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Iran: Final Resolution of Mardom Salari Party's Fourth Congress

Posted on: Wednesday, 28 December 2005, 18:00 CST

Text of report by Iranian newspaper Mardom-Salari website on 18 December

Complete text of the final resolution of the Democracy Party Fourth Congress, held 8 December 2005 at the Interior Ministry conference hall: "The Final Resolution of the Democracy Party's Fourth Congress: Three Important Warnings to the Ahmadinezhad Administration"

The final resolution of the Democracy [Mardom Salari] Party's Fourth Congress, which was approved by the party's selected members from all around the country, was published with one introduction and 10 sections.

This resolution, while emphasizing the need to provide equal political, social, economic and cultural opportunities in all areas, in order to establish justice, resolve all the threats and find a rational and prudent solution to the nuclear situation, and prevent the growth of superstition and reactionary views among government officials, warns about neglecting the country's national interests and the concerns about the Ahmadinezhad administration's approach to the foreign policy domain, observing the slogan of meritocracy and addressing the economic problems.

This resolution also mentions the unfavourable performance of the reformists and the existing differences of opinion among them as the most important cause of their failure in the ninth presidential election. In this regard, the resolution considers further activation of the Majlis minority faction as one of the ways to overcome the current problems and prepare the ground for unity and consensus among the reformists.

This resolution, while emphasizing the need to continue the process of political development, settle the differences in the House of Parties and revise the law on the elections of the Assembly of Experts, explains that the Democracy Party's most important strategy in the third-term Islamic councils elections throughout the country is for all the political parties outside the circle of power to confront the exercise of monopoly in any form by the ruling factions.

The complete text of this resolution is as follows:

In the name of God, the compassionate and the merciful The Fourth Congress of the Democracy Party [Mardom Salari], with the theme of "fair distribution of opportunities and the need to confront threats," was held on Thursday, 17 Azar 1384 [ 8 December 2005] at the Interior Ministry's conference hall. This congress, which was attended by selected representatives of the party from different districts all around the country, proceeded with the message of the former president, Mr Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, the speech of the general secretary of this party, and the speeches of Mr Musavi- Tabrizi, the honourable secretary of the Association of Theological Lecturers, and Mr Mehdi Karrubi, the honourable general secretary of the National Trust Party [Hezb-e E'temad-e Melli].

At this congress, the members approved three main strategies with regard to improving the party's organizations in quality and quantity, the city councils elections, and strengthening the party's financial status. And after hearing the reports of the party's committees and provincial branches and secretaries, they approved the 10 sections of the final resolution, as follows:

1. Members of the Fourth Congress endorse the full text of the general secretary's speech, and emphasize that the government must provide equal opportunities for all benevolent forces in order to actualize justice and practically confront all the threats against Islamic Iran. They believe that if we truly want to resolve the threats of international dominators, instead of illegal, authoritarian and monopolistic eliminations, we must provide equal opportunities and chances of service for all capable, competent and qualified benevolent forces, especially for the elite of political parties outside the circle of power. In that way, with internal harmony, unity and consensus among all the elite and committed national forces and with public participation and solidarity, we can keep the country away from threats.

2. The Democracy Party demands finding a rational and prudent solution to the nuclear challenge and closing Iran's nuclear case at the International Atomic Energy Agency. Therefore, members of the Fourth Congress, while insisting on Iran's absolute right to acquire nuclear technology and develop the nuclear fuel cycle within the country, and avoiding any action that would expose us to political pressures, military threats and economic sanctions by international dominators, warn about having any secret, covert and unclear negotiations with the Europeans, the Americans or the agency's authorities. The members of this congress believe that if the domineering powers don't want to handle this case by following the legal and conventional ways specified in the NPT regulations, the destiny of the nuclear case should be decided and settled by holding a national referendum, and with the free vote of the majority of the Iranian public. In that case, the bullying powers will never be able to put the least pressure on Iran in the face of the waves of support and backing by millions of people.

