Statements of the Supreme Leader in Meeting with the President and Members of the Government on the Occasion of Government Week

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

First of all, I congratulate you, dear members of the government and Mr. Khatami - the respected and esteemed President - on the occasion of Government Week, which not only commemorates the martyrdom of the beloved martyrs of the Iranian nation - Martyr Rajai and Martyr Bahonar - but also serves as an opportunity for the Iranian nation to become familiar with the activities of the government over the course of a year. I ask the Almighty God to grant success to you, dear brothers and sisters, who are sincere, devoted, and eager to fulfill your duties on this path you have taken.

As Mr. Khatami mentioned, the selection of this week and this occasion for the government is meaningful, and its meaning is that this government is built upon the solid and steadfast foundations of sacrifice, devotion, and sincerity. The dear Iranian nation has witnessed such personalities in the service of their country throughout the tumultuous history of the revolution. There have been passionate, selfless, and sincere individuals who, disregarding personal achievements, have served in this glorious revolution's history; both at the head of the government - like these two great men - and in other sectors, such as Martyr 'Iraqi,' whose memory is also recalled during these days, and Martyr 'Lajevardi,' who was martyred yesterday. This great man was of the same kind as Martyr Rajai and those self-sacrificing individuals; both before and after the revolution. These are lessons for us. This is a current that, thanks be to God, today the Islamic Republic and its officials continue to follow.

Dear brothers and sisters! What makes our work easier is that our goal is the exaltation of the word of God. Each of you, wherever you are, aims to elevate the word of God. When we manage to bring a country, a system, and a vast populace to prosperity within the framework of divine commandments and values, and bring them closer to their desired state, both spiritually, intellectually, morally, and materially, this is a movement towards the exaltation of the word of God. The purpose of the prophets' missions and their great struggles throughout history has been the same.

Today it is our turn, and the field of sacrifice is open before us. Everyone must strive, work hard, endure pressures, and bear hardships so that we can present a correct model of a nation's life and the administration of a country to the world. The goal is to lead the people to Islamic prosperity and to what Islam desires for them, and to present this model before the eyes of humanity; fortunately, it is also an attractive model.

Despite the propaganda of the enemies, who have spoken, written, and campaigned against the Islamic system and the Islamic way of governance and its goals and objectives since the beginning of the revolution until today, thanks be to God, the Islamic method and the Islamic system - which is embodied in our Islamic society - remains an attractive model in the eyes of the world. If we look beyond the propaganda, we will see that the people of the world still have love for it. Of course, those who are informed about the affairs and are less affected by the negative propaganda and feel the hardships of the ignorant system still consider this system and this model as desirable. We must do everything we can to clarify and illuminate it.

Thanks be to God, during this short period of the current government's existence, much effort has been made, and I advise the respected brothers and officials to keep the people informed about the work being done. Promises that are fulfilled should be communicated to the people. The steps you take towards your goals should be made known to the people. Many things are being done, and many advancements are being made that the people are unaware of, and sometimes the enemy exaggerates the weaknesses. Today, the enemy's greatest effort is focused on creating a weakness that does not exist, and if it does exist, to exaggerate it in order to sever the bond that the people have with the Islamic system. Your efforts in your work and your communication with the people can prevent this.

I advise the brothers and sisters: perform your work with sincerity and for the sake of God; because your work is for the administration of an Islamic country, and this is what the Almighty God recognizes as the greatest acts of worship. Truly, if you calculate the highest individual acts of worship, they do not compare to the effort one makes to administer a country in an Islamic manner. This is superior to all individual efforts - if done with sincerity. If there is sincerity and it is for God - as we mentioned - this work is a great opportunity for you and is greater than all individual acts of worship. However, if it is not for God and lacks sincerity, it will not only lack reward but will also not lead to progress.

Brothers and sisters! Strive in all your planning and efforts with the intention of seeking God's pleasure. This will guide us. When we decide and will in this manner, we will naturally avoid some mistakes that arise from our own behavior. Thanks be to God, good work has been done in domestic matters, including the economic organization plan that Mr. Khatami referred to. This should be taken beyond a written document and a decision, and the practical paths should be specified with strength and complete faith in the necessity and duty of this work. Of course, there may be individuals in society - whether experts or others - who have different economic opinions. We have no objection to anyone having a contrary opinion; however, everyone is obliged to cooperate to ensure this work is accomplished. This decision-making must be a genuine and long-term decision, and what has been declared as policy in this context must be realized; what has been predicted as a solution must be pursued step by step and, God willing, implemented. The people truly deserve that all officials dedicate their time and effort to this work.

In the context of national issues, especially economic matters, attention to the employment of youth and their intellectual, spiritual, and cultural orientation is very important. Today, our main audience in the country is the youth. Fortunately, the immense strength of this country comes from its youth. This is an opportunity and can be utilized as a point of strength. Of course, the enemy is trying to turn this point of strength into a point of weakness; to lead the youth into corruption; to pollute them politically, socially, and individually with its propaganda.

