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Prayer Time (Tehran)
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Dawn: 5:43
Sunrise: 7:11
Noon: 12:15
Evening: 17:39
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Weather Guide
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THU |
FRI |
Tehran: |
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High: |
7 oC |
6 oC |
Low: |
0 oC |
-1 oC |
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Athens |
6 |
6 |
Ankara |
-1 |
-1 |
Paris |
8 |
4 |
New Delhi |
7 |
8 |
Rome |
3 |
3 |
Riyadh |
8 |
7 |
Frankfurt |
0 |
-4 |
Cairo |
10 |
10 |
Kuwait City |
7 |
6 |
Karachi |
16 |
12 |
Copenhagen |
0 |
-3 |
London |
8 |
1 |
Moscow |
-3 |
-3 |
Madrid |
-1 |
-2 |
Vienna |
3 |
-1 |
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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 'Wrong' About Feasibility Of EU Deal
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Jack Straw
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LONDON, Jan. 19--British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw Wednesday dismissed reports that the US may be contemplating military action against Iran while saying that Washington was wrong to be skeptical about the EU being able to reach a deal on Iran's nuclear program.
"Those who said we'd be split apart by the Iranians are wrong," Straw said. "Those who said we would not be able to negotiate any substantial text (with the Iranians) are wrong," he said in an interview with the Financial Times, IRNA reported.
The foreign secretary was further dismissive of a criticism by some American officials of the approach adopted by Britain, France and Germany that led to the signing of the Paris Agreement on Iran's nuclear program in November.
"Those who said we could not build up a degree of trust with the Iranians--at the same time as building up a strong consensus with the US and the non-aligned countries--are wrong," he insisted.
He was said to have also "laughed off" suggestions in the US that the Pentagon was covertly drawing up plans for strikes against targets in Iran.
"You will always find somebody in Washington thinking about something. That's how things are there," he said.
Straw had previously said that the possibility of any attack being launched by the US, or by its proxy Israel, was 'inconceivable'.
Meanwhile, Straw Tuesday published a collection of documents on international efforts over the past two years to establish with confidence whether Iran's nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
The records span from reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) dating over a number of years up to the Paris Agreement between the European Union and Iran signed last November.
Straw said it should be noted that "the activities which the (IAEA) Board has asked Iran to suspend (uranium enrichment, reprocessing and related activities) are not specifically prohibited under the NPT and, provided they are exclusively for peaceful purposes (e.g. electricity generation) they are permitted (as per Articles II and IV of NPT)."
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Asefi Calls on America To Review Past Policies
TEHRAN, Jan. 19--Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said on Wednesday the recent remarks of American officials reveal the true nature of the United States and its objectives in the global arena.
Referring to the recent remarks of US President George W. Bush and Secretary of State nominee Condoleezza Rice, Asefi stressed that Iran relies on people's power, its diplomatic potential and military capabilities, and will strongly respond to any kind of unwise acts, IRNA reported.
He said that the US in the past years continued to face numerous troubles due to the policies and approaches adopted by the extremist neo-conservatives.
The spokesman maintained that the US had no way out of these troubles, unless it reviewed its past wrong policies and compensated for them.
He noted that these remarks of the US officials and hardliners at the present juncture, when America is facing a tough situation in Iraq and given the world public opinion, indicate that they are pursuing a specific objective.
"Iran believes they are making such remarks to suggest that constructive nuclear talks between Iran and Europe have failed, instead of helping Europe to solve problems in a peaceful diplomatic manner and through dialogue," he said.
Asefi recommended that the new secretary of state review wrong US approaches in carrying out hegemonic and monopolistic policies to avoid a repetition of past mistakes.
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Asian Tsunami Death Toll Hits 220,000
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Jan. 19--The death toll from the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Indian Ocean nations rose to nearly 220,000 Wednesday with another 50,000 deaths being reported by Indonesia's Health Ministry.
