Palestine Most Important Issue of Islamic World: Leader
September 16, 1999 - 0:0
TEHRAN -- Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said here Wednesday that the question of Palestine remains to be the most important issue of the Islamic world. "The enemies of Islam are trying to put the Palestinian land and nation into oblivion before the world public opinion. With deep regret, a humiliated and debased group submits to the usurper Zionist government and its main backer, the U.S. in return for winning a false and superficial sovereignty over a very limited part of Palestine. But they are all ignorant of the fact that Palestine continues to exist in the history and that the Palestinian nation, by relying on Islam and their brave and wise children, will eventually win sovereignty over their historical land," Ayatollah Khamenei stated.
The Leader made the remarks at a meeting with a group of commanders of the Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps (IRGC) in Tehran. Underlining the need for Muslims, particularly in the Arab world, to be vigilant against the schemes of the enemies of Palestine, the Leader noted: "The enemies intend to deviate the thoughts of the nations and officials in the Arab-Islamic countries from the question of Palestine and draw their attention to false matters." The Leader said despite hostile attempts and propaganda campaign by the enemies, the Iranian nation will continue to safeguard the Islamic Revolution as a God-given blessing and will vigorously proceed in the road to prosperity.
Pointing to the significance of historical records, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said the brave nation of Iran would not forget the past. On establishment of the IRGC, the Leader recalled the necessities of the time and the obligations to protect the Islamic Revolution the causes for which the IRGC was established. "In the early days of the Islamic Revolution, different kinds of opposition were made to stop formation of the IRGC, but, the IRGC was established by the young faithfuls with reliance on God. The IRGC grew up in line with its objectives by passing through very sensitive periods," Ayatollah Khamenei said.
The Leader said the IRGC and all the institutions formed to serve the lofty goals of the Islamic Revolution would continue rendering services to the country. Ayatollah Khamenei said any hostility to the Islamic Revolution is in fact standing against the IRGC and all the forces and talents who are at the service of Islam and the Islamic Revolution. The Leader also referred to the propaganda aimed at misportraying the concept of revolution and said contrary to certain propaganda, the revolution is not illusive or a matter of subjectivity, rather it is a popular movement which the Iranian nation has embarked on to attain progress and prosperity.
The Iranian nation expects the Islamic Revolution to bring about development, welfare and dignity morally and materially and put an end to dominance of external forces and their ominous impacts. But, our enemies are following up their plots and are working to gradually misportray the bright identity of the Islamic Revolution as an ordinary and negative concept, the Leader added. Ayatollah Khamenei said the concept of revolution is something very negative for the domineering powers, but very sacred for the Iranian nation as only way for salvation.
Therefore, the Iranian nation will go ahead in the same direction it has taken in the name of God and of course it will reach its goals. Prior to the Leader's remarks, representative of the Leader at the IRGC Ayatollah Movahedi Kermani and IRGC Commander Brigadier-General Yahya Rahim Safavi expressed the IRGC's resolve to protect the Islamic Revolution and the Iranian nation.
Meanwhile, President Mohammad Khatami said here on Wednesday that policy of detente does not mean abandoning principles, rather it means moving towards convergence based on national interests and those of the Muslim world. Addressing the 12th nationwide gathering of the commanders and officials of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), President Khatami said that policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran at global and regional levels are based on three principles of dignity, wisdom and interest and that's a fundamental policy.
''The region is in need of calm,'' said President Khatami adding: ''Regional states should make progress and remain independent and realization of this goal will be impossible in absence of a safe environment,'' said the Iranian chief executive. Khatami, also head of the Supreme National Security Council, said regional states can secure and guarantee peace, security and development with no recourse to foreign powers.
He said regional security has an impact on security of the entire world. He said presence of foreign forces in the region is a source of tension, adding that the goal of foreign forces in coming to the region is to set up military and economic bases and test new weapons at regional nations' expense in line with their own interests.
He added that Iran's policy of detente in the region means relying on common grounds, mutual respect and insuring growth and development of regional states without intervention of foreign forces. The powerful armed forces are backbone of the policy of detente, said Khatami, adding that the standard bearer of the detente slogan should be prepared to confront any tension. Underlining the importance of vigilance vis-a-vis the conspiracies by the enemies of the Islamic Revolution, Khatami said that the policy of detente should be based on existence of powerful military and scientific capability as well as strong management.
''Iran's military cost is several times less than that of regional states, revealing the fact that the Islamic Republic of Iran is not after strengthening itself to invade other countries,'' stressed the president. Hailing the role of the Islamic Republic army during the sacred defense era (1980-88) and in period of reconstruction, President Khatami said that Iranian army used to be one of the most dependent armies worldwide during the former regime but thanks to the Islamic Revolution it has turned into one of the most independent armies both at the regional and global levels today.
''The IRGC is the most popular revolutionary institution, therefore, the dignity of the IRGC should be preserved as a revolutionary value,'' announced President Khatami. The Islamic Republic armed forces are powerful and symbol of national interests, stressed the president. Elsewhere in his remarks, President Khatami referred to insistence of the late Imam Khomeini and the constitution of the Islamic Republic that the armed forces should not enter any political organizations.
