Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and members of the Cabinet met the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Monday, August 28.
The meeting was convened on the occasion of the Government's Week, August 24-30, which also marks the martyrdom anniversary of former Iranian officials president Mohammad-Ali Rajaee and prime minister Mohammad-Javad Bahonar, who lost their lives in a bomb blast on August 30, 1981.
Speaking at the meeting, the Leader felicitated the audience on the auspicious birth anniversary of the Master of Martyrs Imam Hussein-ibn-Ali (peace and greetings be upon him). He also honored the memory of martyred president Mohammad-Ali Rajaee and prime minister Mohammad-Javad Bahonar.
Ayatollah Khamenei described the present era as exceptional in terms of the conformity of the government's slogans and objectives with the principles of the Islamic Revolution and with the ideals of the late leader Imam Khomeini, the Iranian people's trust in the government and the unprecedented status and prestige of the Iranian nation and the Islamic system at the international level.
"The government should make the most of the current circumstances and increase its efforts to materialize its announced slogans and objectives. It is also the duty of all the adherents of the revolution and of the Islamic system to assist the government in accomplishing its objectives," Ayatollah Khamenei noted.
The Leader stated that the main characteristic of the incumbent government, especially the incumbent president, is the making of incessant efforts to serve the public. He also described the pursuit and administration of justice as the major criteria for judging adherence to Islamic and revolutionary principles.
"Considering the existing social gap, which is a legacy of the dark age under the former regime, the country is presently more in need of economic justice. However, justice should be dispensed in a rational manner and within the framework that has been recommended by Islam," the Leader told the audience.
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to communion with Almighty Allah and attachment to the Holy Qur'an, opposition to corruption, ideological and moral soundness, leading a simple life and avoiding extravagance, humbleness before the public and not getting entrapped by egotism and vanity, making decisions based on wisdom and prudence, showing a sense of responsibility and accountability, tolerance in the face of critics, making appointments on the basis of merit, promoting the rule of law and also fondness of and making efforts to promote scientific progress as among other criteria for judging principledness on the part of government officials.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic advised the president and his Cabinet to determine the priorities on the government's agenda and focus on those priorities. He stated that the approved policies enshrined in the country's 20-Year Perspective Document should form the basis of the government's plans and programs.
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed the need for the government to pay adequate attention to the people's current problems and requirements while it is carrying out long-term plans and projects. He also described as necessary the coordination and interaction between the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature based on the Islamic Republic's Constitution.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader told the Iranian president and the Cabinet that scientific progress is contingent on the adequate budget for scientific research.
"The budget for scientific research allocated out of the gross national product should increase in conformity with what has been stipulated in the country's Fourth Development Program. Besides, greater efforts should be made to launch the Elites Foundation and the office for developing closer links between science and industry as soon as possible and also increase the fund earmarked for supporting researchers," Ayatollah Khamenei observed.
As regards the government's performance in the field of foreign policy, the Leader of the Islamic Republic emphasized the need for the government to preserve the present vibrancy in the country's diplomacy and coordinate Iran's international economic relations with its diplomatic apparatus.
At the end of the meeting, President Ahmadinejad and members of his Cabinet said their noon and afternoon prayers, which were led by Ayatollah Khamenei.