Indonesia was hardest-hit by the December 26 quake and tsunamis, with 166,320 confirmed deaths, the health ministry said, raising the toll by more than 50,000 from the government's previous tally, AFP reported.
Thailand's tsunami death toll crept up to 5,323 confirmed dead.
The interior ministry removed nine names from the list of people reported missing after the disaster, bringing the total to 3,115.
On the list of missing people, 2,101 are believed to be Thais and 1,014 foreigners, the ministry's disaster management unit said in a statement.
The death toll in Sri Lanka, which was second hardest hit by the catastrophe, stood at 30,920, according to the Center for National Operations. The number of missing has dropped to 5,565.
The US Geological Survey said the earthquake west of the Indonesian island of Sumatra measured 9.0 on the Richter scale--making it the largest quake worldwide in four decades.
Death toll:
Indonesia: 166,320, Sri Lanka: 30,920, India: 16,413, Thailand: 5,323, Maldives: 82, Malaysia: 68, Myanmar: 59, Bangladesh: 2, Somalia: 298, Tanzania: 10, Kenya: 1. Total: 219,496
* India's figure includes 5,669 listed as missing, most of them presumed dead.
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20 Killed in Iraq Suicide Bombings
BAGHDAD, Iraq,
Jan. 19--At least 20 people were killed when insurgents went on a bloody seven-car bomb rampage in Iraq on Wednesday, targeting the Australian Embassy in Baghdad and Iraqi security forces, with elections just 11 days away.
China was scrambling to save the lives of eight nationals captured by Iraqi militants who have threatened them with death if Beijing does not clarify its position on Iraq, AFP reported.
The attacks occurred on the eve of a major Muslim holiday, Eid Al-Adha, with Iraqi insurgents determined to taint the January 30 polls with blood.
The New York Times reported a US intelligence assessment that the post-election Iraqi administration would ask Washington to set a timetable for the withdrawal of its troops from Iraq.
Until now, Iraqi and US officials in Baghdad have said no discussions have begun on the sensitive topic and Shiite political leaders have said they do not foresee an immediate withdrawal for the 150,000 US troops in Iraq.
Insurgents went on the rampage in Baghdad just after 7 a.m. (0400 GMT), setting off five car bombs, while a sixth exploded south of the capital. Another one later went off in the northern city of Mosul.
The group of Al-Qaeda's Iraq supremo Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi claimed responsibility for four of the attacks in Baghdad.
The first suicide car bomb exploded outside an Australian military barracks near the nation's embassy, witnesses and police said.
The driver rammed his vehicle against the sand barriers and blast walls in front of the building, killing two people and wounding six, police said.
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Kyoto Accession Ratified
TEHRAN, Jan. 19--Majlis on Wednesday ratified a bill calling for Iran's accession to the Kyoto Protocol on the United Nations Convention on Climate Change.
The text of the convention was adopted at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, on May 9, 1992. It was open for signature at the Rio de Janeiro on June 4-14, 1992, and thereafter at the UN Headquarters, New York, from June 20, 1992 to June 19, 1993.
By that date, the convention had received 166 signatures and entered into force on March 21, 1994. Those states that have not signed the convention may join it at any time.
For the states that ratify, accept or approve the convention or accede to it after the date of its entry into force, the convention shall go into effect on the 90th day after the date of the deposit by such a state of its instrument of ratification.
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Tehran-Islamabad Ties
Not Affected by False Reports
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Jan. 19--Pakistan said on Wednesday deep-rooted relations between Islamabad and Tehran could never be affected by fabricated reports.
In an interview with IRNA here, Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan rejected a recent article published in a US magazine which suggested that Pakistan was helping US plan air strikes on Iran, IRNA reported.
"It is an attempt to drive a wedge between the strong and deep-rooted relations between the friendly states," Khan said. "We don't take notice of such articles because they are motivated and never succeed in harming very strong Pak-Iran relations that are based on a very resilient foundation."
The spokesman maintained that such articles, regardless of the fact that they are published in any part of the world, could not affect the two countries' relations.
