Iran calls for restructuring of UN, Security Council
Iran has called on Wednesday for restructuring the United Nations and the Security Council at the 118th Inter-Parliamentary Union session in Cape Town, South Africa.
"As two major international bodies, the UN and the Security Council have seriously suffered from US unilateralism," said Majlis Vice-Speaker Mohammad Mohsen Abu-Torabi in his address to the IPU session.
The IPU meeting opened on Sunday.
Some 1,500 representatives from 140 member states have taken part in the ongoing week-long event.
Abu-Torabi said that IPU member states could "resists to the US unilateralism and pave the way for the UN reinforcement."
He stressed that the IPU member states could, through cooperation and making joint efforts, help international security and find solution for current challenges facing the contemporary world.
He urged all regional and international bodies to make joint efforts and find due responses to the current international challenges including the spread of weapons of mass destruction, international terrorism, poverty, environmental crisis and organized crimes.
Euro-Dhimmis along with the O.I.C. membership are working to respond positively to Irans new vision of the United Nations & its Security Council...
Pertinent Links:
1) Iran calls for restructuring of UN, Security Council
Showing posts with label u.n.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label u.n.. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM: LIMITING FREE SPEECH ON A GLOBAL SCALE
US, Europeans say Islamic countries want to limit free speech at the UN
by Eliane Engeler
GENEVA - The United States, Canada and some European countries said Tuesday that Islamic nations were trying to limit freedom of speech at the UN by trying to make an independent rights expert scrutinize individuals instead of dictatorial regimes.
The amendment passed by the UN Human Rights Council in its rush to adjourn Friday told its expert on freedom of expression to report on people who abuse their free speech rights to espouse racial and religious discrimination.
The measure, proposed by Egypt and Pakistan, passed 32-0 with the support of Islamic, Arab and African nations. European nations and some other countries abstained.
"The resolution adopted attempts to legitimize the criminalization of expression," said Warren W. Tichenor, U.S. ambassador to the UN in Geneva.
The document seeks to impose "restrictions on individuals rather than to emphasize the duty and responsibility of governments to guarantee, uphold, promote and protect human rights," he told the council.
The United States is not a member of the council but has rights to speak as an observer.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) US, Europeans say Islamic countries want to limit free speech at the UN
by Eliane Engeler
GENEVA - The United States, Canada and some European countries said Tuesday that Islamic nations were trying to limit freedom of speech at the UN by trying to make an independent rights expert scrutinize individuals instead of dictatorial regimes.
The amendment passed by the UN Human Rights Council in its rush to adjourn Friday told its expert on freedom of expression to report on people who abuse their free speech rights to espouse racial and religious discrimination.
The measure, proposed by Egypt and Pakistan, passed 32-0 with the support of Islamic, Arab and African nations. European nations and some other countries abstained.
"The resolution adopted attempts to legitimize the criminalization of expression," said Warren W. Tichenor, U.S. ambassador to the UN in Geneva.
The document seeks to impose "restrictions on individuals rather than to emphasize the duty and responsibility of governments to guarantee, uphold, promote and protect human rights," he told the council.
The United States is not a member of the council but has rights to speak as an observer.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) US, Europeans say Islamic countries want to limit free speech at the UN
Friday, April 04, 2008
DAR AL HARB-U.K.: PRISONS, GANGS & JIHAD
Convicted Islamist terrorists exploiting growing prison gang culture
by Richard Ford, Home Correspondent
Convicted Islamist terrorists are exploiting the growing gang culture in top security jails, fuelling fears that they are trying to radicalise other inmates and foment unrest.
The emerging contacts between terrorists and existing gangs in jails is occurring as the Prison Service is expecting a big increase in the number of terrorists it must look after in the next few years. The growing concern among senior Whitehall officials at the danger of Islamist terrorists seeking to radicalise other prisoners in eight top security jails is disclosed in a Ministry of Justice document.
It reveals that officials are looking at whether more high-security prison accommodation and high-security courts will be needed to cope with the predicted number of terrorists being prosecuted. It also outlines worries within the department over the radicalisation of nonterrorist Muslim prisoners and other offenders in the high-security estate.
“The numbers of convicted and suspected terrorists entering the high-security estate is becoming ever higher. Concerns over the effects of radicalisation are growing,” the paper says. “Early work needs to be done to challenge terrorist behaviour and the threat of radicalisation.”
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Convicted Islamist terrorists exploiting growing prison gang culture
by Richard Ford, Home Correspondent
Convicted Islamist terrorists are exploiting the growing gang culture in top security jails, fuelling fears that they are trying to radicalise other inmates and foment unrest.
The emerging contacts between terrorists and existing gangs in jails is occurring as the Prison Service is expecting a big increase in the number of terrorists it must look after in the next few years. The growing concern among senior Whitehall officials at the danger of Islamist terrorists seeking to radicalise other prisoners in eight top security jails is disclosed in a Ministry of Justice document.
It reveals that officials are looking at whether more high-security prison accommodation and high-security courts will be needed to cope with the predicted number of terrorists being prosecuted. It also outlines worries within the department over the radicalisation of nonterrorist Muslim prisoners and other offenders in the high-security estate.
“The numbers of convicted and suspected terrorists entering the high-security estate is becoming ever higher. Concerns over the effects of radicalisation are growing,” the paper says. “Early work needs to be done to challenge terrorist behaviour and the threat of radicalisation.”
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Convicted Islamist terrorists exploiting growing prison gang culture
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM: ISLAM, CHINA, RUSSIA, CUBA, ETC. SUCCEED IN KILLING "THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS"
Vote on freedom of expression marks the end of Universal Human Rights
For the past eleven years the organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), representing the 57 Islamic States, has been tightening its grip on the throat of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yesterday, 28 March 2008, they finally killed it.
With the support of their allies including China, Russia and Cuba (none well-known for their defence of human rights) the Islamic States succeeded in forcing through an amendment to a resolution on Freedom of Expression that has turned the entire concept on its head. The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression will now be required to report on the “abuse” of this most cherished freedom by anyone who, for example, dares speak out against Sharia laws that require women to be stoned to death for adultery or young men to be hanged for being gay, or against the marriage of girls as young as nine, as in Iran.
...
There has been a seismic shift in the balance of power in the UN system. For over a decade the Islamic States have been flexing their muscles. Yesterday they struck. There can no longer be any pretence that the Human Rights Council can defend human rights. The moral leadership of the UN system has moved from the States who created the UN in the aftermath of the Second World War, committed to the concepts of equality, individual freedom and the rule of law, to the Islamic States, whose allegiance is to a narrow, medieval worldview defined exclusively in terms of man’s duties towards Allah, and to their fellow-travellers, the States who see their future economic and political interests as being best served by their alliances with the Islamic States.
Yesterday’s attack by the Islamists, led by Pakistan, had the subtlety of a thin-bladed knife slipped silently under the ribs of the Human Rights Council. At first reading the amendment to the resolution to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression might seem reasonable. It requires the Special Rapporteur:
...
In other words: Don’t exercise your right to freedom of expression because your opponents may become violent. For the first time in the 60 year history of UN Human Rights bodies, a fundamental human right has been limited simply because of the possible violent reaction by the enemies of human rights.
The violence we have seen played out in reaction to the Danish cartoons is thus excused by the Council – it was the cartoonists whose freedom of expression needed to be regulated. And Theo van Gogh can be deemed responsible for his own death.
Freedom of expression is that right which – uniquely – enables us to expose, communicate and condemn abuse of all our other rights. Without freedom of expression and freedom of the press we give the green light to tyranny and make it impossible to expose corruption, incompetence, injustice and oppression.
...
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights died yesterday. Who knows when, or if, it can ever be revived.
I used to wonder what States who felt it necessary to kill people because they change their religion thought they were doing in the Human Rights Council. Now I know.
The wafer-thin sham of an international consensus on the promotion and protection of human rights has finally been exposed for what it was – a sham. The fragmentation of human rights now appears inevitable. The proposed Islamic Charter on Human Rights (read “Duties towards Allah”) will certainly go ahead, as will the creation of a parallel Islamic Council on Human Rights. But the OIC will nevertheless continue to attend and dominate the UN Human Rights Council, thereby ensuring its continuing emasculation and descent into total irrelevance.
Just five months before he and more than 20 of his colleagues were killed by a terrorist bomb in Baghdad, the then High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello, wrote:
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Vote on freedom of expression marks the end of Universal Human Rights
For the past eleven years the organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), representing the 57 Islamic States, has been tightening its grip on the throat of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yesterday, 28 March 2008, they finally killed it.
With the support of their allies including China, Russia and Cuba (none well-known for their defence of human rights) the Islamic States succeeded in forcing through an amendment to a resolution on Freedom of Expression that has turned the entire concept on its head. The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression will now be required to report on the “abuse” of this most cherished freedom by anyone who, for example, dares speak out against Sharia laws that require women to be stoned to death for adultery or young men to be hanged for being gay, or against the marriage of girls as young as nine, as in Iran.
...
There has been a seismic shift in the balance of power in the UN system. For over a decade the Islamic States have been flexing their muscles. Yesterday they struck. There can no longer be any pretence that the Human Rights Council can defend human rights. The moral leadership of the UN system has moved from the States who created the UN in the aftermath of the Second World War, committed to the concepts of equality, individual freedom and the rule of law, to the Islamic States, whose allegiance is to a narrow, medieval worldview defined exclusively in terms of man’s duties towards Allah, and to their fellow-travellers, the States who see their future economic and political interests as being best served by their alliances with the Islamic States.
