NEW REFORMIST PARTY FORMED IN IRAN TEHRAN, FEB 26 (KUNA) -- PEOPLES POWER AND RESPECT FOR RULE OF LAW IS THE ONLY WAY TO PROGRESS AND STABILITY IN IRAN, A NEW REFORMIST PARTY SAID HERE MONDAY.
THE HEZB ARADEH MELLAT IRAN (WILL OF THE IRANIAN NATION PARTY) DECLARED IT WAS STARTING OFFICIAL ACTIVITIES AS OF MONDAY TO ADVANCE THE AGENDA OF POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL REFORMS.
"WE BELIEVE REFORMS CANNOT BE LIMITED TO ONLY THE POLITICAL FRONT. IT SHOULD ENCOMPASS ALL AREAS OF IRANIAN LIFE," ITS SECRETARY-GENERAL AHMED HAKIMIPOUR TOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE.
THE PARTY, KNOWN BY ITS PERSIAN ACRONYM HAMA, STARTED ACTIVITIES UNOFFICIALLY NINE YEARS AGO, BUT RECEIVED OFFICIAL PERMIT FROM THE INTERIOR MINISTRY ONLY LAST NOVEMBER, SAID HAKIMIPOUR WHO ALSO IS A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE ELECTED TEHRAN CITY COUNCIL.
STRESSING THE NEED FOR "DEEPENING REFORMS, HE SAID THE PARTY IS "PREPARING FOR THE DAY WHEN SOME EXISTING PRO-REFORM GROUPS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CARRY THE BURDEN OF REFORMS." HE DID NOT ELABORATE.
IN RESPONSE TO A KUNA QUESTION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF REFORMS ADVOCATED BY PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI, HAKIMIPOUR SAID, "WE SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT AND ACCEPT HIM AS THE FLAG-BEARER OF CHANGE. BUT HIS GOVERNMENT HAS HAD SHORTCOMINGS, ESPECIALLY IN ESTABLISHING SOCIAL JUSTICE WHICH MUST BE ADDRESSED." HAMA, HE SAID, WILL ENDEAVOR TO PROMOTE "FREEDOMS. LAW-ABIDANCE, SECURITY AND JUSTICE WHICH ARE THE DEMANDS OF THE IRANIAN PEOPLE.
"THE NEW PARTY PRESENTLY HAS 283 REGISTERED MEMBERS INCLUDING SOME PARLIAMENTARIANS, FORMER LAWMAKERS AND CANDIDATES FOR THE MAJLIS WHOSE CREDENTIALS WERE REJECTED BY THE COUNCIL OF GUARDIANS, A CONSERVATIVE ELECTION WATCHDOG WHICH HAS THE FINAL WORD ON ELECTIONS AND QUALIFICATION OF THOSE SEEKING OFFICE IN THE ISLAMIC STATE. (END) AS.AG KUNA 261901 Feb 01NNNN