"This does not mean that the IRGC, army and revolutionary forces should not think and have a single choice,'' added the president. ''We do not want ''instrumental'' armed forces working with a blind eye; differences of tastes too should not have any effect on military arrangement of armed forces,'' stressed Khatami. Calling difference of opinion and tastes as ''natural'', President Khatami said: ''In our system there are borders and limits that should not be violated.
A powerful society is not the one, wherein there is no difference of opinion; rather it is a society, which has definite goals, interests and values and all bow to them.'' (IRNA)
The Leader made the remarks at a meeting with a group of commanders of the Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps (IRGC) in Tehran. Underlining the need for Muslims, particularly in the Arab world, to be vigilant against the schemes of the enemies of Palestine, the Leader noted: "The enemies intend to deviate the thoughts of the nations and officials in the Arab-Islamic countries from the question of Palestine and draw their attention to false matters." The Leader said despite hostile attempts and propaganda campaign by the enemies, the Iranian nation will continue to safeguard the Islamic Revolution as a God-given blessing and will vigorously proceed in the road to prosperity.
Pointing to the significance of historical records, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said the brave nation of Iran would not forget the past. On establishment of the IRGC, the Leader recalled the necessities of the time and the obligations to protect the Islamic Revolution the causes for which the IRGC was established. "In the early days of the Islamic Revolution, different kinds of opposition were made to stop formation of the IRGC, but, the IRGC was established by the young faithfuls with reliance on God. The IRGC grew up in line with its objectives by passing through very sensitive periods," Ayatollah Khamenei said.
The Leader said the IRGC and all the institutions formed to serve the lofty goals of the Islamic Revolution would continue rendering services to the country. Ayatollah Khamenei said any hostility to the Islamic Revolution is in fact standing against the IRGC and all the forces and talents who are at the service of Islam and the Islamic Revolution. The Leader also referred to the propaganda aimed at misportraying the concept of revolution and said contrary to certain propaganda, the revolution is not illusive or a matter of subjectivity, rather it is a popular movement which the Iranian nation has embarked on to attain progress and prosperity.
The Iranian nation expects the Islamic Revolution to bring about development, welfare and dignity morally and materially and put an end to dominance of external forces and their ominous impacts. But, our enemies are following up their plots and are working to gradually misportray the bright identity of the Islamic Revolution as an ordinary and negative concept, the Leader added. Ayatollah Khamenei said the concept of revolution is something very negative for the domineering powers, but very sacred for the Iranian nation as only way for salvation.
Therefore, the Iranian nation will go ahead in the same direction it has taken in the name of God and of course it will reach its goals. Prior to the Leader's remarks, representative of the Leader at the IRGC Ayatollah Movahedi Kermani and IRGC Commander Brigadier-General Yahya Rahim Safavi expressed the IRGC's resolve to protect the Islamic Revolution and the Iranian nation.
Meanwhile, President Mohammad Khatami said here on Wednesday that policy of detente does not mean abandoning principles, rather it means moving towards convergence based on national interests and those of the Muslim world. Addressing the 12th nationwide gathering of the commanders and officials of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), President Khatami said that policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran at global and regional levels are based on three principles of dignity, wisdom and interest and that's a fundamental policy.
''The region is in need of calm,'' said President Khatami adding: ''Regional states should make progress and remain independent and realization of this goal will be impossible in absence of a safe environment,'' said the Iranian chief executive. Khatami, also head of the Supreme National Security Council, said regional states can secure and guarantee peace, security and development with no recourse to foreign powers.
He said regional security has an impact on security of the entire world. He said presence of foreign forces in the region is a source of tension, adding that the goal of foreign forces in coming to the region is to set up military and economic bases and test new weapons at regional nations' expense in line with their own interests.
He added that Iran's policy of detente in the region means relying on common grounds, mutual respect and insuring growth and development of regional states without intervention of foreign forces. The powerful armed forces are backbone of the policy of detente, said Khatami, adding that the standard bearer of the detente slogan should be prepared to confront any tension. Underlining the importance of vigilance vis-a-vis the conspiracies by the enemies of the Islamic Revolution, Khatami said that the policy of detente should be based on existence of powerful military and scientific capability as well as strong management.
''Iran's military cost is several times less than that of regional states, revealing the fact that the Islamic Republic of Iran is not after strengthening itself to invade other countries,'' stressed the president. Hailing the role of the Islamic Republic army during the sacred defense era (1980-88) and in period of reconstruction, President Khatami said that Iranian army used to be one of the most dependent armies worldwide during the former regime but thanks to the Islamic Revolution it has turned into one of the most independent armies both at the regional and global levels today.
''The IRGC is the most popular revolutionary institution, therefore, the dignity of the IRGC should be preserved as a revolutionary value,'' announced President Khatami. The Islamic Republic armed forces are powerful and symbol of national interests, stressed the president. Elsewhere in his remarks, President Khatami referred to insistence of the late Imam Khomeini and the constitution of the Islamic Republic that the armed forces should not enter any political organizations.
"This does not mean that the IRGC, army and revolutionary forces should not think and have a single choice,'' added the president. ''We do not want ''instrumental'' armed forces working with a blind eye; differences of tastes too should not have any effect on military arrangement of armed forces,'' stressed Khatami. Calling difference of opinion and tastes as ''natural'', President Khatami said: ''In our system there are borders and limits that should not be violated.
A powerful society is not the one, wherein there is no difference of opinion; rather it is a society, which has definite goals, interests and values and all bow to them.'' (IRNA)