Yesterday’s attack by the Islamists, led by Pakistan, had the subtlety of a thin-bladed knife slipped silently under the ribs of the Human Rights Council. At first reading the amendment to the resolution to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression might seem reasonable. It requires the Special Rapporteur:
“To report on instances in which the abuse of the right of freedom of expression constitutes an act of racial or religious discrimination …”
...
“.. if we regulate certain things ‘minimally’ we may be able to prevent them from being enacted violently on the streets of our towns and cities.”
In other words: Don’t exercise your right to freedom of expression because your opponents may become violent. For the first time in the 60 year history of UN Human Rights bodies, a fundamental human right has been limited simply because of the possible violent reaction by the enemies of human rights.
The violence we have seen played out in reaction to the Danish cartoons is thus excused by the Council – it was the cartoonists whose freedom of expression needed to be regulated. And Theo van Gogh can be deemed responsible for his own death.
Freedom of expression is that right which – uniquely – enables us to expose, communicate and condemn abuse of all our other rights. Without freedom of expression and freedom of the press we give the green light to tyranny and make it impossible to expose corruption, incompetence, injustice and oppression.
...
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights died yesterday. Who knows when, or if, it can ever be revived.
I used to wonder what States who felt it necessary to kill people because they change their religion thought they were doing in the Human Rights Council. Now I know.
The wafer-thin sham of an international consensus on the promotion and protection of human rights has finally been exposed for what it was – a sham. The fragmentation of human rights now appears inevitable. The proposed Islamic Charter on Human Rights (read “Duties towards Allah”) will certainly go ahead, as will the creation of a parallel Islamic Council on Human Rights. But the OIC will nevertheless continue to attend and dominate the UN Human Rights Council, thereby ensuring its continuing emasculation and descent into total irrelevance.
Just five months before he and more than 20 of his colleagues were killed by a terrorist bomb in Baghdad, the then High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello, wrote:
“Membership of the Commission on Human Rights must carry responsibilities. I therefore wonder whether the time has not come for the Commission itself to develop a code of guidelines for access to membership of the Commission and a code of conduct for members while they serve on the Commission. After all the Commission on Human Rights has a duty to humanity and the members of the
Commission must themselves set the example of adherence to the international human rights norms – in practice as well as in law…”
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Vote on freedom of expression marks the end of Universal Human Rights
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Serb and Kosovar officials in face off
TENSIONS mounted yesterday after Serbian and Kosovo officials came face-to-face for the first time since Kosovo declared independence - a move Belgrade said it would challenge in court.
"Let me tell you loud and clear: for as long as Serbia is, Kosovo shall never be," Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic told a meeting of Balkan foreign ministers in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, attended by a Kosovo delegation.
"Kosovo will not be a member of the United Nations. It will not be a member of the OSCE. And as such, it will not belong to the world community of sovereign nations. It will never acquire this ultimate status of legitimacy," he said.
Mr Jeremic said later yesterday that Belgrade would ask the International Court of Justice to ascertain "whether or not this (declaration of independence) was done in compliance with international law".
The minister urged the international community not to recognise Kosovo until the ICJ had made its ruling.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Serb and Kosovar officials in face off
TENSIONS mounted yesterday after Serbian and Kosovo officials came face-to-face for the first time since Kosovo declared independence - a move Belgrade said it would challenge in court.
"Let me tell you loud and clear: for as long as Serbia is, Kosovo shall never be," Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic told a meeting of Balkan foreign ministers in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, attended by a Kosovo delegation.
"Kosovo will not be a member of the United Nations. It will not be a member of the OSCE. And as such, it will not belong to the world community of sovereign nations. It will never acquire this ultimate status of legitimacy," he said.
Mr Jeremic said later yesterday that Belgrade would ask the International Court of Justice to ascertain "whether or not this (declaration of independence) was done in compliance with international law".
The minister urged the international community not to recognise Kosovo until the ICJ had made its ruling.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Serb and Kosovar officials in face off
Friday, February 29, 2008
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM-U.N.S.C./IRAN: "IRAN WILL HAVE THE FINAL VICTORY IN THE NUCLEAR ARENA..."
World powers will not prevent us from pursuing our nuclear ambitions
World powers will not prevent Iran from pursuing its nuclear ambitions, the Iranian president warned today.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's comments came as the UN prepared to vote tomorrow on a third round of sanctions against the rogue Islamic Republic.
The Security Council said a new resolution is likely because Iran had refused to halt work which Britain believes is aimed at making nuclear bombs.
However Mr Ahmadinejad today said any such action would be illegal and vowed to resist pressure from the West.
"The Iranian nation will have the final victory in the nuclear arena. No power will be able to obstruct the movement of the Iranian nation," he told a military gathering in the capital, Tehran.
The president said no amount of UN sanctions would deter Iran from what he insists is a peaceful programme designed at mastering technology to make electricity so the Islamic Republic can export more of its oil and gas reserves.
"Let the world know that the Iranian nation will build up Iran despite all the difficulties," he said.
"The Iranian nation has overcome the superpowers and is standing on the victor's podium. All powers are beneath the Iranian nation's feet."
The five permanent council members - the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia - and Germany, which is not on the Security Council, agreed in Berlin on January 22 on a draft text outlining a third round of sanctions against Iran.
The U.S. had hoped for a swift vote on the text but talks have dragged on for over a month.
American and British envoys said it looked as if a vote would go ahead tomorrow.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) World powers will not prevent us from pursuing our nuclear ambitions
World powers will not prevent Iran from pursuing its nuclear ambitions, the Iranian president warned today.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's comments came as the UN prepared to vote tomorrow on a third round of sanctions against the rogue Islamic Republic.
The Security Council said a new resolution is likely because Iran had refused to halt work which Britain believes is aimed at making nuclear bombs.
However Mr Ahmadinejad today said any such action would be illegal and vowed to resist pressure from the West.
"The Iranian nation will have the final victory in the nuclear arena. No power will be able to obstruct the movement of the Iranian nation," he told a military gathering in the capital, Tehran.
The president said no amount of UN sanctions would deter Iran from what he insists is a peaceful programme designed at mastering technology to make electricity so the Islamic Republic can export more of its oil and gas reserves.
"Let the world know that the Iranian nation will build up Iran despite all the difficulties," he said.
"The Iranian nation has overcome the superpowers and is standing on the victor's podium. All powers are beneath the Iranian nation's feet."
The five permanent council members - the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia - and Germany, which is not on the Security Council, agreed in Berlin on January 22 on a draft text outlining a third round of sanctions against Iran.
The U.S. had hoped for a swift vote on the text but talks have dragged on for over a month.
American and British envoys said it looked as if a vote would go ahead tomorrow.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) World powers will not prevent us from pursuing our nuclear ambitions
Thursday, February 28, 2008
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM-BALKANS: THE KOSOVAR PANDORA'S BOX KEEPS ON GIVING
International group formed to supervise independence
Vienna, 28 Feb. (AKI) - The European Union and several other countries formed on Thursday an International Steering Group (ICG) to supervise the independence of Kosovo declared by majority ethnic Albanians on 17 February.
The ICG, which will be the highest international authority in Kosovo, was formed at a meeting in Vienna and will comprise 15 countries, including members of the six-country 'Control Group', such as the United States, Great Britain, Italy, France and Germany.
Its sixth member, Russia,will not be part of the ICG, because it opposes Kosovo's independence, Dutch diplomat Peter Feith, who will be the EU civilian representative in Kosovo, told journalists.
Other members of the ICG are Austria, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Turkey, Finland, Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Slovenia and Switzerland.
Feith said the membership was open to other countries on the criteria that “they must be friends of Kosovo independence”.
Feith said it would be good if Russia also joined, but stressed that “chances are small for that to happen at this moment”.
Russia has blocked Kosovo's independence drive in the UN Security Council and is backing Serbia’s diplomatic battle to deny independence to Kosovo, which has a 90 percent ethnic Albanian population.
Russia is a member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council along with the US, China, France, and Britain thus it can veto any resolution regarding Kosovo's membership in the UN.
Feith said the main ICG task would be to implement a plan by former UN negotiator Martti Ahtisaari for what he called an internationally supervised independence.
After the plan was blocked in the UN by Russia, the EU decided to go at it alone, bypassing the Security Council and 20 countries have so far recognized Kosovo on a bilateral basis.
The EU mission is due to replace the current UN administration, which has controlled Kosovo since 1999, but Belgrade and Moscow have said that EU presence in the province would be illegal without the approval of the Security Council.
EU action is backed by a 17,000 strong NATO force deployed in Kosovo, and Feith said the international community “would tolerate no violence” in the province. The remaining 100,000 Serbs in Kosovo oppose independence and have vowed to recognise only Belgrade’s authority.
Belgrade has for the past nine years kept parallel institutions in Kosovo and vowed it would continue to do so. But Feith said no parallel institutions or partitioning of Kosovo would be tolerated.
Most Kosovo Serbs are concentrated in the north of the province, with their backs on Serbia proper, and have for the most part ignored ethnic Albanian authorities in Pristina.
The province has been practically partitioned along the River Ibar, and Feith said Serbs would be allowed to keep “special ties” to Belgrade.
