On the campaign trail

President Ahmadinejad’s visit to Shiraz

Balatarin
Share/Save/Bookmark

On the campaign trail
by Eleanor Ommani
04-May-2009
 

On April 29, 2009, the president of Iran, Mahmood Ahmadinejad, came to Fars Province, in the city of Shiraz, to greet the tens of thousands of people who came out to welcome him from Shaheed dast Ghaib Airport to the Hafezeeh Stadium. The President’s visit was part of the national tour of various Iranian cities in preparation for the up-coming presidential elections scheduled for June 12. The President was welcomed by various prominent political and religious figures in Fars Province, including Reza Zadeh, the Governor of the province, as well as the Shiraz religious representative of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ayatollah Assdollah Imani. In Ayatollah Imani’s remarks, he praised the President’s recent speech in Geneva at the Durban II Conference as affirming the position of the Supreme Leader’s views on the Islamic system, its place in the global world, and its condemnation of the policies of the Zionist regime in Israel.

Following the warm introductions and welcome statements, President Ahmadinejad thanked the many people – farmers, herders, intellectuals, doctors, office workers - for taking time to welcome him, and went on to acknowledge that the Fars people should be proud of their inheritance of the ancient culture of Iran when Cyrus the Great ruled over Iran and Shiraz was the seat of the old capital, 2,500 years ago. “This is a great and proud inheritance,” he said. Mr. Ahmadinejad read short verses from the works of Hafez and Saadi, two beloved Iranian poets who are enshrined in Shiraz, and whose mausoleums attract thousands of Persians and foreigners every year. The people of Shiraz are rightfully proud of these two great men of literature, said the president.

Mr. Ahmadinejad chose to refer to one of Saadi’s poems which spoke about being in this world before leaving for the afterworld. “If you can do something good for this world, it is better to do it in the present and soon, before one gets old because time will pass and the opportunity to change the world may pass by,” he read from Saadi’s ideas. Speaking to the thousands of people attending, the president advised all workers who make up society to use their energies to serve the entire nation and the masses of people, and not be driven by any group or party, but by the ideals of serving all the people. He noted that if a government, instead of being free, owes its power to certain groups or certain parties, it cannot serve the entire people. In the countries where liberal democracy rules, the values and ideals of the nation and people are trampled on for the benefit of the small groups ruling over the masses.

A significant part of the speech by President Ahmadinejad addressed the issue of governments that serve the people and governments that are brought to power and are influenced by money and interests that serve other powers and groups. He was touching on some of the principles that he brought up at the Durban II Conference in Geneva, regarding the influence in European governments and especially within the United States government of pro-Zionist thinking and policies. If the government of the United States were truly a people’s government and had genuine freedom as its ideals, then “…it would never allow the Zionists to shout and rule over the oppressed people of Palestine.” He stated further that when the people of Palestine want to defend themselves against oppression, they are called “terrorists” by governments who are corrupt and are far from spiritual and human values of freedom and justice. Ahmadinejad went on to tell the throngs in the stadium that when the Zionists and their supporters learned that a representative of the Islamic Republic was going to speak at Durban in defense of the Palestinians, they tried to exclude Iran from the Conference. Since this was not possible, as it was an international UN sponsored Conference, then they themselves boycotted the Conference, fearing to even appear.

Ahmadinejad went on to say that in that meeting, “…it is true I laughed, but it was because I saw how low the Zionists have sank in their efforts to silence Iran and drive its representative out of an international forum, but it was they who had to leave the scene and who became the losers. I told the government leaders and the delegates at that conference, that in Iran, as here in the Fars Province, one cannot find a person who would retreat one step in the face of those who aggress against us and against the oppressed people in Palestine. I reminded those criminal and corrupt governments that slavery, based on the degradation and subjugation of human beings, had been practiced by the West for more than 300 years and caused many wars and destruction of societies,” he said.

Then, the President of Iran turned to local economic and social issues facing the people of Fars Province. He noted that between his last visit to this province and this visit, universities in and around Shiraz have doubled in number and the campaign for the electrification of the outer villages and small towns has also doubled those being served. Progress has been made on the development of the railroad from Esfahan to Shiraz and will be completed as soon as possible, hopefully within a year, so that the people of Fars Province will be able to ride the railroad from here to Esfahan and from Esfahan to Tehran. The government is working to see the completion of these railroad lines and tracks, which will eventually connect to the far south coastal cities.

Recently, in one of the factories of Shiraz, the workers had not been paid their salaries and went on strike. President Ahmadinejad said that the workers’ are deserving of their wages and should be paid. He noted that some of the factories in various economic zones in Shiraz have recently been facing difficulties and acknowledged that the authorities in the Islamic Republic must pay attention to this problem. In the period between his two visits, unemployment in Fars Province has decreased from 13 ½ to 10 percent and in order to help reduce unemployment further, he is pushing forward the plans of the local government for a new petro-chemical plant and two new refineries.

Fars Province has suffered drought over the past two – three years from lack of rain, and the government has set aside funds to help the farmers and herders outside of the Shiraz town-ship. The designing and construction of dams to collect and save the water from the mountains is proceeding.