Unfortunately, there are also individuals inside who work in this direction; they do the same thing that the enemy is pursuing: weakening the faith of the youth, undermining their connection with the system and the officials of the country, making them pessimistic and disheartened about the future, and instilling disbelief in them regarding the environment in which they live. These actions are unfortunately taking place. Of course, we do not expect anything other than hostile efforts from the enemy. What we expect from ourselves is that we must focus our efforts on neutralizing the enemies' objectives.

Regarding foreign issues, I endorse the approach that the government has taken today - that is, increasing contact with countries and normalizing relations with all countries with which we can establish connections; this is a correct method. In foreign policy, you must strive for the world to know that the Iranian nation and government are motivated and aim to walk the path of their own prosperity with their own thoughts, strength, and will. This is what we, as a nation, seek. Our right as a nation is to think about how to pursue paths of prosperity and development with our own mentality, thoughts, philosophy, religion, and values. Of course, those who seek to impose their culture and methods do not like this; however, the unbiased and impartial people of the world appreciate it. In our diplomatic relations, we must emphasize this independence and social dignity, which, thanks be to God, is achievable and is a correct method. We have a foundation of cooperation and understanding with the nations of the world and various governments; of course, not with the bullies and those who want to solve all issues by relying on their power; like the United States. We do not share the same path with them.

Consider! In the recent events, what happened in Sudan and Afghanistan is by no means acceptable to independent people of the world. It cannot be accepted that a government, relying on its ability to attack a distant country and another nation, commits aggression. Its justification is merely that I can, therefore I will! This is wrong. This method is rejected by the independent nations of the world. We, as the Islamic Republic, have had the courage from the beginning to condemn this method. Some other countries, although they do not like this method, are not willing to condemn it. We have never submitted to such displays of power, nor will we.

The actions taken in Afghanistan or Sudan have two major flaws:

First, from a humanitarian perspective, it is a criminal act. I do not know 'Osama bin Laden,' and I do not approve of the killing of innocent civilians in Kenya and Tanzania - we are not satisfied with such things - but the actions they took in Afghanistan are condemned just as much as the actions that resulted in the killing of innocent people not involved in a military action. As an attack on the enemy, they attack a number of defenseless individuals; they launch dozens of missiles; or destroy a factory in Sudan; it is unclear how many lives are lost and destroyed, merely on the basis that we have determined, or guessed, or understood that the enemy's hand is here! This is a wrong method; this is a crime. Anyone who commits this crime is condemned. The U.S. government is also condemned; it is a terrorist. Its actions are a terrorist act; it is state terrorism. Its crime is greater than that of individuals who commit terrorist acts.

The second flaw, which is specific to this action and does not exist in the actions of its opponents, is that this is an invasion of another country; an assault on the life of a nation. Undoubtedly, one of the benefits of national borders - which may have benefits and also drawbacks - is that they serve as a security barrier within which nations live. On what grounds does a country break this barrier and, without any declaration of war against that country's government, invade and arrogantly and selfishly carry out this action?! Therefore, this action is condemned and wrong. We do not approve of this bullying policy and we reject and condemn it. The reason that the Islamic Republic has stood against the phenomenon known as 'global arrogance' from the beginning until now is that it has rejected these self-serving and bullying methods that rely on oppressive powers. Just as the actions of the 'Taliban' in attacking the defenseless people of 'Mazar-i-Sharif' are condemned, so too are the actions of the U.S. in attacking the people of Sudan and Afghanistan and killing innocent civilians condemned. The enemies of Islam have understood this position of ours. Those who oppose the oppressive and tyrannical powers have also understood and know that our path and goal is the path and goal defined by Islam. There is no oppression in it, nor is there any violation of human rights, nor is there any disregard for the transgressions that oppressive people commit against the oppressed. Human rights are maximally respected in it. This is our goal; this is our path; and so far, thanks be to God, we have pursued these objectives. We hope that from now on, we can continue this path with strength, decisiveness, and with the same effort that you, the responsible brothers in the Islamic Republic government, exert and carry out, God willing.

My final words, dear brothers and sisters! Value this period of responsibility in the government. These responsibilities are transient; what remains for you is the reward and merit that will come from working for the people, and the Almighty God will include you in that reward and merit. The people also appreciate the government and the dedicated officials. The immense support they provide you is a divine asset. This asset must be preserved, and with this sincere effort, God willing, it will be preserved. We hope that, God willing, your work will be pleasing to the Master of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him) and that the pure spirit of the Imam will be pleased with you and the pure souls of the martyrs will be pleased with all of you; we will also pray for you. May the Almighty God assist you on this honorable and glorious path.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.