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Prayer Time (Tehran)
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Dawn: 5:34
Sunrise: 7:04
Noon: 11:57
Evening: 17:11
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Weather Guide
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THU |
FRI |
Tehran: |
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High: |
9oC |
6oC |
Low: |
2oC |
-3oC |
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Athens |
5 |
7 |
Ankara |
-12 |
-13 |
Paris |
5 |
4 |
New Delhi |
10 |
10 |
Rome |
8 |
8 |
Riyadh |
7 |
6 |
Frankfurt |
1 |
0 |
Cairo |
7 |
7 |
Kuwait City |
5 |
2 |
Karachi |
16 |
16 |
Copenhagen |
2 |
0 |
London |
4 |
3 |
Moscow |
-8 |
-4 |
Madrid |
-1 |
0 |
Vienna |
-5 |
-2 |
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Identification
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Published by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA)
Address:
Iran Cultural & Press Institute, #212 Khorramshahr Avenue Tehran/Iran
Managing Director: Mohammad T. Roghaniha
Executive Editor: Amin Sabooni
Editorial Dept. Tel: 8755761-2
Editorial Dept. Fax: 8761869
Advertising Dept. Tel: 8753119, 8757702, 8733764
Internet Address:
www.iran-daily.com
E-mail Address:
iran-daily@iran-daily.com
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US Hostile Policies Rule Out Talks
TEHRAN, Dec. 15--Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi here Wednesday said as long as the US continues its hostile policies against Iran, talks will be out of the question.
Addressing domestic and foreign reporters after a cabinet meeting, Kharrazi added that Iran will hold talks with the US only when it changes its policies toward Iran and adopts a respectful approach, IRNA reported.
He denied that the European Union proposed the US participation in Iran-EU3 talks.
Dismissing the rumor about Iran's agreement with the US participation in talks with the EU trio, the minister said he had never said such a thing.
On violation of human rights, he said, "During these meetings, we usually bring up the cases of such violations committed by the US, Israel and even the European countries.Ó
Asked about the French governmentÕs ban on the Lebanese Al-ManarÕs TV broadcast, Kharrazi replied that those claiming to defend human rights and freedom should examine such issues closely.
ÒOnce any country interferes in freedom of expression, it can no longer make claims about it,Ó he said.
Commenting on the US opposition to Iran's membership in the World Trade Organization, Kharrazi said, "This indicates the US hostility toward us."
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Jordan's Abdullah Lacks Experience
Weapons Smuggled From Iraq
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Abdol Vahed Mousavi Lari
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TEHRAN, Dec. 15--Interior Minister Abdol Vahed Mousavi Lari Wednesday said Jordanian ruler King Abdullah recently made anti-Iran comments because he is still young and inexperienced.
"King Abdullah recently became king and is not familiar with all affairs," he told reporters at the end of the cabinet meeting.
Abdullah recently said Iran has sent "one million people to Iraq to participate in the Iraqi elections." He also claimed that Tehran wants to establish a Shiite crescent in the region.
"King Abdullah does not even understand what kind of logistics and means are needed for the entry of one million people from one country to another. If he had thought twice, he would have certainly not made such illogical statements," Lari was quoted by IRNA as saying.
Regarding Iran's borders with Iraq, the minister noted, "Our borders are completely under control. However some weapons smugglers bring weapons inside Iran from Iraqi territory.
Of course, we deal resolutely with these smugglers, and have also raised our complaints with Iraqi officials. Iran is serious about controlling its borders. However, it is regrettable that the Iraqi side does not control the frontiers effectively."
Lari added that Iran is ready and willing to cooperate with all its neighbors in controlling borders and confront smugglers and terrorist groups.
Commenting on the upcoming presidential elections, he noted his "ministry is still insisting that the election be held on May 19. We shall introduce the head of the electoral headquarters whenever the date of election is final.
Regarding software for counting votes, we have sent a letter to Guardians Council asking it to send its experts to assess the software."
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Demo Near Parliament
TEHRAN, Dec. 15--About 50 wives of martyrs gathered in front of the parliament on Wednesday to protest against the poor performance of the Martyrs Foundation with regard to the living conditions of martyrs' families.
The protesters called for payment of arrears and delayed benefits as well as the non-receipt of ownership deeds of houses given to them.
They also called for meeting Majlis Speaker Gholamali Haddad-Adel to discuss their problems.
IRNA did not mention whether they succeeded in meeting the speaker or not.
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Journalists Complain to Majlis Board
TEHRAN, Dec. 15--Some 33 journalists on Wednesday wrote a letter to Majlis Presiding Board and called for removing restrictions on contacting commissions, MPs and officials visiting the Majlis.
According to IRNA, the signatories noted that when the Majlis moved to Baharestan Complex a month ago, the Majlis speaker and presiding board promised to provide them with the means for carrying out their professional activities.
