Khatami Warns Hard0liners in Iran New Year Message
Published:
21 March 2001 y., Wednesday
Iran's embattled President Mohammad Khatami warned his hard-line opponents Tuesday they faced an "ill-fated" future for ignoring popular demand for reforms.
In a pensive Iranian New Year address, interspersed with classical Persian poetry, Khatami described his four years in office as arduous -- in reference to his uphill battle against hard-liners to implement an Islamic democracy in Iran.
The president is nearing the end of his term, but is yet to announce his intention to seek re-election in June polls.
"Our people demand security along with freedom, pluralism along with piety," Khatami said.
Hard-liners, who dominate the armed forces and security services as well as the judiciary, have all but suppressed Khatami's social and political reforms, launched after his 1997landslide election.
Many reformist activists, including top allies of the president, have been imprisoned and dozens of independent newspapers have been banned.
Šaltinis:
dailynews.netscape.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
This Saturday, 24 April, the Carlos de Amberes Foundation is hosting two conferences of European experts on the environment and sustainability and immigration policies in the EU, organised by the Allianz Cultural Foundation in the context of the Allianz Alumni Academy.
more »
The Trident-Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai to reopen, following renovations after militant attacks in 2008
more »
Fresh from their wedding in Jamaica, British tourists Siobhan and David Monteith never thought for a minute that a volcano would interrupt their honeymoon.
more »
The streets of Manila filled with a colourful display on wheels, just days before the world celebrates Earth Day’s 40th anniversary.
more »
Tens of thousands of Ugandans flocked to the hilltop palace of Africa’s youngest tribal ruler for two days of noisy parties marking a decade in power for the 18-year-old king.
more »
Colourful warriors leap across the stage at the 6th annual Songjiang Battle Array, in Neimen, southern Taiwan.
more »
Consumers benefit from greater use of European product safety alert system and more effective market surveillance.
more »
Representatives from all Member States are gathering for two days in Zaragoza from 15 to 16 April to discuss how migrant integration can become a driver for social cohesion in the EU.
more »
The much heralded "citizens initiative" to change EU laws has been given a cautious welcome by MEPs. Under the scheme - a major innovation of the Lisbon treaty - a million people can back a plan to introduce European legislation.
more »
Football shares Europe's values of integration, solidarity and social inclusion, and can play a significant role in helping the EU to promote them, especially at the local level where clubs are part of their local communities.
more »