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FBIS3-12778_1 | UN Envoy Says Organization Follows U.S. Policy | on world events during recent years. [Kamal] Kharrazi, our country's permanent UN representative, said it is disturbing that the United Nations follows U.S. policies and stressed that the United Nations has become more like a pressure lever. Citing an example of how the United Nations follows U.S. policies, he referred to its stances on Iraq, Somalia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina and said: Since U.S. interests were involved in the Iraqi and Somali problems, the UN presence was strong. But, when it comes to Bosnia-Herzegovina and the passage of two years since the problem started, it has taken no serious step against the Serbs. Elsewhere in his interview, our country's permanent UN representative discussed how the United Nations uses human rights in its approach to various countries and said: [Begin recording] [Kharrazi] Human rights has been turned into a political instrument and everyone, that is, the representatives of the various countries at the United Nations, knows the human rights issue is a political instrument, not a real problem, and that the stance on this issue is very selective. One country is selected for political reasons so that pressure is exerted on it and the United Nations examines human rights in it, while the member countries know that, say, the Iranian human rights situation cannot be compared with that in many countries nearby. They know this. But in their political transactions and under the pressure and influence of these countries, they do not vote in our favor. And this is because the approach to human rights in general is a political one. Basically speaking, we should note one point: The United Nations is not a house of justice where everything is based on justice. The United Nations, as I said, is a political club in which the political interests of countries play a determining role. In countries' political transactions among themselves they may vote for something. They may not necessarily believe in the vote they cast, but they justify their vote on the basis of their own political interests. [end recording] In this interview, Kharrazi also referred to the UN Security Council's procrastination over dealing with the recent crime by the Zionists at al-Khalil and pointed out: Such approaches have led the Third World members of the United Nations to demand that the Security Council hold open sessions and to the countries of the south forming a committee to examine the Security Council's actions. |
FBIS3-12784_0 | Political Islam Review: AL-SHA'B 22 Feb 94 | Article Type:BFN [Editorial Report] The following review of the 22 February issue of Cairo AL-SHA'B summarizes articles that are Islamic in nature. CONTENTS: 1. Regime Said To Collapse 2. Government at Odds With Correspondents 3. Corruption, Anti-Islamic Policy Viewed 4. Normalization With Israel Slammed 5. Satellite Dish Invasion 6. Preachers Banned From Television 7. West's Anti-Islamic Views Refuted REGIME SAID TO COLLAPSE In its 22 February edition, Cairo AL-SHA'B, the mouthpiece of the opposition Labor Party, publishes an unattributed 400-word report on page 1 citing Britain's THE SUNDAY TIMES' 20 February issue saying that the regime in Egypt is threatened with collapse at the hands of Islamists. The report says that "a confidential U.S. intelligence report being drafted in light of reports by the central, foreign, and military intelligence services warns against the dangers facing the regime in Egypt and its possible collapse in the face of onslaughts by the Islamic groups and the consequences this could have for the entire Middle East." THE SUNDAY TIMES' report notes: The "Islamic fundamentalists will continue to make gains throughout the country, which will practically lead to the collapse of the Egyptian Government, which is a geopolitical mainstay for U.S. policy in the Arab world." The report refers to "the Americans' frustration at the security campaigns, torture of suspects, military trials, executions, and the government's refusal to deal with any of the social problems that give the fundamentalists a political advantage." The report claims that while the U.S. State Department and U.S. intelligence are urging the Egyptian regime to introduce political and economic reforms, the regime has refused to change its "hardline attitude." GOVERNMENT AT ODDS WITH CORRESPONDENTS An approximately 400-word unattributed report on pages 1 and 7 notes that "dissatisfaction" prevails among foreign correspondents in Egypt over the "increasing harassment" to which they have recently been subjected by the Egyptian authorities for reporting on the situation in Egypt. The government is not happy about it. The report notes that the AFP bureau chief in Cairo was summoned to the Interior Ministry and was "kept waiting" for hours before being "strongly reprimanded" by Major General Ra'uf al-Manawi, public relations director at the Interior Ministry, for filing a report on an explosion in Tanta. CORRUPTION, ANTI-ISLAMIC POLICY VIEWED Two reports on page 4 feature antigovernment remarks by Labor Party leaders. One, an approximately 2,000-word report by Salah al-Nahif, reviews a speech by party leader |
FBIS3-12832_24 | Mubarak on Politics, Regional Security, Other Issues | before the incident. Be careful, the terrorist groups will play in your country, I would warn. Then, after the attack against the center, they asked if we had prior information. The fact is that we did not have prior information, but our warnings were based on our knowledge of those groups and their methods. Those who receive these terrorists, these fugitives, will deeply regret it. [AL-QABAS] Mr. President, each phenomenon has its positive as well as its negative sides. What did Egypt lose in its war against terrorism and what did it gain? [Mubarak] The main negative point was the impact on tourism in Luxor and Aswan, although tourism in Luxor is better now. But we won over the people; they are against any terrorist, and they are active in arresting them. We won the public's solidarity, and this is our biggest strength. We lost some revenue from tourism but we gained in the fact that the people discovered that this terrorism is removed from Islam. They claimed they were working for Islam, but they are only a group of hired people. One of them received 44,000 pounds to assassinate the prime minister. [AL-QABAS] Where did the money come from? [Mubarak] It does not come directly from the source; it moves from one place to another and finally comes from Afghanistan. It is most likely that your Iranian neighbors are the ones who pay 44,000 pounds. Instead of distributing the sum among his team, this person bought a private car for 26,000 pounds and gave 10,000 as a down payment for an apartment. He is a plumber who worked and made money, but he was tempted by 44,000 pounds coming in one installment without effort. He paid 5,000 pounds as marriage expenses. So he spent 41,000 pounds altogether. He then put 2,000 pounds in his pocket and distributed the rest among the others. He was arrested the next day after he bought the car. Regrettably, this is an Egyptian who does not appreciate what he is doing. He gets a little money, but he does not appreciate how this affects the country. [AL-QABAS] According to some press reports, the Egyptian Government has accused some quarters in the Gulf of financing terrorist operations. Is this true? [Mubarak] Some time ago, there were some nongovernmental societies that helped and paid, but mostly with good intentions. Thy imagined they were donating for charity |
FBIS3-12842_0 | Paper Says Country `Could Improve' Ties With U.S. | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Tehran, March 5 (AFP) -- Iran could improve ties with its arch-enemy the United States if Washington began settling financial disputes with the Islamic Republic, a newspaper close to Islamic hardliners said here Saturday. The KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL, an English-language newspaper, said a "solution may be found to the animosity" between Iran and the United States if Washington could prove it was "sincere" about improving ties. "As a first step, Washington should release" billions of dollars in Iranian assets frozen in the United States since 1979, when Iranian students occupied the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held U.S. nationals hostage, it said. The call by KAYHAN was the first since Tehran ruled out negotiations with Washington in November, on the anniversary of the embassy siege, and appeared to put to rest speculation about attempts to improve ties. Iran and the United States have not had diplomatic ties since 1980, one year after the Islamic revolution which toppled the pro-American shah. The paper also urged compensation for the relatives of the passengers of an Iranian civilian airliner downed by the U.S. Navy over the Gulf. The Iran Air Airbus was shot down by two missiles fired from the cruiser USS Vincennes on July 3, 1988, shortly after taking off from Bandar-e 'Abbas to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. The United States has maintained that the shooting was an accident, the plane being mistaken for a military aircraft. The daily however voiced doubt that Washington would "ever be able" to come to terms with the Iranian revolution, or understand that Iran "could never be forced to yield" under pressure. |
FBIS3-12843_0 | Velayati Welcomes Chinese Foreign Minister | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Tehran, March 4, IRNA -- Chinese deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, Qian Qichen, arrived here this morning and was welcomed by Iranian Foreign Minister 'Ali Akbar Velayati. Upon arrival at Mehrabad airport, Qichen told reporters that the objective of his trip was to expand bilateral relations and to exchange views on international issues. Referring to the Islamic Republic of Iran as an important bridge between the European And asian continents, he noted that the two countries have common viewpoints on fmany international and regional issues. Pointing to significant roles of Iran and China in the region, the Chinese official termed Tehran-Beijing relations as friendly and traditional. He then strongly condemned the recent massacre of Palestinian worshippers by the Zionist regime at al-Khalil mosque last Friday, adding that the killings have had a negative impression on the so- called peace process in the region. On China's reaction towards American allegations of human rights violation, Qichen said "we do not let any foreign country interfere in our internal affairs. The government is following up the matter." Velayati also referred to the two countries ties as "important and determining factor" in the region and noted that the relationship can be the base of peace and tranquility in the region. Iran-China bilateral relation progressed since the triumph of the Islamic revolution, and important decisions have been taken by the two sides, the major part of which has been implemented, Velayati remarked. |
FBIS3-12845_1 | Visit of PRC Official Previewed | Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Qian Qichen arrived in Tehran today on an official visit. China's foreign minister during his two-day visit to Tehran will meet with Iranian officials. The two sides will discuss mutual relations, as well as regional and international issues. It is well [as heard] to mention that China and Iran have their relations since many years ago and, despite ups and downs in the world policies, Sino-Iranian relations have always enjoyed a positive stability. At this juncture of time, too, leaders of the two countries intend to further strengthen their friendly relations. Beyond doubt, the expansion of cooperation between Iran and China as two independent countries in the East and West Asia indicate the significance of the relations in various dimensions. Political analysts believe that common cultural and deep-rooted Sino-Iranian civilization in the past as well as strong ties between the two countries have promoted Tehran-Peking relations to a fruitful and strategic level in the region and the world. The Islamic Republic of Iran and China enjoyed good economic, trade, political, and cultural relations during the years following the culmination of the Islamic revolution in Iran. During the years parallel to the regular formation of economic joint commission, and tasked by the high-ranking officials of the two countries, the volume of trade exchanges between them increased to $710 million dollars in 1993. Presently, Iran and China have extensive cooperation in the field of energy, transportation, telecommunication, mines, industry, agriculture, transfer of technology, and exchange of scientific information. In view of the independence of Central Asian Republics following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the existence of exceptional potentials in Iran and China, the Central Asia has presently turned into an area of economic and trade activities and has expanded international cooperation among east, west, and central Asia. In the meantime, the Islamic Republic of Iran and China have identical stands towards international issues, especially the U.S. and West pressures against the Third World countries by playing an active role. Hence, the two countries' cooperation can foil the plots hatched by the enemies. On this basis, reciprocal visits by the officials of the two countries and the exchanges of views and consultations on various affairs can boost the mutual understanding. The visit to Tehran by China's Qian Qichen would undoubtedly open a new horizon in expanding the relations between the two countries. |
FBIS3-12848_0 | Nateq-Nuri, Qian Qichen View Issues | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Tehran, March 5, IRNA -- Majlis speaker Hojjat ol-Eslam 'Ali Akbar Nateq-Nuri in a meeting with the Chinese Deputy Premier Qian Qichen here today said that there had been "no ambiguous juncture" in the long relations between Iran and China. Hoj. Nuri said parliamentary relations between the two countries are helpful for the expansion of mutual ties in other areas. During the meeting the speaker also warned the U.S. against any moves which tend to breach the international norms. "The U.S. should take lessons from the collapse of the former superpower of the Soviet Union, and should not violate international norms simply because it has no rival anymore." Referring to the dual attitude of international organizations towards the killings of the innocent people of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the racist Serbs as well as the carnage of the Palestinian Muslim worshipers by the criminal Zionists, the Majlis speaker called on the world countries to take serious action vis-a-vis such crimes. Stressing Iran's determination to maintain security and stability in the Persian Gulf region, Nuri said that the U.S. presence in the Persian Gulf is a threat to the security of the region. Qian in reply said that Iran served as a bridge between Asia and Europe, and termed Iran's role in the strategic and sensitive region of the Persian Gulf as "positive and constructive". He also said expansion of the mutual parliamentary relations would strengthen the two countries' ties in other areas. |
FBIS3-12852_0 | Zionist Role Exmained | Language: Persian Article Type:BFN [Second Friday sermon by Ayatollah Khamene'i, leader of the Islamic revolution, in Tehran on 4 March -- recorded] [Excerpts] In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. [passage omitted] The issue of the Zionist enemy's aggression against the immaculate shrine of Abraham is such a great atrocity and it is such a painful incident that saying a few words does not do it justice. We believe that the usurper government of Israel is directly responsible for the Hebron massacre. The supporters of the usurper government, headed by America, are also responsible for this incident, because they always defended the Zionists during all those years. Whenever there was a problem for the Zionists, immediately America rushed to their defense. Those American Jews, those big capitalists, did whatever they wanted using American power and money and used America's political influence all over the world to support that cancerous cell which has been created in the heart of the Islamic nations. Very well, are they not guilty in this case? Are they not responsible? No doubt they are. Also responsible in this incident are other allies and supporters of Israel. The world public media that have not justly explained that incident are also responsible. Human rights organizations, UN Human Rights Committee and other small and large organizations -- which operate all over the world under different titles -- are lying in ambush, waiting for small incidents to happen for any government in any corner of the globe that has no friendly ties with America, so that they could scream about violations of human rights. Now look at this case, the usurper, malicious and tyrannical government of the Zionists, who are the enemies of humanity, shed the blood of hundreds of Palestinians when they are fasting and prostrate in prayers. They kill tens of persons, injure hundreds, and later, when people who are naturally angry, bereaved, and sympathetic come to streets with their fists clenched, then Israeli soldiers target them one by one, hunting them and killing them. Here those organizations proclaiming to be defenders of human rights are keeping their mouths shut and say nothing. At best, such and such international organization set out to condemn it. What good is a word of condemnation to Palestinians anyway? If organizations which claim to be championing human rights were genuine, then they should have all stood up, raised a cry, |
FBIS3-12869_0 | Paper Reports Iraq Tightening Controls at Border | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Amman--Officials, Iraqi sources and travellers Sunday [6 March] said the Iraqi government had tightened existing rules as well as imposing fresh measures against smuggling across the border to Jordan in a bid to check the seepage of goods from Iraq, which is under a sweeping international embargo. Particular attention is given to checking foreign currency and electronic and electrical goods at the Iraqi crossing point into Jordan at Tirbil in the wake of a dramatic plunge in the value of the Iraqi dinar since early this year, they said. In many cases vehicles carrying diplomatic plates are also searched thoroughly before being allowed out, they said. Iraqi nationals carrying foreign currency with them into the country also face similar problems, they said. "There does not appear to be any hard and fast rule for the amount of foreign currency one could carry while he or she goes in," said an Iraqi source. "Sometimes even small amounts are seized from travellers." "On the other hand, many businessmen appear not to have any serious problems," added the source. Beyond that, however, are stricter measures aimed at preventing imported products leaving Iraq territory, the sources said. "Every piece of baggage is checked very throughly and anything that raises doubts that it could be used for commercial purposes is confiscated at the border poknt before the traveller leaves Iraq," said an Iraqi source. A traveller reported that two of three Irqi-made leather jackets he was carrying were seized at the border. "They said they could permit only one for personal use," the traveller told the JORDAN TIMES. In another case, a foreign journalist who had carried with him extra lenses and other camera accessories on an assignment in Iraq reported that he was not allowed to take them out. "I had registered my cameras when I went in, but did not bother to do so with the lenses and some other accessories," said the photographer. "On my way out, they said I could carry only the cameras and confiscated the lenses and accessories, saying I could not prove I had taken them with me when I went in. Intervention by Iraqi officials in Baghdad did not help either." According to experts on Iraqi economy and the government approaches to imports and exports, Baghdad appeared to be concerned that it would have to spend massive amounts in foreign exchange for |
FBIS3-12891_0 | Editorial Blames `Degraded' Arab Rulers for Hebron | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Editorial: "No to the Massacre, No to Degradation"] [Text] Had most Arab rulers and officials not degraded themselves, their dignity, and the rights of their nation, the massacre at the holy Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron would never have occurred. The Zionist enemy's calculations would have been totally different as well, especially since it is a usurper entity, whose true aims cannot be concealed by claims of security and military superiority while the memory of the glorious battle and al-Husayn missiles is still vivid in our minds. Unfortunately, many Arab rulers and officials have degraded themselves, Palestine, and Iraq, whom they are now blockading after participating in the aggression against it. They were against Iraq when it was facing Israel alone; a sole warrior knowing no hesitation or compromise over rights despite all the support Israel garnered from the imperialist and neo-imperialist forces. Here the degradation and the compromises have produced their racist Zionist puss. The Zionist entity has dared to commit a hideous massacre, killing prostrate worshipers in the mosque of Ibrahimi, the grandfather of prophets, at dawn prayer on a Friday in the holy month of Ramadan. Could there be anything more degrading than this massacre?!! If the boiling public anger were to react by avenging Arab honor, becoming an anger for Palestine, its people, martyrs, and our holy places, then it is also bound to clash with those governments that pledged to guarantee the security of Israel and the safety of its existence and borders. They used all their political, financial, and military weight to kill the Palestinian revolution, as a weapon and a source of strength. They have also gone a long way toward sponsoring and encouraging submission and deviation, until some of them joined the U.S. settlement bandwagon, which was started by Bush and Baker and is now continued by Clinton and Christopher. When everything -- the land, the people, the holy places, and the factors of history and geography -- becomes negotiable, then even the martyrs' blood is seen by these degraded weaklings as a surmountable problem. For instance, they think it is sufficient to switch the talks from Cairo to Washington, amid theatrical appeals for self-restraint, in order to continue the negotiations so as not to hamper the negotiation process. This is itself a political massacre of the Palestine question. We wonder, had this crime been committed by someone else, |
FBIS3-12893_0 | U.S. Held Responsible for `Criminal' Embargo | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Text] Baghdad, 5 Mar (INA) -- An Iraqi newspaper has held U.S. President Bill Clinton responsible for maintaining the criminal embargo against the people of Iraq and closing all doors to questions being strongly raised about the reasons for its continuation after Iraq has fulfilled the obligations spelled out by Security Council resolutions. In its editorial today, AL-JUMHURIYAH notes that the U.S. President has asked Congress to continue to support the embargo, citing a series of fabricated stories and lies, which have been worn out by repetition. The U.S. President has even taken a further step by appointing himself a "guardian" over Iraq and its people and poking his nose in its domestic affairs. The paper notes the extreme frustration the Clinton administration has faced as a result of two connected phenomena in the Arab nation. The first phenomenon is the collapse of two pillars of U.S. policy following the aggression against Iraq, the regimes of Fahd and Husni Mubarak. The second is that Iraq has maintained popular support all over the Arab nation and that Saddam Husayn has continued to be a symbol of pan-Arab honor and adherence to honorable values in the Arab nation and the Islamic world. The paper asserts that the steadfastness of the Iraqi people and the genius of President Saddam Husayn have changed regional and Arab equations in their favor. They have also defeated attempts by Western-Zionist media to influence the masses of the region and drive them to antagonize Iraq. |
FBIS3-12951_0 | Editorial Says `No Coincidence' Goldstein Raised in U.S. | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Editorial: "Annihilation Way Toward Peace!"] [Text] Most of us cannot understand how the Ramadan massacre at the Ibrahimi Mosque could open the road to peace, nor can we understand how each massacre will remove an obstacle facing a settlement we all have been talking about and believe is achieving big victories that are late but almost close at hand. We realize the annihilation of the Palestinian people will enable the Israeli entity to achieve the peace it wants. We realize that the annihilation of Muslims in Yugoslavia makes peace the right of those the Westerners call Bosnian Serbs. We also realize that the continuation of the racist embargo of the Iraqi people will lead to the death of all the Iraqis. Through this, international legitimacy -- the respect for which the United States is seeking to impose on the enemies of Washington to the exclusion of all others -- would be achieved. The Americans are the only ones who can make peace in the Middle East. By virtue of the fact that the Americans have a strategic alliance with the Israelis, the anticipated peace will be one that achieves the interests of both allies. Moreover, when Goldstein, the hero of the Ramadan massacre, sees that the world is applauding the killers in Somalia, Yugoslavia, and Iraq, then it is natural for him to consider those killers -- who are slaughtering people in the name of protecting them and are launching wars of annihilation under the pretext of defending international legitimacy -- as his model. It is no coincidence that Goldstein should have been born and raised in America and have a Zionist behavior and mentality. Such a combination is what produced the killers in Baghdad, Mogadishu, and Sarajevo and before that in the capitals of South America and Southeast Asia. Those who are talking about opening the road to peace via the slaughtering of Palestinians are talking about a policy that satisfies the new world order but does not satisfy the sentiment of millions of Arabs, whose Islam and Christianity as well as their basic rights, foremost of which is their right to live, are fought by Zionism and its allies. The United Nations, which refuses to condemn the Zionist crime, is not to blame, because there are those among us who, since the first moment of the massacre, have been seeking to acquit the Israeli |
