TEHRAN Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that the Ten-Day Dawn was a historic opportunity for Iranians to get rid of despotism and foreign domination. He was referring to the ten-day period of February 1-10, 1979 during which the late Imam Khomeini returned to Iran and the Islamic Revolution achieved victory.

In a meeting with officials in charge of holding the nationwide ceremonies to mark the occasion and officials responsible for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, the Leader said that the enemies have targeted Iranians' national identity and attempted to spoil the lively atmosphere of development and progress in the country adding that as long as the people exercise vigilance and the officials are working in line with the people's interests and the lofty aspirations of the Islamic Revolution, none of the enemies will reach their ominous goals.

The Leader said that the Islamic Revolution was the outcome of the strong will of the late Imam Khomeini, which created a great stumbling block for the enemies of the country.

The Leader underlined the need for more cultural works to mark the anniversary of victory of the Islamic Revolution and said that the Ten-Day Dawn should be honored to keep the memories of the days leading to the victory of the Islamic Revolution alive.

"The Islamic Revolution brought an atmosphere of self-reliance and paved the way for development and progress," the Leader said.

The Leader pointed to the anti-Islam and anti-Iran propaganda campaign of the world arrogance and said that a nation that has good knowledge of the cultural campaign of the world arrogance will stand up to them well.

The Leader said that the faith and knowledge of the Iranian nation are exemplary adding that the enemies are working hard to stop the Islamic Revolution from attaining its lofty objectives.

"Insistence on campaign against economic corruption is aimed at paving the way for the people to enjoy the fruits of the Islamic Revolution. If economic corruption prevails over the officials, it will deal an irreparable blow to the country," the Leader said.

The Leader said that campaign against economic corruption calls for solidarity among the officials from the three branches of government adding that the campaign was very decisive for the Islamic Republic. Therefore, he said that every branch of the government had to properly carry out its heavy responsibility in this respect.

"The campaign will make those insinuated into economic corruption know the consequences of their action and that serious punishment is awaiting them," the Leader said.

"The Judiciary and the executive branch of government should deal with the roots of economic corruption in addition to their serious campaign against those involved in corruption," the Leader said.

The Leader called for observing impartiality and justice in the campaign against economic corruption as well as avoiding factional involvement in legal matters.

The Leader rejected the idea that campaign against economic corruption will hinder investment in the country and said that instead, the campaign will have positive impacts on investment in the economic sector.

Elsewhere in his address, the Leader said that Hajj ritual is an obligation for the Muslims which has built up great capacity for the Islamic nations adding that if the Muslim nations take into account the great capacity of the Hajj pilgrimage, it will resolve a major part of the sufferings of the Muslims.

"The injustice and brutal crimes the Zionist regime has committed against the Palestinians in the past 50 years and, in particular, in the past one and a half year (since September 28, 2000) are due to the lack of solidarity and division among Muslim countries.

"Today, the Palestinian nation is passing through the hardest day possible, but, despite the wide-scale resolve of the Islamic nations to help the Palestinians, they do nothing in practice. This is a tragedy," the Leader said.

"The Zionist regime is using every kind of deadly weapons against Palestinians. It is not possible to stop the Zionist regime from its inhuman actions by giving advice. The Palestinian plight has become intertwined with the interests of all Islamic nations so that their support to Palestine serves in fact their own interests," the Leader pointed out.

"Islamic solidarity will stop the international plunderers from easily exposing an Islamic country to aggression. Hajj pilgrimage is a means to foster solidarity among the world Muslims and make them aware of their responsibility toward Palestine," the Leader said.

Also, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami met with the country's Hajj officials on Tuesday evening.

During the meeting, Khatami stated that if an Islamic nation performs the Hajj rituals correctly, it puts an end to all its backwardness and miseries.

"If Hajj is performed with its real meaning, a usurper regime which deprives people of their basic rights, oppresses them, and imposes its will on Islamic society would never be established," said Khatami, alluding to the Zionist regime.

He said the spirit of divine religions is monotheism which Hajj reflects thoroughly. "Hajj rejects disunity, wickedness and violence," he added.

Khatami also thanked the Hajj officials of the Islamic Republic and Saudi Arabia for their cooperation in sending Iranian pilgrims to Mecca and the holy sites in Saudi Arabia.