to all those, who were steadfast
in the struggle against usurper Zionists and were not influenced by temptations for
compromise or submission to the hostile and greedy enemy. The victory belongs to all
those, who appreciated the power of people's will and faith and do not take any arrogant
and hegemonic powers as invincible, said the leader. The Supreme Leader said the victory
is what has been claimed by Palestinian strugglers, who with bare hand and through the
strength of the brave and innocent youth, prevented occupation and domination of Zionists
over Palestine. ``This victory is fair and proper and as long as justice matches
determination and faith, it would be victorious,'' said the leader. He went on to say,
``The usurping and tyrant Zionists should know that the young and faithful Palestinian and
Lebanese generations are invincible. The faithful and brave struggle of Palestinian nation
can not be halted by political equations or military and security force or publicity
stunts as one cannot defeat the great Iranian nation's power of resistance and
perseverance through ageing methods of over the past two decades, which used to be applied
repeatedly by Zionists and their supporters, and proved ineffective.'' Leader underlines power of faith, will in giant historical events Imam's Mausoleum (3.6.2000)Imam's Mausoleum, Tehran, June 3, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei here on Saturday hailed faith, will, collective efforts, unity and devotion of human beings as the most important and influential factors in giant historical developments. Ayatollah Khamenei, addressing a large group of people attending the mausoleum of the late Imam Khomeini to mark his 11th departure anniversary, said the great Iranian nation would rely on power of faith as in the past and follow the new path set by the late Imam for human beings. He lashed out at insinuations of the global arrogance that money, force and propaganda had been influential in historical developments and said many nations, impressed by these allusions and by ignoring the real factors affecting political and social developments, have submitted to arrogant powers. But Iranian nation annulled such propaganda thanks to the Islamic revolution and defeat of the former monarchical regime and its main supporter the U.S., said the Supreme Leader, adding that now too Iranian nation deeply believes in the divine fact of the "great effects of human factors on socio-political developments". The leader said Iranian people had at the beginning of the 20th century, proved their vigilance and role in the constitution movement but the U.K. and affiliated policy makers diverted the movement and halted Muslim people's justice seeking movement for about 60 years by installing Pahlavi regime, pretending that no factor would have the power to defeat the monarchical regime and its supporters. the supreme leader said the big and unforgettable lesson given by the late Imam Khomeini at those times was proving the falsehood of the claim, adding that he taught the humanity that based on a quranic fact, no force would have power of resisting faith, will, unity, perseverance of people led by a wise leadership.
Ayatollah Khamenei said the humiliating defeat of the Zionist regime in southern Lebanon despite its firm decision to remain in the region is a proof of that fact. The Supreme Leader said while political analysts considered retreat of Israel from the region very unlikely, the Zionist occupiers had to accept the defeat in the face of a force that relied on faith and will and against perseverance of Lebanese Islamic resistance and nation. Such a giant Quranic experience would happen in the Palestine too if Palestinian people rely on the power of faith and perseverance and distance themselves from cheap compromising individuals and if the spirit of struggle and jihad persists, he stressed. ``Palestine will be turned back to its main owners, including Muslims, Christians and Jews, despite prediction of contemporary political interpreters, who consider such an event as something unlikely,'' said the Supreme Leader. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Supreme Leader warned against the big danger of enemies' efforts to discourage people and called on people to be vigilant against the threat. The leader called on those whose words and deeds as well as actions affect people to strengthen their faith, rely on God Almighty, not to be optimistic towards the enemy and abide by their heavy duties. BG/HM End ::irna 03/06/2000 16:02 Leader of Revolution Pays Tribute to Abutorabi (1.6.2000)Tehran, June 1, IRNA- The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali
Khamenei in a letter here Thursday expressed condolence on the death of the war veteran
and ex-POW Hojatoleslam Ali-Akbar Abutorabi and his father Ayatollah Abbas Abutorabi. His
letter was addressed to their bereaved family. Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the glorious
past of Hojatoleslam Abutorabi and paid tribute to him for his acts of self-sacrifice
during the Iran-Iraq war years that led to his captivity. In related news, several other
Iranian political dignitaries in separate letters and statements paid tribute to Abutorabi
and his father. |
