Section A · Page 8
The University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, February 23, 2000
World
Iranians thirst for greater freedom
The Associated Press
TEHRAN, Iran — With all indications that hard-liners will lose control of Iran's parliament, the triumphant reformists presented a legislative agenda yesterday with a priority on expanding press freedoms and lifting a ban on foreign television broadcasts.
But it remained to be seen whether hard-liners would find a way to block those initiatives. The conservative Guardians Council can veto all legislation passed by parliament, and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the main backer of the
"What is important is the rule of law and judgment of the people."
Mohammadreza
Khatami
head of Participation Front
conservative camp, has final say in all matters.
Iranians expressed their desire for greater political and social freedoms in Friday's election for the Majlis, or parliament, by overwhelmingly
choosing members of reformist groups like the Iran Islamic Participation Front, led by President Mohammad Khatami's brother.
Mohammadreza Khatami, the head of the Participation Front, said he was confident hard-liners would not risk angering a majority of Iranians by using the powers they still had to block reforms.
"What is important is the rule of law and judgment of the people, and the election clarified the desires of people," he said.
Iran's remarkably free press and live broadcasts of parliamentary
proceedings also could keep conservatives from resorting to heavy-handed methods.
Hard-liners have said little as election returns were counted, but at least one conservative lawmaker in the departing parliament indicated that they would accept defeat gracefully.
"The next Majlis will be a Majlis which will coordinate with the desires of the Iranian nation," Mohammadreza Khatami said yesterday, outlining a legislative agenda that highlighted guaranteeing freedom of the press and lifting a ban on watching foreign TV broadcasts.
Clinton delivers message of peace via video
The Associated Press
ARUSHA, Tanzania — In his first foray into video diplomacy, President Clinton urged Burundi's leaders yesterday to reach a peace settlement before violence ruins their chances for future prosperity.
In a speech beamed via satellite to negotiators in Tanzania, Clinton said the United States supported efforts to resolve the civil war in the neighboring African country of Burundi, where fighting between Hutu rebels and the Tutsi-dominated army has killed more than 200,000 people and uprooted more
than 1.2 million since 1993.
Clinton's aides said it was the first time the White House had engaged in video diplomacy.
His appearance was part of former South African President Mandela's campaign to turn the glare of international attention on the problems of Burundi, a country of 6.2 million people.
The talks are aimed at reconciling the often deadly differences that have divided the Hutu majority and the minority Tutsi, who dominate the country's government, military and economy.
Previous glimmers of progress often have ended tragically. The first democratically elected president, a Hutu,
was assassinated by Tutsi
paratroopers
seven years ago.
The assassination
marked the
beginning of
an era of
bloodshed.
do all it could to help the negotiations succeed.
The European Union and the United States have donated more
Clinton: sends first video message to Africa
than $8.2 million to stage the talks. A confidential report prepared for the French government last year said negotiators, who are paid a $100 a day, had no incentive to quickly reach a settlement.
By day's end, the champion of the anti-apartheid struggle, who spent 27 years in a South African jail cell, had cooled. He congratulated Gaetan Nikobamye, leader of the minuscule Liberal Party, for announcing his eagerness to consider draft peace proposals. He also reiterated his intention to meet with representatives of the two main Hutu rebel groups, who have not participated in the talks.
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