FBIS3-12962_3 | Official Addresses Ba'th Party Cadres | addition to its inherent weaknesses, moral regression, and cultural alienation . "Americanism", which seeks to generalize the American way of life, is founded on three bases: 1. Superiority, challenge, and violence as reflected by the cowboy mentality, to quote Quincey Wright. 2. Bigotry based on race and Protestant religious values. 3. Expediency which believes in the relativity of values and uses success as a standard for truth. These bases make the American feel he is the master of standards. The double-dealing that permeates U.S. morality, the exploitation of freedom as applied to money matters and the media, and the compromise of values make everything in the American way of life, even honor and sovereignty, subject to bargain and compromise. Under such pragmatism, life itself becomes a series of deals. Thus, war is a deal; peace is a deal; persuading others to surrender and accept established facts is a deal;, publicizing and marketing liberal democracy and human rights to turn political and economic institutions into annexes for the U.S. capitalist system is a deal; considering religion, patriotism, and nationalism as fundamentalism which must be avoided; publicizing Western secularism and internationalist trends; opening up fronts against nationalism, Arabism, and Islam; advocating common strategies to fight Arab awakening and to Americanize and Judaize life in the world are all deals. There is only one starting point for facing this aggressive American model which serves Zionist aims: namely, the Mother of Battles' spirit, rationalism, renewed unity principles, true democracy, and socialism based on lessons learned from world experiments which express true human tendencies and address the needs of national awakening. The Mother of Battles embodies the alternative Arab cultural model which can, in a balanced and integrated manner, interact with ideology and technology, revolution and wealth, and Man and his humanitarian mission, because the Mother of Battles is a spark from the mission's spirit, the Ba'thist spirit. You, the sons of the Mother of Battles, have the responsibility to build this new cultural model and to defend it with intellect, struggle, construction, creativeness and by raising the nation's struggle power to the point where it can settle the historic confrontation in favor of Arabism and human civilization. You are qualified to assume this responsibility. I congratulate you and wish you great success in your struggle tasks under the principled historical leadership of leader comrade Saddam Husayn, may God preserve him. Peace be upon you. |
FBIS3-12969_1 | Columnist Examines Lessons of Egypt-Syria Union | had to contend with Western manipulated Arab regimes that were lying in wait to abort the Arab nationalist policies. While some such regimes played up to Arab nationalists in the hope of containing them, others resorted to the more direct approach of repressing and liquidating Arab militants fighting for freedom and Arab unity. Thus, a bitter struggle began, pitting anti-colonialist, progressive Arab liberation forces against the colonialist-Zionist camp, aided by reactionary and agent Arab dictatorships. With huge resources at the disposal of the enemies and the inexperience of the new unionist state, colonialism plotted the retrogressive secessionist coup of 28 September, 1961, setting the stage for a campaign to contain the Arab liberation movement and drown it in a sea of blood. Hence the string of crimes committed against the standard bearers of Arab nationalism by the reactionary and hireling Arab regimes, some of which, thanks to their imperialist backers, are still in power. Arab unionists must never lose sight of the fact that the first Arab unionist experiment would not have failed if it had not been for reactionary Arab dictatorships that had been recruited by Zionism and colonialism to strike at Arab unity. With the foremost colonialist power of the day contending that it wants to spread democracy and human rights, we should remind our younger generation that by wrecking the Syrian-Egyptian merger, the West and the United States took a stand against democracy. We feel we must point out that the Mother of Battles counts as the most decisive and far-reaching in the history of Arab struggle. If Zionism and colonialism assassinated Egyptian-Syrian unity, Ba'thist militants, led by Saddam Husayn, holding the banner of Arabism, and armed with the lessons learned from that rich experiment, achieved a major victory in the Mother of Battles against the U.S.-led Western forces of evil. Our victory in the Mother of Battles is not limited to a single front, as some may think. Three years after the aggression, the hostile forces have begun to admit that Iraq scored a series of victories. Militarily, Iraq was able to deter America and its allies from pursuing the land war. More importantly, Iraq won the battle of wills by thwarting the U.S. effort to invade its territory and liquidate its leadership. Furthermore, the United States failed to destroy Iraq's industrial base. Strategically, the U.S. effort to gain control over the oil of the world |
FBIS3-12999_0 | U.S. `Change of Heart' on Direct Talks Assessed | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Tehran, March 8, IRNA -- A morning English daily here Tuesday commented on the recent remarks by U.S. officials on Washington's intentions to open direct talks with Iran. "Following 14 years of desperate efforts to undermine the legitimacy of Iran, the United States is finally heeding international pressure and is trying to come to terms with the political realities of the Islamic Republic," said `TEHRAN TIMES'. It added that Washington's apparent change of heart is due to two major causes -- the limitation of the U.S. influence in the Middle East resulted from the region's cordial relations with Iran and failure of the U.S.-imposed Middle East peace talks which makes Washington to use Tehran's "spiritual influence" in the Islamic world to revive and legitimize the peace accord. "Iran has endeavored to stay faithful to its own Islamic revolution while leaving open the possibility of reconciliation with the U.S. provided that America releases Iran's assets and refrains from covert and overt operations aimed at isolating and destabilizing the Islamic Republic." In the case of re-establishment of ties with Iran, the U.S. would stand to gain a lot more than Iran, therefore, it should be prepared to make greater concessions, said the daily in conclusion noting that Iranian officials are well aware of this fact and would base their demands accordingly. |
FBIS3-13000_0 | `Major' Concessions Required | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Tehran, March 8 (AFP)--A normalisation of US-Iranian relations will only be achieved if the United States makes major concessions including the release of Iranian frozen assets, a semi-official newspaper warned Tuesday [8 March]. The English-language daily TEHRAN TIMES argued: "If relations are indeed re-established, the US stands to gain a lot more than Iran, therefore it should be prepared to make greater concessions." Iran and the United States have not had diplomatic ties since 1980, one year after the Islamic revolution which toppled the pro-American shah, whose regime was a major US ally in the Middle East. But last week President Bill Clinton's adviser Anthony Lake, and Under Secretary of State for the Middle East Robert Pelletreau reported that Washington was ready to start talks with Iran. The Iranian Government has so far not reacted officially to the US statements, but has indirectly welcomed the moves via favourable press reports, while restating its conditions for opening Iran-US talks. The TEHRAN TIMES said: "Iran has left open the possibility of reconciliation with the US provided that America releases Iran's assets which are frozen in American banks and refrains from covert and overt operations aimed at destabilizing the Islamic Republic." Iranian officials estimate more than 10 billion dollars are currently frozen in the United States. The daily said the United States "is finally trying to come to terms with the political realities of the Islamic Republic, after 14 years of efforts to undermine its legitimacy." It attributed the recent US gesture to a refusal by European countries to take part in the US bid to isolate Tehran, and also to the "failure of the US imposed Middle East peace talks." This has prompted "Washington to consider using Tehran's spiritual influence in the Islamic world to revive the peace accord," the TEHRAN TIMES added. Last week the KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL, a daily close to Islamic hardliners traditionally opposed to the United States, spoke in favor of "a negotiated solution" to "bring an end to the hostility" between the countries. |
FBIS3-13002_1 | President, PRC's Envoy To Resist `Foreign Influence' | views between the regional countries, particularly Iran and China," Hashemi-Rafsanjani said, according to his office. The president urged Asian countries not to allow "domineering powers" to gain influence in Central Asian states and other regional countries in the "guise of solving their problems." The ex-Soviet republics of Central Asia are Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan. Qian, who arrived here Friday at the head of a political and economic delegation, said cooperation between Tehran and Beijing had accelerated after the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran "because of their common political views." He agreed on the "need to resist" the influence of foreign powers in the region, a reason for which China was "determined to strengthen cooperation with countries like Iran," according to Hashemi-Rafsanjani's office. Qian stressed the "need to ensure peace and stability in Central Asia to pave the way for economic progress" in the former Soviet republics. "China supports economic prosperity in these countries and desires closer cooperation with Iran to solve regional crisis," he said. Qian, who is here on the last leg of a tour of five Asian and Middle Eastern countries, is to leave for home Sunday. An Iranian newspaper said Saturday that Tehran could serve as "Asia's Geneva" in solving the regional conflicts and urged major Asian countries, such as China and India, to support the idea. "Tehran, a city synonymous with peace, possesses the necessary qualities and the good will to realise the idea," the English-language TEHRAN TIMES said. Qian also held talks with his counterpart 'Ali Akbar Velayati and was to meet later with parliamentary speaker 'Ali Akbar Nateq-Nuri. The two countries were also expected to discuss expansion of trade and economic cooperation and settling Iran's 100 million dollars in overdue debt to China. Bilateral trade stands at around 700 million dollars, with China exporting 300 million dollars, mainly in machinery, and importing 400 million dollars, mostly in oil and steel. Tehran and Beijing could discuss Chinese participation in several projects here, including the completion of the Tehran subway and construction of several cement plants and dams throughout Iran. Newspapers said here in November that Tehran and Beijing had agreed to undertake a 60-million dollar project for building a copper foundry in southeastern Iran. Iran and China are to launch a wide range of agricultural cooperation projects including sending Chinese experts to help in raising bees, fish and shrimp, according to Chinese sources. |
FBIS3-13004_0 | Russia's Adamishin, Velayati Discuss Ties, Tajik Conflict | Language: Persian Article Type:BFN [Text] In a meeting today between Foreign Minister Velayati and the Russian deputy foreign minister, Anatoliy Adamishin, expansion of Iran-Russia ties, regional cooperation, and the resolution of regional crises, especially the Tajik crisis, were discussed. At the meeting, Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Adamishin, said: Russia seeks to use its good relations with Iran to resolve regional crises, including the Tajik crisis, because we do not see any need for a military solution in Tajikistan. Therefore Iran and Russia are able, through using their influence, to establish peace and tranquillity in the region. He added: Iran and Russia have strategic interests in Tajikistan. Mr. Velayati, while describing today's meeting of the Tajik opposition leaders and Russian officials in Tehran as important, considered it to be a turning point in resolving the Tajik crisis and said: The Islamic Republic of Iran supports any solution which will maintain the national interests of the Tajik people. He added: The resolution of the Tajik crisis through military means is impossible. Therefore the only way to establish a fair and honorable peace is by peaceful means. At the meeting, the issue of increasing regional cooperation -- especially the Organization for the Cooperation of the Caspian Sea Littoral States -- was discussed and the Russian deputy foreign minister declared his country's readiness for the earliest possible convening of a meeting of the Organization's senior experts. |
FBIS3-13009_0 | Velayati Phones Pakistani Counterpart on Hebron Incident | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Tehran, March 8, IRNA -- Foreign Minister 'Ali Akbar Velayati in a telephone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ahmad Ali here Tuesday morning discussed holding of an emergency meeting of members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Iran has called on the OIC member states to hold an emergency session to review the massacre of the fasting Palestinian worshipers by the Zionist forces in Hebron on February 25. The Pakistani foreign minister, the rotating head of the OIC, said that Islamabad has made efforts to receive positive answers from the OIC members, the Information and Press Department of the Foreign Ministry reported. He added that Pakistan would take necessary measures later and after the implementation of the preliminary stages, the report added. |
FBIS3-13010_0 | Hebron Killing Viewed in Jerusalem Day Feature | Article Type:BFN [Editorial Report] Tehran Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran First Program Network at 0345 GMT on 6 March broadcasts a special 45-minute feature on Jerusalem Day, which is to be celebrated on Friday, 11 March. The feature includes a brief opening talk by the announcer, who says: "If we want to examine the al-Khalil [Hebron] mosque massacre, we can see that, contrary to the allegations by the regime occupying Jerusalem, the massacre of the worshipers at the al-Ibrahimi mosque was not a spontaneous act by a group of extremists but the starting point of a series of acts that are being perpetrated by the Zionist government in a bid to achieve a special objective. If we want to understand this better, we have to look at the recent U.S.-Israeli act in the region. What the West is propounding as the peace process only mentions the word peace and pursues very specific objectives." The announcer then goes on to say: "The first objective that international Zionism is pursuing is to extinguish the burning flames of the intifadah, which is considered to be one of the most dangerous political-social phenomena of the region for Israel, the United States, and even the corrupt regimes around them. International Zionism considers the intifadah to be yet another fruit of the Islamic revival process, which is threatening the interests and objectives of the regime occupying Jerusalem." Then the guest of the feature, Hoseyn Sheykholeslam, Iranian deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs, is asked to comment on the Hebron massacre. In answer to a question on what objective the Zionists are pursuing in the incident, Sheykholeslam says: "The Zionists' objective is very simple. They do not want there to be any Palestinian in Palestine. They do not want any non-Israeli or anyone who does not believe in world domination by Zionism to be in Israel. Israel has a big strategic plan for this purpose. This plan has political, international, economic, propaganda, social, and psychological aspects. It has been following this plan for more than 50 years in various stages. It has almost succeeded, especially with the implementation of the Camp David agreement as well as the compromise plans that have emerged, one by one, after Camp David." Sheykholeslam then refers to the Islamic revolution in Iran and says that one of the most important aspects of the revolution was the method that |
FBIS3-13013_1 | Commentary Views Cooperation With India, China | attention of the world's political circles to the tripartite talks among Iran, India, and China. Significance of this matter lies in the fact that, under the new global conditions, the concept of security and power has undergone a change in qualitative terms. The world is now about to enter the phase where political, economic, and military regionalism will replace earlier equations of polarized power in the Cold War era at international level. It is assumed the strategic location of the three interrelated zones in geographical and historical terms--namely, the Islamic zone and the zones of the Chinese and Indian civilizations--under the new global conditions and in a realistic survey, can turn India, Iran, and China into a well-integrated group. Upon adding Pakistan to this group, one can say that there will emerge a regional power pole. Such a pole will have an undeniable impact in safeguarding regional and world peace and in motivating national development in these countries. The Islamic Republic of Iran is the center of the Islamic civilization. India, too, is the center of the Indian civilization, while China enjoys a similar position in the Confucian civilization. Growth of mutual cooperation in these three zones of historic civilization can strengthen Asia's independence in all aspects. The factor which can turn such an alliance into a desirable group in the contemporary world underlies that the group enjoys all resources for development in terms of natural resources, work force, and technology. Based on the vastness of the groups geographical limits--ranging from the Middle East to the Indian subcontinent and east Asia--and its population, which is nearly half of the world, this point becomes clear. In the event of total realization of these resources, not only the group will be able to respond to all of its needs but will also become a model encouraging the enhancement of cooperation in the entire Asian continent. Upon considering the triangle of power, comprising Tehran, New Delhi, and Beijing as a well integrated group, one can say without any doubt that the equation of international power will come to face more diverse pressures from the Western world and the new UN-sponsored world order. Such a situation will not only increase this group's power to confront the covetous designs of the West but will also boost the capacity of each of the countries included in this power triangle for confrontation in political and economic spheres. |
FBIS3-13020_2 | Troop Movements Near Kurdish Territory Reported | only armored brigade. The ITC did not give a clear reason for this change in which the more advanced tanks withdrew to be replaced by older tanks to carry out "the expected attack." The explanation is perhaps that the Iraqi regime wants to protect its wing on the Iranian border. The ITC also said that the al-'Abid forces of the Republican Guard, under the command of Staff Brigadier General Salih al-Hajj and his assistant Staff Colonel Nizar Husayn al-Husayni, have also moved up to the northern region and taken up positions near al-Mawsil dam with brigades deployed in Shaykhan, Fulyfilah, and Fa'idah. The changes also included withdrawal of the guard units near the contact lines and deployment of these units in towns. That was confirmed by Peshmerga forces and also by patrols of the Unified Iraqi National Congress [UING]. The ITC quoted its correspondent in al-Mawsil as saying that, during his visit to the town on 23 February, Saddam Husayn met with the party leaders and armed forces commanders in the northern intelligence service building in the town and told them that "he decided to attack" the region of Kurdistan during the 'Id al-Fitr period. That was accompanied by measures denoting aggressive intent. The Saddam Hospital in Karkuk was vacated to be ready to receive the wounded. The town of Karkuk was fortified and on the night of Monday, 28 February and in the early hours of Tuesday 1 March some armored units moved toward the areas of Bardarash and Shaykhan but stopped short of the contact line. That prompted the Peshmerga Ministry in northern Iraq to send a notification to the UINC, the UN Coordination Commission, and the United Nations on 2 March warning of an imminent aggression against Kurdistan. The statement added: The Peshmerga forces monitored major Iraqi forces movements including armor and heavy artillery in the direction of the areas of Fa'idah, Shaykhan, Ba'idrah, Bardarash, and Faysh Khabur along the contact line. Our correspondent in al-Mawsil says there is much talk in the Iraqi Army's officers' circles in the town about the possibility of an offensive. As a result, the Dahuk [Peshmerga] command requested a meeting with the UN Coordination Commission. The ITC correspondent in Dahuk says that officers of that commission went to the Dahuk command on 2 March and met with Babakr, the Peshmerga commander in that area, and a number of Kurdistan Government officials. |
FBIS3-13065_0 | Hashemi Addresses Meeting of African Diplomats | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Tehran, March 8, IRNA -- First Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Hashemi said at the gathering of African diplomats in Tehran that the Islamic Republic wishes to broaden relations with African countries. Hashemi who was addressing a reception at the embassy of Sudan said since the triumph of the Islamic revolution in 1979, Iran has been a friendly country to all African states, and supports the struggle of African peoples against racial discrimination. He said the Africans have added a golden leaf to the history of the struggles of world nations, and today certain sources that claim to be concerned about the status of human rights accuse certain African states of human rights violations while they continue to plunder the resources of the very same African countries. He said the Islamic Republic looks forward to broader cooperation with the African nations in the area of politics, economy and culture. |
FBIS3-13067_1 | No `Serious Resolution' Expected From UN on Hebron | and should thus take an impartial approach to incidents, it has impudently adopted a pro- Zionist policy vis-a-vis a calamity, the condemnation of which no one has the least bit of doubt, and is ignoring world public opinion. This stance by the White House stems from the fact that on the basis of international laws and the conventions on war, prisoners of war, and occupied territories, especially the Fourth Convention of Geneva, the Zionist regime is legally responsible for ensuring the security of the residents in the occupied territories. If the Zionist regime is unwilling or unable to ensure the security of the Palestinians, it should hand over this duty to international organizations. Since the Zionist regime wants to crush the risen Palestinians, on the one hand, and does not want a third party to enter the scene in order to cover up its crimes, on the other, it opposes the dispatch of UN peacekeeping forces to the occupied territories. Thus, the United States, which regards the Zionist regime's behavior to be part of the confrontation with the wave of Islamism and the Islamic revolution and in line with its own and the Zionist regime's interests, extends unconditional support for this regime. However, behind the U.S.-Zionist regime's confrontation with the wave of Islamism and the just uprising of the Palestinians, talks are being held in the UN corridors between the United States and the compromising Palestinian faction on the one side and the Zionist regime and 'Arafat's representative on the other. Egypt also plays the role of mediator in these talks. Political experts consider the issuance of a Security Council resolution on this issue to be contingent on a compromise between Tel Aviv and 'Arafat on the Palestinian demands on what should be stated in the resolution. The Palestinian side--which has been greatly disgraced among the Palestinians because of its recent compromise on self-rule in Gaza and Jericho, as well as ensuing agreements--has lost its support, is propounding demands that ultimately benefit the Zionist regime, and is trying to slightly repair its domestic image. Thus, it wants the resolution to emphasize international support for Palestinians and to clarify the situation of Jerusalem. However, experts believe that Israel will not give in to these two demands and, in view of U.S. support for the Zionist regime and the composition of the Security Council, no serious resolution is expected to be issued. |
