Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei addresses cabinet members on Sunday, as President Mohammad Khatami looks on. (IRNA Photo)

TEHRAN, May 16--Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei stressed on Sunday the importance of resolving the problems of Kerman province by making great efforts and plans.
In a meeting with President Mohammad Khatami and cabinet members, the leader called on Management and Planning Organization, governor general of Kerman and officials to speedily implement the programs devised during his recent visit to the southeastern province, IRNA reported.
He expressed appreciation of measures adopted by the government and officials of Bam Reconstruction Headquarters to reconstruct the quake-hit city and underlined the need to draw up a fundamental plan to this effect.
“Implementation of measures in Bam needs the government’s special attention,“ he said, noting that support for Bam Reconstruction Headquarters should not be weakened in the decision-making process.
Ayatollah Khamenei also stressed the importance of making speedy and serious decision for the quake-stricken people of Zarand.
He called for serious efforts to eradicate poverty from Kerman province, reduce the damage inflicted by drought and remove insecurity caused by smugglers.
The leader referred to economic activities in Kerman province as broad and fruitful, saying the results of such activities should have an effective role in the lives of the provincial people.
Ayatollah Khamenei also said executive as well as mid- and long-term programs should be carried out before the end of the current government’s tenure, adding that the next government should also continue along this path.
President Khatami, for his part, said decisions made during the leader’s Kerman visit would be materialized soon through the government’s efforts.

TEHRAN, May 16--Amr Moussa, Arab League’s secretary-general, said Iran has managed to keep the balance of power in the region to its own advantage,
Speaking in an exclusive interview conducted via Internet and published by the Persian daily Siasat-e Rouz on Monday, Moussa said Iran’s support for Syria, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Palestinian groups are some of the reasons for the pressures exerted on it.
“Iran’s spiritual influence in Iraq and other neighboring nations should not be overlooked,“ he said.
Commenting on latest regional developments, the head of Arab League said 9/11 attacks were a pretext for Washington and the Zionist entity to establish their presence in the region.
“They made the most out of this particular event. Invasion of Afghanistan, occupation of Iraq, assassination of Rafik Hariri as well as the ever-growing pressures on Iran and Syria are some of the most critical challenges facing the entire region,“ he said.
On the Arab League’s role in resolving these crises, Moussa said the Arab League’s current structure is in desperate need of reforms, admitting that the league has not been able to play an effective role in resolving any crisis or dispute in the region.
Asked about the American claim that they invaded Iraq to establish democracy and freedom, he noted that most human rights violations in Iraq took place at a time when Saddam was strongly supported by the Capitol Hill.
“The question is why US politicians did not think about democracy in Iraq after the Persian Gulf War when they liberated Kuwait? The attack on Iraq led to the massacre of innocent Iraqi civilians by the Baathist regime. Why is it that after ten years, they decided there is no democracy and freedom in Iraq?“ he wondered.
Questioned about attempts by certain Arab states and political groups to normalize ties with the Zionist Israeli regime, Moussa said, “Israeli officials disregard all international treaties and even accuse me of obstructing the peace process in the Middle East. As long as Israel does not fulfill its obligations towards the rights and welfare of the Palestinian nation, any relations with it would be worthless.“

Elaheh Koulaei

TEHRAN, May 16--A university professor said people will not elect former military commanders, if the June 17 presidential election is held in a free and competitive atmosphere.
Elaheh Koulaei also told reporters here on Monday that if a military man is elected as president, it is tantamount to the end of democracy in the country, IRNA reported.
Koulaei, who is also deputy head of Islamic Iran Participation Front, noted that military men worry about security issues and not democracy.
“Some cynics try to show that presence of military personnel is crucial by pretending that the reformist movement has been unsuccessful,“ she said.
Commenting on international determination for bringing about fundamental changes in the Middle East, Koulaei said it is not appropriate to bow to foreign pressure for enforcing social reforms, despite an internal effort for sociopolitical reforms since Iran’s Constitutional Movement some 100 years ago.
She also said since military personnel cannot play a role in restoring democracy, they will make the country more prone to foreign threats, stressing that only particular political groups favor the election of a military commander.
Koulaei referred to the presence of State Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in the presidential election as a positive move.
“Reformers consider Iran’s national interests in establishing ties with other countries while national interests have always been neglected in this regard,“ she said.

TEHRAN, May 16--Chairman of State Expedience Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Sunday Iraqis are in dire need of national unity.
In a meeting with the leaders of Iraqi Assyrians and men of letters from southern Iraq, Rafsanjani said colonialists and Zionists are sowing the seeds of discord to rationalize their presence in the region, IRNA reported.
He further said the Iraqi people should display political maturity to thwart the conspiracies and carry on with their daily lives.
“Many of the region’s developments will depend on the future Iraqi situation,“ he said, stressing that by dominating Iraq, the US wants to make inroads into the region’s resources.
He praised the wisdom of Iraqi Shiite and Sunni dignitaries and said they have proved that they are on the side of the people in their struggle for freedom and independence.
Rafsanjani also referred to the vast damage wrought by the previous Baathist regime. “With ample reserves and talented people, Iraqis could overcome the problems and seek progress and development.“
Also on Sunday, the head of Majlis Commission for National Security and Foreign Policy, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said the Iraqi nation could determine its own destiny without foreign forces and in complete freedom.
In a meeting with representatives of different Iraqi religious groups, Boroujerdi stressed the need for withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq and said the new Iraqi government could restore peace, stability and security to the country with the help of its nation.
The representative of Iraqi Assyrians, for his part, thanked Tehran’s assistance to the Iraqi people and hoped for greater cooperation between the two neighboring states.

TEHRAN, May 16--Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Safar Abiyev said on Monday his country has not allowed Iran’s enemies to set up any military base.
The Azeri minister made the remarks after meeting his Iranian counterpart Vice Admiral Ali Shamkhani where the two ministers signed a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation, IRNA reported.
Abiyev stressed that the Republic of Azerbaijan is an independent country and has not ceded any military base to Iran’s enemies.
On Iran’s defense capabilities, he said the country has made remarkable breakthroughs in defense industries.
“We have witnessed production of modern and sophisticated weapons during the visit,“ he said, noting that Iran produces sophisticated military weapons such as high-tech electronic devices.
Commenting on the defense MoU, he said expansion of defense cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan would lessen regional tension.
“The MoU enables Azerbaijan to continue military cooperation with Iran. The two countries enjoy all-out cooperation which will lead to restoration of peace in the region,“ he said.
Abiyev denied the deployment of NATO forces to protect oil pipelines in Azerbaijan and said the Azeri forces are taking care of security in such areas.
Shamkhani, for his part, said the MoU will broaden the scope of cooperation in defense, research and training between the two countries and the context of the MoU is not against any third country.
Meanwhile, President Mohammad Khatami offered assurance to its neighbors, saying they do not need to fear a “powerful Iran“.
In a meeting with Abiyev, Khatami said Iran does not want progress for initiating aggression and “history has shown that we have never been an aggressor“.
Khatami described the presence of foreign troops as “a threat to the security and peace of regional countries and an affront to them“, in an apparent reference to mushrooming US military bases in the former Soviet republics.
Azeri defense minister and his entourage left Tehran early Monday.