Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and members of the Cabinet met the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Sunday, October 1.
In an address to the audience, the Leader elaborated on the responsibilities of government officials toward the general public and on the way officials are expected to handle public affairs. He stressed that the most significant duty of those holding government offices is to serve the public in the best possible manner.
"The fact of the matter is that the raison d'etre of the Islamic government is to serve the people and take care of public affairs in a most appropriate manner," the Leader remarked.
Ayatollah Khamenei further stated that government officials are also expected to treat the general public in a kind and benevolent manner, and that they should deal with minor flaws and shortcomings on the part of the public with forgiveness and condonation.
The Leader emphasized that while the government is expected to connive at the negligible faults of the public, it should firmly deal with the lawbreakers and profiteering groups that are amassing windfall profits through illegal means.
"The interests of the general public should be given priority over the interests of certain groups and factions, and conniving at these groups and factions' infringement of the law and illegal profiteering is tantamount to doing injustice to the general public," the Leader told the audience.
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that government officials, because of the political and financial power that is at their disposal, are more prone to faults than the ordinary people, and that they should constantly exercise self-observation and self-discipline.
"The people always make judgments about the performance of their government officials based on certain aspects of their performance such as their competence, their ability to defend their national identity, their trustworthiness and their relations with the public. Therefore, such aspects should be viewed by the officials of the incumbent government as criteria for assessing their own performance, since they will also be judged by the public," Ayatollah Khamenei noted.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic further referred to the firm intention on the part of the incumbent government to serve the people as well as to its commendable religious and revolutionary leanings. He called on government officials to utilize existing favorable circumstances in an optimal manner and make every effort to serve the people and solve their problems and raise their living standards.
"Over the recent weeks, low-income strata have been under pressure due to the considerable rise in the prices of basic commodities. It is incumbent on officials in charge of economic affairs to look into the matter and try to lower the prices to a moderate level," the Leader noted.
President Ahmadinejad, also speaking at the meeting, expressed his gratitude to the Leader of the Islamic Republic for the emphasis that has been placed by him over the past years on the promotion and administration of justice in society.
"Justice is the most significant pillar of an Islamic society and the major factor ensuring the flourishing of talents and preparing the ground for sustainable progress and development and lasting security in the country," the Iranian president pointed out.
President Ahmadinejad also stressed that the promotion and administration of justice in society is high on the agenda of the incumbent government.
Afterwards, the participants in the meeting said their evening and night prayers, which were led by Ayatollah Khamenei. Then President Ahmadinejad and members of the Cabinet broke their fast in the presence of the Leader.