FBIS3-13068_3 | Mubarak Urges Reform in Koran Anniversary Speech | at the affairs of our people and reflection on our conditions would bring sorrow to our souls, agony to our hearts, and would puzzle our intellect. What pains us in our people's situation today are those negative phenomena that are completely alien to our nature and at odds with the tenets of our God-given faith. Among these phenomena are: First, ravaging conflicts; Second, disabling backwardness; Third, disrupting discord, destructive terrorism, fanatic extremism, rampant deviation, and misguided doctrines. Brothers and sisters, regrettably, we can see divisive conflicts in more than one place in the Islamic world. These conflicts take many and varied forms, ranging from tribal power struggles and ideological power struggles to ethnic power struggles aimed at domination. They sometimes take the form of material conflicts to satisfy ambitions. I don't want to specify these areas of conflict or name the leaders or rival factions or say anything that might be considered interference in others' affairs. But I would like to say with clarity and conviction that these conflicts have nothing to do with our religion. No way do they serve the interests of our nation. The impact of these conflicts is evidently destructive, disunites our nation, undermines our force, and offends the image of Islam. They cause the death of many innocent people, bloodshed, waste our wealth, and destroy our establishments. The consequences of these conflicts will weaken and exhaust our nation and drown it in misery and wretchedness and threaten it, God forbid, with annihilation. Strange that this struggle is taking place in several places in the Islamic world and is affecting and threatening us, despite the Koran's appeal for solidarity, call for collaboration, and prohibition of conflict and struggle. How great are the almighty's words: "And hold fast, all together, by the rope which God stretches out for you, and be not divided among yourselves." And his words: "And fall into no disputes, lest ye lose heart and your power depart." The disabling backwardness has many forms in the life of our nation and different forms among the people. There is scientific backwardness, which has made the nation's illiteracy rate among the highest in the world. There is cultural backwardness, which has led to a lack of awareness among many people regarding the facts and changes of the age and has led to an unwarranted conflict between adherence to origins and keeping abreast of modern developments or |
FBIS3-13076_5 | Islamic Fundamentalist Comments on Political Events | given an interview to the newspaper in question. It is a fabrication. Al-Gama'a Islamiya printed a communique warning foreigners against going to Egypt out of concern for their safety, because they are in confrontation with the government. It is every Muslim's duty to ensure the safety of visitors, and that safety cannot be guaranteed at the moment. Therefore it would be unwise to travel to Egypt." "Would a tourist be likely to go on holiday to Sarajevo, Mogadishu, or Baghdad? It is the same in Egypt today. Egypt is involved in a violent confrontation and it would not be safe for tourists to go there." He also finds it "difficult to imagine good Muslims being involved in attacks on innocent tourists." Instead, he accuses forces within the Egyptian government of being behind the attacks on tourists which until now have cost seven foreigners their lives and wounded dozens of others. The purpose of this, according to Qassim, is to justify the brutality used against the Islamic opposition and to discredit it. Tal'at Fu'ad Qassim thinks that there is one good explanation for the furore caused by a series of articles on him. "Since the end of the Cold War and the collapse of communism, Islamophobia, the fear of Islam, has spread like wildfire. I cannot understand why people here in the West are so keen to create a boogeyman. It only serves as a provocation." Qassim wants to see more objectivity in the descriptions of what is happening in the Islamic world. Asked whether he is unable to understand Danes' fear of Islam, when they have the deaths of foreign tourists in Algeria and Egypt as well as the bloody Iranian revolution at the back of their minds, he answered: "Yes, I can well understand that. But then the Danes must also appreciate how ordinary Egyptians feel. The Egyptians can be compared to a dove in a cage. Normally doves are very peaceful animals, but if they are put into a cage it is only natural that they peck your finger. When the Muslims in Egypt shake off the dictatorship and introduce an Islamic system, people will see that there is nothing to be afraid of." When the Islamic forces take over power in Egypt, which, according to Qassim will happen "before most people expect it", foreigners will again be welcome and assured of their safety in Egypt, he promised. |
FBIS3-13087_0 | Fatah Dissident on International Jerusalem Day | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Damascus, March 6, IRNA -- Secretary General of the Revolutionary Fatah Movement, Abu-Musa [Colonel Sa'id Musa Muragha] said here that the international Qods [Jerusalem] day is the manifestation of the Muslim ummah's true power in confronting the Israeli hegemony. Abu-Musa told IRNA in an interview that Palestinian combatants who always confront compromising plans, follow the path of Imam Khomeyni and will continue their struggle until the freedom of the Holy Qods. The role the Islamic revolution of Iran plays in countering the Zionist conspiracies has caused the world arrogance to adopt anti-Iran stands, he noted. Muslim nations today, under the auspices of Imam Khomeyni's teachings, have realised that the U.S. and Israel are their major enemies, Abu-Musa remarked. He urged Islamic and national forces to resist against the U.S. and Israeli conspiracies and not let the Zionists rule the region. Abu-Musa said the last Friday's massacre by the Zionist forces of Muslim worshippers in al-Khalil [Hebron] was the natural consequence of 'Arafat-Rabin agreement. |
FBIS3-13099_3 | Political Islam Review: AL-SHA'B 4 Mar PARTY SECRETARY EXPECTS ISLAMIC VICTORY AGAINST INJUSTICE, RULERS' CORRUPTION | bombs to use against Palestinians in the territories, but to threaten the Arab nation, particularly Egypt, if they dare disobey the orders or raise their heads in pride." Addressing the United States, Husayn says: "We will not be fooled by your denunciations, even if the Security Council issues a strongly worded resolution condemning the enemy (it will not do), because words are no longer enough." He warns "our corrupt rulers" that the United States will not save them if the masses decide to punish and overthrow them, noting that popular demonstrations prove that "Egypt will not lead the march of capitulation" and that it will continue to be "the fort of the Arabs and Muslims." Husayn refutes the view that the world has joined forces against Islam and Muslims because, according to him, that view prevailed "in the first spell of dizziness after the sudden, thunderous collapse of the Soviet bloc." Things are different today and will keep changing daily, because yesterday's allies of the Western bloc are no longer a bloc, he says. He contends that Europe is breaking away from the United States, thus speeding up NATO's collapse; that an economic war is raging between the United States and Japan; that China is becoming a great economic power and enhancing its nuclear power; that India is developing militarily and economically; and that Russia will not be in chaos forever and that its crises might prompt it to take a more hostile attitude toward the United States. He concludes that the American dream of power has been shattered. He maintains that of all regions, the Arab region is the one surrounded by the Americans, who want to display their might and support the Zionist expansionist plan. He attributes this desire to God almighty's will ruling that "oil will be an Islamic product." Apart from Venezuela, all OPEC states are Muslim. Major non-OPEC reserves are in Somalia and the Muslim republics that belonged to the Soviet Union. And Chinese oil is concentrated in a region inhabited by Muslims, he explains. Admitting that oil is a vital strategic product and that whoever controls its output can control the world, he says that the Islamic states' monopoly of oil can turn them into a very influential political power. That is why major states try to avert this eventuality. The United States wants to monopolize Arab oil to control Europe and Japan's supply |
FBIS3-13136_0 | `At Least Six' Others Reportedly Involved in Hebron | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Bonn, March 10, IRNA -- A Palestinian doctor who is now living in Germany has disclosed more details on the massacre of Palestinian worshipers in Hebron on February 25. Maysam Abu-'Ali, a former resident of Hebron, said that he had been in the shrine at the time of the massacre and at the hebron Islamic hospital after the incident. He noted that at 05:15 am Friday Barukh Goldstein together with at least six other Zionists who were all in army uniforms attacked the mosque with tens of hand grenades and then sprayed the worshipers with bullets. About 53 worshipers were immediately martyred and 250 others severely wounded while seven others, trying to flee the mosque, were killed and 40 others injured by heavy fire of the Zionist soldiers outside the mosque, he added. He dismissed the Zionist regime's claims that Israeli forces had not cooperated with the attackers and said that the soldiers opened heavy fire in front of the Hebron Islamic hospital on Muslims who had rushed to the scene to donate blood to the wounded, killing three and wounded 30 others. On Palestinians reaction to the massacre, Abu-'Ali remarked that despite extenive presence of the heavily armed Zionist forces around al-Aqsa mosque, over 90,000 Palestiians turned out to hold the Friday prayers in the mosque. In a demonstration which followed the prayers, 17 Palestinian worshipers were martyred and tens of others were wounded, the doctor said. He continued that the Arabic translation of the message of the leader of the Islamic revolution, Ayatollah 'Ali Khamene'i, on the Hebron catastrophe, which was soon distributed in all parts of the occupied territories, raised hope in the hearts of the oppressed Palestinians. |
FBIS3-13146_1 | Editorial Views Iranian Proposal for Regional Alliance | level, however, the two countries are still contending with each other to establish regional influence and superiority. India, in particular, is badly gripped by this fever. Similarly, Pakistan and India have a long history of disputes, spanning about 1,200 years. India has repeatedly targeted Pakistan for its military aggression to avenge the 1,000-year Muslim rule over India. In 1971, the Indian military intervention in East Pakistan resulted in Pakistan's dismemberment. Now, the Indian troops are engaged in the massacre of Muslims in occupied Kashmir. Moreover, India is also threatening Pakistan with a limited war. For obvious reasons, how can the two hostile countries join hands on some regional interests? The Government of Iran is fully aware of these stark realities, and that is why Iranian President Hashemi-Rafsanjani has urged India to strive to resolve the Kashmir issue peacefully. Iran is fully conversant with the gravity of the Kashmir problem. It is said that Ayatollah Khomeyni, the founder and leader of the modern Islamic revolution, was of Kashmiri origin. It has been Iran's official stand that extending support to the independence struggle of subjugated nations is not an abetment of terrorism; it is like extending a helping hand to realize the right to self-determination. Iran has always rejected the U.S. and Western objections in this regard, and never accepted the U.S. and European interpretations of the human rights. In the words of the TEHRAN TIMES editor, the United States has used the human rights issue as a political weapon against the entire world including China, Pakistan and Iran. In view of these facts, the Iranian proposal to form a regional bloc cannot be termed concrete or serious, nor should Pakistan be concerned about it. In fact, if there can be a new alliance or bloc, then it should include Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, the Islamic countries of Central Asia, and Turkey. That will be a natural alliance. These countries not only have the commonality of religion among them, they have ancient historical and cultural ties as well. An alliance comprising Iran, India and China would be lacking natural ingredients. Rather, they lack anything in common. The Muslim countries, having common religious, historical, cultural and economic values and interests, should join in a single platform and form a regional bloc. If China can be included in the present (?alliance), then there is no reason why U.S. hegemony in the world could not be |
FBIS3-13162_0 | Update on 8 Mar Situation in Territories, Golan Heights | Article Type:BFN [Editorial Report] Tel Aviv HA'ARETZ in Hebrew on 9 March publishes a report on page A4 by Eytan Rabin which says: "Several incidents took place in the territories yesterday. Palestinian sources reported that seven Palestinians were injured in the Gaza Strip" while "the Palestinian sources also reported that one person was wounded during stone-throwing incidents in Ramallah." The report adds that a resident of the al-Burayj refugee camp "was injured yesterday by police gunfire when he tried to avoid a police roadblock" in the Gaza Strip. Another report by Shlomo Dror and Gabi Zohar on page A5 of the same HA'ARETZ issue adds that "Palestinian sources reported that 20 people were injured" in riots in Jerusalem yesterday, "but East Jerusalem hospitals reported that only several people came in for treatment and were discharged later." According to the report, "police sources maintain that external elements have been causing agitation in Jerusalem. Last week, messages were sent to local leaders of Fatah, rejectionist front organizations, and religious organizations saying that 'the eyes of the world are currently on Jerusalem, which is why riots there are to be encouraged.'" The report goes on to say that "several hundred Golan Druze yesterday staged demonstrations marking the Syrian revolution day and the Ba'th Party coming to power. The demonstrations ended quietly, and no arrests were made" as the police "avoided entering the villages and clashing with the demonstrators." |
FBIS3-13176_0 | INC Says Saddam Planning Invasion of Kurdistan | Language: German Article Type:BFN [Report by correspondent Alan George] [Text] Iraqi leader Saddam Husayn is said to be planning a new military strike against Kurdish territories in the north of the country and to have deployed armored units at various points on the contact line with the Kurdish region in the past few days. This was reported by the Iraqi National Congress (INC), an umbrella organization of various opposition groups, in London on Friday [4 March]. Such a military strike would be a direct challenge to the West, which has undertaken to protect the Kurdish region. The area is being monitored by U.S., British, and French aircraft. According to INC's information, in talks with senior military officials in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul on 23 February, Saddam announced the invasion of the Kurdish territory for early March. In a televised speech in January, the head of state said that he was intending to spend the Islamic (Id al-Fitr) feast in Kurdistan. The feast falls on 11 March. The British Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the troop movements in Iraq. A spokesman said in London: "It would be extremely unwise of Saddam to take such action." |
FBIS3-13186_0 | Iranian Stand During Gulf War Reviewed, Analyzed | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Article by Malik Mansur: "Iranian Rulers are Treacherous Revanchists in the Service of Washington"] [Excerpts] By the conclusion of the cease-fire on 28 February 1991 between Iraq and the coalition, Washington had already agreed with the Iranian rulers on the final touches for an Iranian role to further pursue the military chapter of this U.S.-Nato-Zionist aggression. The evil ayatollahs in Tehran had been eagerly awaiting any opportunity to take revenge on Iraq and its historic leadership for their miserable defeat in the second Iraq-Iran War. [passage omitted] What tempted the Iranian rulers to blindly pursue their evil delusions and mean intentions was the Iraqi Army's preoccupation with the potential invasion by the allied forces. Thus, the Iranian role was to stab the Iraqi fighters in the back in a premeditated act that was motivated by hypocrisy and misguided policies. It was an act carrying all the meanings of treachery, hatred, meanness, and cowardice, displaying a complete lack of morals or honorable values. [passage omitted] In order to conceal their collusion with Washington, the Tehran rulers resorted to their known methods of maneuvering and cheating. They pursued a strange line showing a contradiction between the policies and stands announced over the media -- which appeared neutral and opposed to the U.S. and Western military buildup and military aggression on Iraq -- and the actual practices and stands of those rulers -- which in substance and results harmed Iraq, especially its policies and stands, and cast aspersions about its historic leadership. The timing of the Iranian role was important. The ayatollahs' deceptive role was to express verbal opposition to the U.S. military aggression against Iraq and at the same time turn the Iranian media into an active supporter for the propaganda and psychological warfare against Iraq and its people by casting doubts by devious means about Iraq's policy and the soundness and correctness of the stands of its historic leadership. The general tone of the Iranian media during the aggression was inciteful at times and subtle at others. [passage omitted] Following Iraq's final victory by tearing up the chapter of treachery and treason in record time, which caused the enemies to lose their senses and balance, and the introduction of measures marked by a high degree of national responsibility, wisdom, and ability, the march of steadfastness and challenge in our country proceeded with vigor. More opportunities were given |
FBIS3-13189_1 | Editorial: Settling Financial Matters Would Help Ties | Washington did not intend to subvert the Islamic government in Iran and that it was ready to sit down with Iranian officials and discuss outstanding issues on which Tehran and Washington have different views. Mr. Pelletreau was also quoted as saying that the political system in Iran is here to stay for a long time to come. It has been noticed that the subject of Iran-America relations is usually raised when some tragic event occurs in the Muslim world. For instance, the topic was widely discussed in the western media simultaneously with the signing of an accord in Washington last September between Mr. Yasir 'Arafat and Mr. Yitzhaq Rabin, prime minister of the Zionist state. And now we hear the same story told by a different person after the slaughter of more than 60 Palestinian worshipers at the al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Al-Khalil (Hebron). This might have been done with the intention of diverting attention of the people of Iran from vital issues and maybe for conveying a message to its officials that if they should look the other way, they would be compensated. Nevertheless, the official stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran on this issue has been made known on many occasions. The last time it was done was by the leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah 'Ali Khamene'i, who said on the 14th anniversary of the seizure of the former U.S. Embassy by Muslim students in Tehran that, "The Iranian nation does not need to negotiate, or have relations with an arrogant enemy such as America." Anyway, if Washington is sincere in its aims to reconcile differences with a big Muslim country in the Middle East the easiest way would be to settle all financial matters with Iran. The first step Clinton's administration can take is release all Iranian assets that were frozen by the former U.S. president Jimmy Carter. The next step would be to attend to other issues of dispute between America and Iran such as the downing of the passenger airliner in the Persian Gulf. These and several other points can be negotiated and a solution found to end the animosity between Iran and America. But will the U.S. ever be able to keep aside its arrogance? Will it realize that a revolutionary nation can never be forced to yield by arrogance, threats and baseless accusations such as international terrorism and violation of human rights? |
FBIS3-13190_0 | Egyptian Charges About Assassination Plot Denounced | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] In the wake of recent comments of Egyptian President Husni Mubarak accusing Iran of involvement in the assassination plot of the Egyptian prime minister, 'Atif Sidqi, last October, Iran's Foreign Ministry has reacted sharply. In the same connection, Mr. Morteza Sarmadi, the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, yesterday strongly denied the charge, and he expressed regret that the president of a country has asserted such baseless and unfounded comments merely on the strength of fabricated and distorted information against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Comments of Egyptian President Husni Mubarak against Iran have appeared in his recent interview carried by the Kuwaiti-based daily of AL-QABAS. These say that the Islamic Republic of Iran, by paying $13,000 to an Egyptian terrorist, has allegedly tried to kill the Egyptian prime minister. In the opinion of political observers, baseless charges leveled by Egypt against the Islamic Republic of Iran are not viewed as new development. It is not for the first time that political and propaganda circles have sought, by making use of such a tactic and without presenting any acceptable reason and evidence, to distort Iran's political image in the region. In fact, this attempt by leaders of the Egyptian regime, aimed at creating an atmosphere of distrust against Iran in the region in political terms, is a move which can supplement the U.S. policies in the area. This is the point that the Egyptian president and the politicians of that country have often clearly stressed during their meetings with the U.S. officials. The regional media affiliated to the West too have added fuel to the fire and have tried to project in the region an image of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which because of its opposition to the so-called Middle East peace plan is interfering in the internal affairs of the regional countries, including Egypt, and in certain instances, as the Egyptian president has said it, has even attempted to assassinate the prime minister of that country. This is a fact that the Cairo leaders are fully aware of the weak points and the vulnerable foundation of the ruling system in Egypt; and the world people, who are daily witnessing the suppression of the opponents of the Egyptian regime by the state elements, are quite sensible to think about what is going on in that country. Therefore, it is not difficult to understand the motive |
FBIS3-13217_0 | U.S. Urged To Make `Greater Concessions' for Relations | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Editorial: "Conciliatory Overtures"] [Text] After 14 years of mutual animosity between the United States and the Islamic Republic, American determination to avoid contacts with Iran seems to have diminished. The U.S. National Security Adviser Anthony Lake, and Undersecretary of State for Near East Affairs Robert Pelletreau, have recently made statements indicative of U.S. intentions to open a direct dialogue with the Islamic Republic. Following 14 years of desperate efforts to undermine the legitimacy of Iran, the United States is finally heeding international pressure and is trying to come to terms with the political realities of the Islamic Republic. Pelletreau recently told the House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs that the United States will not try to destabilize the government of Iran and no longer considers the Islamic Republic to be a temporary phenomenon. Washington's apparent change of heart is motivated by two objectives. First, since the demise of the international bipolar political power structure, and due to the ambiguous nature of the emerging `new world order,' Europe has exercised its right to make political decisions independent of the U.S., and has therefore gained increasing influence in the Middle East. Most European countries, in defiance of the United States, have established and maintained cordial relations with Iran, thereby limiting American influence in this region. Second, the failure of the U.S.-imposed Middle East peace talks has prompted Washington to consider using Tehran's spiritual influence in the Islamic world to revive and legitimize the peace accord, and to indirectly contain what it perceives to be the epidemic spreading of 'Islamic fundamentalism' in the Muslim Middle East. Realizing and accepting global realities, America is eagerly awaiting to reoccupy its dominant position in the Middle East. Iran has all along endeavored to stay faithful to its own Islamic Revolution while leaving open the possibility of reconciliation with the U.S. provided that America releases Iran's assets, which are frozen in U.S. banks, and refrains from covert and overt operations aimed at isolating and destabilizing the Islamic Republic. Considering the resulting benefits for both sides, if relations are indeed re-established, the United States stands to gain a lot more than Iran, therefore, it should be prepared to make greater concessions. Iranian officials are well aware of this fact and will base their demands and proposals accordingly. |
FBIS3-13220_4 | RESALAT Reports on Majles Sessions * 18 Jan Amendment to the Law Creating Means for Combatant University Admissions Bill on Iran's Membership in the Islamic Conference Organization Research Center Scientific, Cultural, and Educational Agreement Between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Governments of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan | will torment the people. When every aspect of the lives of our people is in commerce and border exchanges, naturally the forces combatting it with violence will cause social disorders and severe disruptions. Continuing, the speaker said: In the old days, in the historical fabric of our border-keeping people, border trade was the main way of making a living. Kordestan is deprived of a factory and a simple production center. Agriculture is done in primitive and traditional ways. Animal husbandry is not economical. Therefore the border location and the indifference of the idolaters have positioned the economic pulse in border trade. In this regard blood has been shed and lives have been lost in the course of making a living, leading to mothers and fathers in black, social disruption, and recently this issue has also caused the killing of several people, including a girl in the city of Baneh, and the wounding of a number of people, including a worker who was kicked to death in public after being hit by several bullets. Partovi said: It is never justifiable for a nation, which has always guarded the borders with nobility, bravery, and glory and is the oldest and most genuine Iranian race, to see the blood of its innocent dear ones spilled on the soil of their country for trying to make a living and fill their stomachs. We have repeatedly issued memos that the economic problems in Kordestan can be solved with industrial development and production. Of course, in answer they say that investment is not done properly at the borders, or that they should do border trade in a lawful, correct and supervised manner so that the blood of the innocent will not be repaid by the hunger of the deprived. We believe and our people believe that in the long run our demands and the true face of our aspirations will be realized in the shadow of Islam. We are hoping for a better day and for the progress of Islam and the revolution even as we mourn the blood of our innocent daughter. He then added: The point is not concealed from observers that the revolution's true heirs are mostly the oppressed and the destitute of society. Therefore, in return for their effort and sacrifice, it is incumbent upon all government leaders to coordinate all policies and political and executive positions to support them. Continuing, the |
