In a meeting with members of General Assembly of the Islamic Associations of the Universities and the Office to Foster Unity, Thursday 14 April, the Supreme Leader said that the student movement is the standard-bearer of a sense of responsibility, innovation and a pioneer in carrying out national goals.
     The Supreme Leader said that morality forms the essence of national aspiration and establishment of a free, independent and developed community and freedom of expression have formed the national goals to help Iran attain its due status in the international community.
     "The student associations are following the same goals and they would undertake effective part in the process of carrying out them thanks to their young spirit, bravery and courage to take risk. They would work on the forefront of the national movement for the lofty goals," the Supreme Leader said.
     The Supreme Leader said that both the nation and the student movement see freedom of expression as a requirement for development and progress.
     "From the Islamic view, the society needs freedom as human being needs to breathe. We want a society with freedom of expression and such a freedom will guarantee national development and progress. The student movement should give importance to this principle," the Supreme Leader said.
     The Supreme Leader criticized certain individuals who mistake freedom with sabotage and said that the students should not mistake freedom with corruption, ignoring the law or treason.
     Referring to latest statements of the US officials (about spending money in Iran for so-called promoting democracy), the Supreme Leader said that with this plan they have disclosed their timetable of intervention for Iran so respective institutes would not allow certain individuals to help the interventionist conspiracy.
     Elsewhere in his address, the Supreme Leader said that attaining the status Iran deserves in the international community is another goal of both the nation and the student associations and such a goal can be achieved by scientific progress.
     The Supreme Leader emphasized the need for active interaction with the international community and said that Iran will never go to extremes in the face of the international developments and Iranian community will not surrender to isolation or putting barriers around itself.