In an address to Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) officials, including its managing director and deputy directors, the Supreme Leader said that a plutocratic group that represents a global social class is occupying the Middle East and the Islamic region through political, cultural, and economic means, and the Islamic Republic is the only country that has consciously resisted this attack.
Ayatollah Khamenei added that this group’s efforts to dominate the world’s financial and natural resources have led to the emergence of neocolonialism in the region.
The Leader stressed that this neocolonialism, if successful, could set regional nations back by at least a hundred years in regard to achieving scientific progress and prosperity.
“The national media play an important role in helping the Islamic Republic resist this full-scale attack,” Ayatollah Khamenei added.
He also highlighted the key role IRIB plays in the intellectual and cultural life of the nation, saying, “The real war in the complicated modern world is the war between the media.”
The propagandistic, cultural, and moral attacks against Iran by international media outlets controlled by plutocrats have reached a peak, and the national media play an important role in this critical struggle, the Leader stressed.
He also expressed hope that the Islamic Republic would be victorious in this struggle despite the prevalent weaknesses and deficiencies.
“I believe we can overcome all the problems by relying on our skilled, experienced, innovative, courageous, and trustworthy human resources,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated.
The Supreme Leader stressed that the government and the nation should be able to trust the national media, and it should be competitive, pay attention to quality as well as quantity, operate efficiently in local, national and international arenas, and remain flexible as various unpredictable situations arise in order to realize its goals.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that protecting the people against the destructive attacks of foreign media outlets, deepening the public’s belief in the efficiency of the system, maintaining and encouraging national unity and coordination, and raising people’s awareness of sensitive issues such as science, security, and the necessity to nurture talented individuals, national strength, and innovation, are some of the main goals that the IRIB should pursue.
He added that the IRIB’s religious programs should increase people’s faith and avoid “merely emotional approaches”.
The programs produced for various religious occasions should be intelligent, artistic, diverse, and attractive, the Leader stated.
He also said that the IRIB should be tasked with enhancing the country’s administrative management capabilities, adding that it is essential to identify shortcomings and the people’s main concerns with the intention of finding appropriate solutions and to inform the people about various aspects of the government’s extensive achievements.
Ayatollah Khamenei went to say that happiness, pleasure, and smiles are essential for society, saying that IRIB should satisfy people’s need for entertainment by making interesting comedy programs that are not immoral or depraved.
The Leader added that the national media are tasked with promoting justice, raising awareness in the Islamic world, and encouraging public participation.
IRIB Managing Director Ezzatollah Zarghami also spoke during the meeting, saying that IRIB plans to improve the quality of its programs over the next five years.
Zarghami also stated that the national media should strive to represent religious and moral values.
The IRIB has been making plans for a long time on ways to encourage a massive voter turnout in the country’s upcoming presidential election in spring 2005, he added.
Zarghami said that due to financial difficulties, the institution is having problems attaining the minimum international standards but expressed hope that IRIB officials would make the utmost efforts to overcome the problems despite the current difficulties.
HL/MS/HG
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MNA