Tehran, 2008 March 20, IRNA 
 
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday congratulated all Iranians and all those loving and celebrating Noruz as well as whole mankind on Noruz, marking advent of the new year.

"Noruz is among special divine events and blessings; Noruz means revival, purification, rebirth, and welcoming all virtues and beauties. There is a fact in Noruz which is the the key to its permanency ... Iranian nation has identified the gem of monotheism and of Noruz from depth of history and has safe-guarded it well and today it is offering it to mankind. Noruz is the key to solidarity and benevolence, love and passion, allegiance with the good, justice and monotheism... All should endear Noruz with all its goodness," said President Ahmadinejad in his televised address on the occasion of Noruz.

Noruz which falls on spring equinox is celebrated in Iran as national festivity since Persian Empire 3,000 years ago.

The president also congratulated the Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and the Iranian nation on happy birthday anniversaries of Holy Prophet of Islam Hazrat Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) and his grandson and the sixth Imam of Shiites Hazrat Jaafar Sadeq (a.s.) on March 25 and said the occasions happening around Noruz should be taken as a good omen.

President Ahmadinejad then recalled some consecutive big victories of Iran in the political, scientific and cultural domains in the past Iranian calendar year of 1386 (March 20, 2007 - March 19, 2008) and said in the period, the projects for reconstruction and development of the country showed more than double progress compared the previous year.

He said big industrial, development, scientific, research, economic, cultural and employment projects were implemented last year and the country managed to attain high economic growth rate and minimize the jobless rate to one digit level.

He added that in the scene of foreign policy, the country succeeded to be put atop the world list for national dignity and authority, as well as real peace and security.

He went on to say that Iranian nation had brilliant record in the scene of elections and it is now known as a model in
self-confidence and perseverance.

The Chief Executive said despite all the achievements, the country unfortunately had some problems, which, he hoped, would be eliminated in the new year.

He said despite jump in non-oil exports, distribution of the Justice Shares and the projects for increasing the purchasing power of the vulnerable class, there were problems last year in terms of inflation, gripping large portion of Iranian families.

He added that officials in charge are in the round-the-clock and constant efforts to improve conditions and tackle the inflation problem.

"Of course, you do know that we are in an all-out battle.

"Externally, we have been subject to pressures caused by the big economic developments, unprecedented recession and rare global price hike along with bad-temperdness of some of our enemies and internally, (we have been witnessing) some wrong conducts. But with God's grace and the endeavors of the nation, the youth and government we hope to overcome the problems," said the president.

He said that in 1386 his government had recruited experts and scholars to work intensively on a giant economic upheaval project, involving mechanisms for removal of current economic vulnerability, rent seekings, discriminations, problems in the production and distribution procedures, improper distribution of banking services and wealth, subsidy distribution, tax collection and commodity distribution.

To the end of his address, President Ahmadinejad wished Iranian nation a year full of health, joy, dignity, welfare and progress.