Everyone Should Work Towards Enthusiastic Elections: Leader February 07, 2004
In response to a letter from President Mohammad Khatami and Majlis Speaker Mahdi Karrubi as to the holding of parliamentary elections on February 20, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei praised their efforts for holding elections as scheduled.
"The due effort shown by you (President Khatami and Majlis speaker Karrubi) for holding elections on scheduled time as a revolutionary and national duty is a source of happiness and the great nation of Iran expects authorities to perform such formidable tasks in the best possible way through unity," the Leader stressed.
"Today the country is in need of unity among the respected officials more than any other time and the great nation of Iran expects the same from the officials. The election is a matter of great concern for our country and nation and it should be held in a sound, fervent and happy atmosphere."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that holding elections is one of the duties of officials in order to meet the demands of the nation and to appreciate the sacrifices of the martyrs, adding that for this reason it is advisable that governmental bodies refrain from complaints about each other and try to perform their duties in the best manner possible.
In a letter to the Leader, Khatami and Karrubi (the heads of executive and legislative powers) on Friday announced that the Guardian Council (GC) had not accorded due attention to the Leader's order to reconsider disqualification of hopefuls for the upcoming Majlis election.
The letter said that despite the GC's performance, the Majlis elections will be held on February 20 as scheduled, based on the Leader's decree.