Iranian President Mohammed Khatami acknowledged Tuesday he had failed to fulfill pledges to the young voters who elected him to introduce more social and political freedoms, IRNA reported.
"These days, it is difficult for me to speak because I feel the convictions that I held, what I said and expressed with sincerity and what people believed, have not been achieved," the president said in a speech.
"Not taking into account young people and their expectations, and using religion and values to marginalize (others) causes massive problems in our society," he said.
"Our society wants freedom, independence and progress while taking into account religious values, but this does not mean setting up a religious aristocracy," Khatami added.
"I am faithful to my commitments even if the difficulties make it seem that I have abandoned them," Khatami said. (Albawaba.com)
