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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

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One of the good and, God willing, auspicious events

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is the coincidence of this meeting with the birth anniversary of Hazrat Samen ol-A’emmeh [the Eighth Shia Imam (PBUH)].

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I hope, God willing, all of us would be able to avail ourselves of the blessings of that purified and lofty soul.

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One of the greatest honors for our country and

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[one of the greatest] advantages of our country is the existence of that pure mausoleum.

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The more we could endeavor toward exaltation of that lofty position and the more we attract people’s hearts toward it,

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it would be certainly in our spiritual favor and in favor of our country.

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Now, assume that Mr. Akhoundi [minister of road and transportation] could, for example,

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think about the issue of the road [that leads] there and the express train and the likes of these, [so that] he would work [to implement these projects and]

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people would be able to travel there in a shorter interval [of time];

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these are among those things that, God willing, can be source of blessing for the administration.

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We commemorate the memory of dear martyrs, Martyr [Mohammad Ali] Rajaei and Martyr [Mohammad Javad] Bahonar.

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Well, the Government Week has been marked since many years ago;

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it is a tradition that [this week] would be an opportunity for the perseverant officials of the Administration

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to report on their efforts, on their achievements,

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[and to report] on their determination for the coming year or the next few years,

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so that, they would be praised and the works that have been done would be commended and appreciated by [other] officials

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[and] by people, and possibly a note could be given [to ministers] or, for example,

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removal of a certain shortcoming would be demanded; this is the purpose of the Government Week;

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however, the noteworthy point is that the Government Week is like an Eid [a festive occasion] for the Administration;

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that is, it marks annual recurrence of a certain occasion – and this is what Eid means –

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and a time for talking and telling and such things.

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The occasion that has been assigned to this week is one of the most painful memories in the country;

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that is, the martyrdom of two prominent loved ones such as Martyr Bahonar and Martyr Rajaei.

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Now, this year [this occasion] happens to coincide with the Dignity Week,

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but usually, this week is reminiscent of the disastrous demise of these two great personalities.

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I believe that the divine philosophy that flew through the hearts and tongues of officials

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and this incident took place and this occasion occurred at this time

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is because Martyr Rajaei and Martyr Bahonar would not be forgotten

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and would remain before our eyes as two indices [and] two measures.

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Well, these two being [considered] as indices cannot be said to be [simply] due to their powerful management or,

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for example, assume [that it was] because of their abilities and innovations; [this is true] because these two dear ones’ time in office did not take long;

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[the tenure] of the late Bahonar was very short, [and] for the late Rajaei [his time in office] was a few months – [it was] about for example assume a year.

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[Also,] they being [considered as] measure is due to their behavioral as well as their personal and their moral characteristics.

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This [is one of those points that] we must always bear in mind.

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Well, the time changes;

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the diverse current of cultures and values and the likes of these comes [and] goes – this is the nature of time –

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[and] alterations take place in minds [and] in thoughts, but there are some unchanging principles,

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which these principles must be always taken into consideration.

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For us, the officials in the sacred establishment of the Islamic Republic,

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these unchanging principles can be sought and found in personalities of these two dear and revered men.

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Well, I was intimate with them, especially with the late Bahonar for many years,

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[and I was] also the same with the late Rajaei; from before the [Islamic] Revolution up to the time of responsibilities [in government offices] and in the Majlis [parliament] and outside the Majlis;

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they really had characteristics which we must never forget.

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In my opinion, their faith in this path, in these goals,

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the goals that Imam [Khomeini] delineated and the Islamic Republic stands for those goals,

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is a very important index;

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their devotion, [and] the spirit of serving [the nation] that existed in these [two men],

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who really worked [incessantly] day and night and worked to be of service [to their country].

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[One of their characteristics was] the spirit of being with people and sincerity with people, contact with people,

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listening to what people said up-close;

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[and] opening ways – well, due to having [official] responsibility, we face certain restrictions,

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[and] face some limitations – which could be used as a passage to come to grips with the reality of people’s life.

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I have told Mr. President several times that these provincial tours are very good.

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This is one of those very positive things to do; [and] I always recommended the previous administrations to do this;

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this is one of the ways [to contact people]; going into people’s homes, visiting the homes of [families of] martyrs

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– which thank God, this has become somehow common and is a good step –

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[and finding] a way to make different [types of] contacts with people; these are very important.

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These steps maintain and keep up the spirit of popularity and [the spirit] of knowing people [in person].

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When this [spirit] does not exist, one will ignore the society and will always look to generalities;

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like a person who is crossing over a city in an airplane;

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yes [in this state] one sees the general outline of the city better than the one who is on the ground,

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but [when it comes to] what is going on inside these allies, inside these streets, inside [people’s] homes,

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inside shops, [and] who refers to them,

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these can be understood by the person who goes and walks in these allies;

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now even to the same limited extent that is possible; being with people is very important.

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They did not use the posts they had for their personal gains; this is one of the important points.

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it should not be such that we think now that we have [an official] responsibility,

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[we can] use this as a means of securing our future;

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as is common among officials in many of the world countries

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and use this as a means of being

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member of a given company’s board of directors in the future, [or] have a share in a sensitive financial center.

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Commitment to the fundaments of the revolution and the likes of these; these were [among salient] characteristics of these two personalities;

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we must take these [characteristics] into account and adapt ourselves to them.

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One of the features of officials’ behavior is that it builds culture in the society;

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that is, the way we walk, the way we talk,

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the way we live, people with whom we socialize, [and] people whom we alienate,

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this builds culture in the society.

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Therefore, the work that you are doing, the service that you are providing – in any sector that is –

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if as it is expected and, thank God,

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to a large extent [this expectation] has been met in many sectors,

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it is accompanied with devotion, with a lot of work, [and] with concern,

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in addition to the impact that this work itself will have on the external reality,

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it will also produce a long-term effect and that [effect] is this very culture building.

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People look at us [and] look at you;

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our behaviors, [and] our conducts shape the public culture of people.

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Therefore, we commemorate the memory of these two good and dear and well-destined brethren

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and we hope that, God willing, all of us would be treading this very path.

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I deem it necessary to thank the esteemed members of the Cabinet, especially the esteemed president,

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and appreciate the efforts that you make.

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Today’s reports were good reports

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and it would be very good if these reports were published, [so that] people would hear from you.

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I ask Mr. Sarafraz to broadcast these reports with the voice of these gentlemen;

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that is, people would be told by Mr. Nematzadeh, by Mr. Zanganeh, by Mr. Chitchian, [and] by other brethren

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about those steps that have been taken. This is very good.

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That is, people should be reassured that [their] brethren [in the Administration] are working, are endeavoring, and all [of them] are busy.

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Well, positive steps have been taken, however, it must be always in the minds of all of us

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that [we must] express that thing that when people look at the reality of their life,

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they would confirm it; that is, they would see that it is true in reality.

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When Mr. Dr. Hashemi had started implementing this health plan for a while,

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I intentionally asked certain people;

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from my friends and some people among the general public – [including my] relatives, friends, sometimes during my trips to Mashhad, and in other places –

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[and] I saw that people felt this [change], that is, they said ‘yes, we, for example, went to a hospital and it was like this’;

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well, this is very good. Some works [that are done] are out of the reach of people

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and these [works] are not seen by people, [but] they will see their secondary effects.

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However, there are certain works that are accessible to people;

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such things should be discussed.

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What now I am telling you [is that] relative calm and relative stability is tangible with regard to the economic issue;

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this [issue] has been reported by everybody, [and] reports are sent to me from different places, [which] say this [state of economic stability] exists.

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This is an achievement that sharp fluctuations have been curbed

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and do not exist in the field of economy [anymore], which well, care must be taken to maintain this [achievement].

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The issue of reducing the inflation [rate] is very good.

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Of course, I am not satisfied with [even] this amount of inflation that exists now; I mean, a two-digit inflation.

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Now, Mr. President noted that

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the inflation has reached, for example, thirteen-odd [percent]

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– which of course, the main criterion is the annual inflation; point-to-point inflation [rate] is not very significant,

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[and] is not an important issue; the most important is this very annual inflation

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– well, there are few countries in the world that have two-digit inflation; [they] are very few

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and we are among those countries that have two-digit inflation.

