Presidential hopeful Mir Hossein Mousavi refers to the 'recognition of change and its management' as the only promising strategy to govern Iran.

"An approach that runs on the basis of 'keeping the influx of changes at bay' will irrefutably bring about the closure of newspapers, limitations on freedom in society and public detachment from national-religious leadership," Iran's reformist presidential hopeful Mir Hossein Mousavi told reporters on Monday.

"On the contrary, an approach that moves toward the recognition of changes, upholds values like sovereignty, liberty as well as peace. Such an approach would produce the right conditions for changes in the society and enable us to make the most of our opportunities," he also pointed out.

He said that the first approach causes widespread dismay and prevents the country from establishing strong bonds with the international community. He said that such an attitude would place Iran's interior and foreign polices at stake. The latter, however, preserves national interests through 'change management', the former Iranian Prime Minister emphasized.

Mousavi was Iran's last prime minister from 1981 to 1989, when the constitution was changed and the post ceased to exist.

Mousavi noted that blinkered attitudes and false interpretations of Islamic teachings do not satisfy public interests and only trigger the country's backwardness.

The Iranian reformist presidential candidate also regarded the presence of private television stations and the handing over of law enforcement forces to the President as preludes to the country's development.

Under the country's current constitution, Iran's television channels are state-owned. Police and law enforcement forces are also under the supervision of Iran's leader.

Asked about the basic features of his cabinet if elected as the Iranian President in the June 12 presidential election, Mousavi emphasized on wise policy and decision-making within expert frameworks.

"A president won't notch up success unless he hires competent people in his administration irrespective of their political tendencies. During my post as prime minister from 1981 to 1989, nine people in the cabinet had political views that were said to be in the opposite direction of mine. Nevertheless, there was no reason to stop their cooperation."

MP/MMA