The spokesman further said Pak-Iran relations are the aspirations of the peoples of the two countries.
"Such misleading reports do appear from time to time to create misunderstanding between the two nations," he said.
Khan said that the content of such articles was "not worthy" of any response.
He expressed hope that Iran and US would try to resolve their differences through peaceful means and there would be no conflict between the two countries or in the region.
Commenting on Seymour Hersh's report that Pakistan was collaborating with the US for spying on Iran, Khan said, "We understand that a contradiction of the article has already been issued by the Pentagon and the US government."
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Aliyev's Visit for Consolidating Ties
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 19--Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday said that his upcoming visit to Iran will have a great impact on further consolidation of mutual relations.
In a meeting with Iran's Special Envoy for Caspian Sea Affairs, Mehdi Safari, the Azeri president expressed satisfaction with bilateral ties in various domains and underlined the crucial role of President Mohammad Khatami's recent visit to Baku in preparing the ground for closer relations, IRNA reported.
The president also referred to the subsequent exchange of visits between the officials of the two countries as evidence of bolstering bilateral ties.
He also voiced satisfaction with the trend of Caspian Sea talks and reiterated the need to find an acceptable solution for securing the interests of the two sides.
For his part, Safari conveyed President Khatami's greetings to his Azeri counterpart and congratulated him on the upcoming Eid Al-Adha feast (Friday January 21).
President Aliyev is scheduled to pay an official visit to Tehran on January 24.
Safari arrived in Baku late on Tuesday to hold talks with Azeri officials about mutual ties and regional developments.
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Happy Eid Al-Adha
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MECCA, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 19--Two million Muslims have converged at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to perform the annual haj rites. They mark the successful completion of these rites by celebrating Eid Al-Adha on Friday Jan. 21 by offering prayers and holding a feast.
Across the world, Muslims will offer traditional prayers, wear their best clothes and visit friends and relatives. (AFP Photo)
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Dynamics of Economy
By Ali Taheri
The ninth Iranian presidential election will be held on June 17, 2005, and the next chief executive is expected to successfully cap the third decade of the Islamic Republic.
Thirty years is quite a significant duration. In several developing countries, during this period, six development plans could have been implemented. In more advanced countries, 30 years are adequate for implementing 30 budget plans, each of which is commensurate with a development plan in developing countries.
Iran can no longer afford to implement plans on the basis of trial and error. However, the current performances of some political currents and presidential nominees suggest that we want to once again resort to the same basis. This is while Iran tried this method during 1979-89 and our statesmen reached the conclusion that the government is not essentially the best and most suitable means for determining modes of production, distribution and consumption. In fact, it is the worst source for setting prices of goods and services. This is why the government was forced to curb its interference in economic affairs since 1990.
Following this decision, many small and large private economic agencies emerged, economic growth expedited, production diversified, consumer choices increased, profiteering declined and foreign and domestic investors developed more trust in the Islamic system.
In the meantime, President Mohammad Khatami's administration tried to continue this strategy to prevent centralization of affairs. The peak of Khatami's efforts for shunning the approach of trial and error came when the Foreign Exchange Reserve Fund was established to reduce dependence of annual budgets on oil revenues. However, recent developments, especially the uncalculated withdrawal from the fund for importing gasoline and increasing subsidies for consumer goods, may imply that non-economic methods are once again coming back into vogue.
Concerns increase further when these methods are seen as the means for garnering votes and jeopardizing the interests of the country and the people.
Economics is a science and abides by specific laws and mechanisms. Economic laws cannot and should not be manipulated to suit political preferences. Therefore, all presidential aspirants must sooner than later come to terms with the dynamics of economics and accept the fact that no nation can consume more than it produces. In other words, the government cannot pay huge subsidies and centralize affairs when only we have $22 billion in oil revenues per annum.
The science of economics is about optimum use of scarce resources and no miracles can change its governing laws. We cannot afford to swim against the tide.
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