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We must achieve an inflation [rate] of less than 10 percent; I mean, our resolve should be [to achieve] this [goal];

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we must endeavor to achieve this [goal].

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Now sometimes due to complications – complications that are out of control and sometimes [even] controllable complications –

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inflation goes up. Well, it is clear that this [high inflation rate] will not last

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and those high inflations have never continued [for a long time];

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at last, they pull these [high inflation rates] to a lower level and, thank God, you have done this;

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you have been able [to do this]; however, do not stop at this amount; bring the inflation [even lower].

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But, well, [the current situation] is good. [The fact] that it has, for the time being, fallen to 13-14 percent, is a great step.

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The effort that is being made to get [the economy] out of stagnation

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– of course, as for the stagnation, I have something to say,

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[and] I have told certain points to Mr. President in our one-on-one talks

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– that at any rate, you are making an effort to get [the economy] out of stagnation, [and] this is very important

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because the issue of stagnation can both affect the inflation,

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and can affect the employment as well; [therefore,] the issue of stagnation in the country is an important issue.

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A good effort is being made [to end stagnation].

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The issue of health is one of the positive points [of the Administration’s performance].

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Scientific steps that are being taken at the scientific department [of President’s Office] are among valuable steps.

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The issue of irrigation of lands, which the respectable first vice president has been also active in this regard,

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and I think you [have gone to] Khuzestan and Ilam and Zabol yourself.

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(You didn’t go to Zabol? Well, then you must certainly go to Zabol; it is a good thing that you said this.)

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These are certainly good steps that have been taken.

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This is also true about the nuclear issue.

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Well, I have so far talked a lot about the nuclear issue,

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[and] have said and heard a lot of things

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and the important point is that [our] officials could finish these negotiations,

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because after all, the prolongation of the negotiations was itself a problem

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and they could solve this problem; well, this was a very important thing to do.

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Now, God willing, if there is a problem on its sidelines,

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it would be solved through the foresight of you and other officials.

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At any rate, I thank all brethren and sisters who are working [for their country].

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There is one point in my mind about this nuclear issue

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and the termination of the nuclear issue, which is among my worries,

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[and] is among my concerns and [that point] is that we

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must be watchful about those goals that the outright enemies of the Islamic Republic

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are cooking up in their minds and the steps they want to take.

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There is no doubt that the hostilities of the enemies of the Islamic Republic have not been reduced from the outset of the revolution up to the present time;

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yes, there are some places where hostilities and implementation of animosity is reined in – there is no doubt about this –

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but this does not mean that the hostilities have lessened.

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I believe that the hostility of the faked and usurping Zionist regime

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or the government of the United States of America toward us has not diminished an iota since the outset [of the revolution] up to now;

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of course, each one for a specific reason; the Zionist regime is our enemy for one reason,

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[and] Americans for another reason; however, they are also averse to us [and] are our enemy to the same degree [as the Zionist regime]

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and that hostility has not decreased;

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the same steps that they took on the first day of the revolution, they are taking right now;

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however, well, the steps have been altered, [and] their working methods have changed; have become more advanced;

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once they showed their hostility and dealt blow [to us] in one way, now they [try to deal a blow] with another tool , [and] through another means;

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this [point] should not be forgotten.

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All different officials – as this is not special to Foreign Ministry and [Foreign Minister] Mr. Dr. [Mohammad Javad] Zarif;

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various organs, [including] economic organs [and] cultural organs – must absolutely pay attention to this point

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that we must not fall into the predesigned plot of the enemy and do not play [in enemy’s plot],

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that a given decision that we make, whether in the field of politics, or in the field of economy,

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or in the field of trade, or in the field of culture,

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would help that predetermined package of the enemy, which is for [the benefit of] themselves.

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We, from their own words and from their own writings and from their diverse remarks, can find out about their [main] purposes;

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that is, when I am saying hostility, it is neither [out of] divine revelation,

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nor a dream, nor [the result of] delusions and imagination; no, [these] are realities that are before our eyes.

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Perhaps, their remarks are different [from their actions] but external realities – what is tangible and evident –

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is demonstrative of hostility and is indicative of hostility;

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however, [that hostility is shown] through its own special ways.

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Now, what we must do in the face of this enemy, is a different issue,

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[but we must] not forget the hostility; this is what I [am trying to] say.

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When you don’t forget that a front is facing you,

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[and that enemies] are sitting behind a bunker, [and] have prepared their weapons,

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then [you act upon] exigency; once you may look [and see that] you have to shoot

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[or] you have to remain silent, [or] you have to go inside the bunker

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[or] you have to get out of the bunker; these are later concerns;

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the important point is that you don’t forget that there is a front opposite to us

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– an enemy front – which is bent on hostility.

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Of course, this is not just addressed to state officials,

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[but] all people, especially those elements who are concerned about the revolution

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and those who are ready to serve the revolution, must pay attention to this;

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however, the responsibility of state officials is, naturally, heavier in this regard and more than other [people who are] faithful to the revolution.

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In my opinion, what we must do for the time being is that

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we must be explicit in adopting revolutionary positions; that is, we must not be shy [in this regard].

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[We must] express revolutionary positions, [and] the fundamental ideas of the reverend Imam [Khomeini] outspokenly,

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[and] don’t be ashamed, don’t be shy, don’t be afraid, and know that [as put by the Quran]

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“To Allah belong the armies of the heavens and the earth and Allah is the Almighty and the Wise.”

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All potentialities in the world and traditions in the world are divine forces;

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one can have those divine forces behind them and get their help

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by putting their trust in God, [and] by treading the path of God.

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And we must be vigilant. A few days ago, I said in my speech

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that these [enemies] are bent on infiltration, [and] are bent on penetrating [the ranks of the nation];

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this penetration may be carried out in various places; be careful.

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Once one is told that, [for example] assume that a given organization has come

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and is guiding part of our cultural complex

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– for example, our nurseries – in a special way.

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One understands this and when he gets closer, he sees that a dangerous step and a major step is being taken [but] he has not been paying attention.

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These [steps] are [examples of] penetration; in various fields, in economic fields,

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during visits, in all organs; one [important point] is this issue of candor.

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Another [point] is to maintain this solidarity that fortunately exists among people.

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When I say solidarity, it must not immediately occur to one’s mind that now all people in the society

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are, for example, like brothers or are sincere [with one another]; no, the movement [that shows solidarity] is a public movement.

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Assume that in demonstrations [that are held to mark victory of the Islamic Revolution] on the 22nd of [the Iranian month of] Bahman, when you look round,

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everybody is moving in the same direction; are all these [people] alike?

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Do all of them belong to one [political] faction? Are all of them from a single group? No, but the direction is the same;

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we must appreciate and safeguard this single direction and we must attach importance to it.

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[Attention to] marginal issues must be avoided, [because] some marginal issues cause division;

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that is, they disrupt this unity in direction; [we] must be careful about this issue.

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I have written down a few points as the priorities at this juncture [of time], which I present here.

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Of course, fortunately, in today’s report of [these] gentlemen, there were points that

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were related to these points that I have put down here, but I say [these points] for more emphasis.

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Some of these remarks are repetitive, but repetition is not a problem;

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there are certain cases in which the more you repeat [a point], it would be no problem.

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You just see in the Quran how many times the story of Moses has been repeated.

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There is no problem in this;

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it is a reminder that makes us remember our responsibilities and bolsters our motivations.

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One point is about maintaining the pace of scientific [progress in the country].

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Well, [Iran's] scientific ranking has been maintained; I mean it has not fallen.

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We are still on the 15th and 16th rank that we were

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– which is a very high and good ranking – but the pace has slowed down.

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I have told this to my academic friends as well, and I say that

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don’t let the pace of scientific progress to slow down in the second decade of the [20-Year] Vision Plan

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– now we have entered the second decade of the Vision Plan.

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If we continue to move along at the same pace,

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our scientific ranking will certainly become more valuable and more important;

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that is, we may even rank below 10; this, in my opinion, is a very important issue.

