DATE=11/18/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAN / RECONCILIATION MEETING (L-O)
NUMBER=2-256324
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  Rival Iranian clerical factions have met in 
Tehran in an effort to ease tensions.  Middle East 
Correspondent Scott Bobb reports Iranian leaders are 
calling for collaboration and participation in 
preparation for parliamentary elections next year.

TEXT:  Religious leaders from conservative and 
reformist factions are seeking common ground as 
political activity rises prior to parliamentary 
elections in February.

Iranian television says the clerics were seeking to 
bring about consensus when they met (Thursday) at a 
mosque in Tehran.  They reportedly were discussing the 
possibility of jointly backing certain candidates.

/// OPT ///  Participants included representatives of 
the Society of Militant Clergy, a leading conservative 
group, the League of Militant Clerics, a group of pro-
reform advocates, and an association of theology 
professors from the holy city of Qom.

The clerics were responding to a call by Iranian 
leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for increased 
cooperation among the political factions.  Meanwhile, 
reformist President Mohammed Khatami told a crowd of 
youthful supporters in the central Iranian city of 
Isfahan to take an active part in the upcoming 
elections if they want to solidify their destiny.  /// 
END OPT ///

Politicians are preparing to file their candidacy 
papers next month.  But the recent closure of several 
reformist newspapers and the highly publicized trials 
of their editors have heightened tensions.  Critics 
charge the trials are aimed at silencing reformist 
voices and at preventing reformist politicians from 
running for parliament.

Conservatives argue the ideas of the reformists are an 
affront to Islam and go against the principles of the 
Iranian revolution.

The debate centers in part on whether to open up 
Iranian politics after 20-years of domination by the 
clergy. 

A professor of Political Science at Cairo's American 
University, Bahman Baktiari, says Iran is under 
pressure from its growing youth population to allow 
greater participation in government.  But he says 
there is also resistance from powerful segments of 
society.

            /// BAKTIARI ACT ///

      The trend today will be to a limited, limited 
      form of political participation.  And that 
      limited participation maybe has a chance of 
      growing larger, but it will be limited for a 
      while.

            /// END ACT ///

Candidates for public office must be approved by a 
council of religious leaders.  The council dismissed 
many reformist candidates in the local elections last 
February.  Nevertheless, reformist and independent 
candidates won many seats. 

Analysts say reformists are eager to win control of 
the parliament, while conservative factions are 
anxious to defend their majority.  As a result, a 
particularly intense period is expected in Iranian 
politics in the coming months.   (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/JWH/RAE



18-Nov-1999 12:00 PM EDT (18-Nov-1999 1700 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.