DATE=11/18/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAN / RECONCILIATION MEETING (L-O)
NUMBER=2-256324
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Rival Iranian clerical factions have met in
Tehran in an effort to ease tensions. Middle East
Correspondent Scott Bobb reports Iranian leaders are
calling for collaboration and participation in
preparation for parliamentary elections next year.
TEXT: Religious leaders from conservative and
reformist factions are seeking common ground as
political activity rises prior to parliamentary
elections in February.
Iranian television says the clerics were seeking to
bring about consensus when they met (Thursday) at a
mosque in Tehran. They reportedly were discussing the
possibility of jointly backing certain candidates.
/// OPT /// Participants included representatives of
the Society of Militant Clergy, a leading conservative
group, the League of Militant Clerics, a group of pro-
reform advocates, and an association of theology
professors from the holy city of Qom.
The clerics were responding to a call by Iranian
leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for increased
cooperation among the political factions. Meanwhile,
reformist President Mohammed Khatami told a crowd of
youthful supporters in the central Iranian city of
Isfahan to take an active part in the upcoming
elections if they want to solidify their destiny. ///
END OPT ///
Politicians are preparing to file their candidacy
papers next month. But the recent closure of several
reformist newspapers and the highly publicized trials
of their editors have heightened tensions. Critics
charge the trials are aimed at silencing reformist
voices and at preventing reformist politicians from
running for parliament.
Conservatives argue the ideas of the reformists are an
affront to Islam and go against the principles of the
Iranian revolution.
The debate centers in part on whether to open up
Iranian politics after 20-years of domination by the
clergy.
A professor of Political Science at Cairo's American
University, Bahman Baktiari, says Iran is under
pressure from its growing youth population to allow
greater participation in government. But he says
there is also resistance from powerful segments of
society.
/// BAKTIARI ACT ///
The trend today will be to a limited, limited
form of political participation. And that
limited participation maybe has a chance of
growing larger, but it will be limited for a
while.
/// END ACT ///
Candidates for public office must be approved by a
council of religious leaders. The council dismissed
many reformist candidates in the local elections last
February. Nevertheless, reformist and independent
candidates won many seats.
Analysts say reformists are eager to win control of
the parliament, while conservative factions are
anxious to defend their majority. As a result, a
particularly intense period is expected in Iranian
politics in the coming months. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/JWH/RAE
18-Nov-1999 12:00 PM EDT (18-Nov-1999 1700 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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