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Well, science is the main infrastructure of the country.

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In all these issues that [these] gentlemen said here,

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if in industry, in agriculture, in oil [industry], in energy [sector],

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in health and treatment, and in other sectors, we enter the element of science

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and if the element of science and scientific innovation and scientific progress and presence of scientists

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enter the equations, the situation would be totally different; rapid growth would take place;

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we must not underestimate this; this is what I believe in.

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I believe that in the field of science and research activity, any cost that we undertake would be [a form of] investment.

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I mean, we must not be afraid of paying such costs at all.

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There are certain places when the costs are really not wasted; one of those places is this.

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The more cost we pay, we have [actually] made investment for the future

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and this is the best thing that we can do with our funds, with our money, [and] with our resources.

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Then a basic point that existed

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in this first decade – which fortunately according to global statistics,

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we started scientific progress and reached this point

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– is that the scientific movement turned into a discourse;

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that is the work did not remain limited to a few state-run organs;

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that is, it turned into a general discourse among universities and students.

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During meetings that I have had with academic organs

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in this past few years,

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[I] observed that they come and talk – either as a professor or a student –

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and as their demand from me, they said the same things

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that I had said, for example, a few years earlier in academic gatherings;

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I become very happy [when this happens]. It shows that these remarks have turned into a discourse,

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have turned into a public space and public demand; this is very valuable.

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Let’s maintain this discourse; that is, I insist that related organs

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– the academic organs, the Education [Ministry] and especially this scientific department [of the President’s Office],

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whose [officials] are apparently not here today – must certainly persist in this regard,

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that is, for maintaining this discourse.

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Emphasis must be put on knowledge-based companies – which now a report was given [on these companies] and it was good –;

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commercialization of science and technologies, establishment of science and technology parks,

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and the likes of these are very necessary and good steps [to be taken].

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Look! One of our economic problems is the issue of employment;

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one of the best ways to create jobs is these science and technology parks

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and entering students in [the field of] technologies that can generate wealth.

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If some help is provided to these [students], if they are guided [correctly],

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[and if] a practical and operational – real – work is offered to them, these [students] will start to work.

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the idea that every [university] graduate

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must come and turn into a civil servant in a state-run organ and the likes of that,

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and we keep lamenting that the number of graduates is too high [and] we don’t have enough room [and] enough facilities [for them],

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from my viewpoint, this is a very wrong attitude. The right attitude is for us to clear the way;

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this [issue] must be thought through; that is, plans must be made

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so that the way would be clear for our students during the period they study

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– for example, assume that at the university, or for example, assume that during postgraduate studies;

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that is when [the student] gains high-level scientific knowledge

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– so that they could come and do scientific work in some place;

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and [there are] really endless number of jobs.

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I believe that jobs that are related to science are endless.

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The more [educated] persons we have, we can provide them with scientific jobs,

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provided that we sit down and work [on this issue]. [So,] one issue is the issue of science.

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Another issue is the issue of culture.

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Well, those friends that are here, and especially the country’s cultural officials

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and the esteemed Mr. President himself, are aware of my sensitivity about the issue of culture.

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Sometimes cultural problems have barred me from going to sleep at night;

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[I have been sleepless] for the sake of cultural problems; that is, importance of cultural issues is like this.

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There are two basic and main steps that must be taken;

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one is [production of] healthy cultural products in different fields,

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and [another] one is to prevent harmful production and, as they say, harmful cultural product and commodity;

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I believe that this is among basic steps [to be taken].

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All over the world, care is taken about cultural products and book and the likes of these;

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where in the world such a concern does not exist? Just show me a place.

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This Ms. Ebtekar is present here;

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she told me that the book she had written was not allowed to be published in the United States;

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no publisher accepted [to publish it]; - not that the publisher is so biased [as not to print a book];

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no; if a book is a bestseller, every publisher would do this;

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[but they did not publish it] out of fear and due to surveillance [by the government] until at last in Canada, for example, assume that she found a publisher and that publisher [accepted her book]

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with fear and apprehension. [I don’t know whether that publisher published the book or not]

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because she told me these details a few years ago, perhaps I don’t remember the [entire] details.

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You must say this so that these gentlemen would know and understand that this is not true that if we bar a book [from being published],

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it is only Mr. Jannati [minister of culture] who does this;

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no, this is also done in America, [and] this is also done in Europe.

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Nobody dares to talk about the Holocaust;

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well, Holocaust is not an ideological issue.

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Yes, when it comes to publishing insulting cartoons against the religious sanctities of Islam,

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there they become freedom-seekers and supporters of the freedom of expression!

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However, when it comes to the Holocaust, no, there is no freedom of expression.

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The same is true about the issue of hejab; [and] it is also the same about other issues.

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Yes, every country has certain principles and those principles must be safeguarded

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and state organs must observe these principles; [there must be] no compromise on this.

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If you see that a given theatrical play, a given movie, a given book, [or] a given periodical

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is at odds with the fundaments of the revolution and the fundaments of Islam, ban it and take action against it.

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Now, how to take action against it is a different issue,

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[and] it is [an issue] related to the [state-run] organs and [you must] look and see what your regulations say;

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however, do not be shy and say this clearly.

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So, [promoting] healthy cultural product and preventing unhealthy and harmful cultural product is the basis of the work [in this field].

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It is by no means permissible to leave culture on its own.

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Management of culture is a very necessary step

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and management must be based on the revolution’s slogans and the fundaments of the revolution;

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that is, it must be noted that what is important is that

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the fundaments of the revolution and the fundaments of the independence of Imam [Khomeini]’s country and the likes of these must be protected.

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This is the second point, which is among the priorities that in my opinion [must be on top of our agenda] at this juncture [of time].

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The third priority, which is more extant and available [than other priorities] is the issue of economy;

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well, fortunately, Mr. Jahangiri has arranged today’s session

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in such a way that it mostly pertained to economic issues.

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Today, economy is important both for the country in terms of [determining] the country’s fate, and [in terms of] real progress of the country;

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[economy] is also important in terms of the external image of the country;

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[and] is important from the viewpoint of realities of people’s life.

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Therefore, the issue of economy is in fact the basic priority of the country

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and any amount of thinking, work, effort, and admonition related to this issue would be deserving.

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Firstly about the economy, we believe that the economic progress of the country must be accompanied with justice;

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we do not accept an economy without justice; that is, the revolution does not accept this;

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the Islamic Republic Establishment does not accept this.

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You must be careful not to allow class divide to be created; the poor must not be downtrodden;

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these are among basic issues in our macroeconomic plans,

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which I will point out the [issue] of Resistance Economy later;

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this very issue of justice and meeting the minimum needs [of people] has been foreseen in the policies related to the Resistance Economy.

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In my opinion, turning effort and work into a discourse in public sphere

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is one of the basic steps to be taken in the field of economy;

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we must try to denounce laziness, idleness, [and] carelessness about working

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a valuable work among our daily works,

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which must be [done on a] large scale and its reduction is a major flaw;

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laziness, idleness, [and] carelessness about working must be denounced in the eyes of people in a correct way;

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that is, idleness must be denounced; working must become a value.

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In [Islamic] traditions we see that the Reverend Prophet (PBUH) saw a young man;

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he liked that young man, [and] called him [and] for example asked what his name was,

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and] then said, ‘what is your job?’ he said, ‘I am jobless;  [I have no job’;

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the Prophet said: ‘[He] fell out of favor [with me]’; that is, working is like this.

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The Prophet is not shy with anybody. This must become a norm.

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of course, both sides must demand from each other;

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he who is jobless, demands [work] and says ‘give me work [to do]’;

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[and] the side that wants work [to be done] is also demanding and says, ‘try to find a job’;

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there is an intermediate solution, which I may point out in my remarks.

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After all, we must do publicity about encouraging [people] to work, encouraging creation of value and generation of wealth in the country;

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both the state officials must say this

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and those who in magazines, in newspapers and the likes of these have verbal and written tribunes,

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[must] take advantage of this opportunity and give voice to these issues.

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This is one point with regard to the issue of working.

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Another issue is to set up right channels for job [creation].