Finally, the Islamic Government has been working to design 21 areas of the province for the tourism industry, which will help to further economic development in this area. The Islamic Government pays special attention to the needs of the youth, and is funding and constructing 50 gymnasiums/sports areas for the health of the young people.

The president thanked everyone and said good-bye as he planned to visit other cities and towns in Fars Province.

AUTHOR
Eleanor Ommani is currently vacationing in Iran. In 2004, with her husband, Ardeshir Ommani, she co-founded American Iranian Friendship Committee (AIFC) www.iranaifc.com Ms. Ommani is a retired public school educator, and full-time peace activist in NY, paying special attention to educating people about the Iranian people and society and changing the aggressive U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.

Balatarin
Share/Save/Bookmark

 
default

GuessWho... is not Jaleho

by GuessWho... (not verified) on Fri May 08, 2009 02:04 PM PDT

You're a good spell checker! Otherwise, you are so wrong with everything it's actually entertaining. :-)


  •  
Anonymous111

GuessWho...We Don't Have to Guess

by Anonymous111 on Fri May 08, 2009 08:45 AM PDT

Come on "Jaleho", why don't you just write under your registered name?  We all know that the only fan that you have on this site is yourself.  No one is going to back a Hezbollahi hack like you.

And next time you want to write under an anonymous name, make sure that you use terms that you normally don't use in your long winded comments, such as "political propeganda" [sic].  It's a dead give away.

BTW, if I were you, I would spell check my comments before I accuse people of being uneducated!!


  •  
default

Annonymous111

by GuessWho... (not verified) on Thu May 07, 2009 04:48 PM PDT

If it wasn't for Jaleho, then who is going to educate the naive about political propeganda?

Let me give you an example; just as the reader is about to conclude that Jaleho's comments are just too far above your level of comprehension, you close by rendering an idiotic remark that exmplify stupidity at it's absolute best!


  •  
default

Esfahani 1970

by KouroshS (not verified) on Thu May 07, 2009 01:07 AM PDT

Of course , the recession that the entire world is in the midst of is to blame. However, Once that is over, you will go back the always legitimate excuse of The sanctions that have been in place for years, COrrect?


  •  
Anonymous111

Jaleh O

by Anonymous111 on Wed May 06, 2009 10:33 AM PDT

Here's an idea for you to be able to monitor the "campaign trail" in Iran more closely:

"GO BACK TO IRAN"!!!!!!

Trust me, no one will miss you here!!! 

 


  •  
Jaleho

Sister Mary,

by Jaleho on Wed May 06, 2009 09:45 AM PDT

you said:

"Looks like your Imam leader is preparing himself to get rid of your president Ahmadi."

So, if Ahmadinejad wins the election, you wouldn't have the excuse of saying "in Iran, president is just a tool put up there by the leader," no?

What would you say then? My guess is one of the following:

"Iranian are sheep who are not ready for democracy," OR-

"Iranians elected a murderer in the form of an antar because the opposition was a thief."

 

The point is, either he, or the alternative Mousavi would get elected because the other moderates who were soft on nuclear issue, left the stage because they knew that they can't get elected by Iranian people who are adamant about their right to nuclear energy.

The rest is useless rant.

 


  •  
default

CONCERNED !

by Mona19 (not verified) on Wed May 06, 2009 07:22 AM PDT

I m very much concerned. JJ is becoming more and more Pro-Islamic Iran and Anti-Baha'i. Why this article in needed on Iranian.com???


  •  
default

To Jaleh O

by Sister Mary (not verified) on Wed May 06, 2009 07:19 AM PDT

Looks like your Imam leader is preparing himself to get rid of your president Ahmadi. I guess Israelis are making it quite difficult for your Imam to continue with his current pet.


  •  
Jaleho

Thank you Ms Ommani!

by Jaleho on Tue May 05, 2009 08:06 PM PDT

Nice to have a glimpse at the campaign trail in Iran. One doesn't get to hear this type of detail often. Thank you.


  •  
default

Nonesense!

by Concerned Iranian (not verified) on Tue May 05, 2009 06:50 PM PDT

This article is meant to legitimize the illegitimate regime of ragheads. Good luck to all Islamists and their repressive supporters. They truly deserve each other.


  •  
curly

Nauseating!

by curly on Tue May 05, 2009 03:26 PM PDT

Do you know what is worst than a hezbolahi? their little trolls!


  •  
Farhad Kashani

This is meant to seem like

by Farhad Kashani on Tue May 05, 2009 03:05 PM PDT

This is meant to seem like the “selections” (What they call “elections”!) under his regime is the same as elections in the U.S, or Switzerland or Germany or any other democratic nation! Fool ourselves to believe we have “elections” like the rest of the world, self comfort thing,,,sad.

 

Khameneis Monkey is not a “President” because no such position, according to the acceptable definition of a “President”, exists under this regime. Which other country in the world do you know that has a higher office than “Presidency”? Name 1! I’ll name it: Iran! Because IRI is master in deception. No one can even come close to it. Khamanei is the dictator, why is that so hard for some of you guys to see?? Just read the IRI constitution!!!