“These ties, however, must be transparent and must respect the authority of the government in Pristina,” he concluded.
Pertinent Links:
1) International group formed to supervise independence
Vienna, 28 Feb. (AKI) - The European Union and several other countries formed on Thursday an International Steering Group (ICG) to supervise the independence of Kosovo declared by majority ethnic Albanians on 17 February.
The ICG, which will be the highest international authority in Kosovo, was formed at a meeting in Vienna and will comprise 15 countries, including members of the six-country 'Control Group', such as the United States, Great Britain, Italy, France and Germany.
Its sixth member, Russia,will not be part of the ICG, because it opposes Kosovo's independence, Dutch diplomat Peter Feith, who will be the EU civilian representative in Kosovo, told journalists.
Other members of the ICG are Austria, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Turkey, Finland, Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Slovenia and Switzerland.
Feith said the membership was open to other countries on the criteria that “they must be friends of Kosovo independence”.
Feith said it would be good if Russia also joined, but stressed that “chances are small for that to happen at this moment”.
Russia has blocked Kosovo's independence drive in the UN Security Council and is backing Serbia’s diplomatic battle to deny independence to Kosovo, which has a 90 percent ethnic Albanian population.
Russia is a member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council along with the US, China, France, and Britain thus it can veto any resolution regarding Kosovo's membership in the UN.
Feith said the main ICG task would be to implement a plan by former UN negotiator Martti Ahtisaari for what he called an internationally supervised independence.
After the plan was blocked in the UN by Russia, the EU decided to go at it alone, bypassing the Security Council and 20 countries have so far recognized Kosovo on a bilateral basis.
The EU mission is due to replace the current UN administration, which has controlled Kosovo since 1999, but Belgrade and Moscow have said that EU presence in the province would be illegal without the approval of the Security Council.
EU action is backed by a 17,000 strong NATO force deployed in Kosovo, and Feith said the international community “would tolerate no violence” in the province. The remaining 100,000 Serbs in Kosovo oppose independence and have vowed to recognise only Belgrade’s authority.
Belgrade has for the past nine years kept parallel institutions in Kosovo and vowed it would continue to do so. But Feith said no parallel institutions or partitioning of Kosovo would be tolerated.
Most Kosovo Serbs are concentrated in the north of the province, with their backs on Serbia proper, and have for the most part ignored ethnic Albanian authorities in Pristina.
The province has been practically partitioned along the River Ibar, and Feith said Serbs would be allowed to keep “special ties” to Belgrade.
“These ties, however, must be transparent and must respect the authority of the government in Pristina,” he concluded.
Pertinent Links:
1) International group formed to supervise independence
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM-RUSSIA/IRAN: WE MAY SUPPOT SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN
Russia warns Iran it may back U.N. sanctions
Russia warned Iran on Wednesday that it would support a new set of United Nations sanctions over its nuclear programme unless Tehran stopped uranium enrichment in the next few days.
The United States, Britain and France are pushing to impose new sanctions on Iran, which they suspect of seeking to acquire a nuclear weapon.
Russia's U.N. envoy Vitaly Churkin said Moscow could back a sanctions resolution the Western powers have drafted and which they are seeking to discuss in the Security Council this week.
"If Iran in the next few days does not stop the enrichment activities of its heavy water project then yes, Russia ... has taken upon itself certain commitments... to support the resolution that has been drafted in the past month," Churkin told reporters via a video link from New York.
"Russia is constantly insisting that the (U.N.) Security Council adopt certain sanctions against Iran," he said.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Russia warns Iran it may back U.N. sanctions
Russia warned Iran on Wednesday that it would support a new set of United Nations sanctions over its nuclear programme unless Tehran stopped uranium enrichment in the next few days.
The United States, Britain and France are pushing to impose new sanctions on Iran, which they suspect of seeking to acquire a nuclear weapon.
Russia's U.N. envoy Vitaly Churkin said Moscow could back a sanctions resolution the Western powers have drafted and which they are seeking to discuss in the Security Council this week.
"If Iran in the next few days does not stop the enrichment activities of its heavy water project then yes, Russia ... has taken upon itself certain commitments... to support the resolution that has been drafted in the past month," Churkin told reporters via a video link from New York.
"Russia is constantly insisting that the (U.N.) Security Council adopt certain sanctions against Iran," he said.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Russia warns Iran it may back U.N. sanctions
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - BALKANS: JIHAD & ERASURE OF SERB HERITAGE - THE WEST TURNS ITS HEAD IN APPEASEMENT
Muslim separatists erase Kosovo Serb heritage
Thousands of years old churches built by Serbian nobles and lay people are now misrepresented by the separatist Muslim Albanian tourist authority as "Byzantine-Kosovarian" buildings that are "churches which were built and used by the Christian Illyrian-Arbëror-Albanian population in the IV centuries."
Gone with any mention that Serbs even exist in Kosovo, the separatist Kosovo Ministry of Industry and Trade is seeking to promote tourism to the Europeans touting sparse Illyrian-Dardanian artifacts that are allegedly mixed with "Helen, Roman, Byzantine, Western and Eastern cultures" which "demonstrates that the Albanian culture and arts were developed in close contact with the culture and arts of the others who lived in the Balkan Peninsula."
"Unfortunately, this is not the first time the Kosovo government, concretely in this instance the Ministry for Commerce and Industry (Section for Tourism), is launching a falsified version of the history of Kosovo and Metohija, completely negating the Serbian spiritual and cultural heritage," says Bishop Teodosije, a representative of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
The website of the Kosovo separatist Ministry for Commerce and Industry, www.visitkosova.org, mentions the word "serb" only once on its entire site and the word itself is not even capitalized to represent a subject.
Bishop Teodosije expressed a sharp protest to the representatives of international diplomatic mission in Kosovo over the discriminatory attitude of the Kosovo Albanian separatist authorities toward the Serbian spiritual and cultural heritage.
"Our holy shrines are being represented once again as some sort of Illyrian-Albanian churches in the 'Byzantine-Kosovar' style, the medieval town of Novo Brdo is referred to as the Artana Fortress, and the existence of the Serbian Orthodox Church is openly not mentioned at all," said the Bishop.
Kosovo is a Serbian province administered by the UN with a mandate to provide peace and security.
"The crude falsification of history and complete negation of Serbia's heritage in Kosovo and Metohija are completely contrary to international promises and guarantees," says the Bishop.
...
Coming soon to a city near you...
Pertinent Links:
1) Muslim separatists erase Kosovo Serb heritage
Thousands of years old churches built by Serbian nobles and lay people are now misrepresented by the separatist Muslim Albanian tourist authority as "Byzantine-Kosovarian" buildings that are "churches which were built and used by the Christian Illyrian-Arbëror-Albanian population in the IV centuries."
Gone with any mention that Serbs even exist in Kosovo, the separatist Kosovo Ministry of Industry and Trade is seeking to promote tourism to the Europeans touting sparse Illyrian-Dardanian artifacts that are allegedly mixed with "Helen, Roman, Byzantine, Western and Eastern cultures" which "demonstrates that the Albanian culture and arts were developed in close contact with the culture and arts of the others who lived in the Balkan Peninsula."
"Unfortunately, this is not the first time the Kosovo government, concretely in this instance the Ministry for Commerce and Industry (Section for Tourism), is launching a falsified version of the history of Kosovo and Metohija, completely negating the Serbian spiritual and cultural heritage," says Bishop Teodosije, a representative of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
The website of the Kosovo separatist Ministry for Commerce and Industry, www.visitkosova.org, mentions the word "serb" only once on its entire site and the word itself is not even capitalized to represent a subject.
Bishop Teodosije expressed a sharp protest to the representatives of international diplomatic mission in Kosovo over the discriminatory attitude of the Kosovo Albanian separatist authorities toward the Serbian spiritual and cultural heritage.
"Our holy shrines are being represented once again as some sort of Illyrian-Albanian churches in the 'Byzantine-Kosovar' style, the medieval town of Novo Brdo is referred to as the Artana Fortress, and the existence of the Serbian Orthodox Church is openly not mentioned at all," said the Bishop.
Kosovo is a Serbian province administered by the UN with a mandate to provide peace and security.
"The crude falsification of history and complete negation of Serbia's heritage in Kosovo and Metohija are completely contrary to international promises and guarantees," says the Bishop.
...
Coming soon to a city near you...
Pertinent Links:
1) Muslim separatists erase Kosovo Serb heritage
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - U.N./O.I.C.: U.N.'S BAN HAS BEEN TOLD TO SHUT HIS MOUTH BY THE O.I.C. MEMBERS OF THE 'HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL'
Islamic states urge UN boss be quiet on rights body
By Robert Evans
GENEVA (Reuters) - Islamic states said on Wednesday that U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon should avoid criticising the world body's Human Rights Council where they and their allies hold a majority.
They said there was an apparent "disconnect" between Ban and the 47-nation Council and also hinted they would like to see a more "predictable relationship" between the body and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, who has made clear she does not approve of all its actions.
The message, described by Western diplomats as clear if low-keyed, was delivered by Pakistan in a statement to an informal Council session on behalf of the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
"It looks as though on rights at least they are trying to say they should set the line for the whole of the U.N.," said one European envoy, who declined to be identified.