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This is [just] a saying, is [just] a word, but is a really great and important step to take;

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channels for job [creation] must be set up.

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When one is talking about work and employment and encourages [people to work]

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– as I said before – the opposite side says, ‘well sir, I am jobless, what am I supposed to do?’

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We must show people ways of looking for work.

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A few days ago, I watched a program on the television , which was a good program;

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they had prepared a reportage. One person goes there and says

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‘I have been able to create this job with 10 million tomans, whose income is this much’.

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It is about [growing] flowers; he says, ‘I produce flowers’.

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Then he points out and says, ‘Those who are willing to do this job,

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there are governmental plots of land in that place and that place, which will be made available to them;

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go and, for example, grow flowers’.

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00:39:14,050 --> 00:39:19,420
I remember economic officials at a time

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before your administration had come [to me] and [discussed] that with what amount of money a job could be created;

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00:39:25,050 --> 00:39:29,600
they talked about 100 million [tomans] and for some jobs, 500 million [tomans] and things like that!

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Well, a job can be created with 10 million [tomans]. Now this is just one example.

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00:39:35,020 --> 00:39:40,280
Another example, which happened to be [shown] on this very television was another program;

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it was [about] a lady who made things and said,

383
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‘I could earn this job by investing 20 million [tomans]’.

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Well, it is clear that capacities are too high.

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I was in another session in this place with officials; they said that our [economic] growth must be high.

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I said the growth [rate] in some advanced European countries

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is often two, one, [or] one and a half [percent];

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the reason is that capacities have been filled;

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just, for example, assume a country like China which had growth [figures] of 10, 11, [or] 12 percent,

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[but] now its growth has fallen because its capacities have been filled;

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many capacities have been filled and [growth figure] will further fall;

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our capacities are still very high.

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Therefore, those friends who had problem with the 8-percent growth [that has been set as target] in the Sixth [Economic Development] Plan,

394
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the answer that was given to them by experts and specialist people was that

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we can [achieve that target] and it conforms to the realities of the country;

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just in the same way that Mr. President said here today.

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Therefore, one of the issues is to set up channels so that we could see how [new] job [can be created].

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Now, which state-run sector is responsible for this?

399
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Mr. Rabiei [minister of labor] always says that ‘the issue of employment and the likes of that are not my responsibility’

400
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and relieves himself [of this responsibility],

401
00:41:37,510 --> 00:41:43,400
but after all, one of the [state-run] sectors, either you or the [State Management and] Planning Organization is [responsible for job creation].

402
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Of course, the Ministry of Economy, in one sense in some places is really responsible;

403
00:41:55,020 --> 00:42:01,220
[however,] that I consider the Ministry of Economy as responsible [for job creation] is not incompatible with me being sincerely yours as well!

404
00:42:02,510 --> 00:42:08,370
There are things that are related to the Ministry of Economy or banking [sector], which I will also address Mr. Seif [governor of the Central Bank of Iran] as well!

405
00:42:10,540 --> 00:42:18,540
One issue about the economy, one on which I emphasize and insist,

406
00:42:18,850 --> 00:42:22,450
is the issue of serious management of foreign trade;

407
00:42:23,620 --> 00:42:27,140
foreign trade is a very important issue.

408
00:42:27,680 --> 00:42:35,420
During long years, foreigners had gotten used to an attitude with regard to trade

409
00:42:36,600 --> 00:42:41,280
about countries like our country that

410
00:42:41,680 --> 00:42:49,200
there are raw materials here [and] they [can] come and take the raw materials and create added value for themselves;

411
00:42:49,420 --> 00:42:52,450
[these countries] also have a market and a demand that [enabled foreigners] to bring [commodities here].

412
00:42:52,740 --> 00:43:02,080
Before the revolution, the ruling system had accepted this;

413
00:43:02,850 --> 00:43:08,820
once, in some place, I came across a Majlis deputy of that time quite by chance,

414
00:43:09,110 --> 00:43:11,480
[and] he clearly told me that this is a very good thing!

415
00:43:11,740 --> 00:43:12,820
[He said,] ‘Essentially this is very good that we give money

416
00:43:13,170 --> 00:43:19,020
and Europeans, like servants come, produce commodities for us and bring [them here]’.

417
00:43:19,140 --> 00:43:21,880
That is, they really had a logic to do so;

418
00:43:22,400 --> 00:43:26,910
a kind of foolish and silly logic that was taking the country in this direction.

419
00:43:27,600 --> 00:43:33,420
We today – that is, after the revolution – have a different approach;

420
00:43:33,600 --> 00:43:41,450
we believe that no; very well, part of our markets can belong to foreign producer,

421
00:43:41,600 --> 00:43:46,110
but part of the markets of the same foreign producer must belong to us;

422
00:43:46,420 --> 00:43:55,510
that is, a kind of equitable exchange and give-and-take must happen here; well, this is a very important issue.

423
00:43:57,220 --> 00:44:04,200
Then with regard to the issue of imports, Mr. Nematzadeh [minister of industry, mine and trade] pointed [to this issue],

424
00:44:04,370 --> 00:44:12,970
which of course, one feels ashamed; four ministries have been assigned to Mr. Nematzadeh!

425
00:44:13,110 --> 00:44:21,480
In fact, there were four ministries here: industry, heavy industries, mines and commerce.

426
00:44:21,850 --> 00:44:28,970
One of the strange measures, which for me it was not clear to the end

427
00:44:29,340 --> 00:44:36,200
why this step was taken, was merging the Ministry of Commerce with the Ministry of Industries and Mines;

428
00:44:36,400 --> 00:44:38,710
that is, this [problem] has not really been solved for me.

429
00:44:38,820 --> 00:44:43,220
The same day that they were doing this, it was not clear to me why they were doing this.

430
00:44:43,420 --> 00:44:49,340
Well, officials at the Majlis and the Administration had considered this [necessary] and did it.

431
00:44:49,910 --> 00:44:56,280
It is indeed a difficult task, [and] I understand that he has a difficult [job to do],

432
00:44:56,400 --> 00:45:00,340
but at any rate, he has to do this; that is, among very important issues,

433
00:45:00,800 --> 00:45:04,110
is the issue of management of foreign trade;

434
00:45:04,820 --> 00:45:12,020
this [is important] because this [country] must not be merely a market for foreign products,

435
00:45:12,020 --> 00:45:17,740
which the car market, this given market, [and] that given market would be entirely given to them.

436
00:45:18,020 --> 00:45:22,200
Worse than these is the issue of banks.

437
00:45:22,400 --> 00:45:28,310
Another [issue] is the issue of the Resistance Economy. Well, this year, is the second year of the Resistance Economy;

438
00:45:29,140 --> 00:45:37,080
that is last year – the [Iranian calendar] year 1393 (2014-2015) – was the beginning of the implementation of the Resistance Economy policies.

439
00:45:37,820 --> 00:45:40,170
Administration officials also gave me some reports,

440
00:45:40,170 --> 00:45:44,420
which I personally and orally thanked Mr. Jahangiri

441
00:45:44,420 --> 00:45:52,450
when he notified to 15 organs that they must take these steps, [and] fulfill these duties.

442
00:45:52,710 --> 00:45:55,020
Then they sent a detailed report,

443
00:45:55,400 --> 00:46:01,570
which of course, they summarized that report for me and I read all of it; and went through it.

444
00:46:02,540 --> 00:46:10,110
Steps that have been taken in the field of Resistance Economy, some of them are preliminary measures;

445
00:46:11,170 --> 00:46:15,110
now, it would take time and time will pass if I wanted to bring examples;

446
00:46:16,650 --> 00:46:23,620
some of the measures that have been reported are not related to articles of the Resistance Economy

447
00:46:23,620 --> 00:46:26,910
[and] of course, they have been now linked [to the Resistance Economy], but they are among current affairs of the [executive] organs;

448
00:46:28,110 --> 00:46:34,200
after all, [executive] organs have some current affairs and they have reported these to you that ‘we have taken these steps’;

449
00:46:34,910 --> 00:46:42,200
these have been mentioned among the records of [executive] organs with regard to the Resistance Economy;

450
00:46:42,400 --> 00:46:51,850
while this is not the case. Some of the steps [that have been taken] are not related to articles of the Resistance Economy at all.