 

And there is no such thing called “Campaign trail”!! What “Campaign Trail”?? What kind of campaign trail do they have when they cannot make a single criticism of Khamenei? This is nothing but propaganda for Khamenei appearance this stooge is doing.

 

I just can’t believe that IRI has succeeded in making some Iranians believe that there is such a thing called “Republic” in Iran!! Amazing!

 


  •  
default

FALSE WITNESSES, Eleanoor & Maleknasri Ommani

by Namadi (not verified) on Tue May 05, 2009 09:50 AM PDT

Mr. or Dr. or Professor “Moazam” Malek'e-nasri you need to learn English first before writing either short or long "Nasr." As false witnesses you & your compatriot Ms. (or Mrs.) Ommmani are well serving IRI. Bravo!!


  •  
default

EYEWITNESS: Eleanor Ommani

by Faribors Maleknasri M.D. (not verified) on Tue May 05, 2009 04:38 AM PDT

Sorry. You are too late. The great satan is allready dead. Its was a very excruciating death. It begann 1978/79. Likewise melodious and silky ingratiations did not help in those days and now? His majeasty the last departed for kairo as the pienut merchant carter said: it is better when the shah lefts. do you want to get the pass on you? as you say indirectly: it is better when Dr. Mahmood Ahmadinejad the most beloved President of the Islamic Republic of Iran stays? should it mean: 1978 cooked carter and now tiny satans cook again? I am happy for you if you have enjoyed your time in the Islamic republic of Iran but believe me: if your writting is sought to be interpreted as you wanted to say: Iranians, we help you, it will not work. Of course you have done an excellent job. for "IRANIAN". The flood of pro & contra comments are on the way. and the busieness will go on. Greeting


  •  
Abarmard

Dear Eleanor

by Abarmard on Tue May 05, 2009 04:33 AM PDT

Thank you for your report, I enjoyed reading it


  •  
default

EYEWITNESS

by luciferous (not verified) on Tue May 05, 2009 03:09 AM PDT


  •  
default

Great Job Elanore!

by GuessWho... (not verified) on Mon May 04, 2009 10:43 PM PDT

Your report demonstrates wisdom and civility which is often foreign to a hawkish nation.

These monday morning quarterbacks like Hosseini, Fred and the "glass is always half emply" Gilani are so self absorbed they lack the required clarity and objectivity to render a note worthy opinion or verdict.


  •  
Mort Gilani

Vacationing with Ahmadinejad

by Mort Gilani on Mon May 04, 2009 10:12 PM PDT

First, almost 80% of the people who are fully employed in Iran live under poverty line.  
Second, the current unemployment rate is not 10%, it is at the minimum 20% based on the revelations of Islamic gangs in Iran.
Third, the illiterate mullahs recently changed the definition of employment or unemployment to fudge further their fictitious data.  Based on the new definition, if one works only two hours in a week, they are considered employed.  

I’d like to ask the author how many mobile Imamzadehs she visited  for spiritual blessing during her lovely vacation with Ahmadinejad.  I am writing about this:


//www.iranliberal.com/tanz/post7.htm


  •  
default

Fred has the Midas touch (look at the correct spelling)

by Esfahani 1970 (not verified) on Mon May 04, 2009 04:30 PM PDT

Fred, it seems that the entire world is in the midst of a recession. Are the so-called "Islamists" to blame for that too? You provide very insightful economic analysis. And flawless spelling to boot.


  •  
default

Eleanor thank you for the report

by yek shirazi (not verified) on Mon May 04, 2009 03:58 PM PDT

please keep them coming!


  •  
default

good article

by parsa2 (not verified) on Mon May 04, 2009 03:23 PM PDT

superb, well-written, and fascinating article. A surprise something like this has shown up on Iranian.com, I had lost my hope in this site long ago.


  •  
Fred

Islamist with the Midis touch

by Fred on Mon May 04, 2009 02:52 PM PDT

You say: “In the period between his two visits, unemployment in Fars Province has decreased from 13 ½ to 10 percent and in order to help reduce unemployment further, he is pushing forward the plans of the local government for a new petro-chemical plant and two new refineries.”

According to your exact unemployment data with fraction and all which contradicts all others including the ones the Islamist republic puts out, it will take three more Presidential visits to have a fully employed work force in the Fars province. 

 Since you are in the know, have you figured out why the presumably popular Islamist show Prez hasn’t fully completed his magic act of pulling employment out of thin air yet? And why hasn’t he done so for the entire nation? Wasn’t he blessed with the unprecedented oil windfall? Well?


  •  
default

No Kidding!

by hossein.hosseini on Mon May 04, 2009 03:22 PM PDT

What are we to believe, you write:

"Recently, in one of the factories of Shiraz, the workers had not been paid their salaries and went on strike." and then on the same paragraph you say "In the period between his two visits, unemployment in Fars Province has decreased from 13 ½ to 10 percent"

So 90% employment in Shiraz but they are not paid.  This sure is a new definition of employment:) Honestly, Ahmadinejad is here to stay for another 4 years, no need to post his campaign trips here.


  •