On June 20 Ban voiced regret the Council -- created last year to replace the Human Rights Commission -- had picked on Israel and its role in the occupied Palestinian territories alone for continued special investigation.
A comment from the U.N. chief said he was disappointed at the Council's decision "to single out only one specific regional item given the range and scope of allegations of human rights violations throughout the world."
The written comment did not mention Israel or the Palestinian territories by name, but it was seen as aligning Ban -- a former South Korean foreign minister in the first year of his mandate -- with Western criticism of the Council.
It also followed a decision by the body -- which some Western countries and independent campaigning groups argue is even less effective in defending rights than the Commission -- to stop reporting on alleged abuses by Cuba and Belarus.
Cuba, also on the Council, generally lines up with the OIC and African members, together with Russia and China.
The OIC statement, delivered to an informal Council meeting by Pakistan's ambassador Masood Khan, said the Ban comment had "raised the question whether there is a disconnect between the Secretary-General and the Council."
It added: "We need to remove this anomaly through dialogue."
...
[and]
Islamic countries criticize UN secretary general
New York - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon came under attack on Wednesday for remarks that Islamic countries in the UN Human Rights Council had ignored abuses around the world and targeted Israel instead. Ban angered the 57-member Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) when he said in June that the Geneva-based council should look at all situations of human rights violations.
Pakistan, serving as OIC's chairman, told the 49-nation council at a resumed meeting on Wednesday in Geneva that Islamic countries should "streamline" its relationship with Ban.
UN Watch, a non-governmental organization monitoring UN activities in Geneva, said Pakistan criticized Ban for blaming Islamic countries of focusing on Palestinian-related issues while ignoring other human rights violations. Those countries have criticized Israel's mistreatment of Palestinians and occupying their territories.
UN Watch said Egypt, another council member, said Ban's remarks were a "very unfortunate development and we would seek further clarification on that statement and the appropriate means of the council to verify the authenticity of that statement and its context."
"We are witnessing a dangerous attempt to censor the highest official of the United Nations, an effort to silence anyone who exposes the council's repeated breaches of its own principles of equality, universality, and non-selectivity," said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch.
Since its establishment in Geneva in 2006, the council has adopted several resolutions censuring Israel and ignored human rights abuses in Sudan until it came under attack by the UN for singling out Israel.
The United States has refused to join the council, saying that criteria for selecting its 49 sitting members were flawed and countries known for severe human rights abuses could be elected members.
The council replaced the UN Commission on Human Rights, which was disbanded for failing to protect and promote human rights worldwide. But many governments, including the US, said the Human Rights Council could be worse than its predecessor.
UN Watch reported that Canada defended Ban at the session on Wednesday.
"We have to acknowledge that the secretary general is entitled to his views, and it would ill behoove this council to appear to be constraining or discouraging the exercise of freedom of opinion and expression, a fundamental freedom we are committed to uphold," Canada said.
Pertinent Links:
1) Islamic states urge UN boss be quiet on rights body
2) Human Rights Council
3) Islamic countries criticize UN secretary general
By Robert Evans
GENEVA (Reuters) - Islamic states said on Wednesday that U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon should avoid criticising the world body's Human Rights Council where they and their allies hold a majority.
They said there was an apparent "disconnect" between Ban and the 47-nation Council and also hinted they would like to see a more "predictable relationship" between the body and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, who has made clear she does not approve of all its actions.
The message, described by Western diplomats as clear if low-keyed, was delivered by Pakistan in a statement to an informal Council session on behalf of the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
"It looks as though on rights at least they are trying to say they should set the line for the whole of the U.N.," said one European envoy, who declined to be identified.
On June 20 Ban voiced regret the Council -- created last year to replace the Human Rights Commission -- had picked on Israel and its role in the occupied Palestinian territories alone for continued special investigation.
A comment from the U.N. chief said he was disappointed at the Council's decision "to single out only one specific regional item given the range and scope of allegations of human rights violations throughout the world."
The written comment did not mention Israel or the Palestinian territories by name, but it was seen as aligning Ban -- a former South Korean foreign minister in the first year of his mandate -- with Western criticism of the Council.
It also followed a decision by the body -- which some Western countries and independent campaigning groups argue is even less effective in defending rights than the Commission -- to stop reporting on alleged abuses by Cuba and Belarus.
Cuba, also on the Council, generally lines up with the OIC and African members, together with Russia and China.
The OIC statement, delivered to an informal Council meeting by Pakistan's ambassador Masood Khan, said the Ban comment had "raised the question whether there is a disconnect between the Secretary-General and the Council."
It added: "We need to remove this anomaly through dialogue."
...
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Islamic countries criticize UN secretary general
New York - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon came under attack on Wednesday for remarks that Islamic countries in the UN Human Rights Council had ignored abuses around the world and targeted Israel instead. Ban angered the 57-member Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) when he said in June that the Geneva-based council should look at all situations of human rights violations.
Pakistan, serving as OIC's chairman, told the 49-nation council at a resumed meeting on Wednesday in Geneva that Islamic countries should "streamline" its relationship with Ban.
UN Watch, a non-governmental organization monitoring UN activities in Geneva, said Pakistan criticized Ban for blaming Islamic countries of focusing on Palestinian-related issues while ignoring other human rights violations. Those countries have criticized Israel's mistreatment of Palestinians and occupying their territories.
UN Watch said Egypt, another council member, said Ban's remarks were a "very unfortunate development and we would seek further clarification on that statement and the appropriate means of the council to verify the authenticity of that statement and its context."
"We are witnessing a dangerous attempt to censor the highest official of the United Nations, an effort to silence anyone who exposes the council's repeated breaches of its own principles of equality, universality, and non-selectivity," said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch.
Since its establishment in Geneva in 2006, the council has adopted several resolutions censuring Israel and ignored human rights abuses in Sudan until it came under attack by the UN for singling out Israel.
The United States has refused to join the council, saying that criteria for selecting its 49 sitting members were flawed and countries known for severe human rights abuses could be elected members.
The council replaced the UN Commission on Human Rights, which was disbanded for failing to protect and promote human rights worldwide. But many governments, including the US, said the Human Rights Council could be worse than its predecessor.
UN Watch reported that Canada defended Ban at the session on Wednesday.
"We have to acknowledge that the secretary general is entitled to his views, and it would ill behoove this council to appear to be constraining or discouraging the exercise of freedom of opinion and expression, a fundamental freedom we are committed to uphold," Canada said.
Pertinent Links:
1) Islamic states urge UN boss be quiet on rights body
2) Human Rights Council
3) Islamic countries criticize UN secretary general
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - U.S.A./IRAN: "WE WILL TAKE 'ILLEGAL' STEPS IF NEW SANCTIONS ARE ENACTED"
Iran raises stakes in war of nerves over enriching uranium
· Weapons treaty at risk if UN increases sanctions
· Threat paired with olive branch to atom watchdog
BY Julian Borger in Tehran
Iran warned yesterday that it would consider taking "illegal" steps, including possible abrogation of the non-proliferation treaty, if further UN sanctions are imposed because of its nuclear programme.
The warning was given by a senior Iranian official in an increasingly fraught war of nerves with the US and its allies over Iran's enrichment of uranium.
However, it was accompanied by an olive branch, a promise by Iran's chief negotiator to give a comprehensive account of its nuclear past to the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA.
Tehran has made clear that it will not suspend enrichment as the UN security council has demanded, despite two earlier rounds of financial, travel and arms sanctions. A decision on a third round has been put off until September. "If there is another resolution, we will react with whatever we have," the senior official told western journalists. "So far we have answered legally, limiting [UN] inspections, and reducing cooperation with the IAEA within the legal framework. "But if there is no legal option left, it is obvious we will be tempted to do illegal things. What is very important to us is our dignity, and we are prepared to act."
Iranian officials made it clear that one option was a formal break with the treaty and a total severance of relations with the IAEA, like North Korea in 2003.
However, said the senior official, unlike North Korea Iran had no intention of building a nuclear bomb, even though he claimed it had now installed enough uranium-enriching centrifuges to make one.
He argued it would make Iran less secure, and pointed out that both the founder of the Islamic republic, Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini, and his successor, the current supreme leader, Sayyid Ali Khamenei, had issued a religious fatwa against possessing the bomb. "We can exit from the non-proliferation treaty, but we can never exit from a fatwa," he said.
His comments came only hours after the chief negotiator, Ali Larijani, promised that Iran would finally answer all the IAEA's unresolved questions about its nuclear activities. "All the areas and all the questions will be answered. We have no problem with that," he said in an interview in Tehran. Those outstanding issues include an Iranian explanation for how its officials were found to have instructions on how to form enriched uranium into hemispheres, of the sort used in a nuclear bomb.
Mr Larijani laughed off the significance of the documents. He said: "I would find it strange for someone to make a bomb with a couple of pieces of paper. If a country wanted to make a bomb, it could get the information on the internet."
Iran also agreed yesterday to allow UN inspectors to visit a heavy water reactor being built near the central town of Arak. The visit, the first in four months, will be early next week, according to the deal reached in Vienna.
The concessions carry out an agreement in principle with the IAEA this month, and appear to be part of an Iranian effort to fend off a new round of sanctions. In response, debate on those sanctions has been quietly shelved until next month.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Iran raises stakes in war of nerves over enriching uranium
· Weapons treaty at risk if UN increases sanctions
· Threat paired with olive branch to atom watchdog
BY Julian Borger in Tehran
Iran warned yesterday that it would consider taking "illegal" steps, including possible abrogation of the non-proliferation treaty, if further UN sanctions are imposed because of its nuclear programme.