3. Members of the Fourth Congress believe that the Ahmadinezhad administration must be given enough time to be able to answer for its performance with regard to the president's slogans and the people's demands, in due course. And despite the passage of four months since the beginning of the administration's work, they believe it is still too soon to form any serious judgment in this regard. Nevertheless, in line with supporting President Ahmadinezhad and as one of the parties that are seriously critical of his administration, we consider it our duty here to notify three important warnings arising from a sense of responsibility, in terms of "enjoining good and prohibiting vice" [religious order].

A. Disregarding the slogan of meritocracy in assignment of public posts and governmental responsibilities and the tendency to tribalism, factionalism and favouring relatives and family members in previous administrations have been constantly criticized by the people and caring social figures. However, we should admit that the Ahmadinezhad administration, in spite of some of its vociferous slogans, has shown from the very outset of its work that not only is meritocracy no criterion in this administration for the designation of governmental posts, but the situation of favouring relatives, brothers-in-law, factional partners and so on, unfortunately, has even become much worse than before! Honestly, after the nomination of a billionaire minister, especially for a ministry as important as oil (who luckily was forced to resign), how could the slogans of justice and meritocracy ever be taken seriously again? Are all the competent people found merely at the Municipality of Tehran and in the circle of the president's former friends and colleagues, and nowhere else? Were the results of all the inquiries and searches by several committees and the 1,000-person lists that they made up in the process confined to these very few individuals, some of whom surprisingly wouldn't be content even with occupying one post?

B. In view of the daily increasing development of international communications and the growing importance of foreign relations to countries, the domain and territory of foreign policy has become so extensive that we need to understand its current meaning and be able to outline the country's policies and objectives in the arena of foreign relations with other governments, societies and international organizations.

Without a doubt, the starting point in every country's foreign policymaking is to define the goals and requirements that each country outlines as its national objectives and strives to meet and accomplish. We believe there is no difference and distinction between foreign policy objectives and national interests, because we view national interests as our country's accepted goals and requirements in relation to other countries, which somehow includes the outside environment as well. And among the parameters of our national interests are political and economic interests based on our values. These are the very institutionalized values that are shared by each and every one of our respected people.

Thus, in order to protect our national interests, we consider providing security as our prime objective, because we believe protection of one's existence, independence, unity and territorial integrity, as well as prevention of invasions by enemies, is an essential and vital matter for every country.

Therefore, in order to evaluate each country's level of success, the quality of interaction in the foreign policy arena should be measured with the level of national interests, especially in terms of national security.

In a review of the Ahmadinezhad administration's foreign policy over the past four months, we see that not only has this administration failed to turn the foreign threats into opportunities to safeguard our national interests, but also the painful fact is that, in some cases, we have seen quite the opposite! In other words, due to rawness, inexperience and ill-considered, slogan-like and undiplomatic remarks, unfortunately, we have almost turned some opportunities into threats. Of course, the world's arrogant powers have never closed down their propaganda machines against Islamic Iran, either. But why should we work against the country's national interests by introducing unnecessary and inexpert matters?

C. Another serious warning to the Ahmadinezhad administration is about its deviation and departure from the initial slogans and changing the priorities of programmes in the economic arena. No doubt, the poor and underprivileged people who voted for Mr Ahmadinezhad to ensure their minimum livelihood and taste the sweet results of oil money on their table don't expect Mr President to solve all problems of the Muslim world for them. What they do expect, however, is to see the palpable and tangible results of the promises made by their elected president regarding the actualization of justice, as soon as possible.