FBIS3-13221_2 | RESALAT Reports on Majles Sessions * 19 Jan Bill on the Cultural and Educational Agreement Between Iran and Turkmenistan | monster and despite its heavy blows, such as the drop in the price of oil. The deputy from Amol then said: Thanks are due to the planners, well-wishers, soldiers, and executive managers who were shot at from both sides by bombs and bullets. Have no fear of traveling under the leadership of the decisive commander in the former sacred defense. Under the heroic Hashemi's leadership the courageous army of love will be given matchless courage by the creator. As the famous proverb says, if 'Ali is the camel driver, he knows where to make the camel sleep and he does not fear. Kazemi-Dinan then emphasized: All those involved in the economic war must strive to produce more, in accordance with prior guidance whose expected conditions have arrived. If we exercise piety by consuming less for love of the beloved, we will defeat our rival. This is the second phase of the test, which God willing we will pass proudly, as we did the first historic test. He discussed the other imperialist plot, intended to dominate the Muslim women of our country. He said: We will make every effort to reach the goal of making serious effort to educate our sisters. However, economic planners and managers must be told, based on the fundamental guidance of His Holiness the Imam, to give priority to agriculture and we must put industry in the service of agriculture, because the existence of the noble nation depends on agricultural production. Our nation has high potential, and the governments, which have attained power, have traveled this path. This is in conflict with the goals of world imperialism. The dear farmers must understand that they are the soldiers with low expectations on this path and they strive continuously, having girded themselves under the pressure of arms and and unnecessary delays. It is no longer appropriate for organizations to sell at higher prices and for products to be more expensive while you reinforce them. In the Five-Year Plan you must support their fertilizer, pesticides, machinery, raw materials, electrical power, and water. Morteza Shayesteh, Deputy From Khansar and Golpayegan The ways to economic prosperity include population control, reduced imports, strengthening conversion industries, and insuring vulnerable crops. The next speaker was Shayesteh, deputy from Golpaygan and Khansar. He offered congratulations and felicitations on the birth anniversary of the prince of martyrs (peace be upon him), His Holiness Abol-Fazl al-'Abbas (peace be |
FBIS3-13221_18 | RESALAT Reports on Majles Sessions * 19 Jan Bill on the Cultural and Educational Agreement Between Iran and Turkmenistan | will be presented in an open Majles session. Ms. Maryam Behruzi, deputy from Tehran, announced this in an interview with RESALAT's parliamentary correspondent. She said: These included the Motion for Women Heads of Families Who Are Employed and Retired, and Women Whose Husbands Are Disabled and Without Income. Under this motion, if approved, the government will be required to make family support payments to these kinds of women. The first consultation on this motion has been approved in the commission. Continuing, she said: Under the Motion To Reduce the Working Hours of Women, which is being studied, employed women will be allowed to reduce their working hours by a specific amount in order to attend more to family affairs. She added: The first consultation of this motion has been approved in the Administrative and Employment Affairs Commission. Continuing, the Majles deputy said: A motion entitled the "Proposed Law To Protect the Family Line and Employ It" is being prepared. If approved, all the laws that were previously voided and are not inconsistent with the sacred Islamic law will be implemented. Ms. Behruzi also added: Meetings studying this motion were attended by the chief of the special civil courts, the deputy minister of justice and a number of members of the Majles Legislative and Judicial Affairs Commission. Concluding, she said: I ask all experts and those familiar with family issues to send their views for the completion of this motion to the Majles Judicial Affairs Commission. Majles Quarterly Published The first issue of the Majles Quarterly was published this year. Our correspondent reports that this quarterly, which has 192 pages, includes detailed material such as the speech from the executive director, the Majles according to the Imam (peace be upon him), the Fourth Majles and the guidance of the exalted leader, a talk with the speaker of the Majles, a study of the ethics of remembering God and the mystery of success, Martyr Modarres, the legend of piety and struggle, emigrants from the Land of the Friend, the basic structure of the government, its the ruling bodies and powers, supervision and the Majles, a discussion of the essence of lawmaking in the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, women, Islamic culture and development, a brief overview of the Majles, the Majles and the people, getting to know the deputies, text of Majles legislation in the three summer months, the Insurance |
FBIS3-13222_0 | RESALAT Reports on Majles Sessions * 23 Jan Return of the Bill on Ratifying the Charter of the International Engineering and [Genetics] Center Report on the Settlement of the 1370 [21 March 1991-20 March 1992] Budget Proposal To Determine the Regulations on Selection of Teachers Proposal To Amend Some Articles of the Internal Bylaws of the Majles | Language: Persian Article Type:CSO [Text] Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division. The Majles held an open session yesterday with Hojjat ol-Eslam Nateq-Nuri presiding, and Messrs. Hoseyni, Razavi, Mokhtari, and Mohammadifar, deputies from the cities of Boyer Ahmad, Na'in, Najafabad, and Sanqez and Kolia'i, made pre-agenda speeches. Then the Majles went into session. We call to your attention the details of the discussion. Seyyed Mas'ud Hoseyni, Deputy From Kohkiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad The first pre-agenda speaker of the open session of the Majles yesterday was Hoseyni from Kohkiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad, who offered his congratulations on the birthday of his holiness Mahdi and said: It is hoped that this raised flag, divine trust, and memento of the pious slave of God will be given by the grand leader of the revolution, Imam Khamene'i, to his holiness. He continued: Oppressed humanity has found salvation in the model of the divine system of the Islamic revolution and no longer accepts injustice and misery and is not afraid of the threats of the oppressors and the United States. The speaker also added: The claim of a new order is an effort to create a global regime on the basis of absolute worldliness and the manifestations of materialism and based on the inclinations of the criminal United States as the sole master and also to unite all the followers of falsehood and world devourers against the rule of religion, to eliminate spirituality, and to disregard human values and virtues, in short, the goals of the prophethood of prophets, particularly pure Islam. Referring to the changes, the fall of government, and the defeat of regimes, he said: The only lasting regime, until trust is given to the original owner of this government, is the sacred regime of the Islamic Republic. The people of Iran are commissioned to perform this divine duty and, as an exemplary nation, by obeying the Imam and the guardian; supporting the Islamic government; moving along the straight path with hope for a bright future; passing through obstacles, shortcomings, and deficiencies in the executive system of the society; and separating the evil acts of some individuals from beloved Islam, by relying on God, will neutralize the conspiracies of the villains. In connection with the role and efforts of the government to achieve overall independence and self-sufficiency, Hoseyni said: (The government) must not be afraid of the propaganda ruckus that goes on in the outside |
FBIS3-13222_12 | RESALAT Reports on Majles Sessions * 23 Jan Return of the Bill on Ratifying the Charter of the International Engineering and [Genetics] Center Report on the Settlement of the 1370 [21 March 1991-20 March 1992] Budget Proposal To Determine the Regulations on Selection of Teachers Proposal To Amend Some Articles of the Internal Bylaws of the Majles | shows the loyalty of these people to a regime in which no one has invested as much as they have. They are fond of the regime of the Islamic Republic and the leadership. But these dear people are very fond of the revered Shi'ite source of emulation, Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, because in our society emulation of a particular person is not an offense, a religious jurist is not elected, and the people have been and are as they are. But because of this issue, today some allow themselves to carry out their objectives merely by defending the religious guardians in that city. This has weakened the morale of the people, a people who have proved in practice before everyone else that they are the followers of the religious guardian. The dear people of Najafabad are upset with journalists who for reasons of expediency accuse him and his emulators of whatever they wish in their newspapers. A spokesman who may not even be considered his pupil allows himself to question his emulators, himself, and his students and make any kind of insult and injustice against him. I propose to the prominent people that this action is neither in the interest of the regime nor the grand clerics, nor is it good for the unity of the people. How can we benefit from such behavior toward a person about whom the Imam said, Your views give heat to the seminaries and the sacred Islamic regime? We request of the prominent people that such behavior be stopped and that the hearts of the people not be wounded. Barat'ali Mohammadifar, Deputy From Sanqez and Kolia'i The last pre-agenda speaker of the open session of the Majles was Mohammadifar, from Sanqez and Kolia'i, who said: Since the examination of the budget bill will have two rounds of discussions, only the revenues will be examined, and most of the Majles committees will propose new taxes to secure the revenue resources, some of which are reasonable and some unreasonable, and on the whole the result will be higher prices for goods and services, the collection of taxes within the framework of the law is desirable. But to put taxes on everything will cause great problems. The next issue is the failure to observe social justice in the 1373 [21 March 1994-20 March 1995] budget distribution. The budget must be distributed among the provinces in such a way |
FBIS3-13222_22 | RESALAT Reports on Majles Sessions * 23 Jan Return of the Bill on Ratifying the Charter of the International Engineering and [Genetics] Center Report on the Settlement of the 1370 [21 March 1991-20 March 1992] Budget Proposal To Determine the Regulations on Selection of Teachers Proposal To Amend Some Articles of the Internal Bylaws of the Majles | in carrying out this responsibility, and the task is not merely the desired proposal. Given the importance of this issue and most of the assignments of the government experts, which are not necessary in some cases, and the shortage of foreign currency funds in the country, serious attention to inquiry and investigation is necessary. As a person requesting this issue of the group and the committee, I expect this issue not to be delayed more than this. New Year Bonus of Employees and Workers Mr. Rowghani-Zanjani, the head of the Plan and Budget Organization, told our reporter yesterday: This year, a month's salary will be paid as a New Year's bonus to government employees. He gave no further explanation in this regard. Also, Mr. Kamali, the minister of labor and social affairs, announced the amount of the New Year bonus of workers eligible for the labor law to be two months' salary and added: An increase in the wages of workers based on the rate of inflation is being studied, which will be announced as soon as the decision has been made. Joint Session of the Cabinet Ministers and Majles Deputies The parliamentary correspondent of RESALAT was informed that tonight a joint session of the Cabinet ministers and Majles deputies will be held. In this session, a number of deputies and ministers along with the president will comment on the most important economic issues and the 1373 [21 March 1994-20 March 1995] budget. Weekly Programs of the Majles Committees The most important studies, reports, and visits of the Majles committees this week are as follows: Islamic Guidance and Art Committee Visit to the Cultural Heritage Organization. Examination of the proposal to supervise foreign travel of government employees. Administrative and Employment [Affairs] Committee Examination of the proposal to pay aid to dependents for working and retired women. Planning and Budget Committee Examination of taxes, funds, and deficits, notes and general points of the 1373 [21 March 1994-20 March 1995] budget. Economic Affairs [and Finance] Committee Joint session with the 1373 [21 March 1994-20 March 1995] Planning and Budget Committee. Housing and Urban Development Committee Report on the programs of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development by the minister of housing. [Legal and] Judicial Affairs Committee 1) Continuation of the examination of the Islamic punishment bill. [sentence as published] Defense Affairs Committee Examination of the operations of companies and organizations affiliated |
FBIS3-13223_11 | RESALAT Reports on Majles Sessions * 25 Jan Investment by the Islamic Republic of Iran in the World Bank To Increase Increasing Iran's Investment in IMF Affiliated With the World Bank [as published] Appending Note To Law Exempting the Municipality of Tehran From the Owners and Renters Law | retirement of government employees and to lift the current ceiling on pensions be approved in such a way that it provides a minimum livelihood for retirees. Continuing, the speaker discussed the outstanding victory at the Asia boxing matches by our nation's athletes, who were championship finalists. He expressed regret at the cold and weak coverage of this provided by the Voice and Vision organization. At the end of his speech he called upon the zealous people and especially the youth of Urmia to show their firm faith in Islam, the Imam's path and that of the exalted leader of the Islamic revolution on God's Day 22 Bahman [11 February] by turning out for the enemy-defeating demonstrations. 'Ali Movahedi-Saveji, Deputy From Tehran During the Second Five-Year Plan and the period of reconstruction we were unable to bring the people into public affairs in place of the government. The final speaker was Movahedi-Saveji, deputy from Tehran. He discussed the beginning of the 10 Days' Dawn Celebration and the birth of His Holiness Mehdi (may God hasten his joyful advent) and offered congratulations. He said: It has been almost 15 years since the triumph of the revolution. The experience prior to the revolution was one of brave resistance. After the revolution our nation learned the lesson that as long as our nation's leaders, officials and workers have faith, sincerity and good intentions and are working to serve Islam, the nation and the revolution, it is certain that no danger can threaten our nation and revolution. He added: For us to achieve our lofty revolutionary and Islamic goals, one of which is to spread the Islamic revolution in the world and another of which is to establish social justice inside the country and make Islam and the laws of Islamic justice prevail in our own country, we must have several elements. One is strong and authoritative leadership, another is to make use of all experiences and to understand weaknesses and shortcomings, and finally we must compensate for the weaknesses of the past. He emphasized dealing with agents of corruption and deviation. He said: It makes no difference if corruption and deviation are moral, political, economic, social or cultural. In order for us to take care of these people, I think a change must be made in us. Praise God, at the head of the nation we have at our disposal pure, sincere, serving and |
FBIS3-13224_9 | RESALAT Reports on Majles Sessions * 26 Jan Bill Amending the Law on Procedures for Giving Medical Examinations to Those Subject to Obligatory Public Service Motion To Amend Article 8 of the Law on Independence of Attorney's Society | centers must be established that have high academic ability and potential resources. He discussed the fact that the doctoral and post-doctoral programs cannot only make young researchers more practiced and experienced, but they can also procure employable research manpower for basic and applied research. Continuing his talk, Mr. Zare' issued the following memo concerning the problems in his electoral district: I ask all members of the society of deputies, Friday imams and governors to show more concern for the cultural, sports, development and civil backwardness in the province of Fars. He thanked the government for expediting the Shiraz-Esfahan railroad and for studying the Shiraz-Bushehr railroad, and he asked that measures be taken to deal with the deprivation in his electoral district. He also asked the minister of roads and transportation for help building the Shiraz-Esfahan freeway. He also called for the encouragement of cities, villages and bridges that make the production of strategic goods their first priority. He thanked the respected president of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council and its members for confirming the part-time teaching system at the Free Islamic University. At the end of his speech he also asked the minister of culture and higher education and the minister of health care, treatment and medical education to give more spiritual support to nongovernment and nonprofit universities. Seyyed Ahmad Rasulinezhad, Deputy From Damavand And Firuzkuh The reason some of the things we say are not heard and the people do not accept and believe them is that they do not see anything in practice. The final pre-agenda speaker at yesterday's open Majles session was Rasulinezhad, deputy from Damavand and Firuzkuh. He discussed the dangers of influence by foreigners and agents who have sold out through those dependent on personalities and officials. He said: The enemies of the Islamic revolution, who have given up gaining influence with top officials and government officials, are trying, with the help of their agents, to find their way into the gentlemen's homes. Our late Imam said: "Keep watch over your homes." This remark was not addressed just to one person. This was addressed to everyone, to us deputies, to the executive power, to the judiciary and in two words, to the army and the nation. He added: The question is, with whom do our children, those close to us and our relatives spend their time, where do they go and for what? Who plans |
FBIS3-13224_11 | RESALAT Reports on Majles Sessions * 26 Jan Bill Amending the Law on Procedures for Giving Medical Examinations to Those Subject to Obligatory Public Service Motion To Amend Article 8 of the Law on Independence of Attorney's Society | the domestic and foreign trips, and who goes with them? It is very important to know who the consultants are and with whom they consult. How often in the future someone will commit a crime, make a mistake and commit an abuse, but due to his friends and colleagues and sometimes because he is presented as an insider, he will be freed from the clutches of justice and the trial. He also discussed the tendency towards ostentation. He said: Among the dangers of the tendency towards ostentation is taking fancy and leisurely trips with people who live in comfort, are without religion and do not live simply. While some people are living in poverty and indigence, we are seeking to create a fancy and comfortable life. We know that those who have professed faith in the mission of the Prophet of God and who have become Muslims did so through the work of the Prophet of Islam. What they heard from him they also saw in his work and behavior. The reason some of the things we say are not heard and the people do not accept and believe them is that they do not see anything in practice. The fact that the remarks by the leader go so deeply into the public soul is because of the work and behavior of the vice-regent of the Muslims. Let us learn simple living from the exalted leader of the revolution and apply it. In conclusion he said: We are in full agreement with sports facilities for women provided that religious law is fully observed. It is necessary in trips by women's teams and in planning athletic competition for women that religious criteria be carefully observed so that the problems surrounding women's sporting events last year in the Islamic nations will not be repeated. I remind some of the newspapers to reconsider their unacceptable policies and dealings. Although during the Fourth Majles there have been several questions from the Majles and the relevant ministers, it is surprising and regrettable that one or two newspapers insulted in various ways the minister of the interior, this tormented figure who was imprisoned under the Pahlavi regime, on the pretext of a question that was asked by one of the deputies. He also asked for help from the nation's banking system for the Ministry of Cooperatives. Legislation Bill Amending the Law on Procedures for Giving Medical |
FBIS3-13224_14 | RESALAT Reports on Majles Sessions * 26 Jan Bill Amending the Law on Procedures for Giving Medical Examinations to Those Subject to Obligatory Public Service Motion To Amend Article 8 of the Law on Independence of Attorney's Society | Society The second item on the agenda was the report from the first consultation of the Councils Commission concerning the Motion To Amend Article 8 of the Law on the Independence of the Judicial Attorney's Society, approved 9/5/1333 [26 November 1954], the general form of which was approved in the first consultation. The Judicial Affairs Commission expert discussed this motion. He said: A requirement for doing judicial work in the judiciary is the existence of people who are strong and insightful in judicial affairs, are able to be aware of these legal formalities and can prosecute a claim along the legal path. Therefore the Attorney's Society took shape under the Law on the Independence of the Judicial Attorney's Society so that official attorneys would be used and it designated qualifications for those who must work as official judicial attorneys. One of these qualifications is having a judicial law license from a reputable domestic or foreign university and also undergoing a one-year apprenticeship. Such a person can work as a first-class attorney. In amending this law, they established privileges for a series of individuals who could not undergo the apprenticeship. One such person is the judicial judge, whether he has a law license or not. What is under discussion right now is in Paragraph 2 of this article, where deputies in the national Majles and the now dissolved senate who worked on the Judicial Affairs Commission and had the legal qualifications or had studied in the universities were allowed to obtain licenses to work as judicial attorneys after completing their Majles terms. The proposal is that those who work on the Majles Judicial Affairs Commission and have a law license, qualifications in legal affairs or have studied in colleges and have been a member of the commission for four years be exempt from the one-year apprenticeship. Motion To Prevent Air Pollution The final item on the agenda was the report from the first consultation of the Agriculture Commission concerning the Motion To Prevent Air Pollution, the general form of which was approved by the deputies. It is worth mentioning that as of Saturday of next week, the 1373 [21 March 1994-20 March 1995] Budget Bill will be studied by the deputies in three shifts. Under the new Majles Internal Guidelines, first the general form and the question of revenues will be presented, and then in the second consultation the details will |
FBIS3-13226_8 | RESALAT Reports on Majles Sessions * 2 Feb Mr. Taqavi Said in Answer to the Third Question [sentence as published] | interests of England and America were achieved, the most humiliating things were imposed on our nation such as the capitulation, but in the Islamic Republic the officials have risen from among the nation and are not dominated by foreigners. Inside the monarchy most officials spent the evenings at fancy gatherings, but in the Islamic Republic a group of officials spends the evenings in prayer. At that time officials went to work with their thinking clouded by the effects of alcohol, but in the Islamic Republic of Iran they think for the people with the Imam's ideas taken from the Koran and the Nahj ol-Balagheh. Our dear people must realize that our three government powers make their decisions independently and there is no type of foreign dominion over them. This is the greatest source of pride. In this connection a point that must be noted is the role of the position of the vice-regency of the chief jurisconsult and the leadership. In recent years as changes have occurred with our neighbor to the north, meaning the Soviet Union, they have suffered impotence-causing domestic wars because of not having proper leadership, and there have been continuous problems for them. The people must never forget the role of orthodox faith and leadership. Our nation, taking inspiration from the exalted orthodoxy of Islam and the principle of the vice-regency of the chief jurisconsult, has overcome the difficult conditions of the period of the revolution and is now moving with political stability and national harmony along the path of reconstruction. One of the blessed effects of the Islamic revolution is the nation's growth and development. The valuable services the Islamic Republic gives to the deprived and remote areas cannot be compared to what was happening before the revolution. Before the revolution there were 160,000 university students. Today this number has risen to 900,000. The literacy crusade has had outstanding success in making many people literate who could not read or write. Before the triumph of the revolution Muslim women had to see male physicians for simple surgery and to give birth, but the number of female physicians has now increased significantly. The infant mortality rate has dropped significantly since the time before the revolution, in such a way that Iran has been praised by the WHO. In the years after the triumph of the revolution thousands of kilometers of rural roads and several thousand schools |