The warning was given by a senior Iranian official in an increasingly fraught war of nerves with the US and its allies over Iran's enrichment of uranium.
However, it was accompanied by an olive branch, a promise by Iran's chief negotiator to give a comprehensive account of its nuclear past to the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA.
Tehran has made clear that it will not suspend enrichment as the UN security council has demanded, despite two earlier rounds of financial, travel and arms sanctions. A decision on a third round has been put off until September. "If there is another resolution, we will react with whatever we have," the senior official told western journalists. "So far we have answered legally, limiting [UN] inspections, and reducing cooperation with the IAEA within the legal framework. "But if there is no legal option left, it is obvious we will be tempted to do illegal things. What is very important to us is our dignity, and we are prepared to act."
Iranian officials made it clear that one option was a formal break with the treaty and a total severance of relations with the IAEA, like North Korea in 2003.
However, said the senior official, unlike North Korea Iran had no intention of building a nuclear bomb, even though he claimed it had now installed enough uranium-enriching centrifuges to make one.
He argued it would make Iran less secure, and pointed out that both the founder of the Islamic republic, Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini, and his successor, the current supreme leader, Sayyid Ali Khamenei, had issued a religious fatwa against possessing the bomb. "We can exit from the non-proliferation treaty, but we can never exit from a fatwa," he said.
His comments came only hours after the chief negotiator, Ali Larijani, promised that Iran would finally answer all the IAEA's unresolved questions about its nuclear activities. "All the areas and all the questions will be answered. We have no problem with that," he said in an interview in Tehran. Those outstanding issues include an Iranian explanation for how its officials were found to have instructions on how to form enriched uranium into hemispheres, of the sort used in a nuclear bomb.
Mr Larijani laughed off the significance of the documents. He said: "I would find it strange for someone to make a bomb with a couple of pieces of paper. If a country wanted to make a bomb, it could get the information on the internet."
Iran also agreed yesterday to allow UN inspectors to visit a heavy water reactor being built near the central town of Arak. The visit, the first in four months, will be early next week, according to the deal reached in Vienna.
The concessions carry out an agreement in principle with the IAEA this month, and appear to be part of an Iranian effort to fend off a new round of sanctions. In response, debate on those sanctions has been quietly shelved until next month.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Iran raises stakes in war of nerves over enriching uranium
Saturday, July 14, 2007
DAR AL HARB/DAR AL ISLAM - THE WEST/IRAN: 6 MORE MONTHS FOR IRAN TO DEVELOP NUKES
A Formula for Evading Penalties Built into Nuclear Watchdog’s Deal with Tehran
This week, Iran’s soft-soap campaign on its nuclear program won valuable support from the heads of the international Atomic Energy Agency, even though the UN watchdog still cannot determine that Iran’s nuclear activities are transparent or peaceful.
Even after listening for four years to Tehran’s evasions, untruths and prevarications on its nuclear intentions, IAEA director Mohamed ElBaradei Friday, July 13, was still willing to hail Iran’s grudging permission for “one visit” to its Arak water reactor and “improved inspections” at Natanz as a “way out of the crisis.”
These measures were agreed during a visit to Tehran by the IAEA deputy director for safeguards, Olli Heinonen, Wednesday and Thursday.
Foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki spoke triumphantly in Tunis Saturday of a “new chapter in Iran’s relations with the UN agency.”
And no wonder. DEBKAfile’s Iranian and intelligence sources report that the six-month grace period granted Tehran by its latest maneuver is exactly the breathing space it needs for climbing over a technical hump in its progress towards a weapons capability. Its progress in enriching uranium is already substantial, whereas the Araq heavy water reactor is only in the first stages of a capability for using plutonium for making bombs.
Iran can therefore afford to be more forthcoming on Araq, although allowing only one visit, while omitting from its deal with the international watchdog the vital element of which sections of the Natanz plant would be open to inspection.
This “detail” was left for a further round of negotiations.
But although it is full of holes for the monitors, the deal struck with nuclear watchdog is a diplomatic breakthrough for Tehran. It is enough to arm the sanctions opponents in the UN Security Council with arguments to hold off a third round of punitive measures against Iran for persisting in its refusal to abandon uranium enrichment. Tehran has won an uninterrupted space up until December 2007 for its last stretch on the road to its objective, with good reason to expect that the watchdog and the Security Council opponents of expanded sanctions will hold up the deal as a breakthrough, and give the Islamic Republic immunity against further sanctions or a US or Israeli military attack.
Nevertheless, three points still stand out:
1. Monday, ElBaradei assured reporters in Vienna that Iran has slowed the expansion of its uranium work. He hailed this as a “diplomatic breakthrough”, when in fact it was a cover-up. Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad immediately confirmed his statement. The two were clearly in close step.
2. On June 22, Iranian interior minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi announced that Iran has stocked more than 100 kg of enriched uranium and 150 kg of uranium gas. The accent on the words “more than” left the exact amount unclear. His revelation was quickly dismissed by fellow officials in Tehran as “inaccurate.”
DEBKAfile’s Iranian sources assign high credibility to the interior minister, a powerful figure in the Islamic regime and a member of the inner circle which makes the decisions on nuclear matters and military preparations for a potential US or Israel attack.
These sources point out that 500 kg of enriched uranium of a relatively low grade would be sufficient for building a single nuclear bomb. According to intelligence experts keeping close tabs on the program, Iran has accumulated enough enriched uranium for 2 or 3 nuclear bombs, under cover of the months and years of diplomatic haggling with the West.
3. ElBaradei has a long account to settle with the Bush administration from the years 2002 and 2003 when he led the UN team assigned to establish whether or not Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) A Formula for Evading Penalties Built into Nuclear Watchdog’s Deal with Tehran
This week, Iran’s soft-soap campaign on its nuclear program won valuable support from the heads of the international Atomic Energy Agency, even though the UN watchdog still cannot determine that Iran’s nuclear activities are transparent or peaceful.
Even after listening for four years to Tehran’s evasions, untruths and prevarications on its nuclear intentions, IAEA director Mohamed ElBaradei Friday, July 13, was still willing to hail Iran’s grudging permission for “one visit” to its Arak water reactor and “improved inspections” at Natanz as a “way out of the crisis.”
These measures were agreed during a visit to Tehran by the IAEA deputy director for safeguards, Olli Heinonen, Wednesday and Thursday.
Foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki spoke triumphantly in Tunis Saturday of a “new chapter in Iran’s relations with the UN agency.”
And no wonder. DEBKAfile’s Iranian and intelligence sources report that the six-month grace period granted Tehran by its latest maneuver is exactly the breathing space it needs for climbing over a technical hump in its progress towards a weapons capability. Its progress in enriching uranium is already substantial, whereas the Araq heavy water reactor is only in the first stages of a capability for using plutonium for making bombs.
Iran can therefore afford to be more forthcoming on Araq, although allowing only one visit, while omitting from its deal with the international watchdog the vital element of which sections of the Natanz plant would be open to inspection.
This “detail” was left for a further round of negotiations.
But although it is full of holes for the monitors, the deal struck with nuclear watchdog is a diplomatic breakthrough for Tehran. It is enough to arm the sanctions opponents in the UN Security Council with arguments to hold off a third round of punitive measures against Iran for persisting in its refusal to abandon uranium enrichment. Tehran has won an uninterrupted space up until December 2007 for its last stretch on the road to its objective, with good reason to expect that the watchdog and the Security Council opponents of expanded sanctions will hold up the deal as a breakthrough, and give the Islamic Republic immunity against further sanctions or a US or Israeli military attack.
Nevertheless, three points still stand out:
1. Monday, ElBaradei assured reporters in Vienna that Iran has slowed the expansion of its uranium work. He hailed this as a “diplomatic breakthrough”, when in fact it was a cover-up. Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad immediately confirmed his statement. The two were clearly in close step.
2. On June 22, Iranian interior minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi announced that Iran has stocked more than 100 kg of enriched uranium and 150 kg of uranium gas. The accent on the words “more than” left the exact amount unclear. His revelation was quickly dismissed by fellow officials in Tehran as “inaccurate.”
DEBKAfile’s Iranian sources assign high credibility to the interior minister, a powerful figure in the Islamic regime and a member of the inner circle which makes the decisions on nuclear matters and military preparations for a potential US or Israel attack.
These sources point out that 500 kg of enriched uranium of a relatively low grade would be sufficient for building a single nuclear bomb. According to intelligence experts keeping close tabs on the program, Iran has accumulated enough enriched uranium for 2 or 3 nuclear bombs, under cover of the months and years of diplomatic haggling with the West.
3. ElBaradei has a long account to settle with the Bush administration from the years 2002 and 2003 when he led the UN team assigned to establish whether or not Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) A Formula for Evading Penalties Built into Nuclear Watchdog’s Deal with Tehran
Thursday, July 12, 2007
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - U.N./IRAN: "CONSTRUCTIVE" & "ACTION PLAN" - - - NOW WE ALL KNOW NOTHING WILL GET DONE & IRAN WILL HAVE NUKES
IAEA says nuclear talks with Iran to resume within weeks
TEHRAN, July 12 (RIA Novosti) - Iran will resume talks on its controversial nuclear program with the International Atomic Energy Agency in the next few weeks, a senior IAEA official said Thursday.