451
00:46:52,050 --> 00:46:53,450
This amount [of work that has been done] is not enough.

452
00:46:54,420 --> 00:47:00,280
The policies of the Resistance Economy constitute a complete and integrated package;

453
00:47:02,310 --> 00:47:07,600
this package is not the product of my personal thought;

454
00:47:08,400 --> 00:47:12,020
this is [the product of] collective wisdom. A group has sat down;

455
00:47:12,020 --> 00:47:18,340
the economist friends, who are present in this meeting, some of them know and are informed [about this].

456
00:47:19,370 --> 00:47:21,910
An in-depth work has been done on this,

457
00:47:22,170 --> 00:47:27,650
then it has come here, has been hammered out, has been discussed through, [well] thought, [and] studied;

458
00:47:27,650 --> 00:47:32,050
then it has been sent to the [State] Expediency Council and has been discussed [there];

459
00:47:32,220 --> 00:47:34,650
[and] at last, the [final] result has become these policies.

460
00:47:34,650 --> 00:47:41,400
That is, they are the product of a rational and foresighted process;

461
00:47:41,680 --> 00:47:45,000
this is why everybody has confirmed the Resistance Economy;

462
00:47:45,110 --> 00:47:48,910
that is, I do not know of a single case in which any of economists

463
00:47:48,910 --> 00:47:52,020
and of those people who are good to us, and those who are [even] against us,

464
00:47:52,540 --> 00:47:58,310
to have criticized this Resistance Economy, [and] these policies; no, they have all accepted [these policies].

465
00:47:58,510 --> 00:48:03,480
Well, this is an integrated package, [and] must be implemented in toto.

466
00:48:03,600 --> 00:48:05,370
How can it be implemented in toto?

467
00:48:05,820 --> 00:48:13,480
When a so-called integrated executive and operational plan is presented for it;

468
00:48:14,080 --> 00:48:17,710
which this was something that I told Mr. Dr. Rouhani a while ago

469
00:48:17,820 --> 00:48:23,480
and it was decided that he should tell officials to formulate; [I hope] God willing, they would present this [plan, because] this is necessary;

470
00:48:24,110 --> 00:48:26,710
I mean we need an operational plan;

471
00:48:27,220 --> 00:48:30,420
this plan, must clarify share of [various] organs

472
00:48:30,820 --> 00:48:37,110
[and stipulate] that this is the share of that given organ from the articles of the [Resistance Economy] policies.

473
00:48:38,200 --> 00:48:43,220
Then a time must be set; time is very important; a timetable must be prepared

474
00:48:43,370 --> 00:48:47,570
[so] it would be clear that [the share of each organ] must be implemented by this set time; otherwise, in the absence of a timetable;

475
00:48:48,740 --> 00:48:54,680
there would be no guarantee that this [plan] would be even implemented under your administration.

476
00:48:54,910 --> 00:48:58,740
You want to make this operational, want to execute this [plan],

477
00:48:58,940 --> 00:49:02,200
[and] want people to take advantage of its benefits; so, you [must] set a timetable [for its implementation].

478
00:49:03,850 --> 00:49:10,740
Firstly, necessary practical steps [that must be taken] with regard to every article must be made clear;

479
00:49:10,740 --> 00:49:13,880
[and] implementers, those organs that would be in charge [must] be determined,

480
00:49:14,200 --> 00:49:17,620
[and] in each sector necessary timetable must be set,

481
00:49:17,880 --> 00:49:22,880
[and] necessary facilities and the way to provide those facilities must be clarified.

482
00:49:23,140 --> 00:49:29,650
After all, these policies represent a practical and field activity;

483
00:49:30,680 --> 00:49:35,940
when you offer a solution, in fact, you intend to create a field activity;

484
00:49:36,170 --> 00:49:40,400
this has requirements; what are its requirements? How [these requirements] can be met?

485
00:49:40,570 --> 00:49:43,940
The [best] way to meet those requirements must be determined.

486
00:49:45,420 --> 00:49:48,770
Then, if these steps were taken, you could start monitoring,

487
00:49:49,050 --> 00:49:52,370
[and] you could follow up [on the implementation of the plan] to see if it has been [implemented] or not;

488
00:49:52,600 --> 00:49:57,620
[and to see if] a given organ has done its task or not. [In this way] the work will be done.

489
00:50:00,280 --> 00:50:06,200
The second point about the Resistance Economy is that

490
00:50:06,420 --> 00:50:10,340
all the economic programs of the Administration must

491
00:50:11,400 --> 00:50:16,650
be included in this collection of the Resistance Economy and in these policies;

492
00:50:17,170 --> 00:50:20,250
even the Sixth [Economic Development] Plan and the annual plans and budgets,

493
00:50:20,770 --> 00:50:24,050
all of them must be formulated on the basis of this Resistance Economy;

494
00:50:24,220 --> 00:50:28,370
that is, none of these [plans] in any sector

495
00:50:28,820 --> 00:50:33,020
must be at odds with these policies; not only that they must not be at odds,

496
00:50:33,170 --> 00:50:37,020
but must also totally conform to these policies [of the Resistance Economy].

497
00:50:37,680 --> 00:50:42,710
Another point is that [economic] sectors [that are] outside the Administration must be taken into account;

498
00:50:44,110 --> 00:50:53,310
now, you may notify [the Resistance Economy’s policies] to ministries and state-run sectors

499
00:50:53,540 --> 00:50:55,740
[but] there are sectors outside the Administration;

500
00:50:55,940 --> 00:50:59,620
these [sectors] can play a role in [the implementation of] the Resistance Economy,

501
00:51:00,140 --> 00:51:05,140
including Basij; I [also] saw a report [in this regard]. In my opinion, it is very necessary

502
00:51:05,740 --> 00:51:13,220
– if Mr. President has time, or at least, Mr. Jahangiri –

503
00:51:13,680 --> 00:51:20,570
to ask and see what steps can be taken by the organ of Basij

504
00:51:20,570 --> 00:51:25,340
with regard to the resistance economy and what capacity they have; [this] is a very good capacity.

505
00:51:25,480 --> 00:51:28,200
Basij is not insignificant, [and it] is not a small thing;

506
00:51:28,740 --> 00:51:33,020
Basij is a huge and ready-to-work organ;

507
00:51:33,340 --> 00:51:36,170
invite these [Basijis to your sessions] and see what steps they can take.

508
00:51:36,170 --> 00:51:40,850
They come and present their potentialities and say ‘we have taken these steps’.

509
00:51:42,970 --> 00:51:47,620
In my opinion [there are good] potentialities. Now, I brought Basij as an example;

510
00:51:47,970 --> 00:51:49,740
there are various sectors,

511
00:51:50,110 --> 00:51:58,850
economists and the so-called economic activists outside [the Administration];

512
00:51:58,940 --> 00:52:00,770
there are some people who have companies and do [certain] works;

513
00:52:00,850 --> 00:52:07,450
their capacities can be taken advantage of. And all these [possibilities] must be included in that general plan;

514
00:52:07,710 --> 00:52:12,480
that is, the general plan must not be simply focused on the state-run sectors.

515
00:52:12,940 --> 00:52:19,050
Therefore, the first step was to formulate this plan with these specifications.

516
00:52:19,170 --> 00:52:28,510
The next step is to form a powerful and smart and influential headquarters.

517
00:52:28,740 --> 00:52:33,450
Of course, I know that Mr. President has formed a council,

518
00:52:33,570 --> 00:52:35,940
[and] he himself takes part [in its sessions]. This is a very good step;

519
00:52:36,200 --> 00:52:38,400
however, this is not the command headquarters [that I mean].

520
00:52:39,510 --> 00:52:44,000
Well, Mr. President has many other works to do

521
00:52:44,420 --> 00:52:49,650
to which he must also attend, [and he] cannot spend all [his] time and effort on this.

