Government Performance and Record “Defendable”
IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK
First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri believes the performance of the 11th and 12th governments comparing to other governments and even other neighboring countries is “defendable” with pride.
Speaking at the annual general assembly of the House of Printed Media of the country, Jahangiri pointed to the role of the media in different countries, saying “In our society and other societies, media has important position and shaping public opinion and issues related to people depend on the efforts of the media.”
Jahangiri also pointed to efforts of enemies for using the media as a lever for shaping the public opinion, adding that foreign media plays a determining role in shaping the public opinion of any country. He noted foreign media in the normal condition try to transfer their own favorite styles into the public opinion of other countries and in the unusual condition, they can create challenges for those countries and psycho-war is one of the challenges. He stated for this reason, media plays determining role in policy-making, implementing the policies and welcoming the policies by the public.
Jahangiri also said that criticism from different organs and bodies by the media is another characteristics of the media, adding that media by criticizing the policies and paying attention to major issues help the policy-makers to make proper decisions to run the country, so criticism is one of the huge assets which serves the policy-makers for free.
He reiterated that the government never wants the media and the press to become its propagation voice but it wants the press to become critical, noting that the society in the current condition needs unity, morality, convergence, impartiality and fairness.
Jahangiri also pointed to the role of the media in combatting the corruption, adding media is considered as a valuable asset for governments in many sectors. He went on to say that in the current stage, combatting the corruption is one of the major issues in the country and media outlets can help the country eradicate the corruption.
He further said that the country should be worried about bankruptcies and shutdowns of the media outlets, especially printed media, and all should work to save them from bankruptcy.
On the performance of President Hassan Rouhani’s government, Jahangiri reiterated that comparing to previous governments and even to the neighboring countries, the performance of Hope and Prudence government is defendable with pride, noting the government’s performance in any economic component of the country is even incomparable with previous governments.
He noted economic indexes of the country are now improving after the U.S. imposed psycho-war and economic terrorism. He added that the country is attracting investment and all should bravely defend the current condition of national economy.
Reacting to some criticisms on President Rouhani’s remarks on elections, he said media should not misinterpret President Rouhani’s remarks. He said President Rouhani did not ask for removing a supervising body for election but he meant that for a massive participation in election and a victory for the nation, the climate should be more open and all political currents and fronts should be able to have candidates in the election.