Olli Heinonen, deputy head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, concluded two days of talks in the Iranian capital earlier in the day, at which UN weapons inspectors and Iranian authorities discussed an "action plan" put forward by Tehran.
Heinonen said the sides had agreed on several issues, and attempted to agree on a deadline for Tehran to respond to the IAEA's remaining questions on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.
Ahead of the talks, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme Security Council Jawad Waidi said Tehran and the IAEA would fix such a deadline within the next 60 days.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterated Wednesday that the country would proceed with uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes and in compliance with IAEA requirements, but said Iran was ready to allay Western concerns by cooperating. "The Islamic Republic favors dialogue," he said.
Jawad Waidi also said Thursday's negotiations should be considered a separate process from the talks between EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani.
Iran's IRNA news agency quoted Solana as saying Wednesday he was likely to meet with Larijani by the end of this month to discuss Iran's uranium enrichment program, which has aroused international concerns over nuclear proliferation. Iran says it needs nuclear power purely to generate energy, and denies the program has military goals.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) IAEA says nuclear talks with Iran to resume within weeks
TEHRAN, July 12 (RIA Novosti) - Iran will resume talks on its controversial nuclear program with the International Atomic Energy Agency in the next few weeks, a senior IAEA official said Thursday.
Olli Heinonen, deputy head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, concluded two days of talks in the Iranian capital earlier in the day, at which UN weapons inspectors and Iranian authorities discussed an "action plan" put forward by Tehran.
Heinonen said the sides had agreed on several issues, and attempted to agree on a deadline for Tehran to respond to the IAEA's remaining questions on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.
Ahead of the talks, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme Security Council Jawad Waidi said Tehran and the IAEA would fix such a deadline within the next 60 days.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterated Wednesday that the country would proceed with uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes and in compliance with IAEA requirements, but said Iran was ready to allay Western concerns by cooperating. "The Islamic Republic favors dialogue," he said.
Jawad Waidi also said Thursday's negotiations should be considered a separate process from the talks between EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani.
Iran's IRNA news agency quoted Solana as saying Wednesday he was likely to meet with Larijani by the end of this month to discuss Iran's uranium enrichment program, which has aroused international concerns over nuclear proliferation. Iran says it needs nuclear power purely to generate energy, and denies the program has military goals.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) IAEA says nuclear talks with Iran to resume within weeks
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - ISRAEL/HOLY LAND/LEBANON: MOSLEM TERRORISTS SHOULD NOT BE NEGOTIATED WITH
Scant progress in Hezbollah talks over soldiers-UN
Thu 12 Jul 2007 10:14:56 BST
JERUSALEM, July 12 (Reuters) - Little progress has been made in talks with Hezbollah over two abducted Israeli soldiers whose capture by the guerrilla group exactly a year ago triggered the Lebanon war, the U.N.'s Middle East envoy said on Thursday.
"I'm distressed as we mark that anniversary that we have not been able to make substantial progress," Michael Williams told Reuters in an interview.
"We continue to talk to Hezbollah about it. But I regret that not only have we been unable to expedite the release of the two soldiers, but we have not been able to obtain proof of life," he added.
Soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were captured in a cross-border Hezbollah raid on July 12, 2006, triggering a 34-day war in which 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 157 Israelis, mostly soldiers, were killed.
An internal Israeli probe concluded the two soldiers were seriously wounded during their capture and at least one of them could now be dead.
Hezbollah has ignored a United Nations call for the immediate release of the soldiers and said Israel must first free Lebanese prisoners and possibly others held in its jails.
Pertinent Links:
1) Scant progress in Hezbollah talks over soldiers-UN
Thu 12 Jul 2007 10:14:56 BST
JERUSALEM, July 12 (Reuters) - Little progress has been made in talks with Hezbollah over two abducted Israeli soldiers whose capture by the guerrilla group exactly a year ago triggered the Lebanon war, the U.N.'s Middle East envoy said on Thursday.
"I'm distressed as we mark that anniversary that we have not been able to make substantial progress," Michael Williams told Reuters in an interview.
"We continue to talk to Hezbollah about it. But I regret that not only have we been unable to expedite the release of the two soldiers, but we have not been able to obtain proof of life," he added.
Soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were captured in a cross-border Hezbollah raid on July 12, 2006, triggering a 34-day war in which 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 157 Israelis, mostly soldiers, were killed.
An internal Israeli probe concluded the two soldiers were seriously wounded during their capture and at least one of them could now be dead.
Hezbollah has ignored a United Nations call for the immediate release of the soldiers and said Israel must first free Lebanese prisoners and possibly others held in its jails.
Pertinent Links:
1) Scant progress in Hezbollah talks over soldiers-UN
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - THE WEST/IRAN: I.A.E.A. DELEGATION ARRIVES IN TEHRAN
IAEA delegation in Tehran today
Team set to stay three days for talks on Iran’s uranium enrichment programme.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) IAEA delegation in Tehran today
Team set to stay three days for talks on Iran’s uranium enrichment programme.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) IAEA delegation in Tehran today
Monday, July 09, 2007
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - THE WEST/IRAN: I.A.E.A. HAS CHOSEN THE TEAM THAT WILL VISIT IRAN
Makeup of IAEA team to Tehran finalized: Iranian envoy (RECAST to add more quotes)
Iran's Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali-Asghar Soltaniyeh said here Monday that the makeup of the IAEA team to visit Tehran on July 11 has been finalized.
Talking to IRNA, he stressed that the IAEA team enjoys a technical, legal and political nature.
The team led by the IAEA safeguards chief Olli Heinonen is to visit Iran on Wednesday for discussions on how to resolve Tehran's disputed nuclear activities.
He further announced that the agency director for safeguards operations Herman Nackartes, the IAEA legal advisor Johan Rautenbach and director in charge of the agency's external relations and policy coordination Vilmos Cxerveny will be other members of the the IAEA team.
The IAEA delegation is to discuss with Iranian negotiators drawing up of a modality and framework to settle remaining issues on Iran's peaceful nuclear case, Soltaniyeh added.
He reiterated the delegation is not to make any inspection (to Iran's nuclear installations) and will only hold talks with the Iranian officials.
The IAEA delegation will probably meet with Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani on issues related to Iran's peaceful nuclear program, he said.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said here Sunday the July 11 visit by the IAEA team to Iran is currently the most important issue on the table of the nuclear talks.
He told reporters that Tehran and the IAEA are expected to cooperate on drawing up a modality and a framework on how to settle the remaining issues with the agency within two months.
He added that the negotiations between Tehran and the IAEA will be within frameworks of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Pertinent Links:
1) Makeup of IAEA team to Tehran finalized: Iranian envoy (RECAST to add more quotes)
Iran's Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali-Asghar Soltaniyeh said here Monday that the makeup of the IAEA team to visit Tehran on July 11 has been finalized.
Talking to IRNA, he stressed that the IAEA team enjoys a technical, legal and political nature.
The team led by the IAEA safeguards chief Olli Heinonen is to visit Iran on Wednesday for discussions on how to resolve Tehran's disputed nuclear activities.
He further announced that the agency director for safeguards operations Herman Nackartes, the IAEA legal advisor Johan Rautenbach and director in charge of the agency's external relations and policy coordination Vilmos Cxerveny will be other members of the the IAEA team.
The IAEA delegation is to discuss with Iranian negotiators drawing up of a modality and framework to settle remaining issues on Iran's peaceful nuclear case, Soltaniyeh added.
He reiterated the delegation is not to make any inspection (to Iran's nuclear installations) and will only hold talks with the Iranian officials.
The IAEA delegation will probably meet with Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani on issues related to Iran's peaceful nuclear program, he said.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said here Sunday the July 11 visit by the IAEA team to Iran is currently the most important issue on the table of the nuclear talks.
He told reporters that Tehran and the IAEA are expected to cooperate on drawing up a modality and a framework on how to settle the remaining issues with the agency within two months.
He added that the negotiations between Tehran and the IAEA will be within frameworks of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Pertinent Links:
1) Makeup of IAEA team to Tehran finalized: Iranian envoy (RECAST to add more quotes)
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - U.K./IRAN: THE U.K. WILL PUSH FOR A NEW SET OF SANCTIONS IF IRAN CONTINUES IN ITS NUKE DEVELOPMENT
Miliband warns Iran over nuclear ambitions
By Brendan Carlin, Political Correspondent
David Miliband, the new Foreign Secretary, indicated last night that Gordon Brown’s Government would not shrink from confrontation with Iran over its nuclear ambitions.
Mr Miliband insisted the new Government would “not retreat from the world” in the wake of Tony Blair’s departure but would be a “robust defender” of the national interest.
He also signalled Britain was preparing a tough response if Russia this week formally refused to extradite Andrei Lugovoi, the man wanted by the UK authorities for the murder of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko.
Jack Straw, one of Mr Miliband’s predecessors as Foreign Secretary, once said that military action against Iran was “inconceivable”.
But in an interview with the Financial Times today, Mr Miliband refused to repeat the statement.
“I think that the whole of the international community wants a non-military, diplomatic solution to this problem,” he said.
“I don’t think it does any good to speculate any wider than that.”