522
00:52:50,140 --> 00:52:54,080
A headquarters is needed – like command headquarters

523
00:52:54,370 --> 00:53:00,710
that we had during the war and other command headquarters have been established for other works

524
00:53:00,910 --> 00:53:05,370
which you, Mr. Rouhani, have experience in this regard

525
00:53:06,250 --> 00:53:11,600
– a command headquarters is needed to incessantly monitor,

526
00:53:11,770 --> 00:53:17,850
look and see which organ has been able and moved ahead, [and] where a problem exists.

527
00:53:17,970 --> 00:53:24,140
Because talking is very easy, [and] planning is also not very difficult,

528
00:53:24,650 --> 00:53:26,850
[but] taking practical steps is different from all this;

529
00:53:27,570 --> 00:53:30,220
well, when one wants to enter the arena and advance,

530
00:53:30,370 --> 00:53:33,850
sometimes he faces certain obstacles, which have not been predicted before;

531
00:53:34,420 --> 00:53:37,510
some [of the obstacles] may have been predicted, but there are obstacles that just come in your way;

532
00:53:37,770 --> 00:53:43,110
that headquarters must be able to remove those obstacles in an urgent manner,

533
00:53:43,200 --> 00:53:51,000
open the way, and move ahead; and [it] must be also influential. That is, [other organs] must listen [to what it orders];

534
00:53:51,000 --> 00:53:55,770
it must not be like this that, for example, Mr. Jahangiri frequently said today that [everybody must talk] for five minutes,

535
00:53:55,940 --> 00:54:01,770
but these gentlemen increased those five minutes to, for example, seven minutes and ten minutes;

536
00:54:01,850 --> 00:54:08,140
whatever that headquarters says, everybody must really comply with.

537
00:54:09,820 --> 00:54:13,020
Then the amount of progress made must be reported to people;

538
00:54:13,140 --> 00:54:15,680
[you do this and] see what would happen in reality!

539
00:54:16,140 --> 00:54:20,620
For six months, you, for example assume, [work] in this way that I said,

540
00:54:20,800 --> 00:54:26,220
[that is,] when this plan is formulated, this headquarters should be established and work for six months;

541
00:54:27,000 --> 00:54:31,340
[then you would see that] the work would progress considerably; then come and say that to people;

542
00:54:31,570 --> 00:54:35,850
tell them that ‘we have taken these steps, [and we have] taken those steps; people would feel this in their life;

543
00:54:36,110 --> 00:54:41,850
[and] that hope and optimism toward future that you want to remain in people

544
00:54:41,940 --> 00:54:43,770
would be totally realized;

545
00:54:43,910 --> 00:54:48,940
I mean [what is done] must be reported to people

546
00:54:50,140 --> 00:54:54,620
and [of course] there must be certain indices for the assessment.

547
00:54:54,850 --> 00:55:03,820
There are a series of legislative, legal, and judicial requirements with regard to the Resistance Economy;

548
00:55:03,940 --> 00:55:06,310
the other two powers are ready to cooperate,

549
00:55:07,110 --> 00:55:12,050
both the legislative power – the Majlis – is ready to cooperate in this regard;

550
00:55:12,400 --> 00:55:16,970
[for example,] there is a law and you have to change or amend that law

551
00:55:17,680 --> 00:55:23,650
or add a new law to these [existing] laws; you would need such things;

552
00:55:24,510 --> 00:55:27,600
or sometimes a judicial measure is needed;

553
00:55:28,050 --> 00:55:34,940
the other two powers are ready to cooperate with regard to all these measures in order for the [policies of the] Resistance Economy to be implemented.

554
00:55:35,340 --> 00:55:38,800
Reference was made to the issue of stagnation;

555
00:55:39,170 --> 00:55:43,600
well, this three-percent [economic] growth that has taken place

556
00:55:43,600 --> 00:55:51,650
shows that stagnation has changed; that is, a move has been made;

557
00:55:51,940 --> 00:55:54,940
now, [we] must see in which sectors this growth has taken place,

558
00:55:55,170 --> 00:56:02,650
[and] in which sectors it is negative; the result of these positive and negative figures has added up to three percent.

559
00:56:03,680 --> 00:56:08,080
If stagnation is not seriously tackled,

560
00:56:08,370 --> 00:56:13,540
even this three-percent growth would be in jeopardy.

561
00:56:14,620 --> 00:56:18,080
The inflation would also increase [and] there would be the unemployment problem as well.

562
00:56:18,340 --> 00:56:23,280
Now, let me say here that if Mr. Nematzadeh wants to follow up [on this issue],

563
00:56:23,910 --> 00:56:28,510
[he must pay attention to] the number of factories that are not operating now

564
00:56:28,970 --> 00:56:32,740
– that is, a factory for which everything is ready and it is not operating –;

565
00:56:33,000 --> 00:56:38,770
[they] have come and reported to me [about such factories]; [they have given] an accurate number and figure;

566
00:56:40,050 --> 00:56:45,480
they have determined the number of factories that are operating under 50 percent [of their nominal capacity];

567
00:56:46,680 --> 00:56:51,140
[and also] determined the number of factories that are operating under 70 percent [of their nominal capacity].

568
00:56:52,250 --> 00:57:00,280
Well, now 70-percent is somehow acceptable, but under 50-percent [is not acceptable]!

569
00:57:00,910 --> 00:57:06,110
Some of these [factories] have problem with liquidity; that is, there is problem with their circulating capital

570
00:57:06,110 --> 00:57:10,140
– which this is a task for banks [and] banks must be accountable in this regard;

571
00:57:10,310 --> 00:57:16,620
that if in Resistance Economy the aforesaid basic workshop and command headquarters is launched,

572
00:57:16,770 --> 00:57:24,020
it could address all these [problems] – however, the problem with some of these [factories] is not the lack of liquidity,

573
00:57:24,680 --> 00:57:29,420
they have even obtained [bank] facilities, [and] the factory is now ready and prepared;

574
00:57:30,000 --> 00:57:33,570
there is no problem [and as for] machinery, as they have said [to me]

575
00:57:33,620 --> 00:57:37,940
machinery [installed at some of these factories] are new machinery, but they are not operating;

576
00:57:38,000 --> 00:57:40,880
why? Because they have spent facilities [that they have taken from banks] somewhere else;

577
00:57:41,250 --> 00:57:45,940
well, this needs judicial prosecution; these [cases] must be followed up; [and] you must summon such people.

578
00:57:46,080 --> 00:57:49,250
This is why I say a command headquarters [is needed].

579
00:57:49,400 --> 00:57:53,340
Such issues [and] such points will be followed up [by that headquarters].

580
00:57:53,420 --> 00:57:57,110
If the issue of stagnation is not addressed,

581
00:57:57,510 --> 00:58:06,880
it will affect all economic signs and indices.

582
00:58:06,880 --> 00:58:10,340
Of course, this recent law – the law to which you pointed – is a good law,

583
00:58:10,600 --> 00:58:13,110
but law [alone] is not adequate.

584
00:58:13,850 --> 00:58:19,450
Supporting production firms, supplying [necessary] liquidity, provision of circulating capital,

585
00:58:20,140 --> 00:58:25,310
[and] dealing seriously with those people who have mothballed production units,

586
00:58:26,340 --> 00:58:28,820
all of these are necessary steps.

587
00:58:29,110 --> 00:58:36,370
And in the previous session – a session I had with the officials – I said, [and] I emphasize here

588
00:58:37,310 --> 00:58:47,140
[that] the banking system must play its role; that is, the banking system must enter the arena with full force.

589
00:58:47,540 --> 00:58:52,170
One of the steps they have proposed [is that] they have told me and keep telling me that the way is paved

590
00:58:52,480 --> 00:58:57,480
[and the solution] is to assign some projects to the private sector.

591
00:58:57,850 --> 00:58:59,910
Of course, incentives must be provided to the private sector

592
00:59:00,200 --> 00:59:04,800
because there is hot money [in the country] right now, [and] there is no doubt that hot money does exist.