FBIS3-13226_9 | RESALAT Reports on Majles Sessions * 2 Feb Mr. Taqavi Said in Answer to the Third Question [sentence as published] | never forget the role of orthodox faith and leadership. Our nation, taking inspiration from the exalted orthodoxy of Islam and the principle of the vice-regency of the chief jurisconsult, has overcome the difficult conditions of the period of the revolution and is now moving with political stability and national harmony along the path of reconstruction. One of the blessed effects of the Islamic revolution is the nation's growth and development. The valuable services the Islamic Republic gives to the deprived and remote areas cannot be compared to what was happening before the revolution. Before the revolution there were 160,000 university students. Today this number has risen to 900,000. The literacy crusade has had outstanding success in making many people literate who could not read or write. Before the triumph of the revolution Muslim women had to see male physicians for simple surgery and to give birth, but the number of female physicians has now increased significantly. The infant mortality rate has dropped significantly since the time before the revolution, in such a way that Iran has been praised by the WHO. In the years after the triumph of the revolution thousands of kilometers of rural roads and several thousand schools and health clinics were built throughout the country, and thousands of villages were afforded the blessings of electrical power and healthy drinking water. Although the country was caught up in the imposed war for eight years, overall it has had outstanding growth and tens of thousands of development, industrial and service projects have been created in the country. Of course, the people must take note of the basic point that under the regime of the idolaters world conditions for buying oil were better than they are today, and every barrel of oil sold for $36, in some years oil revenues were more than $24 billion and the nation's population was about 30 million. In recent years, however, the price of oil has gone as low as about $10 and the nation's population has reached about 60 million. In the past, however, except in a few cases infrastructure work was not done. Even though the country was sitting on a sea of oil and gas, petrochemical products were imported. Those affiliated with the royal court plundered the nation's revenues and put it in their accounts outside the country. They made thousands of home and real estate purchases abroad and spent the |
FBIS3-13226_14 | RESALAT Reports on Majles Sessions * 2 Feb Mr. Taqavi Said in Answer to the Third Question [sentence as published] | first question: One of the very important effects and great achievements of the Islamic revolution is its revelation of the unknown talents of the people. Taking inspiration from the life-giving commands of Islam, following the leadership of His Holiness Imam Khomeyni and giving up life and property, the Muslim nation of Iran brought the heavily armed idolater regime to its knees and established the Islamic Republic. With confidence in the life the Islamic Republic created among the Muslims of the world, the people of Algeria and south Lebanon found the courage to fight their enemies. I remember that during the pilgrimage to Mecca when I met with African Muslims they said that our revolution gave them heart, and the inclination towards Christianity became an inclination towards Islam after the triumph of the Islamic revolution in Iran. One of the valued achievements of the Islamic revolution was dealing with the deprived class and the nation's remote rural areas. There were 10 times more rural roads created than were created in the time before the revolution, and many services have been rendered in the construction of classrooms and health clinics. About five times as much university classroom space has been built as existed in the past, and we cannot stop developing classroom space as long as there is one student waiting to take the entrance examination. Concerning the second question, the deputy from Tehran noted: The greatest affliction threatening the revolution is seeking welfare, consumerism, and lack of concern for cultural work along with the economic work. Up until now, because of being preoccupied with economic activities and the nation's infrastructure, we have not done the kind of cultural work that should be done. We have not succeeded in teaching religious beliefs to the young generation in the way that is appropriate, and this cultural weakness could make the enemy successful with the cultural invasion. If the officials make more effort to do cultural work, the cultural invasion will have no effect. If the inner faith of individuals is not reinforced, the goals of the enemy's cultural invasion will certainly be achieved. Another affliction threatening the revolution is the seeking of welfare and the great inclination towards consumerism. Currently the prevailing attitude is to seek easy incomes without effort. If someone wants to perform his responsibility in society properly, his income should play some role in production, and he should not be |
FBIS3-13229_0 | 'Arafat Views Role in PLO, Personal Life | Language: German Article Type:BFN [Interview with PLO Chairman Yasir 'Arafat by Brigitte Voykowitsch and Artur K. Vogel in Tunis on 8 March: "I Will Plant Roses in My Garden"] [Text] It is one o'clock in the morning in Tunis. Yasir 'Arafat -- in uniform, handgun in a green holster -- sits behind his desk under a picture of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and signs documents. "Yesterday I started this felt-tip pen," he says. "Today it is already used up." [DER STANDARD] What about your gun? Have you had to use it? ['Arafat] I have had to use it often. In 1973, the Israelis attacked me in Beirut and, at the same time, my three brothers in Jordan. Only my bodyguards were there -- six of them, then I myself, and my secretary. We opened fire, all of us, until we escaped. I tell you just one of the many incidents. [DER STANDARD] Therefore, they call you the great survivor? ['Arafat] I have a strong belief in God. In Islam we say: The moment has not yet come. And when it comes, no one will be able to stop it. This is predestination. But who understands why God has made my problems even greater now? [DER STANDARD] Would you sometimes prefer to be somebody else than the president of Palestine? ['Arafat] No, this is my destiny, and I have accepted it. I was a successful engineer and entrepreneur, but then I joined the revolution and left everything behind. I do not regret it. [DER STANDARD] Where do you get your energy from? ['Arafat] For me, work is the best way to relax. I am a workaholic. I cannot remember having had one day of vacation ever since I joined the revolution. [DER STANDARD] You never take a break? ['Arafat] Sometimes I would like to watch cartoons. But I do not have time, I just watch the news on television. [DER STANDARD] Since the massacre on 25 February in Hebron things have been terrible, but we assume that everything works according to plan between Israel and the PLO: What is your vision of the future state of Palestine? ['Arafat] I have called it the "peace of the brave." This means: Completely new relations with one's enemies. We want the same peace as that between Egypt and Israel. [DER STANDARD] Would the Palestinian state be a democracy like Austria? ['Arafat] |
FBIS3-13242_0 | Hundreds Wounded, Detained | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Report by Salih Rajab] [Excerpts] Hundreds of people were wounded and hundreds of others were detained as a result of the security forces' savage suppression of the uprising of the angry Egyptian people in protest against the al-Ibrahimi Mosque massacre. The Interior Ministry last week mobilized tens of thousands of central security and antiterrorism forces to suppress the popular demonstrations, which started from the universities, mosques, and trade union headquarters. These forces used extremely sophisticated weapons, including modern tear gas canister launchers, which have a range double that of the older type. The type of the canisters used is also more effective than the other tear gas canisters, as they cause serious inflammation to the stomach's mucous membrane and to the respiratory system. The rest of the repression arsenal included rubber bullets, shotgun cartridges, and electric clubs [al-'usi al- kahraba'iyah. More than 1,000 people, most of them students, were arrested last week. They were all charged with illegal gathering and rioting and then most of them were released. The number of people injured exceeded 800, most of them students. At Cairo University the number of injured up to last Thursday was 116 male and female students. Ten people were seriously wounded, most of them as a result of shotgun pellets. Some of them said they were wounded inside the university campus. [passage omitted] The situation at 'Ayn Shams University was no better than at Cairo University. The police opened fire with shotguns from close range at the demonstrators, seriously wounding a large number of students. Some of them lost their sight as a result of shotgun pellets. The 'Ayn Shams hospital received 60 wounded students up to last Thursday. Thirty others were admitted to the Dar al-Shifa' hospital. |
FBIS3-13249_0 | Kurdistan Party Urges Masses To Step Up `Resistance' | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Text] Baghdad, 10 Mar (INA) -- The Kurdistan Revolutionary Party has appealed to the Kurdish masses in Kurdistan to step up resistance against the agent cliques and foreign occupation. It urged them to make sacrifices for the honor of Iraqis and for Kurdistan to regain its freedom, joy, and national allegiance. In a statement issued by the party's political bureau on the 24th anniversary of the 11 March Statement of 1970 and the 20th anniversary of issuing the autonomy law in 1974, the party said the evil criminals -- the brokers of world politics -- are not satisfied with the war of annihilation they waged against our Kurdish people. Thus, they have gone a step further by stealing the property of the Kurdish masses, smuggling this property to Iran, and selling it in their own interest. Those evil criminals are not satisfied with undermining Kurdish national rights and sabotaging the autonomy institutions. Thus, they have embarked on a new mockery to split in half power centers, institutions, and interests. The party hailed the wise leadership of President Saddam Husayn, the hero of liberation and engineer of autonomy. It praised President Saddam Husayn's courageous stand in the face of all the vile plots being hatched against our Iraqi people. |
FBIS3-13261_0 | Update on 9 Mar Incidents in Territories | Language: Hebrew Article Type:BFN [Report by Eytan Rabin and ITIM] [Excerpts] Palestinian sources yesterday reported 31 local residents wounded in incidents with IDF [Israel Defense Forces] troops in the Gaza Strip. According to their report, there were incidents in Khan Yunus, Jabalyah, and al-Shati'. The IDF spokesman for the Southern Command did not report any casualties among Arab residents. There were several events in the West Bank: An Israeli civilian was hurt in a stoning incident and two Arab residents were injured in a clash with IDF soldiers. An IDF soldier sustained a slight head injury when hit by a stone in Rafah. The soldier received medical treatment and was sent back to his unit. The security forces and the IDF are maintaining very high alert in anticipation of terrorist attacks by Hamas [Islamic Resistance Movement], mainly suicide attacks. Security has been augmented and alert declared also in the Qatif Bloc settlements following an 8 March Hamas leaflet announcing a five-stage action plan against settlers. [passage omitted] An Israeli civilian was yesterday wounded in the head when his car was stoned as he was driving on the Bi'r Nabala-al-Rajib road in the Ramallah District. After receiving treatment from an Army doctor who was summoned to the site, he was evacuated to a Jerusalem hospital. In downtown Ramallah, two local residents were slightly wounded while hurling stones at Border Police. In an attempt to capture the stone throwers, the policemen fired rubber bullets. The casualties were evacuated to the central hospital in Ramallah and then sent home. An Israeli girl was slightly injured by shattered glass when the car in which was she riding was pelted with stones near Silat al-Zahr in the vicinity of Janin. The child was evacuated to the Homesh settlement, treated, and released. The IDF launched searches. The Hayarqon District Police launched an investigation after leaflets calling for murdering soldiers and settlers were disseminated in various locations in Tel Aviv. The leaflets, handwritten in Hebrew and Arabic, were placed in mailboxes early Wednesday morning. [Jerusalem Qol Yisra'el in English at 0500 GMT on 10 March adds that "in Rafah, the Army last night captured a wanted terrorist in what was described as an initiated action," and "a firebomb was thrown at an Egged bus at al-Jalazun, but caused no injuries or damage."] |
FBIS3-13262_0 | 10 Mar, Other Incidents Detailed | Language: Hebrew Article Type:BFN [Text] The curfew on the territories begins its third week today. Yesterday was the fifth day of violent incidents in the Gaza Strip. A 15-year-old youth was killed and some 20 people were wounded, and two fugitives were captured in a special operation yesterday. Nisim Qeynan reports: For a week, there have been serious daily incidents in the Gaza Strip. A wide-ranging operation to capture fugitives was conducted in the Dayr al-Balah refugee camp. A curfew was clamped on the camp, and the security forces operated in a highly populated area to capture two wanted men, Hasan Abu-Daramah and Zayid Hasinat, 21, belonging to the Fatah Hawks, and four others who sheltered them. Palestinians rioted to disturb the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] efforts to apprehend the fugitives. At one stage, the rioters shot at the soldiers. One was slightly wounded, and another was hit by stones. The soldiers fired at the rioting mob, killing a 15-year-old youth. During the searches for the wanted men, antitank missiles were fired at several houses in which fugitives were suspected to be hiding, and the buildings sustained serious damage. In additional searches in the area, many weapons were found. The two detained fugitives are suspected of firing at security forces in Dayr al-Balah. In other locations, 15-20 people were wounded in rioting in the Jabalyah refugee camp, al-Shati', Rafah, and Khan Yunus, according to Palestinian sources. During the incidents in Gaza, a border policeman was slightly wounded when hit by stones and was taken to the hospital. The IDF is on an especially high alert on Fridays. The curfew imposed on many areas will be lifted for two hours to enable the residents to stock up on food. The closure continues until decided otherwise. [Jerusalem Qol Yisra'el in English at 0500 GMT on 11 March adds details on incidents at other locations in the territories yesterday. "In Tulkarm, an Israeli truck driver was lightly hurt from glass fragments in a stone-throwing attack when his windshield was shattered, and in Hebron, a shock grenade was hurled at an Army patrol. The grenade went off. No one was hurt and no damage was caused."] |
FBIS3-13277_0 | Assembly Speaker Denies Iranians in Islamic Groups Abroad | Language: Persian Article Type:BFN [Text] Mr. 'Ali Akbar Nateq-Nuri, speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Majles, spoke today before the start of Friday prayer sermons in Tehran. He referred to the magnificence of the Islamic revolution in Iran and its influence on world Muslims. He said: By inducig a new mood in Muslims, the Islamic revolution of Iran has brought about a great transformation in the world. He added: By creating the cancerous cell of Israel, the enemies of Islam had intended to obliterate Islam from the face of the earth, in particular from the Middle East region. However, the people of Palestine, Lebanon, and the other Islamic lands, inspired by the lofty aspirations of Iran's Islamic revolution, have made life difficult for their enemies, particularly for the regime occupying Israel. Today we clearly witness the impact of the Islamic revolution on the lifestyle of these people and on the tactics they adopt for their struggles. The Majles speaker strongly denied allegations made by the western mass media charging that the Islamic Republic of Iran is physically present in the Islamic revolutionary movements of Egypt, Palestine, Algeria, and other Islamic countries. He said: What the western mass media call Iran's intervention is in fact the presence of the Islamic revolutionary spirit of the people of Iran in the hearts and minds of the nations or in other words it is the export of the culture of Iran's Islamic revolution to these countries. Referring to the recent crime of the Zionist regime, he condemned the silence of international forums, in particular the United Nations and its Human Rights Commission, toward such an atrocity. The Majles speaker then praised the people for their extensive presence in the international Jerusalem Day rallies. He stressed: Today all the pressures exerted by arrogance with the aim of destroying Islam are chiefly directed against the Islamic Republic of Iran. However, our people once again showed today that to safeguard and defend the values of Islam and the revolution, they intend to continue their struggle and remain steadfast in the face of all problems. |
FBIS3-13279_2 | Asia, Pacific Ocean: Arena for the West | an active diplomacy in that region. In order to attract the attention of Chinese officials, prior to the meeting with the government officials of that country, the U.S. President ordered the sale to China of a very advanced super computer. U.S. Reasons for Presence in Asia A) The U.S. economy, like the economies of European countries, is facing a great crisis. Economic experts have projected that U.S. economic growth this year and next will decrease by 2.7 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively, and hence result in a wave of bankruptcy for many U.S. companies. On the other hand, the Pacific Ocean region, with a population of 2 billion people, has the most rapid economic growth in the world and is considered a great market for American and European products. Hence, the increase in the U.S. economic and commercial presence in the region can change the market in that country and attract the work force in various economic sectors of the United States. B) With the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the end of the cold war, and the world moving toward a multipolar system, as the world military superpower and one of the important economic centers of the world, the United States is trying to stop the establishment of such world powers as the former Soviet Union, so that, so it reasons, it will become the only world power. Hence, under the circumstances of countries such as Japan, China, and Russia moving toward becoming world powers, in which case the Asia and Pacific Ocean region will become the center of gravity for world powers, in order to prevent the transfer of the center of power from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, the United States is making an effort to shape the security and economic structure of the region before these countries become pivotal centers. C) Since the disintegration of the Soviet Union, and especially the removal of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of West and East Germany, Europe is moving towards unification and becoming a powerful, united complex. Hence, the success of the Maastricht Treaty in the future will lead the Europeans towards a closed economic complex day by day, in which case, an end will be put to the presence of the United States. Under such circumstances, the most favorable position for the United States is to transfer its center of trade from Europe to Asia |
FBIS3-13279_5 | Asia, Pacific Ocean: Arena for the West | the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the final failure of international communism, as the leaders of new socialism, the Chinese, by continuing the process of reforms that they had started in 1976 after the death of Mao, established new relations with the United States and other Western countries. Economically, the Chinese combined socialist ideology with the free-market economic system, which they call a socialist economic system based on the open market. Even though the nature of such a system is not clear to U.S. officials, because China has veto power in the UN Security Council, in order to have their proposed resolutions, which are mostly to cover up their meddling policies, ratified in the Security Council, the United States needs the vote of the Chinese Government in this council. On the other hand, the economic growth of China in recent years has been significant, and this has been important for Western governments, especially the United States, that in the early years of the 1990's have faced economic recession. For this reason, Americans try to temporarily forget the issue of human rights, which in the past four years has been the main center of anti-Chinese propaganda for the Americans, in order to prepare the grounds for expanding relations. To this end, the U.S. president, a little before meeting with the government officials of that country, in order to appeal to Chinese officials, issued instructions to sell a very advanced super computer to China. For the Chinese, who hoped to be a center of power in East Asia after the end of the cold war, access to advanced technology and attracting investments by large Western companies are important. For this reason, the Beijing government, on the one hand, tries to show itself as the defender of Third World countries in its relations with them and, on the other hand, due to the need for Western technology and investments by multinational companies in China, weighs political considerations in relation with these countries and even in some instances gives concessions. For example, the Chinese positive votes for the proposed U.S. resolution concerning Somalia, Iraq, Bosnia, Haiti, and the like, are precisely evaluated in the framework of such an objective. U.S. Obstacles and Problems Even though all existing evidence and signs indicate the completion of American multilateral political and economic policies in the region in question, attention to hindering factors, which exist in this |
FBIS3-13309_23 | * Supporting, Opposing Statements The Most Important Statements of the Supporters and Opponents of the 1373 [21 March 1994-20 March 1995] Budget Bill | In my opinion, this was the right thing to do, because this revolving fund at the beginning of the year is in effect borrowing, which of course must be repaid by the end of the year. In the past, the method was that they took this revolving fund and later did not return it to the Treasury. The important point is that the Majles and the Planning and Budget Committee must supervise and control this revolving fund. In regards to Note 25, Movahhedi-Savoji said: The Joint Committee has tried to reduce the price increases. I do not agree with the government proposed increase in the price of electricity, water, telephones, and post, because in the past few years the government and related organizations have increased the price of telephones, water, electricity, and post. At present, people are protesting, worrying, and complaining about the increase in these prices, and to increase them again would not seem right. But, in connection with petroleum products that increase, I must say that the consumption of fuel in our country is higher than that of all other countries, and according to available reports, Iran uses enough fuel for 1.2 billion people. It would appear that this action is the result of the fact that the government brings an excessive amount of gasoline and other products into the market. Of this 60 million population, how many make use of cars? Why is it necessary for gasoline that costs 30 tomans to be given to them for 5 tomans? One of the harmful effects of artificially low prices is that a great deal of fuel in our country is smuggled to other countries. Hence, the increase in the price of gasoline by the Joint Committee will have no inflationary effects. Concerning the completion of incomplete projects in the country, he said: We believe new developmental plans and projects should not be started while we have important incomplete projects in the country. We must first complete those with this tight budget and the problems that we have and then start new projects. Beytollah Ja'fari, Opponent He said: Note 25, in the form ratified in the Joint Committee, is still too inflationary and if ratified will result in increased prices in the country and confront the hard-working strata, who are the main soldiers of the revolution and Islam with difficulty. If the price of gasoline increases by 50 percent, |