Instead, he warned Iran that the British government would keep up a tough stance on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, insisting the Iranian regime “doesn’t have the right to set off a nuclear arms race in the Middle East”.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Miliband warns Iran over nuclear ambitions
By Brendan Carlin, Political Correspondent
David Miliband, the new Foreign Secretary, indicated last night that Gordon Brown’s Government would not shrink from confrontation with Iran over its nuclear ambitions.
Mr Miliband insisted the new Government would “not retreat from the world” in the wake of Tony Blair’s departure but would be a “robust defender” of the national interest.
He also signalled Britain was preparing a tough response if Russia this week formally refused to extradite Andrei Lugovoi, the man wanted by the UK authorities for the murder of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko.
Jack Straw, one of Mr Miliband’s predecessors as Foreign Secretary, once said that military action against Iran was “inconceivable”.
But in an interview with the Financial Times today, Mr Miliband refused to repeat the statement.
“I think that the whole of the international community wants a non-military, diplomatic solution to this problem,” he said.
“I don’t think it does any good to speculate any wider than that.”
Instead, he warned Iran that the British government would keep up a tough stance on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, insisting the Iranian regime “doesn’t have the right to set off a nuclear arms race in the Middle East”.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Miliband warns Iran over nuclear ambitions
Friday, July 06, 2007
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - E.U./IRAN: A NEW 'EUROPEAN' TREND IN NEGOTIATIONS?!?
Iran welcomes new EU trend in negotiations
LONDON, July 6 (IranMania) - Ali Asghar Soltanieh, a top Iranian diplomat involved in negotiations with the European Union on Iran's nuclear issue Ali Asghar Soltanieh called on Europe to remedy past confidence deficits and reiterated the Islamic Republic's offer to give all assurances, IRNA reported.
On the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities "Iran is prepared to give all assurances that our nuclear activities are peaceful and will remain exclusively for peaceful purposes,'' Ali Asghar Soltanieh Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna told IRNA in an interview in Brussels.
Soltaniyeh was here to take part in a conference on Iran's nuclear programme hosted by the Greens in the European Parliament on Wednesday.
It was the first time that Iranian officials were invited to speak in the EP on Iran's nuclear issue.
"We welcome this because the European Parliament represents the European people. They have come to the conclusion to have first hand information from Iranian side in order to have a complete picture of nuclear issue," Soltanieh told IRNA.
"We had a very constructive discussion. We did our best to give facts and figures in order to remove ambiguities" He noted , however, that there was a confidence deficit with Europe for the last thirty years not completing their obligations for continuing their cooperation with Iran's nuclear programme.
"In the last two or three years they were expected to have a constructive approach with us." While they were talking about suspension (of enrichment) their intention was a cessation. That was something not acceptable for us," said the Iranian diplomat "At the same time we welcome the new chapter and the new trend in
negotiations.
"We hope that the European side will remedy these past confidence deficits and we hope that the new round of talks between and Larijani will lead to conclusive results," he said.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani have met several times recently to resolve Iran's nuclear stand-off with the West.
As a first positive gesture Iran has accepted to discuss on how to approach outstanding issue although we are beyond our legal obligations, said Soltanieh.
He called on the UN Security Council to stop its engagement with Iran's nuclear filed and let this file to go back immediately to the IAEA where it belongs to.
"We invite the international community, our friends and others to come to the negotiating table and if there are any concerns, we are ready to remove them all," he noted.
In the meanwhile, the one-day conference titled "Iran's Alternatives to escalation" concluded Wednesday evening with calls for dialogue and engagement to continue between the EU and Iran.
"We achieved our minimum expectations," declared German MEP Angelika Bier who chaired the meeting.
"We have moved away from the black and white conception of things. Dialogue always is worthwhile even if we have difference of opinions," she said.
Diplomats, scholars and civil society representatives from EU, Iran and the Muslim world discussed and debated topics like motivation of different players and steps out of the nuclear crisis, alternatives within the NPT regime and alternative energy scenarios.
[and]
Iran-IAEA-Soltanieh Soltanieh: Europe, put aside from Iran's nuclear issue
Iran's Ambassador to the world atomic energy body Ali-Asghar Soltanieh said on Thursday that the European Union has been eliminated from the decision making process about Iran's nuclear issue after it has been referred to the Security Council.
Speaking to a group of Green Party deputies of the Parliament of Europe and university scholars and researchers, he added that this means that the multilateral policy of Europe has been curtailed by the unilateral US approach through trasnferring the issue from Vienna to New York.
Soltanieh said since the Europe has been actually eliminated from decision making about this issue, the European deputies are expected to try and halt the Security Council's interference immediately so that the Iranian file would be considered within the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The Iranian ambassador also said the fact that Iran has accepted an IAEA delegation's visit to Iran to discuss remaining issues within a well defined and scheduled program is indicative of Tehran's resolution to negotiate.
Soltanieh said some AIEA authorities including head of Iran's Safeguard section will visit Iran from 11-13 July to negotiate in this regard. Soltanieh said that he would attend the negotiations in Tehran, adding that Iran's agreement with talks shows the political will and good intention of Islamic Republic of Iran to find a peaceful solution to the problem.
[and]
EU against escalation of sanctions on Iran
Brussels, July 4, IRNA - A top European Union diplomat said Wednesday that the 27-member European bloc wants a political solution to Iran's nuclear issue and that the EU wants to prevent escalation of sanctions on Tehran.
"We want a political solution through dialogue and that is why my boss Solana continues to meet Larijani," said Robert Cooper advisor to EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana on external and politico-military affairs.
Speaking at a conference on Iran's nuclear issue at the European Parliament Cooper said "we would like to prevent escalations of sanctions." The sanctions, he noted, are a little more than symbolic.
"They are not trade sanctions" he said adding, "we continue to try to reduce escalation through dialogue.
On his part, Ali Asghar Soltanieh Iran's ambassador to the IAEA in Vienna, welcomed the initiative by the Greens in the EP to host the conference.
"We have to have a dialogue to understand each other," he said.
Addressing a large audience of diplomats, Members of European Parliament, analysts overview of Iran's thinkers and journalists, Soltanieh presented nuclear issue from the past till the present.
He reiterated the Islamic Republic's position that weapons of mass destruction have no place in Iran's nuclear doctrine saying that negotiations can be fruitful and help make progress, if it would be started without any preconditions.
"The people of the whole world should sand up against nuclear weapons. Iran does not need nuclear weapons. Now we have mastered nuclear technology and the international community has to cope with it," he said.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran continues to be ready to resolve the remaining issues with the Agency (IAEA)," said Soltanieh and underlined Tehran's readiness to negotiate with interested parties on mechanisms that could guarantee the non-diversion of Iran's peaceful activities in the future.
He said IAEA's deputy director general will be visiting Iran soon.
"This is a new big step by Iran. We are prepared to remove ambiguities," he said.
Other speakers ruled out the use of force to resolve Iran's nuclear issue and underlined that dialogue was the only way to resolve the problem.
Dany Cohn-Bendit, co-president of Greens, in his opening remarks said, "We are convinced that we need this kind of dialogue." He noted that the Green party is opposed to nuclear energy in general but no country can be prevented from peaceful use of nuclear technology by use of force.
German MEP Angelika Beer, chair of EP's delegation for relations with Iran said "there is a consensus that military force is absolutely out of the question." Abdelouahab Derbal, Arab League ambassador in Brussels, said the international community has not been able to prove that Iran has gone beyond its legitimate rights to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
He called on all countries in the region to renounce weapons of mass destruction and an end to policy of two sets of measures in dealing with the nuclear issue.
Derbal called on Israel to open all its nuclear sites to IAEA inspections.
Pertinent Links:
1) Iran welcomes new EU trend in negotiations
2) Iran-IAEA-Soltanieh Soltanieh: Europe, put aside from Iran's nuclear issue
3) EU against escalation of sanctions on Iran
LONDON, July 6 (IranMania) - Ali Asghar Soltanieh, a top Iranian diplomat involved in negotiations with the European Union on Iran's nuclear issue Ali Asghar Soltanieh called on Europe to remedy past confidence deficits and reiterated the Islamic Republic's offer to give all assurances, IRNA reported.
On the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities "Iran is prepared to give all assurances that our nuclear activities are peaceful and will remain exclusively for peaceful purposes,'' Ali Asghar Soltanieh Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna told IRNA in an interview in Brussels.
Soltaniyeh was here to take part in a conference on Iran's nuclear programme hosted by the Greens in the European Parliament on Wednesday.
It was the first time that Iranian officials were invited to speak in the EP on Iran's nuclear issue.
"We welcome this because the European Parliament represents the European people. They have come to the conclusion to have first hand information from Iranian side in order to have a complete picture of nuclear issue," Soltanieh told IRNA.
"We had a very constructive discussion. We did our best to give facts and figures in order to remove ambiguities" He noted , however, that there was a confidence deficit with Europe for the last thirty years not completing their obligations for continuing their cooperation with Iran's nuclear programme.
"In the last two or three years they were expected to have a constructive approach with us." While they were talking about suspension (of enrichment) their intention was a cessation. That was something not acceptable for us," said the Iranian diplomat "At the same time we welcome the new chapter and the new trend in
negotiations.
"We hope that the European side will remedy these past confidence deficits and we hope that the new round of talks between and Larijani will lead to conclusive results," he said.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani have met several times recently to resolve Iran's nuclear stand-off with the West.