The journalists also cautioned against the consequences of not being able to establish contacts with officials in the Majlis premises.
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Iraqi Allegations Denied
TEHRAN, Dec. 15--Government Spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh on Wednesday denied Iraqi Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan's allegations against Iran.
According to ISNA, Ramezanzadeh also told reporters after the cabinet meeting, "We are used to hearing such allegations. Iraqi officials themselves know that we have helped them the most for establishing security in Iraq. We believe that two issues must be resolved: the issue of IraqÕs occupation and terrorist operations. The best remedy is to hold elections in a more speedy manner."
Iraq's Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan accused Iran the same day of orchestrating terrorist attacks in Iraq, branding its neighbor the "most dangerous enemy of Iraq".
Commenting on the Islamic Republic of Iran BroadcastingÕs proposed coverage of remarks by webloggers found guilty of violations, the spokesman said this indicates that the letters they have supposedly written is not convincing.
"I am glad that the prosecution reached the conclusion that those letters could not adequately be self-explanatory to the people and hence it resorted to other measures to satisfy the public opinion. We think this is a positive move. However, we expect IRIB to be fair and reflect the views of both the defendants and the plaintiffs," he said.
Asked about the US veto of Iran's membership bid in the World Trade Organization, Ramezanzadeh said, "We have problems with the US in our foreign relations. We hope the Europeans would abide by its commitments in this respect."
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Peres Says Working for Peace With Palestinians
ROME, Dec. 15--Israeli Labour party leader Shimon Peres said he would work with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to achieve peace with the Palestinians, in an interview published Wednesday.
"It is our main objective and our principal reason for entering the government, otherwise we would have no reason" to do so, Peres told the Italian daily La Repubblica, AFP reported.
Sharon was given the green light by his right-wing Likud party on Friday to bring Labour, the main opposition grouping, into his coalition government to ensure that his plan to withdraw Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip goes through.
Peres was replying to a question whether Labour was merely seeking the Gaza withdrawal or wanted to relaunch the whole peace process enshrined in an internationally-backed 'roadmap'.
"I think that when the withdrawal is over, we will have to come back to the roadmap program", which envisages a separate Palestinian state by next year, he said.
The Gaza withdrawal would be "very difficult", he added.
More talks between Labour and Likud were expected on Wednesday after negotiations hit a stumbling block on Monday night.
Sharon, stripped of a majority for more than six months, must bring Labour into a new government or face the prospect of early elections which would likely derail his plan to pull troops and settlers out of Gaza next year.
Peres said of Arafat, in reference to Palestinian militants' attacks on Israeli targets, "I don't think he started the terrorism, but he certainly did nothing to stop it."
He told La Repubblica, "Arafat thought that a bit of peace and a bit of terrorism could coexist, but such a cocktail of fire and water cannot last. It's either the one or the other."
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Caution Is The Word
By Nawab Khan, Brussels
After more than a year of intense diplomacy, at times marked by acrimonious exchanges and sharp statements, the European Union and Iran have agreed to open a new chapter in their relationship by launching talks on long-term cooperation agreements.
Last year in October, the three major EU players, France, Germany, and the UK began negotiations with the Islamic Republic to seek assurances that Iran's nuclear program is of a peaceful nature in return for closer economic, political and security cooperation with the 25-member bloc.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in November finally verified that Iran had voluntarily suspended its uranium enrichment activities, a key EU demand, and that it had no evidence Iran was building nuclear weapons.
Early this week, Iran's top nuclear negotiator Hassan Rowhani met foreign ministers of the EU3 along with the EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana in Brussels and agreed to put back on track the process of negotiations after it was derailed last year in summer due to European concerns over Tehran's nuclear facilities.
Brussels and Tehran are expected early next year to renew talks on a Trade and Cooperation Agreement that were put on ice in June 2003.
The two sides have also formed working groups to pave the way for closer political, economic, technology and nuclear cooperation. The Brussels breakthrough represents a win-win situation both for the EU and Iran.
The European bloc has emerged as an influential player on the international scene, especially in relation to stability in the Middle East and working with Iran. This positive development is obviously to the chagrin of the self-styled superpower, while the world image and prestige of Iran as a peaceful nation has improved.
The US administration's hope that threats of sanction and other bullying tactics might intimidate the Europeans to abandon their engagement policy with Iran now seems to be of little relevance.
With one setback after the other, the frustrated Bush White House is now after the blood of IAEA chief Mohammad ElBaradei for not sending Iran to the UN Security Council as wished by the neocons in Washington.
It is imperative that both the EU and Iran now proceed with great caution. The positive development this week does not mean that from now on it would all be smooth-sailing. The path is still strewn with thorns and ditches. However, through dialogue, engagement and good intentions the remaining hurdles will and should be overcome.
The future prospect for EU-Iran cooperation looks better.
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