FBIS3-13312_6 | Al-Qadhdhafi Delivers 'Id al-Fitr Sermon | and ally with them, and still claim to be a Muslim? This is blasphemy, hypocrisy, and deception of the Muslims. [passage omitted] How can a Muslim, an Arab state be an ally of America? What Islam are they left with? Such a state is a hypocrite and immoral, ruled by a despot, outside Islam, charlatan, liar, Musaylimah the Liar [Islamic figure who pretended to be a prophet]. [passage omitted] We can say that a Muslim ruler who is a friend, an ally to America, whose guardian is America, we can say to him: You are an unbeliever, a Christian, and a Jew. [passage omitted] There are Muslims who send forces to Somalia to cover the slaughtering of the Arab Muslim Somali people by the American forces. This is blasphemy. Any one alongside the Christian forces in Somalia is an unbeliever. This is what God says, not us. Some believers said: America is with us, Israel is not with us, France is with us and so is Britain; you want us not to have these as guardians, what will we do then. Well, God said: Your guardian is God, his messenger, and the believers. What more do you want than God. God said: I am your guardian; he is stronger than America. [passage omitted] Their guardian is God, his messenger, and the believers. [passage omitted] From this sacred place and on this great day, I address myself to our brothers who have put themselves in the service of the Jews and the Christians to return to the fold soon, and we say to the Islamic Conference Organization and the Islamic nation that an Islamic people, the Libyan people, on orders from America, Britain, and France, is prohibited from performing the rites of pilgrimage, the pilgrimage that takes place in an Arab land. We tell our brothers of the Islamic nation, we draw their attention to the difficult situation of the sacred House of God [The Kaaba, in Mecca], concerning which the falsified Security Council resolutions were implemented with American threat. They had been implemented on Holy Mecca and the tomb of the Prophet. When an airplane takes off from Libya, it is not allowed to cross Saudi air space or to land while carrying pilgrims to Mecca and Medina. Our brothers who are standing in the pilgrims way and who are preventing us from arriving for pilgrimage are in an unenviable |
FBIS3-13312_19 | Al-Qadhdhafi Delivers 'Id al-Fitr Sermon | terrorist, and he who defends his honor is a terrorist, and he who defend his home is a terrorist. If this is terrorism then we are terrorists. If they were threatening us by cutting off the oil, we sincerely wish that the Western countries and America would force the Security Council to cut off oil exports from Libya and no one would buy Libyan oil. Then we would be without oil, without electricity, and without factories. What would we then be? We would be real fighters and underground terrorists like the Irish Republican Army, the Red Army, the Kurds, and the Vietnamese. We will appear from underground. He who has no factory is the brave one. He who has no electricity is the brave one. Look at the Irish Republican Army that has no factories and has nothing to worry about and has turned London international airport into flames. The main airport of Great Britain is in flames and for 48 hours was under bombardment from the Irish Republican Army. They could not fight it. Neither the American missiles, nor the American aircraft carrier, nor Britain's fleets or air force could stop the bombardment on its main airport in London, like France's international airport. Britain is unable to find out the source of the bombardment, people from underground. They want to turn us into real terrorists, we welcome this. The day we no longer have oil, we will abandon their false civilization and live under trees and in caves, then we will fight them (?for sure). They are turning us into real fighters, fair enough, we will be patient for so many years in order to fight them. Once we defeat them, we go back to building factories, roads, and anything else. If they want to deprive us of oil, we welcome this because this will make us seek revenge and turn us into fighters. We will not have anything to fear anymore. We will be living in the bush. We will turn into tigers and lions. This is true. We have talked about them, what Malik [leader of one of the four Sunni confessions] had said about wine; he rejected and outlawed it. The solution is to address praying people, Muslims, and citizens like us. May God...[interrupted by cheering masses] God is great. May God give us a firm foothold and make us victorious against the unfaithful. [passage omitted] |
FBIS3-13323_0 | U.S. Accuses Government of `Smuggling' to Iraq | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Text] The U.S. Administration has demanded that Jordan produce documents approving the export of 6,000 tonnes of chemical materials transported to Iraq in late 1993. The chemicals are used in the refinement of oil used by Jordan. The Jordanian Government has submitted a report showing the kind of materials exported, the license plate numbers of trucks that transported them, and the dates of export. The U.S. measure is meant to increase pressure on Jordan by propagating rumors that Jordan is not complying with the embargo against Iraq. The purpose is to force the Jordanian Government to conclude a treaty with Israel before discussing its details. Observers note that the United States wants to give the world the impression that Jordan is smuggling on the official level. Knowledgeable sources say Prime Minister Dr. 'Abd-al-Salam al-Majali might sacrifice Finance Minister Sami Qammuh -- since Qammuh was the one who issued the export approvals -- in a bid to convince the United States that Qammuh acted on his own without consulting the government. |
FBIS3-13324_0 | U.S. Attempts To Deal With Iraq Via Amman Viewed | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Text] The countdown to lift, or at least to alleviate the blockade that has been imposed on Iraq since the Gulf crisis, has begun. Many conflicting interests have emerged over the years of the blockade. After Iraq, Jordan has been harmed the most. It has been subjected to pressure and accused of violating the blockade and international resolutions. However, it has maintained its national line, and at the same time, tried to end the heavy international embargo on the sisterly Iraq. Jordan has contacted Washington in this regard, the prime minister paid a visit to the UN Headquarters, and officials have held talks on this subject with the U.S. secretary of commerce in Amman. Jordan's attempts have not stopped. However, some clouds have been noticed recently in Jordanian-Iraqi relations. What are the reasons and what is the nature behind this? Informed sources told us that the United States has begun to pave the road to Baghdad for its companies via Jordan and that contacts have been held between Washington and Amman to this effect. The sources added that the Americans are playing the card of besieging al-'Aqabah to obtain exceptional privileges for their companies at the expense of Jordanian companies. This, the sources added, is rejected by the Jordanian side. Our sources added that the Iraqi side felt that special arrangements are under way through which the Americans are pressuring Jordan. Therefore, the sources said, the Iraqi side fabricated a trade crisis with the Jordanian Government to incorporate it in these arrangements instead of forcing it to submit to their results. This Iraqi stand was explained by a senior Iraqi official who met two weeks ago with a Jordanian party delegation. Our sources said that the Iraqis asked the Jordanian side to inform them of any Jordanian arrangements regarding trade with Iraq through official correspondence over the past two months. This was followed by Iraqi measures such as returning large quantities of Jordanian commodities because they did not, according to the Iraqis, completely meet their specifications. Meanwhile, Iraqi decisionmakers in the economic field talked with their counterparts in the Jordanian private sector about pressures exerted by big Iraqi businessmen on their government to anticipate any surprises that might face them in the future because Jordan is the most important trade route to the Iraqis. This picture, which was drawn by our sources, will certainly be changed |
FBIS3-13331_4 | U.S. `New Posture' Toward Country, Kashmir Examined | twisted more forcefully to sign the NPT. The United States is seeing new opportunities for itself in the troubled waters of Kashmir and it is moving, albeit unobtrusively, to seize these. Its basic objective is to remain as the only superpower in the world. President Clinton, in his address to the U.N. General Assembly, made it clear: "The United States intended to remain engaged and to lead". An influential section of American academics have also been arguing that the "bear may be dead but snakes and scorpions still roam". If India encourages U.S. moves on Kashmir with a determined stand and by mobilising strong opinion in its favour, the U.S. could well abandon or modify the course it has presently taken. After all, Washington cannot afford to incur the hostility of a nation of 880 million people. In this connection, it is worth recalling that when the die-hard Tory members of the British Parliament, like R. A. Butler and Winston Churchill tried to browbeat India by espousing the cause of the Nizam of Hyderabad, the `faithful ally of the empire', Sardar Patel firmly told them not to stand by the `old world' . He made it clear: "It is only in goodwill spirit, and not on the malice and venom of Mr Churchill's tongue, that an enduring relationship of friendship can be built between India and Britain and other members of the Commonwealth." He thus successfully prevented Hyderabad, which he described as an 'ulcer in the abdomen of India', from becoming cancerous. Such a forthright and fearless stand towards Washington's new posture, I am sure, would help India in retrieving the situation, besides sending the right signals to the secessionists in the Valley. Unfortunately, India is taking a characteristically meek stand. When President Clinton wrote to Fai, virtually ignoring the savagery of terrorism in Kashmir, I wish someone from our foreign office had invited his attention to what Senator Jackson said when the safety of American citizens was itself under terrorist threat. Jackson observed: "The idea that one person's terrorist is another's freedom fighter cannot be sanctioned. Freedom fighters or revolutionaries do not blow up buses containing non-combatants; terrorist murderers do. Freedom fighters do not assassinate innocent businessmen or hijack and hold hostage innocent men, women and children; terrorist murderers do. It is a disgrace that democracies should allow the treasured word 'freedom' to be associated with acts of terrorists." |
FBIS3-13338_3 | YSP Official on Clashes, Accord, Gulf Tour | security situation and create problems in order to keep people preoccupied, evade implementation of the document, and, at the same time, put the blame on us. This is evidenced by the fact that the other party has no desire or intention to take to justice those pepole involved in cases of assassinations and explosions, they have no intention of making reforms, and they continue military provocations. [Reporter] Some say that al-Bid's failure to come to Sanaa gives the other side a justification for not implementing the document? [Muhammad] I want to ask: Who guarantees al-Bid's life if he goes to Sanaa? Who can go to Sanaa when he feels that his head is wanted? We say that they must implement all items of the document before al-Bid goes to Sanaa. The guarantee is implementation of all clauses of the document, especially since we are still witnessing assassinations, houses and offices being blown up, and other practices which cannot be approved by any norms or laws whatsoever. [Reporter] Do you deem the signed agreement an absolute guarantee for maintaining unity and removing the threat of separation? What are the external effects on the situation in Yemen? [Muhammad] The agreement is not a medical prescription. Having it signed does not mean that it has become the only guarantee for maintaining unity. The threat of separation is still there. Although the agreement has been signed, nothing has changed yet. This agreement provides guidelines and programs which need political will to be implemented. They also require balanced internal and external support. This is what we are trying to do through our recent and current tours. We want a presence by our brothers in Arab Gulf states. This covers, for example, neighboring states, such as Saudi Arabia and Oman, as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council states. Eritrea, Egypt, Syria, and then the Arab League and the world, such as the United States, some European countries, and even Russia are also needed. These countries can help Yemen's peaceful unity process. This is because we have common interests. Besides, we must reassure our neighbors that our unity does not threaten them if it is based on reason, good-neighborliness, good relations, and cooperation. Why should our relations with our neighbors not be excellent? It is not in our interest to be anyone's enemy. This is what we believe in and work to see happen. Hence our tours. |
FBIS3-13339_1 | Editorial Views India's `Major Propaganda Victory' | about the success of our campaign to win international support. No matter what diplomatic jargon has been used to describe our unceremonious retreat, we have, for all practical purposes, withdrawn our resolution from the Human Rights Commission. And whether we like it or not New Delhi has scored a major propaganda victory. Foreign Minister Asif Ahmad Ali's contention that the objective to highlight Kashmir has been achieved and 'it has been a great victory for Pakistan since the resolution remains alive' simply does not hold and is certainly not good enough to explain away the failure of our initiatives on Kashmir. Perhaps it is time to review the entire gamut of our Kashmir strategy and withhold any fresh moves until we have undertaken a thorough stocktaking of our track record. It is of utmost importance that we should have the insight to discern where we had gone wrong in our understanding of world politics, and whether it was our lack of comprehension, or misplaced optimism on the righteousness of our cause. Is accent on human rights abuses a viable strategy to draw world attention to the Kashmir cause? If the Americans have chosen to project themselves as the custodians of human rights, it does not mean that they are no longer selective in their concern for human rights abuses, and are ready for an even-handed approach to deal with all victims of repression. So is the case with their European allies who couldn't care less for rape, torture and mass killings let loose on Bosnian Muslims. We have to sooner than later clearly identify our `constituency' in the international arena and design our moves to cater for their sensibilities. The third world countries do not in any case have an enviable human rights record, whether it is China or Iran or the vast majority of OIC countries. Human rights is not the kind of issue on which Pakistan can hope to muster support for the Kashmir cause, particularly when the US is trying to browbeat them on this score. In the wake of the embarrassment we have suffered and the despondency it may cause among the Kashmiri freedom-fighters, it would be in the fitness of things to weigh our gains and losses in foreign policy. Had we gone through with the vote would we be closer to our goal today? Would the world have rallied to our call of liberation |
FBIS3-13355_1 | Foreign Ministry: `Interference' of Operation Condemned | the governorates of al-Sulaymaniyah, Irbil, and Dahuk are caused by the illegal and illegitimate action carried out by the governments of these four countries when they imposed, by brute force, a no-fly zone in northern Iraq. They have also encouraged rebel gangs to tamper with the region. The official Foreign Ministry spokesman added: Respecting Iraq's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity has one expression, namely, stopping the interference in Iraq's domestic affairs and lifting the illegal and illegitimate ban on flights in northern Iraq imposed by the governments of these states. The official spokesman denounced the fact that the press statement issued by the representatives of the four countries addressed the internal situation in Iraq and spoke about it in the language of a custodian. The spokesman said: Iraq strongly condemns this rude attempt and thinks that the press statement issued in Ankara reflects the true interventionist policy pursued by the Government of the United States and its allies against Iraq and the region. The official Foreign Ministry spokesman asserted that the Iraqi leadership and people will not allow any party to interfere in their domestic affairs and that all attempts by the governments of the countries that seek to perpetuate the abnormal situation prevailing in northern Iraq will definitely fail. Our Kurdish people in Iraq will be the first to defeat these attempts. On the stand of the Turkish Government, the official spokesman said that the Iraqi Foreign Ministry has cautioned the Turkish side through a number of official memorandums declaring that Turkey's participation in the illegitimate and illegal actions of the Americans and their allies in northern Iraq contravenes the relations of good-neighborliness and runs totally counter to the UN Charter, international law and the Iraqi-Turkish border treaty of 1926. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry has also frequently notified the Turkish side that Turkey's problems should not be tackled by depending on the abnormal situation created by the Americans and their allies in northern Iraq and dealing with outlawed rebels who are wreaking havoc in the region. We also cautioned our Turkish neighbors against the gravity of double policies and double-dealing. We told them that such policies cannot but cause more difficulties and gravely harm Turkey's interests as well as Iraq's, especially since the Americans and their allies care about nothing but their selfish interests and wicked ambitions in the region. They will neither respect Turkey's nor anybody else's interests. |
FBIS3-13358_1 | Rationale Behind U.S. Embargo Stance Examined | resolutions should have been relegated to oblivion. Since then, the United States has continued to pursue Iraq, even after the halt to hostilities and after a cease-fire came into effect. It forced the UN Security Council to pass Resolution 687, which contains the terms of a cease-fire between Iraq and the hostile military coalition that carried out the aggression. On 1 March 1991, a new phase in the U.S. policy on Iraq was heralded. Since then, the United States has exploited the international changes in the aftermath of the collapse of the former Soviet Union and the disintegration of the Warsaw Pact to continue to pursue Iraq politically and economically, and to intervene in its domestic affairs. This is because the United States was not content with the colossal damage it caused to Iraq and with the immense strategic and financial gains it made in the form of cash payments from Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, or in the form of sales and investment contracts it has concluded with the Arabian Gulf regimes. The United States is not content with all this. It believes that the continued pursuit of the Iraqi political regime, which has held out against U.S. aggression and colonialist policies, is the basic guarantee to safeguard these gains. It also believes that the continued pursuit of a policy aimed at subjugating and dominating the Middle Eastern regimes that took part in the anti-Iraq aggression requires a weak and "powerless Iraq." That is why the Americans have moved the goalposts and fabricated pretexts and excuses to perpetuate the embargo and thwart efforts to lift it, either partially or entirely. Early on, when the U.S. arms scandal known as Irangate, surfaced during the Iraq-Iran war, the Iraqi leadership realized that the United States does not want a powerful Iraq. It has done, and is sill doing, all it can to weaken Iraq, either through the continuation of the war with Iran or through fabricating excuses and pretexts to attack it militarily, in cooperation with the Zionist entity, in order to destroy the components of its industrial and military renaissance. This approach became clear after Iraq achieved its decisive victory over Iran, thus putting an end to the eight-year war. Iraq's awareness of the intentions of the United States and the Zionist entity and their schemes, has prompted Iraq to react in a manner aimed to foil the U.S.-Zionist |
FBIS3-13359_0 | Paper Says Ekeus' `Procrastination' Part of `Ugly Game' | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Text] Baghdad, 14 Mar (INA) -- The AL-'IRAQ newspaper has asserted that both the Security Council and the UN Special Commission, led by Rolf Ekeus, are making a grave mistake if they think that they will not be held accountable for their continued attempts to avoid giving a specific date for the lifting of the embargo. They are also greatly mistaken if they think the Iraqi people will accept remaining at the mercy of the inspection agencies and their unfair conditions. In an editorial today, the newspaper wonders: Does the Security Council think that the Iraqi leadership will continue to wait for unspecific and vague dates as to when the unfair embargo will be fully or partially lifted? The paper adds: Do the United States, world Zionism, and the clique of agents and traitors think they can maintain the embargo indefinitely through delaying tactics and procrastination? Do they think they can achieve this by obstructing any positive stand the Security Council should take in return for Iraq's fulfillment of its obligations toward Security Council resolutions, despite the fact that these resolutions are harsh, severe, and illegitimate? The paper highlights the important, valuable speech made by President Saddam Husayn when he received cabinet members and well-wishers on the 'Id al-Fitr. The paper cites his excellency as asserting that whatever the degree of Iraq's cooperation, commitment, and response, the party representing the Security Council will continue to be evasive, disregard facts, and give tendentious explanations and lame excuses to weasel out of its commitments to close the file of the embargo once and for all. The paper says it is laughable that the Security Council, which is influenced by the United States, claims that it is concerned about the sovereignty of Iraq at a time when the members of the Security Council violate this sovereignty and draw their own lines of latitude and longitude in order to achieve familiar, malicious objectives that threaten the very concept of our sovereignty. The paper notes Rolf Ekeus's procrastination, saying it is another part of the ugly game. The chairman of the Special Commission is a senior diplomat and international official who is supposed to keep his word and respect his decisions and dates. This situation arouses sorrow and regret over the moral deterioration of the Security Council. One time Ekeus says that Iraqi compliance should be tested for three months; on |
FBIS3-13426_7 | President Delivers Second Friday Prayers Sermon | living body cannot last for long. Of course, it may remain for a while, as before. Some programs for the expansion of Israel may also be implemented. They may go forward a bit, but it will not remain. And in my opinion, the path to salvation is through Islam. The thing that can be effective, the thing that can keep the people on the scene, the thing that can prolong this long and dangerous jihad is this very same Islam. All other ideologies -- patriotism, linguism [zaban dusti], cultural or geographical nationalism -- their legs go wobbly along the path when they meet difficulties -- and we have seen examples of this in many places. The thing that one is prepared to live for, to die for, to tolerate torture for, to suffer hunger and homelessness for, and remain steadfast, is this religious and Islamic spirit, and we have experienced this in Iran. Our experience is a very good experience. We have experienced this in our prisons during the shah's rule. We entered the prisons together with the Marxists. In those very first days of interrogation, the Marxists gave up and the Muslims remained. [passage omitted] Of course, Palestine alone cannot destroy Israel. We should not expect the people of Palestine to defeat Israel on their own. This is an idealistic imagination and a bit like wishing for a miracle. We don't have such miracles. Islamic support must be offered by all the world. The problem of Algeria should be resolved, the problem of Egypt should be resolved, the problem of Iraq should be resolved. The peoples of these countries should be frank and sincere, as are the people of Iran. They should be not be scared. The Americans and the British should be made to make a calculation and decide to either lose all the world of Islam or lose Israel. When that day comes... [pauses] We have the way for the victory of the Palestinians, and it is not an impossible path to take. Of course, it is a tempestuous sea, a dangerous desert, the path is very dangerous. [passage omitted] Those who think that following the signing of a peace treaty the Muslims will stop are wrong. I believe that this might be a positive development. Let the governments sign peace treaties and let their peoples understand that their path is different from those governments. [passage omitted] |