It is very disappointing for the underprivileged classes of society to hear that Mr President, on the recommendation of his close friend, refuses to publish the list of those who have been stealing from public funds! Likewise, the increasing inflation rate, the increased prices of goods and services, the reduction of stock market indicators to their lowest point in recent years and the improper disbursement of foreign exchange deposits even during this short period are not good indications for fulfilling the promises made to the people. Members of the Fourth Congress, while emphasizing the strategic economic principles specified in the final resolution of the Third Congress, believe that Mr President and his council of ministers, instead of spending their time on unnecessary affairs, should concentrate all of their energy on fulfilling the promises made to the people and improving the living status of the deprived classes of society. The Fourth Congress hereby requires the Democracy Party's political office to constantly monitor the situation in accordance with the party's platform and to inform the respected Iranian people, particularly the deprived classes and the lords of the revolution, about the party's positions regarding the extent of accomplishing the justice-oriented promises and the consistency of words with actions.

4. Members of the Fourth Congress maintain that the unfavourable performance of the reformists and the existing differences of opinion among them were the most important cause of the their failure in the ninth presidential election, and believe that a serious criticism of what happened is an indispensable necessity as a cautionary lesson for the future. Only a serious and internal criticism of the reformists will show how much each of the political groups, parties and personalities affiliated with the reform front and each of the reformist candidates, newspapers and so on has been responsible for the status quo. This criticism will also show what percentage of the status quo was actually due to the rival faction's determination and organization.

5. The Democracy Party believes that one of the important steps for the reformists to find a way out of the present situation and problems is to activate the Faction of the Imam's Line (God's benedictions be upon him) in the seventh-term Majlis. This move will not only create unity and solidarity among them, but also will enable them to speak to the people from that tribune, in order to improve the affairs and promote the reformist goals. In this way, they can legalize at least some of the people's reform demands by presenting expert plans.

In this relation, the general secretary will be responsible to hold regular meetings and continuous sessions with some of the representatives who are in touch with the Democracy Party.

6. The Democracy Party underscores the need to confront reactionary views on all administrative levels and especially among the government officials, and expresses concern about the growth of certain superstitious beliefs throughout the society. The story of a dog seeking shelter at the shrine of His Eminence Imam Reza (peace be upon him) is an example of such cases! We also believe that issues related to the sanctities are not unique to certain authorities, and learning these topics within a circle of light and other such things have no result but undermining the people's firm ideological beliefs.

7. Members of the Fourth Congress of the Democracy Party consider the election of the Assembly of Experts as one of the most important elections in the Islamic Republic system. And just as we emphasized at the Second Congress of this party that the election law of this assembly needed to be revised, once again we underline the mentioned issue and the need to clarify cases such as admission of laymen and women, the age of candidates, the method of verifying their qualifications, increasing the number of candidates to twice as many as the required number of representatives for each constituency, etc. Therefore, only in the event of changing the election law of the Assembly of Experts can the Democracy Party actively perform its role as a political party in the fourth-term election of this assembly. Otherwise, there will be no field for the activity of political parties other than professional clerical organizations.

8. The Fourth Congress of the Democracy Party considers the most important strategy of this party in the third-term Islamic councils elections throughout the country to be confronting the exercise of monopoly in any form by the ruling faction. Therefore, the Democracy Party calls on all creative, benevolent, pro-development and reformist forces, and beginning right now declares its readiness to unite with other convergent political parties.

9. The Democracy Party, while emphasizing the need to continue the process of political development during the Ahmadinezhad administration, announces its concern about the possible miniaturization of governor, provincial governor and district governor offices. And even though great efforts are needed to establish security in the society, we believe that this security must never prevent the free activity of political groups and parties throughout the country.

10. The Democracy Party, as one of the founders of the Iranian House of Parties, insists on maintaining the professional solidarity of this institution. And as we announced earlier along with the other member parties in the Front for Fostering Democracy [Jebheh- ye Tahkim-e Democracy], the Committee on Article 10 of the Parties Law must never interfere in the elections of this institution. However, we believe that the members of the House of Parties can hold a general assembly session and settle the differences between themselves without the intervention of others. The House of Parties, regardless of political alliances and factional groupings, should be the symbol of professional unity among all political parties of the country, as it was in the first term.

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

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