593
00:59:05,480 --> 00:59:09,970
As they have reported to me,

594
00:59:10,110 --> 00:59:14,570
we have 400,000-billion-toman worth of mothballed projects

595
00:59:17,400 --> 00:59:18,970
– all of which are related to the government –

596
00:59:19,310 --> 00:59:27,080
[and] if we could assign only 10 percent of these [projects] to the private sector,

597
00:59:27,080 --> 00:59:28,600
you see what would happen;

598
00:59:29,280 --> 00:59:34,680
40,000 billion tomans [of capital] would become operational suddenly [and] this is very important.

599
00:59:34,850 --> 00:59:39,680
I mean, out of these projects that are currently mothballed – that is, out of these 400,000 billion tomans –

600
00:59:39,940 --> 00:59:45,000
if 10 percent is assigned to the private sector, an important development will take place in the country.

601
00:59:45,280 --> 00:59:50,970
This is one of those steps for which plans must be made and work must be done.

602
00:59:51,110 --> 00:59:53,050
The agriculture sector is also very important.

603
00:59:53,050 --> 00:59:59,540
Of course, I believe that [Agriculture Minister] Mr. Hojjati can really work.

604
00:59:59,540 --> 01:00:07,540
In my opinion, he is among ministers with good track records in his work and can really do this;

605
01:00:07,970 --> 01:00:15,400
however, what I expect from him and his organ

606
01:00:15,600 --> 01:00:19,170
is to achieve self-sufficiency in production of vital products;

607
01:00:19,740 --> 01:00:24,020
that is, [when it comes to] self-sufficiency, do not pay attention to [aimless] talk and gossip [you hear] from this or that [person]

608
01:00:24,020 --> 01:00:28,740
that ‘wheat is less expensive outside [of Iran]’ and the likes of that. We must achieve self-sufficiency;

609
01:00:28,880 --> 01:00:36,740
[and] we must achieve self-sufficiency with regard to vital products.

610
01:00:37,170 --> 01:00:40,480
Agriculture engineers must be taken advantage of.

611
01:00:40,850 --> 01:00:50,370
Once I told Mr. Rouhani that I had traveled to one of the provinces – I think it was [during my] trip to Hamedan Province –

612
01:00:51,110 --> 01:00:56,310
[and] there, officials who went [to various places] and examined [the situation], informed me that

613
01:00:56,480 --> 01:01:03,800
agriculture was very prosperous in various parts of that province;

614
01:01:03,800 --> 01:01:08,770
[when] they asked [about the reason], it became clear that young agriculture engineers had been hired there

615
01:01:09,310 --> 01:01:11,740
and that province, fortunately, had many [of such engineers].

616
01:01:12,340 --> 01:01:16,140
[The engineers] had gone there and helped these [people] and [people] had listened to them.

617
01:01:16,540 --> 01:01:19,540
This [issue] helps this [step to be taken]. This needs planning;

618
01:01:20,050 --> 01:01:24,140
[and] it is not very difficult either; [it] needs a [public] call, needs identification [of available potentialities],

619
01:01:24,280 --> 01:01:26,880
needs planning, [and] needs division [of labor]

620
01:01:27,280 --> 01:01:32,050
and these steps you can take in order for these [agriculture engineers] to be taken advantage of.

621
01:01:32,420 --> 01:01:36,480
[Another issue is to take advantage of] modern technology; this very issue of water that they pointed out

622
01:01:36,480 --> 01:01:41,000
– [that is,] distribution of water and, as they say, optimal use of water – is very important.

623
01:01:41,400 --> 01:01:44,480
Preventing imports [is also important]; look, I once again emphasize.

624
01:01:44,620 --> 01:01:49,110
Now you would say ‘we have blocked imports’, but there are fruits in the market that [are imported].

625
01:01:50,050 --> 01:01:56,540
From where Iran can fetch fruits that would be better than our own fruit?

626
01:01:57,880 --> 01:02:05,480
Once when I was the president, a person from an Arab country – whose name I don’t mention – had come [to visit me and]

627
01:02:05,710 --> 01:02:11,740
as souvenir, he had brought me a very exquisite package of dates.

628
01:02:13,020 --> 01:02:17,250
I said ‘this is a clear example of carrying coals to Newcastle’.

629
01:02:17,650 --> 01:02:22,940
We have all these dates [in our country] – these high-quality dates, [and] these various dates in south of the country,

630
01:02:22,940 --> 01:02:29,620
both in Fars province, and in Khuzestan and Baluchestan [provinces]

631
01:02:31,000 --> 01:02:34,110
– now, he has brought me dates; but in a package.

632
01:02:34,110 --> 01:02:39,880
Right at that time, I took it to the Cabinet [session and]

633
01:02:40,340 --> 01:02:44,680
said, ‘compare these dates to our dates!

634
01:02:45,250 --> 01:02:48,450
Our dates are better than these, but how beautiful is this packaging’.

635
01:02:49,020 --> 01:02:55,080
At that time, our dates were [packed] in some kind of bags, [or] were kicked into mats,

636
01:02:55,170 --> 01:02:58,650
[then they] tied its top and presented it [to the market]! Now, of course, [conditions] are slightly better.

637
01:03:17,340 --> 01:03:20,650
At any rate, fruit imports are unnecessary imports.

638
01:03:21,170 --> 01:03:26,050
A basic problem, which is mostly [related to] Ministry of Agriculture

639
01:03:26,200 --> 01:03:30,480
– but is not limited to Ministry of Agriculture – is to focus on villages.

640
01:03:31,050 --> 01:03:37,050
I mean this must be really made one of the basic sections of state planning;

641
01:03:37,280 --> 01:03:39,370
we must focus on villages.

642
01:03:39,820 --> 01:03:45,740
I have talked a lot about this in different years, but this has not happened in practice.

643
01:03:46,910 --> 01:03:52,450
We must take conversion industries to villages, [and take them] to some cities.

644
01:03:52,540 --> 01:03:59,480
I saw in [the city of] Urumiyeh that apples were strewn around on the ground! They said ‘this is worth nothing.

645
01:03:59,620 --> 01:04:08,080
The money we pay workers is much more than the money that we earn by selling these apples,

646
01:04:08,880 --> 01:04:12,940
or peaches, [or] apricots, [or] grapes’. Well, conversion industries are needed there.

647
01:04:13,170 --> 01:04:18,220
In many various places in the country, we have such fruits which at times

648
01:04:18,420 --> 01:04:22,820
it is not profitable for the owner of the garden to collect these fruits.

649
01:04:23,280 --> 01:04:27,050
If we have conversion industries [there], [and] if we have drier [facility],

650
01:04:27,850 --> 01:04:32,280
[and] we can take advantage of these [industries] there, we must do this.

651
01:04:32,850 --> 01:04:37,340
And there are extraordinary capacities [in this regard]; it is really extraordinary.

652
01:04:38,140 --> 01:04:42,650
I saw a tomato in [the city of] Iranshahr which was as big as a small melon!

653
01:04:44,510 --> 01:04:47,600
It was not just one [tomato]; basically tomatoes [grown there were this size].

654
01:04:48,200 --> 01:04:58,250
There was a garden between Bampour and Iranshahr – when I was in exile there –

655
01:04:59,140 --> 01:05:03,050
[and] they invited me and brought me a tomato, [which was] as big as a small melon!

656
01:05:04,050 --> 01:05:07,250
[They] brought me an onion [which was] as big as my fist!

657
01:05:07,510 --> 01:05:10,340
I remember that I took the onion in my hand,

658
01:05:10,910 --> 01:05:13,820
[and] said I want to measure this; I can say [that]

659
01:05:13,970 --> 01:05:14,800
it was as big as this [fist of mine];

660
01:05:15,020 --> 01:05:18,200
I could not wrap my fingers round it, when I took that onion in my hand.

661
01:05:18,620 --> 01:05:21,620
I mean, it was this big! Well, we have all these.

662
01:05:22,820 --> 01:05:28,000
Such potentialities [exist] in many places across the country.

663
01:05:28,420 --> 01:05:32,770
If we attach importance to rural industries, if we attach importance to villages,

664
01:05:32,770 --> 01:05:35,220
if we attach importance to these orchardists,

665
01:05:36,710 --> 01:05:44,370
this would be the best service to villages and to our poor [people] in villages and in other places.

