HASHTRUD, East Azarbaijan Prov. (IRNA) -- President Mahmud Ahmadinejad said here on Thursday that the Iranian government and nation shoulder the great historical responsibility of achieving development and progress for Islamic Iran.

Addressing a huge crowd of residents of this northwestern city, he said the government and people should work hand in hand to bring development and progress to their country and make it an example for other Islamic states.

Underlining the need to administer justice in society, he cited justice as a main element of development, and added that development and progress should be enjoyed by the entire nation.

Through the fair distribution of the country's resources and facilities, we will no longer witness any deprived region anywhere in the country, Ahmadinejad said.

Elsewhere in his speech, the president underlined the need to remove corruption from all parts of society.

100 plans ratified for East Azarbaijan

Addressing a group of locals in the city of Varzaqan, the president said his cabinet has in a session on its 16th provincial trip ratified 100 plans in connection with the development of this northwestern province.

Ahmadinejad said that the ratifications were mostly aimed to boost employment.

He referred to a plan calling for establishment of a steel mill in Varzaqan with an aim to tackle the unemployment problem, saying the operations for implementation of the project will soon begin.

President Ahmadinejad further said completing the infrastructure of the province, increasing the budget for water projects and constructing two sports gyms for boys and girls were among other approvals of his cabinet on Thursday.

Referring to the cultural, natural and civilization potentials of Varzaqan, he said the potentials should be exploited in light of the strong determination of the youth.

He stressed that national facilities should be fairly distributed among the public in different parts of the country.

The president, accompanied by members of his cabinet, arrived in East Azarbaijan province on Tuesday for a four-day visit.

He has already visited the provinces of South Khorasan, Sistan-Baluchestan, Ilam, Qom, Hormuzgan, Bushehr, Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari, Lorestan, Golestan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad and Khorasan Razavi, Zanjan, Markazi, Qazvin and Hamedan.