DATE=2/22/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=IRAN REFORMIST PROFILE
NUMBER=5-45490
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=TEHRAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Official returns from Iran's parliamentary
elections show a coalition of reformist candidates
winning three-fourths of the seats. The reformists
are led by a young physician, Mohammadreza Khatami,
who received a vote from more than 65 percent (67.88
per cent) of those casting ballots in Tehran. V-O-A
correspondent Scott Bobb in the Iranian capital has
this profile of the reformists' new star, who happens
to be the brother of Iran's president.
TEXT: The victory by the reformist coalition did not
come as a surprise to most. But the landslide vote for
the main reformist group, the Islamic Iran
Participation Front, has astonished many who did not
expect voters to so overwhelmingly reject the veteran
statesmen who have led the country since the
revolution 21 years ago.
Just what most Iranians are looking for in the new
generation can be seen in the leader of the
Participation Front and top vote-getter in Tehran,
Mohammadreza Khatami.
Dr. Khatami has benefited from voter recognition of
his family name, which has come to symbolize the push
for political change since his older brother was
elected president three years ago.
However, many Iranian observers say the younger
brother of the president is also an experienced
political tactician who will exert considerable
influence in the new parliament.
Following his election, Dr. Khatami outlined his
priorities.
/// KHATAMI ACT ONE ///
The first thing that we (will pursue) is the
political development in Iran. For example, the
laws that restrict the press, we will remove
them. And the law for elections, that makes
some difficulties for people to vote for whom
they want. I think this law will be changed.
/// END ACT ///
Dr. Khatami says his group also wants to satisfy
demands from youth and women for more freedom and
opportunities.
Born in 40 years ago (1959) in Ardekan, central Iran,
Mohammadreza Khatami chose not to not follow his elder
brother into the clergy, but instead studied medicine.
Educated almost entirely in Iran, he became a doctor
specializing in the treatment of kidney diseases.
He has strong revolutionary credentials. As a
student, he was a member of the Followers of the
Imam's Line group that emerged following the takeover
of the U-S embassy in Tehran. And he volunteered for
the front during the Iran-Iraq War.
Dr. Khatami was a deputy minister of health in the
first governments after the revolution and later a
consultant to the Ministry of Islamic Guidance and
Culture.
With the election of his brother Mohammed Khatami to
the presidency in 1997, Dr. Khatami's involvement in
the political reform movement deepened. He founded
the Mosharekat, or Participation, newspaper that is
the mouthpiece for his alliance. And he became
chairman of the group's political bureau.
Although he retains some of his youthful idealism, Dr.
Khatami is also pragmatic. Asked about possible
resistance to reform from the judiciary and religious
oversight councils that are still under conservative
control, Dr. Khatami is optimistic but says change may
take time.
/// KHATAMI ACT TWO ///
General opinion can affect the other authorities
that are not electable (elected). So I think
the reform will be run (implemented) step by
step.
/// END ACT ///
Nevertheless, Dr. Khatami says he expects some changes
to become evident very quickly and he says that every
day what he calls the difficulties will become less
and less. (Signed)
NEB/SB/JWH/LTD/KL
22-Feb-2000 08:33 AM EDT (22-Feb-2000 1333 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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