[Khatami] In the name of God, the merciful the compassionate. [Passage omitted congratulating Iranians on the anniversary of Imam Mahdi]
I congratulate the nation, the armed forces, the commanders and personnel of the Islamic Republic Army and in particular the supreme commander of the Army, on the day of the army, under the command of the commander-in-chief. I hope that we will witness more glorious days of the armed forces safeguarding the values and ideals of the Islamic Revolution and the honor and dignity of the country and the nation.
The desire for freedom, peace and security is a prevailing wish of today's world. However, despite this desire, unfortunately the prevailing climate in today's world is one of war, struggle, blood and revenge. In our era, the two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, aggression, cruelty and oppression from Palestine to Liberia and the emergence of a new wave of domination and greed under the pretext of freedom and democracy, has presented our world with a worrying and unpleasant prospect.
And alongside this, the formation of a new terrifying wave of terrorism, which spares no one and no place, has highlighted the issue of security as one of the most important concerns of humanity today.
This concern is of greater importance to the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has always advocated justice and independence and has announced from the start that under no circumstances will it surrender to cruelty and bullying.
In a word, the problem of security in the current situation is the most important issue that all the nations are trying to address. What is important to us is the national strength as the backbone of our security, independence, freedom and as the guardian of our nation's recent achievements.
The national strength consists of the benefits resulting from the values of the Islamic Revolution, the benefits resulting from the new experience of the Iranian nation - i.e. religious democracy, and the benefits resulting from our nation's acute needs for development and progress, which we are determined to meet.
Our nation, very early in the revolution, was introduced to the concept of aggression and terrorism. We have not yet forgotten the waves of riot, terror, killings, and then an all-out war backed by the international powers that was imposed on our nation on the morning of the revolution.
This situation caused us painful losses, but had important results too.
On top of all, our nation realized whole-heartedly that solidarity is the secret of its victory, honor, and prosperity. The second result was that amidst the problems our nation and the system found powerful and skillful armed forces. These forces decided to structure themselves on the basis of their own wisdom and thought and provided the defensive equipment for survival in this world all by themselves.
I should thank all armed forces, the Revolutionary Guards, the powerful army, whose day it is today, and we are happy to be present for the ceremonies, the Basiji forces, the police and all other forces that are ready to lose their heads for the promise they have made to their God and their nation.
Our strength today is rooted in the recognition of the rule of the people. This is a great achievement of our revolution which is manifested in our constitution and materialized in the form of religious democracy. The Islamic Republic showed that it is determined and ready to pay the price for standing against any tyranny or aggression. In the oppressed and discriminating world of today the Islamic Republic showed that it has tried and will continue to try to be a true role model for democracy that is in line with spiritual and religious criteria. Iran will try to establish such a role-model.
All those who care about the revolution and those who care about Iran should unconditionally respect this historical understanding and this huge achievement of the revolution.
We need to have an all-out defense strategy at this time when we, on the one hand, are trying to make a new world for ourselves and, on the other, hand are under pressure by the powers which want to control nations. That is to say we should have a defense strategy in all cultural, political, economic and military fields. The interests of our nation and our revolution are fixed but the threats vary based on the changing world of today. Our defense strategy is based on fixed and permanent interests, but is flexible enough to react against the various and constantly-changing threats.
What is important at this stage is reliance on our national solidarity and improving it inside, and our reliance on the unity among Islamic countries as well as Nonaligned Movement countries. What is important is to call for peace in a world that is suffering from tyranny, injustice and discrimination.
Today, we have tried and with the help of God have succeeded in organizing the armed forces, which are the backbone of our dignity, independence and sovereignty.
We have had great achievements in the organization and execution of our plans. In the field of advanced technology for defense, the achievements of our armed forces and scientists who work within or outside the forces, have been amazing.
We have been able to make such a great achievement in advanced science and technology that has amazed even the political and military strategists of the world, although we have a long way to go yet.
We are proud of our armed forces, and in particular of our great, devoted and strong Army and our Army is proud to serve under the command of the commander-in-chief. Our Army is proud that with reliance on the people, and in line with the interest of the people, it is the backbone of the strength, independence and greatness of this nation. [Passage omitted: Khatami concludes by thanking the forces, devotees, and martyrs]
[Description of Source: Tehran Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Network 1 in Persian -- state-run television]
Reference:
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FYI -- Iranian Military Parade Weapons After President Khatami's Army Day Address IAP20050418000006 Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Network 1 18 Apr 05
Translated by FBIS.