666
01:05:44,650 --> 01:05:50,620
I have also written some notes on the mineral sector here, but the time has passed

667
01:05:51,200 --> 01:05:54,570
– [and] let’s not put too much pressure on Mr. Nematzadeh!

668
01:05:56,000 --> 01:05:59,200
What has been reported to me [is that]

669
01:05:59,770 --> 01:06:05,540
we are [currently] extracting at most 15 percent of the country’s mineral capacity;

670
01:06:07,110 --> 01:06:16,740
[just] 15 percent! We must replace mines with oil; that is, we must be really able [to do this].

671
01:06:16,740 --> 01:06:23,020
Many years ago – maybe 20 years ago – I said [this to] the Cabinet at that time.

672
01:06:23,110 --> 01:06:26,200
We must do something that whenever we wanted,

673
01:06:26,600 --> 01:06:28,940
we would put a cap on our oil wells;

674
01:06:29,770 --> 01:06:35,540
[we must] neither be afraid of shortage of customer, nor be afraid of not having markets,

675
01:06:35,680 --> 01:06:41,280
nor be afraid of not having oil money; we must reach such a point.

676
01:06:42,970 --> 01:06:48,480
Well, we must really start to think; [because] we must [find a] substitute for oil.

677
01:06:48,620 --> 01:06:50,850
You see at what situation the oil [market] is

678
01:06:51,480 --> 01:06:58,110
[at the moment]! Just a gesture by [world] powers and evil elements in the region  [who are] in collusion [with each other]

679
01:06:58,110 --> 01:07:01,600
will cause the oil [price] to suddenly fall from 100 dollars [per barrel] to 40 dollars!

680
01:07:02,200 --> 01:07:06,880
How many months did it take from the time [that global oil price] started to fall from 100 dollars [per barrel] up to now?

681
01:07:07,800 --> 01:07:09,940
Well, this [commodity] cannot be trusted;

682
01:07:10,200 --> 01:07:15,310
one cannot [consider] this as part of the economic fate of the country

683
01:07:15,540 --> 01:07:19,680
and [a source for] the livelihood of a country and connect it to such a thing.

684
01:07:21,770 --> 01:07:26,170
Oil belongs to us, [however,] it is both controlled by others,

685
01:07:26,940 --> 01:07:29,450
and most of its revenue belongs to others.

686
01:07:29,570 --> 01:07:33,280
More than the advantage that we take of oil exports,

687
01:07:33,280 --> 01:07:38,480
that oil importing government in Europe or elsewhere takes advantage [of it],

688
01:07:38,600 --> 01:07:42,570
which is levying tax [on oil imports] and levies other [duties]. We are giving our oil to get money,

689
01:07:42,970 --> 01:07:46,820
[but] it takes the oil from us and [also] takes money from its own people.

690
01:07:47,080 --> 01:07:50,650
Those governments are more benefited by oil sales than our government.

691
01:07:51,000 --> 01:07:54,710
What kind of loss-ridden deal is this?

692
01:07:55,710 --> 01:07:59,540
Well, of course, in some cases we have to produce oil, [because] we have no [other] choice.

693
01:07:59,540 --> 01:08:02,200
However, I am not happy from the bottom of my heart

694
01:08:02,310 --> 01:08:10,200
when I [hear] the statistics of increased [oil] exports and increased [oil] production;

695
01:08:10,680 --> 01:08:17,540
I always think that we must find a substitute for this.

696
01:08:18,510 --> 01:08:25,310
Therefore, if we wanted to find a substitute, one of the best substitutes is mines.

697
01:08:26,110 --> 01:08:30,970
Then [when it comes to] mines, sale of raw mineral [materials] must be seriously avoided.

698
01:08:31,420 --> 01:08:35,970
We have valuable mines.

699
01:08:36,340 --> 01:08:41,650
In Kerman Province or in south of Khorasan [Province], there are very valuable stones.

700
01:08:41,650 --> 01:08:45,570
[That] we suddenly extract this stone just as it is, send it to Italy

701
01:08:45,850 --> 01:08:51,570
so that they would then convert it [to a more valuable product] and avail themselves of its added value [on a scale] of tens times [higher],

702
01:08:51,770 --> 01:09:00,080
[and] perhaps send them back to us and export [the processed stone] to our country,

703
01:09:00,480 --> 01:09:07,800
[it will cause] one to feel really exasperated that such a thing could happen. Therefore, this is also a problem.

704
01:09:09,310 --> 01:09:14,110
And in my opinion, in the case of mines, the issue of the private sector is also important.

705
01:09:14,510 --> 01:09:18,450
And in provinces, as they have reported to me,

706
01:09:18,450 --> 01:09:24,050
governors general and people of this sort say that they can get the private sector involved

707
01:09:24,400 --> 01:09:27,450
in the case of mines and in some other places.

708
01:09:27,570 --> 01:09:31,200
The issue of water, which I have jotted down, is very important.

709
01:09:31,370 --> 01:09:36,740
The point [referred to] by Mr. Chitchian [minister of energy] is totally correct. Reduced level of underground water is really important.

710
01:09:37,280 --> 01:09:42,050
This plan that now you say you have made, is not enough

711
01:09:42,250 --> 01:09:45,450
– [because] planning is only 50 percent of the work or less –

712
01:09:46,020 --> 01:09:49,140
[and you] have to move after [making] this plan, [and] start to work.

713
01:09:49,200 --> 01:09:52,970
Of course, you are the one to do this, thank God.

714
01:09:53,480 --> 01:10:00,220
[In addition to] saving water, correcting irrigation [methods], and cultivation model in every region [are also necessary].

715
01:10:00,570 --> 01:10:04,510
The last word is about the Sixth [Economic Development] Plan, which is getting late.

716
01:10:05,370 --> 01:10:10,910
You must, God willing, prepare the Sixth Plan as soon as possible,

717
01:10:11,020 --> 01:10:15,820
as I said, in total conformity to [the principles of] the Resistance Economy,

718
01:10:16,220 --> 01:10:18,600
and submit it to the Majlis sooner

719
01:10:18,770 --> 01:10:30,970
because, in my opinion, it must be approved this year; that is this step must be taken as soon as possible.

720
01:10:31,140 --> 01:10:35,770
Bring the Majlis into this, [and] into the middle of the arena as well,

721
01:10:35,910 --> 01:10:41,650
so that, our friends in the Majlis will come and seriously follow up [on this plan]. God willing, you would be able [to do that].

722
01:10:42,880 --> 01:10:46,220
The Almighty may, God willing, help you.

723
01:10:47,140 --> 01:10:53,000
“He is the one who sent down tranquility into the hearts of the believers so that they would add [more] faith to their [present] faith;”

724
01:10:53,820 --> 01:10:58,000
may God bestow tranquility on the hearts of all of you and us,

725
01:10:58,450 --> 01:11:07,850
which this tranquility and serenity would be the opposite of this so-called storminess

726
01:11:08,110 --> 01:11:14,510
and turbulence of minds and thoughts, and this causes one’s faith to be increased:  [as put by the Quran],

727
01:11:14,570 --> 01:11:17,080
"so that they would add [more] faith to their [present] faith;”

728
01:11:17,480 --> 01:11:18,770
that is that tranquility [will lead to stronger faith]

729
01:11:18,970 --> 01:11:22,850
The tranquility comes from the divine power, then the Almighty says in the Quran:

730
01:11:22,940 --> 01:11:27,680
“And to Allah belong the soldiers of the Heavens and the Earth, and Allah is All-Knowing and Wise.”

731
01:11:27,940 --> 01:11:33,420
The Almighty may, God willing, help you. I, well, like always pray for you.

732
01:11:34,310 --> 01:11:40,820
And working for people, working for God, working with devotion,

733
01:11:41,710 --> 01:11:45,880
God willing, should be on the agenda of all of us

734
01:11:46,140 --> 01:11:49,370
and the Almighty God would, God willing, bestow His blessing and accept [our efforts.]

735
01:11:50,140 --> 01:11:53,110
Peace be unto you and so may the mercy of Allah and His blessings.