FBIS3-13428_4 | Khamene'i Delivers 'Id al-Fitr Sermon | friendly terms with the Serbs, to go as UN troops and act as a buffer. What happened? Why did they not consider that the Russian soldiers are connected to the Serbs from a standpoint of religion and other ties? The world's magazines printed photographs of Russian tanks bearing the UN insignia entering the region, while the Serbs were shouting slogans, cheering, and clapping for them. That was one case. Bosnian Muslims are still being sacrificed; the United Nations does not care a bit and the Security Council does not do its duty. The second issue concerns this bloody tragedy at the shrine of Abraham. Israel should have been categorically condemned. It should have been punished, it should have been put on trial, it should have been forced to accept punishment. The United Nations should have done this, but it did not. The Security Council has not taken on its responsibility at all. What is the reason for this? The reason is the influence of big powers, led by America, in the Security Council and their influence on the secretary general himself. Let them know that this is the view of the Islamic Republic and the people of Iran. The secretary general himself....[pauses; crowd chants "God is great," "Khamene'i is the leader," "Death to those who oppose the supreme jurisconsult," "Death to America," "Death to Israel"] We do not have a particular enmity toward anyone. We respect world figures based on their dignity and position. The former UN secretary general came to Iran time after time. At that time, the president, the Majles speaker, and Foreign Ministry officials all welcomed and respected him. If the secretary general carries out his duties, we will respect him. However, in our opinion, and in the opinion of the Iranian people, this present secretary general has not carried out his duties. The future of these Iranian people is bright. The power of these people will increase day by day. The roots of these people will go deeper; their word will be more widely accepted in the world. Today you can see that this is true. Compared to 10 years ago, we are stronger today, we have more honor in the world. The people are more forthright, brave, and ready to follow the great path to the lofty aim, because of the blessings of Islam and the Koran. I have one more point to raise at |
FBIS3-13434_0 | ABRAR Commentary Views Issue of Iran-U.S. Talks | Language: Persian Article Type:BFN [Commentary by Ruzbeh Bu ol-Hari: "Reasons for U.S. Request for Talks With Iran"] [Text] Last week, the United States made two requests for improved relations with Iran and for talks with our country's officials. In view of the policy of erecting barriers against Iran as announced by the Bill Clinton Administration, the remarks by the high-level U.S. officials are worth pondering over for the following reasons: Three views can be presented with regard to Washington's latest stance: 1. The victory of Russian President Yeltsin's opponents--that is, the communists and the nationalists--in the Russian parliamentary elections and the daily mounting impact of their viewpoints on the domestic and foreign policy making which has inspired apprehension in the United States and its allies. Washington is concerned over the possibility of Yeltsin's opponents taking over power and the resumption of worldwide confrontation, which could endanger its interests. This is why in the past months we have witnessed moves by the United States, including suggested plans for collaboration for peace and extensive activity to prevent the revival of Russian influence in these regions. These moves, which are aimed at creating a security belt as well as a quarantine around Moscow, encounter a vacuum in only one area -- that is, Iran. This is because in the event of any anti-Western moves in Russia and the possibility of cooperation between the new leaders in Moscow with Tehran, the balance of power in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East will shift to the detriment of the West, especially since the oil routes in the Persian Gulf pass south of Iran. 2. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Central, and Southern Asia faced a power vacuum. The U.S. relations with Pakistan became strained. It does not have any influence in this particular region at present, and this situation has made its effects felt on other regions. Meanwhile, even though the United States has endeavored to implement plans for the breakup of many countries in Asia, this is still the beginning. The efforts by the PRC, Iran, and India to initiate joint cooperation in the region can endanger U.S. interests. Meanwhile Washington is reviewing its frigid relations with Pakistan and by supporting it on the Kashmir issue it is seeking to fill the power vacuum. However, this will not give it much clout over the power triangle of Tehran, Beijing and New |
FBIS3-13435_0 | Commentary Notes U.S. Envoy's `Failed' Mission to China | Language: Persian Article Type:BFN [Unattributed commentary] [Excerpts] Chinese leaders have strongly protested against extensive Western, especially American, propaganda about the human rights situation in China during the visit of American Secretary of State Warren Christopher to Beijing. [passage omitted] In line with America's former policies toward China, during his four-day visit to that country, Warren Christopher tried very hard to make use of the human rights issue in China as a means for extracting a number of economic and political concessions from Beijing. However, despite America's political deceptions on this issue, Christopher failed in his mission to China; because Chinese leaders know full well that the claims of White Office officials about defending human rights, freedom of expression and assembly, and the release of political prisoners, are nothing but political ploys. America's silence regarding manifest human rights violations by her own allies proves this point. [passage omitted] The most important disagreements between Beijing and Washington, which started after the collapse of the former Soviet Union, have been due to the two countries' different perceptions of international developments and the new world order favored by America. The two countries' different interpretations regarding the new polarization of power in the world, as well as the rapid growth in China's commercial exports and the expansion of cooperation between Tokyo and Beijing as two superior powers in East Asia constitute the roots of contradictions of interest between China and America, which have assumed more complex dimensions during the past few months. During the past few years, the Asian countries of the Pacific Ocean rim have enjoyed the fastest economic growth in the world. In Washington's eyes those countries constitute a suitable market for helping the recovery of America's ailing economy. America, which is making every effort in order to gain access to that market, is worried about the loss of her market in that part of the world and China's excessive influence there. The repetition of the allegations of human rights violations in China, even raising the issue of the danger of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in that region, are in fact parts of Washington's attempts to achieve its goals. By claiming to defend human rights and by exaggerating the danger of the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and even by increasing her pressures on her allies in the region, such as Japan and South Korea, America is trying to justify the necessity of |
FBIS3-13436_1 | Israel's Objectives in Hebron Incident Noted | and the disarmament of the Hizballah. The third objective is Israel's entry into the world of Islam, the consolidation of economic relations with the world of Islam, and the establishment of a social and political presence among the Muslims; and naturally the Zionist regime is more enthusiastic about entering the oil-rich Arab countries of the Persian Gulf than any other country. The reason for this is not the existence of petrodollars, but the absence of a native population and of a precise national identity in these countries--something that will accelerate and facilitate the possibility of Israel's entry there. 3. Israel's behavior throughout the talks shows that it is pursuing these three objectives. Before thinking about a conditional and limited autonomy for the Palestinians, Israel is thinking more about extinguishing the flame of the intifadah. But despite its unconditional surrender to Yasir 'Arafat, all its other arrangements have been upset because the intifadah is alive! Israel's overly enthusiastic approach in consolidating its relations with the world of Islam and entering its markets is not a secret, and in this field--as in other fields--U.S. pressures on the Arabs, especially in the Persian Gulf, can be seen. But what is the situation like today? In one word, the U.S.-Israeli plan has been disgracefully defeated because the oppressed people of Palestine demand their rights and are extremely alert and experienced in this demand. And moreover, Islam is emerging again and the intifadah is the Islamic movement of the Palestinian people. Therefore, when the Zionists look at a child holding a stone in his hand in the streets of Hebron, Jerusalem, or Gaza, they multiply this into several million and what they see is a horrific nightmare. At no time has resistance against the Zionists been so strong in the world of Islam, and this is at a time when Israel is not threatened by any Arab army! Therefore, the pivotal policy of the Zionists is clear: the only way to preserve the current Zionist regime is to extinguish the intifadah. But how? 4. In the so-called peace process, Israel tried to fool the Palestinians by offering a conditional and limited autonomy. But this plot was foiled in its initial stages. Israel then chose a second path. It chose to do the same thing that the Christians did in Andalusia and what the Serbs are now doing in Bosnia-Herzegovina. I strongly refuse to use the |
FBIS3-13440_0 | Political Islam Review: AL-SHA'B 8 Mar | Article Type:BFN [Editorial Report] The following review of the 8 March issue of Cairo AL-SHA'B summarizes articles that are Islamic in nature. CONTENTS: 1. Protest Rallies 2. Demonstrations 3. Call to Jihad 4. Attitudes Toward Israel 5. Government Policy and Establishment Media 6. Church and State 7. Cultural Conflict 8. Regime's Downfall Predicted PROTEST RALLIES AL-SHA'B's 8 March issue continues the paper's broad coverage of domestic reaction to the al-Ibrahimi massacre, devoting pages 2-5 to accounts of demonstrations and rallies protesting the Hebron shooting and citing speeches by Socialist Labor Party leader Ibrahim Shukri, the party's Secretary General 'Adil Husayn, Muslim Brotherhood Deputy General Guide Ahmad al-Malat, and lesser figures, all castigating the government's policies and Israeli and U.S. "hegemony" plans. This issue carries a special banner in the upper left-hand corner reading: "A special edition on the Egyptian people's intifadah." The major headline is: "The Revolution of the Mosques." Several stories and comments deal with the confrontation between police and demonstrators at al-Azhar on 4 March. On page 2 an approximately 3,000-word account of two SLP rallies in al-Fashn and al-Basatin townships reports party leader Ibrahim Shukri's remarks that the Interior Ministry tried to ban student demonstrations at the country's top universities and refused to allow an SLP-organized march from al-Azhar to the mufti's office that would have included major personalities following Friday prayers on 4 March. Shukri says: "Let the Egyptian authorities know that marches were organized in Britain, India, and most of the world's capitals to protest the al-Ibrahimi Mosque massacre. The marchers were not harmed but in Egypt they were beaten up in al-Tahrir Square, their wounds bled, and they were suffocated by police tear gas grenades, simply because they dared to show their anger against the criminal Zionist murderers." Shukri criticizes the restrictions on opposition press, police violence, and rigged elections but tells his audience that "the wheel has started to turn and God's victory will come, even after a long night." A 600-word report on page 6 is about a conference held inside al-Azhar Mosque by the leaders of several opposition groups, the SLP, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Nasirists, and the Liberal Party. The meeting was held to coincide with popular demonstrations outside the compound. The conferees urged the PLO to reject surrender and withdraw from the "so-called peace" conferences. They also urged the Egyptian and other Arab governments to release political detainees. DEMONSTRATIONS |
FBIS3-13455_0 | Foreign Minister Interviewed on Ties With Iran | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Athens, March 14, IRNA -- "Kuwaiti-Iranian ties are more than good at this stage and the proof is that there is an open invitation by President Rafsanjani to the emir to visit Iran," Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Shaykh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir told Saudi weekly AL-MAJALLAH in an interview. Ahmad al-Jabir categorically denied reports that the detention of some Kuwaiti fishermen by Iranian coastal guards has dampened bilateral relations . "I do not know from where you come with these false information," Ahmad al-Jabir replied to the AL-MAJALLAH correspondent when he alleged that Tehran-Kuwait relations are "disturbed" because of the arrest of "many" Kuwaiti fishermen by Iranian border guards. "Concerning the problem of the Kuwaiti fishermen and the detention of some of them by Iranian coastal guards, this is due to the interlocking of the territorial waters of the two countries. "Officials of both countries are now taking practical steps to avoid such problems in the future which I do not think disturb the good and growing relations between the two countries and their two friendly peoples," the Kuwaiti foreign minister added. In the interview published in last week's issue of the Arab magazine, Ahmad al-Jabir said Kuwait continues to support the just struggle of the Palestinian people "despite the position of its leadership." |
FBIS3-13457_0 | Officials Deny `Abnormal Diseases' Surfaced After War | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Report by 'Adnan al-Lughani] [Text] The ministers of defense and health have stated that Kuwait, in the aftermath of the Kuwait liberation war, is free of any abnormal diseases. This came in remarks made after taking part in a meeting of the Environment Committee of the National Assembly. Minister of Defense Shaykh 'Ali Sabah al-Salim has dismissed as utterly groundless foreign press reports, as carried in local press, that chemical materials were used in the war for the liberation of Kuwait. He regretted that the press has carried such news reports, which only aim to shake the citizens' confidence and make them believe that the earth and climate in our country are polluted with bacteriological germs. This is untrue, he noted. In a related development, Minister of Health Dr. 'Abd-al-Wahhab al-Fawzan, who, along with several Health Ministry officials, took part in the meeting, has stated that official statistics and studies conducted in the country are reassuring. These statistics and studies showed that the figures for birth deformities, miscarriages, cancer, and dermatological diseases reported before the Iraqi invasion of the country remained unchanged in the aftermath of this invasion. The minister added that the amount of radiation in the atmosphere in the State of Kuwait is within normal ranges. He went on to say that the reported infection of some U.S. troops serving in the Gulf with a certain disease was caused by a skin rash precipitated by cutaneous leishmaniasis and the so-called oriental sore. This, in turn, was caused by sandflies, which are very common in the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. These infections are limited and natural, the health minister noted. Dr. al-Fawzan maintained that the ministry does not agree with the reports published in newspapers in this regard. The ministry regards such reports as unreliable. The ministry only trusts the WHO releases, which have dismissed as groundless reports that abnormal diseases surfaced in Kuwait in the aftermath of the liberation war. He added that the WHO had taken part in several of the studies the Health Ministry conducted in Kuwait. The minister noted that the local news media must play a great role in enlightening citizens and assuring them about the health situation in the country. These media must also contact Ministry of Health officials when they receive any pertinent reports from foreign sources, he added. For his part, Dr. Nasir Sirkhuh, rapporteur of the |
FBIS3-13463_0 | Editorial on Mubarak, New International Order | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [From the press review] [Text] The newspaper AL-JUMHURIYAH, in its editorial today, comments on President Husni Mubarak's interview with the Lebanese magazine AL-HAWADITH. Under the headline "The New Chaotic Order," the paper notes that President Mubarak described the new international order as a new chaotic order. The newspaper writes: What we see in today's world is chaos, not order. What is happening in Russia, the former Eastern bloc, Iran, Afghanistan, and Bosnia-Herzegovina demonstrate the traits of this new international order. The new order is characterized by chaos, wars, and genocide perpetrated by the big powers against downtrodden nations, particularly the Muslim ones. Muslim people have suffered terribly under the new order. This is true in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the Islamic republics that were part of the former Soviet Union. |
FBIS3-13465_2 | Commentary Criticizes U.S.Call for More Sanctions | because we believe in ourselves and we are proud of our free will and our sovereign decision, which are not the subject of any blackmail. It is, furthermore, a stance that would make us reiterate with clarity that we do not need you; we do not need your industries or your business; we do not need to sell our oil to you or to Europe, which is under your sphere of influence. We no longer need your equipment to market our oil, and moreover, we wish the day when we have no oil would come, because once we get ourselves rid of oil the better we are, as there would no longer be anything to threaten us with. And who said that we have been seeking to forge an economic cooperation with you? What kind of cooperation can be established with an enemy? What has been separating us is barriers and a sea of blood for centuries. History has thus spoken and facts have thus affirmed. However, what you should bear always in mind when you were making such statements is the fact that you are dealing with a people that has divorced fear; nothing will ever frighten it save losing its freedom and dignity, which it will defend until the last man. Hence, we look forward to the moment when you would deprive us once and for all from what you have called "our sophisticated equipment," to the moment when we get ourselves rid of industry and oil and of everything else you have been trying to use as a means to shackle us. Because only then we can deal with you in a way that would remind you of what the Vietnamese people had done to you when routing you and the Red Army, which you were never sure from where it was going to hit you again, and the IRA, whose members you have called terrorists and accused us of helping terrorism when we had contacts with them at a time His Majesty's government [as received] was holding secret meetings and negotiations with them. This army closed Great Britain's airport for 48 hours under its blows. You will taste something even more bitter than what was done to you by Aidid, who forced you to escape from Somalia after inflicting shame and disgrace on your forces because he has nothing to lose and because you yourselves have |
FBIS3-13472_0 | New Coalition To Combat Anti-Islamic `Designs' | Language: English Article Type:BFN [By JORDAN TIMES staff reporter Mariam M. Shahin] [Text] Amman--Islamists, and pan-Arab nationalists, long at loggerheads, are unifying their ranks following last month's attack on the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron and the subsequent attack on a Maronite church in Lebanon. "The February events were not the only reason why the front, which is a coalition of two parties, was formed but it was the final push," said the head of the powerful Islamic Action Front (IAF), Dr. Ishaq al-Farhan. Earlier this week the IAF and a relatively new and obscure political party, the National Action Front (NAF), announced that they were "`coalition partners' resisting Zionist designs and new world order strategies to disrupt the Middle Eastern region." The NAF comprises mostly hardline pan-Arab nationalists many of whom were outlawed in Jordan before democratic reforms were introduced. "One of our main aims," said Mr. al-Farhan, "is to make clear that there is no real contradiction between Islam and the essence of Western civilisation. These are superficial differences which are being played up by those who think they will benefit from a confrontation." "There is an obvious effort to blacken the face of the Arabs and the Muslims in the world and our coalition aims at fighting this campaign of hatred against Islam and the Arab people," he added. The coalition is open "to all those parties and groups which wish to join," said an IAF member Thursday. While no clear "strategies" to counter the "anti-Islamic and Arab propaganda" had been drawn up as of yet, "preparatory meetings were" in the making, according to IAF officials. None of the NAF officials could be reached for comment. The coalition joins the mostly secular pan-Arab activists and the largest Islamic party in Jordan. A source close to the groups said that the recent attempts to smudge the "image of Arabs in the West" had contributed to the formation of the coalition. "The World Trade Center affair, the unfair treatment of the accused and the verdict against them was one of the main points of concern, but this is one of many anti-Arab smear campaigns that we want to counter," said the source. The charge that two Libyans blew up a Pan-Am airliner over Lockerbie, Scotland, the continued sanctions against Iraq, the "media campaigns" against Arab and Muslim governments in Sudan and Somalia, as well as recent moves by the French |
FBIS3-13480_0 | Editorial Criticizes Suspension of U.S. Aid | Language: Urdu Article Type:BFN [Editorial: "Deprivation of U.S. Aid to Pakistan"] [Text] The U.S. Congress Foreign Affairs Committee has decided not to grant assistance to Pakistan until 1995. Detailing the American policy, Ms. Robin Raphel, assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs, said that of the $330 million in assistance sought by the U.S. Government from the Congress for the assistance program in South Asia, $112 million is earmarked for Bangladesh, $155 million for India, $28 million for Nepal, and $35 million for Sri Lanka. No fund has been allocated to Pakistan and Afghanistan. That the dreadful civil war in Afghanistan is posing a problem to providing assistance to that country is understandable to a certain extent. But Pakistan is being subjected to this biased treatment by the United States for the sole reason that it is not prepared to roll back its nuclear program. Now the United States is exerting pressure to roll back the program rather than halting or freezing it. This American tendency has been construed by India as an appreciation for the production of its nuclear weapons. After noting that the United States exempts India from all such activities and after discerning the American designs toward Pakistan, now there exists no scope for optimism. The United States also does not want a developing Muslim country to attain capability in sophisticated nuclear technology, and if this occurs the U.S. wants to deprive it by tormenting it through various sanctions. The announcement to grant maximum assistance to India despite its gross human rights violations and the manufacture of nuclear weapons as well as the plan to keep Pakistan out of the assistance program until 1995 warrants us to revise our domestic and foreign policies and set fresh priorities. The government also should clearly understand that the United States will not be content with this and will take steps to cripple Pakistan economically and to further torment it by joining hands with its Western allies. Therefore, in view of this situation, the government should think about taking steps to make the entire nation demonstrate total harmony and perfect coordination to safeguard its interests and protect its independence, sovereignty, and resources. This is possible only through total solidarity among the people, and in a broader sense, through full coordination of thought between the government and the opposition to deal with the situation because it is not a matter concerning |
FBIS3-13509_0 | Columnist Speculates on Benefits of Visit by Pope | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN ["Viewpoint" by Salah al-Mukhtar: "Will the Pope Visit Iraq?"] [Text] In a noteworthy statement, Rafa'el I Bidawid, bishop of the Catholic Chaldeans in Iraq, has said that Pope John Paul II has promised to visit Iraq at the appropriate time. This statement is encouraging because the visit, even if made on purely humanitarian grounds, will implicitly reassert that the Pope and the Christian world reject U.S. Zionist schemes to touch off a new series of Crusades. We cannot help but note the failure of the Bush administration to control the world in the name of the "new world order" and the fact that he had no choice but to admit that the world is drowning in chaos, crises, and challenges -- thus precluding the establishment of a new world order. This marked the collapse of one U.S. strategy and the prelude to the adoption of another horrifying and even more criminal option; namely, pushing the world into the holocaust of ethnic and religious wars, making them the bases for future conflicts. Indeed, since the end of the seventies, U.S. policy has been based on creating and fueling ethnic and sectarian strife. Therefore, this is not a new policy. What, then, has the Clinton administration brought with it? The new element is that the scheme of creating crises is no longer a method to pressure or remove this or that regime in this or that country. It is now an attempt to redraw the map of world conflicts and their causes. In light of this, the "cultural motive" -- allegiances to religion or national culture -- will be the major cause of wars. Consequently, future wars, if the United States gets its way, will be wars of conflicting cultures. Thus, Arab - Islamic - Confucian - Buddhist - Eastern cultures will be pitted against Western - Christian - Protestant - European cultures. Perhaps, Professor Samuel Huntington best explained the U.S. scheme in his research paper "Conflict of Cultures." The fall of Bush and the rise of Clinton was not the only development that reflected a change in U.S. strategy. U.S. political thought also witnessed the death of one of the most short-lived and absurd of its theories -- the theory of the "end of history" propounded by U.S. researcher Francis Fokoyama. According to this theory, the history of conflict would end with the victory of U.S. liberalism. |
