Reformist presidential candidate Hassan Rohani says he will foster moderation in the country if he wins the June 14 elections, stressing that the era of extremism is over.\n<\/p>\n
Addressing a crowd of his supports in the northwestern city of Orumiyeh on Monday, Rohani stressed the significance of the upcoming presidential poll, saying the election will turn a new page in the Iranian history.\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cWe will decide the country\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s fate on June 14. The era of extremists is over. We will replace moderation. We will initiate reforms, friendship, peace and fraternity,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n
The reformist candidate also criticized the administration of incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over its economic data, pledging that his administration will not tamper with official figures.\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cFalsified statistics will have no place in the Foresight and Hope Administration. We should restore stability and tranquility to the country. There will not be 3.5 million jobless people when the next administration takes office. Under the next administration, there will not be 867,000 unemployed university graduates,\u201d Rohani added.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The presidential candidate also pledged to restore the value of the national currency.<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cIn the Foresight and Hope Administration, the value of national currency will not slide to half or one third over a course of six months. The next administration is the administration of liveliness, not an administration which solely pays lip service,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n
Rohani vowed to attach paramount importance to civil rights.\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cI will formulate and implement civil rights [charter]. Under civil rights [charter], there would be no minority and majority; and Kurds, Azeris, Turkmens, Balouches, Lors, Arabs and the other ethnic groups will be equal. We will be able to develop the country only through unity and elimination of discrimination.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cWe will be able to realize the 20-Year Outlook Plan, which was ignored over the past eight years. We can reach our ideals through assistance and endeavor,\u201d the reformist candidate noted.\n<\/p>\n
The former chief nuclear negotiator also said he will improve Iran\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s diplomatic relations with the world.\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cIn the next administration, we will not be in an atmosphere of confrontation and pretention with the world. We will not bow down to other countries, but our policy will be based on constructive interaction with the world,\u201d Rohani pointed out.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Rohani is facing five rivals including former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, Secretary of the Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi. <\/p>\n
Two presidential candidates, former Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel and former First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref withdrew their candidacy bids respectively on Monday and early Tuesday.\n<\/p>\n
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election. Nearly 50.5 million Iranians are eligible to vote in the upcoming presidential poll.\n<\/p>\n
MP\/KA\/SS<\/p>\n