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AIC
UPDATE - June
2005 | Vol. 2 | No. 24
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A seasoned politician, Ali Akbar
Hashemi Rafsanjani has reinvented himself as
pragmatist capable of moving Iran forward both
domestically and internationally. He has become the
second round savior for Reformists who sense an
impending hard-line takeover.
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Tehran's Mayor Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad rose from political obscurity with a low
key campaign aimed at
highlighting his religious piety and concern for Iran's
poor. Many believe a win for Ahmadinejad would
threaten outgoing President Khatami's
modest reforms and could lead Iran into international
isolation.
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AIC Update is an information resource for US-Iran
relations and the efforts of the American Iranian
Council to promote dialogue and understanding
between the United States and Iran.
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| Voter Turnout - High and Expected Higher |
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Despite early predictions that Iranian would not
come
to the polls in large numbers, the Interior Ministry,
the body charged with conducting the elections, has
reported that 62% of the electorate took part in the
polls, despite boycott calls from some reformist
groups. The second round of elections is expected
to draw an even larger number, with many of those
who boycotted the first round of elections, throwing
their support behind Ali-Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
who has become the choice of moderation and
progress in the face of Ahmadinejad's success.
Iranian leaders had urged voters to turn out to the
polls in large numbers to discredit foreign criticism
that the elections were not democratic. The
controversial nature of the run-off is likely to bring
Iranians to the polls in greater or equal numbers,
many out of fear that Ahmadinejad will repeal social
and cultural advances.
Nation to make history again on Friday
http://www.tehrant
imes.com/Description.asp?
Da=6/23/2005&Cat=2&Num=009
Large voter turnout is thanks to Bush, spy chief
says
ht
tp://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/
base/news/1119267019151730.xml&coll=2
Voter Turnout in Iran
htt
p://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2005/06/18/intern
ational/20050619iran_vote_graphic.html
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| Open Letter: Dr. Amirahmadi Urges Election Participation |
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In an open letter to the Iranian people, Dr.
Hooshang
Amirahmadi urges Iranians to actively participate in
the second round of the Ninth Presidential election.
He believes all Iranians should vote for the candidate
who will work for normalization of relations with the
US, political democracy, institutionalization of a freer
economy, and formation of a coalition government.
The following text is in Persian.
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| About Us |
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Vision
The vision of the American Iranian Council is that the
United States and Iran will work together, since their
common interests far outweigh their differences. AIC
also envisions the Iranian-American community
playing an increasingly significant role in American
society, and Iran becoming a democratically
developed member of the global community with full
respect for human rights.
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Mission
The mission of AIC is to be a constructive force, in
cooperation and partnership with other organizations,
in bringing the United States and Iran together,
involving the Iranian-American community in the
dialogue, and bringing attention to social and political
conditions in Iran.
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Goals
The three
interrelated goals of the American Iranian Council
are:
1.
To serve as a platform for sustained dialogue on U.S.-
Iran relations.
2. To serve as a catalyst to educate all Americans,
including Iranian-Americans, regarding this
dialogue.
3. To serve as a forum for discussion of issues of
importance in Iranian society.
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Copyright © 2005 American Iranian Council. All
rights reserved.
American Iranian Council | 20 Nassau Street, Suite
111 | Princeton | NJ | 08542
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