As a first positive gesture Iran has accepted to discuss on how to approach outstanding issue although we are beyond our legal obligations, said Soltanieh.
He called on the UN Security Council to stop its engagement with Iran's nuclear filed and let this file to go back immediately to the IAEA where it belongs to.
"We invite the international community, our friends and others to come to the negotiating table and if there are any concerns, we are ready to remove them all," he noted.
In the meanwhile, the one-day conference titled "Iran's Alternatives to escalation" concluded Wednesday evening with calls for dialogue and engagement to continue between the EU and Iran.
"We achieved our minimum expectations," declared German MEP Angelika Bier who chaired the meeting.
"We have moved away from the black and white conception of things. Dialogue always is worthwhile even if we have difference of opinions," she said.
Diplomats, scholars and civil society representatives from EU, Iran and the Muslim world discussed and debated topics like motivation of different players and steps out of the nuclear crisis, alternatives within the NPT regime and alternative energy scenarios.
[and]
Iran-IAEA-Soltanieh Soltanieh: Europe, put aside from Iran's nuclear issue
Iran's Ambassador to the world atomic energy body Ali-Asghar Soltanieh said on Thursday that the European Union has been eliminated from the decision making process about Iran's nuclear issue after it has been referred to the Security Council.
Speaking to a group of Green Party deputies of the Parliament of Europe and university scholars and researchers, he added that this means that the multilateral policy of Europe has been curtailed by the unilateral US approach through trasnferring the issue from Vienna to New York.
Soltanieh said since the Europe has been actually eliminated from decision making about this issue, the European deputies are expected to try and halt the Security Council's interference immediately so that the Iranian file would be considered within the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The Iranian ambassador also said the fact that Iran has accepted an IAEA delegation's visit to Iran to discuss remaining issues within a well defined and scheduled program is indicative of Tehran's resolution to negotiate.
Soltanieh said some AIEA authorities including head of Iran's Safeguard section will visit Iran from 11-13 July to negotiate in this regard. Soltanieh said that he would attend the negotiations in Tehran, adding that Iran's agreement with talks shows the political will and good intention of Islamic Republic of Iran to find a peaceful solution to the problem.
[and]
EU against escalation of sanctions on Iran
Brussels, July 4, IRNA - A top European Union diplomat said Wednesday that the 27-member European bloc wants a political solution to Iran's nuclear issue and that the EU wants to prevent escalation of sanctions on Tehran.
"We want a political solution through dialogue and that is why my boss Solana continues to meet Larijani," said Robert Cooper advisor to EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana on external and politico-military affairs.
Speaking at a conference on Iran's nuclear issue at the European Parliament Cooper said "we would like to prevent escalations of sanctions." The sanctions, he noted, are a little more than symbolic.
"They are not trade sanctions" he said adding, "we continue to try to reduce escalation through dialogue.
On his part, Ali Asghar Soltanieh Iran's ambassador to the IAEA in Vienna, welcomed the initiative by the Greens in the EP to host the conference.
"We have to have a dialogue to understand each other," he said.
Addressing a large audience of diplomats, Members of European Parliament, analysts overview of Iran's thinkers and journalists, Soltanieh presented nuclear issue from the past till the present.
He reiterated the Islamic Republic's position that weapons of mass destruction have no place in Iran's nuclear doctrine saying that negotiations can be fruitful and help make progress, if it would be started without any preconditions.
"The people of the whole world should sand up against nuclear weapons. Iran does not need nuclear weapons. Now we have mastered nuclear technology and the international community has to cope with it," he said.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran continues to be ready to resolve the remaining issues with the Agency (IAEA)," said Soltanieh and underlined Tehran's readiness to negotiate with interested parties on mechanisms that could guarantee the non-diversion of Iran's peaceful activities in the future.
He said IAEA's deputy director general will be visiting Iran soon.
"This is a new big step by Iran. We are prepared to remove ambiguities," he said.
Other speakers ruled out the use of force to resolve Iran's nuclear issue and underlined that dialogue was the only way to resolve the problem.
Dany Cohn-Bendit, co-president of Greens, in his opening remarks said, "We are convinced that we need this kind of dialogue." He noted that the Green party is opposed to nuclear energy in general but no country can be prevented from peaceful use of nuclear technology by use of force.
German MEP Angelika Beer, chair of EP's delegation for relations with Iran said "there is a consensus that military force is absolutely out of the question." Abdelouahab Derbal, Arab League ambassador in Brussels, said the international community has not been able to prove that Iran has gone beyond its legitimate rights to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
He called on all countries in the region to renounce weapons of mass destruction and an end to policy of two sets of measures in dealing with the nuclear issue.
Derbal called on Israel to open all its nuclear sites to IAEA inspections.
Pertinent Links:
1) Iran welcomes new EU trend in negotiations
2) Iran-IAEA-Soltanieh Soltanieh: Europe, put aside from Iran's nuclear issue
3) EU against escalation of sanctions on Iran
Sunday, July 01, 2007
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - THE WEST/IRAN: SANCTIONS ARE NOT WORTH THE PAPER THEY ARE WRITTEN ON: AIRBUS 340-200 DELIVERED TO IRAN'S AIRLINE
First Airbus 340 joins Iran fleet
TEHRAN, July 1 (MNA) – The first Airbus 340-200 joined the Airlines of Islamic Republic of Iran (HOMA), said its managing director here Sunday.
The passenger airliner enjoying the necessary equipment was earmarked for the long-haul flights to Europe, said Saeid Hessami adding “it would take flights between Tehran and Caracas via Madrid and Damascus.”
He expressed hope modern airplanes would join HOMA to solve problems facing the industry.
The passenger jet’s maiden flight would be to the holy city of Mashhad, northeastern Iran, in coming days.
Pertinent Links:
1) First Airbus 340 joins Iran fleet
TEHRAN, July 1 (MNA) – The first Airbus 340-200 joined the Airlines of Islamic Republic of Iran (HOMA), said its managing director here Sunday.
The passenger airliner enjoying the necessary equipment was earmarked for the long-haul flights to Europe, said Saeid Hessami adding “it would take flights between Tehran and Caracas via Madrid and Damascus.”
He expressed hope modern airplanes would join HOMA to solve problems facing the industry.
The passenger jet’s maiden flight would be to the holy city of Mashhad, northeastern Iran, in coming days.
Pertinent Links:
1) First Airbus 340 joins Iran fleet
DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - THE WEST/IRAN: "SUSPENDING ENRICHMENT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA"
Iran rules out nuke freeze
Afp, Tehran
Iran yesterday again ruled out a freeze to its uranium enrichment programme, despite the threat of tougher UN sanctions over its defiance.
"Suspending enrichment is not on the agenda," foreign ministry spokesman Mohamamd Ali Hosseini told reporters.
He was responding to media reports about a "time-out" proposed to Iran by world powers, which would halt a third set of UN sanctions against Tehran if it stopped expanding its uranium enrichment work, in a bid to restart talks.
"Some media and European officials have talked about a plan which includes suspending our nuclear activities. This is nothing new, it was brought up by the (International Atomic Energy) Agency chief," he said.
IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei had earlier proposed a plan, which would lift sanctions against Iran if it froze all its enrichment activities.
Hosseini said that different aspects of the "time out" plan were discussed in meetings between Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
"No decisions have been made no far. If it is necessary, the plan will be further discussed," he said.
Iranian leaders vowed to press on with the country's nuclear programme, which is feared to be a cover for secret weapons development. Iran denies the allegation, insisting its atomic work is aimed at peaceful ends.
Khamenei backed the defiant policy of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who has vowed Iran will not back down on its nuclear work in the face of international pressures.
"Iran's foreign policy has always been offensive. Unfortunately at certain times there was a defensive policy, which was a mistake," Khamenei said in a ceremony marking the second anniversary of Ahmadinejad's election.
"The policy of resistance to defend Iran's (nuclear) right will continue without any faltering," said the president.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Iran rules out nuke freeze
Afp, Tehran
Iran yesterday again ruled out a freeze to its uranium enrichment programme, despite the threat of tougher UN sanctions over its defiance.
"Suspending enrichment is not on the agenda," foreign ministry spokesman Mohamamd Ali Hosseini told reporters.
He was responding to media reports about a "time-out" proposed to Iran by world powers, which would halt a third set of UN sanctions against Tehran if it stopped expanding its uranium enrichment work, in a bid to restart talks.
"Some media and European officials have talked about a plan which includes suspending our nuclear activities. This is nothing new, it was brought up by the (International Atomic Energy) Agency chief," he said.
IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei had earlier proposed a plan, which would lift sanctions against Iran if it froze all its enrichment activities.
Hosseini said that different aspects of the "time out" plan were discussed in meetings between Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
"No decisions have been made no far. If it is necessary, the plan will be further discussed," he said.
Iranian leaders vowed to press on with the country's nuclear programme, which is feared to be a cover for secret weapons development. Iran denies the allegation, insisting its atomic work is aimed at peaceful ends.
Khamenei backed the defiant policy of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who has vowed Iran will not back down on its nuclear work in the face of international pressures.
"Iran's foreign policy has always been offensive. Unfortunately at certain times there was a defensive policy, which was a mistake," Khamenei said in a ceremony marking the second anniversary of Ahmadinejad's election.
"The policy of resistance to defend Iran's (nuclear) right will continue without any faltering," said the president.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Iran rules out nuke freeze
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