Click on image to see larger photo
Khatami insists revolution remains strong despite economic
woes
TEHRAN, Feb 11 (AFP) - The Islamic revolution remains strong despite
Iran's economic woes, moderate President Mohammad Khatami insisted Thursday
in his keynote speech marking the 20th anniversary of the overthrow of
the shah.
"Despite all the difficulties, the economic sanctions and the war
of attrition launched against our country, the Islamic revolution -- one
of the century's great events -- is entering its period of stabilization,"
he told hundreds of thousands of Iranians gathered in one of the capital's
main squares.
"Of course our oil receipts have been halved, but with God's help
we will turn this weakness into a strength," he told the massive crowds
in a nod to the mounting economic problems they face.
But he vowed that his government would secure the necessary investment
to tackle the mounting crisis sparked by the collapse in the price of Iran's
main export oil.
"We have turned to foreign investors for billions of dollars of
investment and in the coming year we are going to seek yet more of it to
build our country," he promised.
"But we are not going to give up on our basic principles,"
he reassured conservatives.
Khatami is by far and away the Islamic regime's most popular figure
-- as he arrived in Freedom Square to make his speech, he was greeted with
cheers of support from the crowd.
The reformist president, who won a shock election victory in 1997, promised
that he would continue to seek to implement his campaign promise to ensure
respect for the law and the constitution.
"We are embarking on the third decade of our revolution and we
must now protect citizen's rights and the freedoms of all those who respect
and recognize the authority of the constitution," he vowed.
"The slogan of this government has been respect for the law and
especially the constitution, that people's charter which guarantees the
rights of all."
Khatami called for a massive turnout in Iran's first ever local elections
later this month but called for a let-up in the bitter factional feuding
which has overshadowed the landmark poll.
"We must all unite and settle our differences with greater tolerance,"
Khatami urged.
The municipal elections pit reformist supporters of the moderate president
against his conservative opponents as both sides seek to strengthen their
local power base ahead of parliamentary elections next year.
Links
TEHRAN, Feb 11 (AFP) - The Islamic revolution remains strong despite
Iran's economic woes, moderate President Mohammad Khatami insisted Thursday
in his keynote speech marking the 20th anniversary of the overthrow of
the shah.