FBIS3-13511_4 | Columnist on Mubarak's Role in Gulf War | Husni Mubarak's remark, Jabir al-Sabah went ahead with his conspiracy. His recommendations to Sa'd al-Sabah in his talks with the vice chairman of the Iraqi Revolution Command Council during their famous Jeddah meeting on 30 July 1990 were stubborn, like a solid, jagged rock. Husni Mubarak's remark, plus Jabir al-Sabah's determination to ride the conspiratorial train, which was backed by U.S. engines and military might, was the main reason for the failure of the Jeddah talks and al-Sabah's defiance and threat that international forces would compel Iraq to respond to their demands. That was the visible part of the conspiracy, which had other hidden parts. The political observer could not but note these serious, major developments, especially the political propaganda campaign which Western governments and world Zionism had waged in the media against Iraq in general and leader President Saddam Husayn in person since 8 August 1988. The aims of this propaganda were summed up by a U.S. Congressional delegation led by Senator Dole in April 1990, as follows: Iraq should revise its scientific program and industrial advancement on the pretext that it threatens Iraqi interest and peace in the region; stop making threats to the Zionist entity, although it threatened Iraq; and contribute actively and constructively toward the current peace process between Israel and the representatives of the Palestinians. Those exactly were the hidden reasons behind al-Sabah's insistence on riding the train of the oil conspiracy, which steamed off with U.S. motivation and Zionist instigation under the slogan of demanding: 1) Demarcation of the border according to the new violations. 2) Payment of debts! In all cases, the aim was one, namely, enforcing the demands of U.S.-Zionist policy as summed up by Senator Dole. But what was not secret to analysts, and it must not remain secret to anyone now that the war took place with the 30-state aggression, was what the hostile circles had decided, which was to push Iraq to the state of the blockade it is in now. This blockade actually began with the decision of the U.S. Congress earlier in 1990 to cancel the food deals with Iraq. This was followed by the imposition of the scientific and technological embargo, whether or not the war took place, rather whether we behaved in a manner that befitted free men, or followed the path of defeatism and cowardice. What was required in all cases was to stop |
FBIS3-13511_5 | Columnist on Mubarak's Role in Gulf War | threatened Iraq; and contribute actively and constructively toward the current peace process between Israel and the representatives of the Palestinians. Those exactly were the hidden reasons behind al-Sabah's insistence on riding the train of the oil conspiracy, which steamed off with U.S. motivation and Zionist instigation under the slogan of demanding: 1) Demarcation of the border according to the new violations. 2) Payment of debts! In all cases, the aim was one, namely, enforcing the demands of U.S.-Zionist policy as summed up by Senator Dole. But what was not secret to analysts, and it must not remain secret to anyone now that the war took place with the 30-state aggression, was what the hostile circles had decided, which was to push Iraq to the state of the blockade it is in now. This blockade actually began with the decision of the U.S. Congress earlier in 1990 to cancel the food deals with Iraq. This was followed by the imposition of the scientific and technological embargo, whether or not the war took place, rather whether we behaved in a manner that befitted free men, or followed the path of defeatism and cowardice. What was required in all cases was to stop Iraq's advancement project and thus affect people's progress and prosperity, spoil the peace and victory the Iraqi people enjoyed after 8 August 1988, and block the growing popularity of Iraq which, with time, would become a popular unity base. This was what the imperialist states and Zionism had feared because it meant foiling their infinitesimal plan against the unity of the Arab homeland, ending the divisions, and consolidating the march of confrontation against Zionist aggression and its settler arrogance. That was what Iraq had achieved in a striking manner, particularly after 8 August 1988. Therefore, al-Sabah's insistence was not spontaneously based on a balance of power or a demand for legitimate rights. Any observer could easily see that al-Sabah's small size and challenge was no match to Iraq's new weight. The fact is, the insistence stemmed from the opinion of Egypt, Washington, and London! Consequently, the Jeddah talks had to fail, and Iraq found itself compelled to crush the den of sinful plotting which sought in every mean way to involve Iraq in a war of starvation and humiliation, similar in results to what we are in now, especially after Iraq had proved its competence in the armed war against |
FBIS3-13512_0 | INRC: Regime Strikes Kurds in North Iraq | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Nicosia, March 14 (AFP)--Iranian forces launched missiles against Kurdish border villages in northern Iraq causing damage but no casualties, Iranian opposition forces said on Monday. The Iranian National Resistance Council (INRC) said in a statement that the homes in Iraq of families connected to the Iraq-based Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) were destroyed in the attack on Friday. However the report could not been confirmed by independent sources. The KDP, which is the main Kurdish opposition to the Tehran regime has bases in Kurd areas in northern Iraq, many of them near the border with Iran. Mas'ud Rajavi, chairman of the INRC and leader of the People's Mojahedin [Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization], the main armed opposition to Tehran based in Iraq, denounced what the press statement termed a "criminal and terrorist attack". He called on the UN Security Council to take measures urgently "to prevent the slaughter of the Iranian people and of the population of Kurdistan". The INRC was founded in 1981 and brings together the People's Mojahedin and other closely-related Iranian opposition groups. |
FBIS3-13513_1 | U.S. Policy of `Dual Containment' Examined | and Iraq, greater preference over the other. We are now in a situation where we should learn a lesson from the past and should study and adopt a suitable strategic stance on the Persian Gulf. Reliance on the strength and capabilities of one of the two countries to restrict the other and to maintain a balance of power has proved to be an erroneous policy. Today, such an equilibrium can be satisfactory and in conformity with U.S. national interests if it restrains both the countries. Martin Indyk believes that the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the reduction of the political and military strength of Iran in the eight-year war with Iraq, and the direct presence of the United States in the Persian Gulf have created conditions that allow the United States to bring about a balance without Iran or Iraq having any direct intervention in the region. In his criticism of the policy of dual containment, U.S. political expert Graham Fowler has said that the aforementioned policy will not be beneficial. The United States tends to greatly exaggerate the dangers from Iran and the current U.S. policy needs to be reviewed and reappraised. Fowler says: At present we are confronted with an Islamic Republic in the Middle East, but in the future there will be more such republics and we cannot make any innovations in our policy that we cannot continue in the future. Our (U.S.) current policy is very shortsighted. According to Fowler, the formulation of a balanced policy in which there is a collection of friends and enemies is not a difficult task, but the balance of power in the aftermath of the Cold War needs assessment, study, and thought within the new framework. The United States should formulate its strategy in a manner in which the Persian Gulf countries can resolve their security issues without much dependence on that country and U.S. interests can be safeguarded. Fowler says that Iran and Iraq have policies that are different from those of the United States, and they are also different from one another in relation to their respective situations. Iraq is a country with unchanging policies, which have not evolved completely, and is being administered by a ruthless individual. However, Iran is a country undergoing change and freedom and abundance is evident. Therefore, it would be fallacious for the United States to adopt a uniform policy for both countries. |
FBIS3-13517_0 | Minister on Russia's `Decisive Role' in Balkans | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Vienna, March 14, IRNA -- Iran respects the decisions and wishes of the people as well as those of an independent Bosnia-Herzegovinan [B-H] Government, says Mahmoud Vaezi, Iran's deputy foreign minister in charge of Euro-American affairs. Welcoming the decreasing trend of bloodshed in the Balkans, Vaezi in an interview with Iran [as received] here Monday expressed hope for a peaceful solution to the B-H crisis and called on the international community for assistance. According to Vaezi, the Balkan crisis has reached a point where most countries want to see an end to the conflict. He also noted that the Russians could play a decisive role aimed at ending the B-H conflict. Vaezi, on a tour of European countries, held talks on Sunday with Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic who is here for the Muslim-Croatian federation talks. The Iranian deputy foreign minister also said that during his talks with Silajdzic, the Bosnian prime minister had thanked Iran for its humanitarian aid to the people of B-H, and expressed hope that the Serbians would also join the federation negotiations. |
FBIS3-13522_0 | Nateq-Nuri Holds News Conference | Language: Persian Article Type:BFN [Text] 'Ali Akbar Nateq-Nuri, speaker of the Islamic Majles, held a news conference this morning attended by domestic and foreign correspondents. During this news conference the Majles speaker referred to particular features of the coming year's [beginning 21 March] budget bill, saying: By allocating a greater subsidy to essential goods, the vulnerable strata will be protected better. Our foreign currency commitments will be reduced, greater attention will be paid to deprived areas, villages, the scientific, cultural and defense sectors. Income and expenditure will become more realistic. In reply to a question asked by a correspondent on the comments made by a U.S. official about holding talks with Iran, Nateq-Nuri stressed: America's performance has always been contradictory and so far this performance has not shown any indication of that country's good intentions that can be trusted. On the main obstacles on the path of improving ties with Egypt, he termed the Egyptian Government as the biggest obstacle in this field. He added: The Egyptian Government cannot see the people's Islam-seeking morale. |
FBIS3-13523_0 | Comments on U.S., Egypt | Language: Persian Article Type:BFN [Excerpt] [Passage omitted] At his news conference today Majles Speaker Nateq-Nuri replied to a correspondent's question about remarks made recently by a U.S. official on talks with Iran. Nateq-Nuri stressed: America's performance has always been in contradiction with such remarks, and thus far this performance has not been in a manner to demonstrate that country's good intention, and which can be trusted. He stressed: As long as America maintains its hegemonistic and aggressive nature, we will continue our struggle. On biased western propaganda alleging that Iran is striving to build nuclear weapons, the head of the legislative branch said: All international organizations and forums, particularly the International Atomic Energy Agency which has inspected our country's installations, have declared that there is no evidence to show that Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. We use our installations to generate power. About the main obstacles along the path of improving ties with Egypt, Nateq-Nuri replied to the correspondent's question by describing the Egyptian Government as the biggest obstacle along the path of upgrading these relations. Referring to the Egyptian Government's opposition to the Islam-seeking and Islam-supporting wave in that country, the Majles speaker added: The Egyptian Government cannot see the people's Islam-seeking mentality and blames Iran for provocation. On Iran's relations with other Asian countries, particularly China and India, the Majles speaker emphasized: We wish to establish ties and unity with all other countries, except Israel and the United States, and we believe this unity will serve the interests of us all. |
FBIS3-13537_0 | AL-AHRAM Assesses Remarks of Iranian Foreign Minister | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Text] Cairo, 16 Mar (MENA)--The newspaper AL-AHRAM voices astonishment at Iranian Foreign Minister 'Ali Akbar Velayati's remarks two days ago that Iran will not disagree with Syria if it signs an agreement with Israel; rather, it will show understanding of Syria's circumstances. The newspaper says in its editorial today that the Iranian statement, while worthy of welcome for indicating a positive change in that country's attitude toward Middle East peace, remains surprising and raises a question as to why Iran is using a double standard in its attitude toward Egypt and Syria. AL-AHRAM recalls Egypt's attempt, soon after President Mubarak took power in 1981, to open a new chapter in relations with Iran to promote inter-Islamic cooperation and regional stability and security. It adds that the end of the Iraq-Iran war was a strong reason for removing the tension between Egypt and Iran and refers to a recent statement by President Mubarak that an agreement to restore bilateral ties may have been possible at one time but the Iranian leaders were divided among themselves over whether to have it. The paper notes that the reason given by the Iranian hardliners for not restoring ties with Egypt was their opposition to the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty and says that these hardliners began encouraging deviant terrorists to undermine stability inside Egypt and strongly opposed any Egyptian role in the Gulf. AL-AHRAM concludes its comment by expressing the hope that the difference between Iran's attitude to Egypt and Syria will not signify that it is using a double standard. It further hopes that Velayati's recent remarks will spell a new development in Iranian policy that will promote greater understanding with the Arab countries, notably Egypt, for the general Muslim good. The paper cites the example illustrated by the unique understanding marking the Cairo-Damascus relationship. |
FBIS3-13548_0 | U.S.' `Unconditionally Supportive' Policy of Israel Noted | Language: Persian Article Type:BFN [Commentary by news research and commentary group] [Text] While the United States continues its serious efforts not to accept any UN resolution against the Zionist regime that would guarantee international security for the Palestinians, the White House diplomatic apparatus has spared no effort for the resumption of the talks between the compromising Palestinians and Arab countries and the Zionist regime. Within this framework, U.S. President Bill Clinton spoke to Syrian President Hafiz al-Asad and asked him to decide on a new date for talks with Israel. In a telephone conversation, Warren Christopher also called on Yasir 'Arafat to begin negotiations with the Zionist regime. Dennis Ross, the U.S. coordinator in the compromising talks, endorsed the issue in his meeting with 'Arafat in Tunis. With this concerted effort, the United States is seeking to salvage the Zionist regime and to depict the blood of the victims of the catastrophic massacre of the fasting Muslim worshipers in the al-Ibrahimi shrine in occupied Palestine as worthless. The more the level of the direct involvement of the Zionist regime's armed forces in the tragedy of the massacre of the Palestinians transpires, and new documentary evidence continues to emerge, the greater the White House effort to support the terrorist echelons in Israel. U.S. President Bill Clinton is quite unattentive to the wounded sensitivities of the Palestinian Muslim nation and the indignation of the international public and the people of the Islamic world and is ignoring the repeated violations of human rights and international norms by the Tel Aviv officials. He is expected to meet Yitzhaq Rabin, the Zionist regime's prime minister, at the White House. Rabin has met the U.S. secretaries of state and defense in Washington and had military and political coordination with them. It is being stated that this Friday, that is, three weeks after Hebron, finally, the Security Council will issue a resolution regarding the killing of the fasting worshipers at the shrine of the Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him. Since the incident, a resolution has repeatedly been promised; in practice, it has not been issued, due to U.S. opposition. It appears unlikely that this promise will be fulfilled to mitigate people's anger over the meeting between the U.S. President and the terrorist head of the Zionist regime. Washington's unconditionally supportive policy for the Zionist regime's officials, which can have no other effect but to enhance their |
FBIS3-13556_0 | Visit of U.S. Envoy `Expected' To Lead to Rao U.S. Visit | Language: English Article Type:BFN [By our diplomatic editor] [Text] New Delhi, March 2:- The talks here later this month between U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Robin Raphel and Indian officials on Indo-American relations are expected to pave the way for the Prime Minister's trip to Washington towards the middle of the year. Ms. Raphel, who has become controversial due to her statements questioning the validity and finality of Kashmir's accession to India, and who insists on visiting India shall be extended due courtesies. She will be able to meet officials as well as political leaders during her five-day stay from March 22. She has even sought a meeting with the Prime Minister, which could not be arranged earlier when she left India to take up her new assignment in the State Department. The U.S. Government is currently engaged in a damage limitation exercise following Ms. Raphel's unwelcome pronouncements and has assured the Indian Government that no anti-lndia bias or pro-Pakistan tilt has overtaken the Clinton Administration and that relations with India remain strong and are bound to grow. Some of President Clinton's remarks regarding Kashmir and human rights must be viewed in the context of U.S. domestic policy compulsions and not in that of Indo-American relations, which continue to expand. As regards Kashmir, the U.S. always believed that the issue should be resolved bilaterally by India and Pakistan under the Simla Agreement and Washington is not projecting itself as a mediator. It has no strategic interests in the State but desires that the problem be resolved in the interest of peace and stability of the subcontinent. The External Affairs Ministry was initially lukewarm to Ms. Raphel's visit and did not agree to any of the dates suggested by her. President Clinton's as well as Ms. Raphel's remarks were appropriately responded to and their criticism rebutted. However, the new Foreign Secretary, Mr. K. Srinivasan, as well as the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Dinesh Singh, took the view that points of difference should not spoil the otherwise sound relations between the world's two largest democracies and that there are areas where India and the U.S. should work jointly and effectively. Discussions could be held to find common ground and they could even agree to disagree on some points. A discussion could help articulate each other's concerns and remove misconceptions which were often at the root of mispronouncements. It is |
FBIS3-13588_0 | Paper Examines `Failure' of Country's Foreign Policy | Language: Urdu Article Type:BFN [Editorial: "After Kashmir, the Pressler Amendment -- That Fond Hope Also Dashed"] [Text] The United States has excluded Pakistan and Afghanistan from the list of countries which will receive international development aid in 1995. Robin Raphel, the under secretary of state and chief of the Clinton administration's committee on South Asia and the Pacific, told the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee that aid to Pakistan was suspended under the Pressler Amendment. The Pressler Amendment has been helpful in slowing down Pakistan's nuclear program. After assuming office, the present government gave the nation good news that it would not only bring Pakistan out of the isolation resulting from the wrong policies of the previous government, but that it would also improve Pakistan-U.S. relations to such a level that it would lead to the annulment of the Pressler Amendment and resumption of U.S. aid to Pakistan. Stories about world support on the Kashmir issue and further revision in the Pressler Amendment by the United States, especially Pakistan's exclusion from it, could be heard in those days. But all the fond hopes are now evaporating one by one and it is becoming clear to the people that what they witnessed was a dream and what they heard was merely a story. At first, the UN General Assembly was approached about the Kashmir issue and the government declared that once again they were raising the issue at the world body. A resolution was also presented about which the opposition claims that it was planned during the Nawaz Sharif government and it had also secured the support of most of the friendly countries as a result of lobbying by the previous government. But suddenly, the present government announced the withdrawal of the resolution and the people were told that it had been done due to the insistence of "friends" and their reported assurances. It was also said that those friends had assured that they would exert pressure on India and ensure that the Kashmir issue is resolved through negotiations. Naturally, the whole nation's attention was focused on the Pakistan-India talks in the first week of January. However, the talks remained unproductive and India not only repeated its old claim that Kashmir is an integral part of India, but also belied hopes of normalizing relations between the two countries by embarking on a major operation against Kashmiris in Sopor. The siege |
FBIS3-13596_3 | Vice President Interviewed on Obstacles Facing Unity | unity, but about the state of the unity, the mechanism applied in this state, and the definition of the state. It is about whether it will be a simple or compound state and whether it will be a state that accommodates the changes created by unity, the democratic system, and the peaceful and democratic struggle and that makes room for competition and variation in views in several areas in Yemen. So this is the difficult situation we are trying to remedy. I believe the Document of Pledge and Agreement has touched on this issue. This document sought to build a modern state in Yemen. Thus, the discussion on the state of unity is a good thing and is needed, I believe. We must not hesitate to listen to every view. These views produced the document that we all signed, which dealt with the state of unity. It gives a new shape to the state of unity and represents a new social contract in the state of unity. So the faltering march of unity is due to the absence of the state of unity. We should not fear discussion of such topics; we should allow dialogue to take place and listen to all the views as long as the intention is to build the state of unity and find the mechanism that could make room for its progress. [Al-Jundi] Is the situation after the signing of the Amman document much different from what it was before it was signed, at least practically speaking? [Al-Bid] It is fraught with tension, which is what we expected, because there is a refusal to implement the document. We expected that some would be unable to honor the agreement, particularly with regard to the first clause, namely, the need to adopt measures against outlaws and the perpetrators of terrorism, bombings, assassinations, and every act that disturbs security and stability in Yemen. This clause is the stumbling bloc. Another clause is the need to provide security and constitutional guarantees for the implementation of the document. So this situation is the reason for the tension. Some people are reluctant to implement the agreement. They do not want to be exposed to the public, whose opinion is natural, of course. I expect the dialogue committee, the public here, all the peaceloving people, and the majority of the people who are committed to the implementation of the document to proceed |
FBIS3-13613_4 | Article on West's Views of Islam, Fundamentalism | force behind these events. The religious reasons followed later as a natural result and not an original component. The same thing emerges from the confrontations and civil war in northern Ireland between the Catholics and Protestants. The roots of the problem are political more than religious, such as ethnic nationalism, autonomy, independence, as well as economic and social considerations, but not religious. Esposito has objectively diagnosed the campaign for arousing fears from Islam among the public in the West. This campaign started directly after the collapse and absence of the Soviet enemy and the emergence of a wave to replace it with the Muslim enemy. This is a policy governed by wider political reasons. The presence of an enemy for some societies such as the United States is in some ways an economic necessity because military industry prospered during the conflict with the Soviet enemy. One of the tools of this conflict was to inflame conflicts and civil wars in the Third World. This made these industries experience one of their most prosperous ages in production. In the years preceding the end of the Cold War in 1989, there were around 40 regional conflicts and civil wars taking place in Third World countries of which we had a very large share in Lebanon, Chad, the Iraqi-Iranian war, and the Gulf War. The presence of an enemy is necessarily followed by mobilization, national motivation, supervision of defense budgets, production of weapons, and military intervention operations abroad. Currently, some of these are intervention in Somalia, and previously intervention in the defenseless areas of Iraq. Now, the ghost is hovering over Sudan. In addition, the West, the United States in particular, know very well that terrorism is not Islam and that the terrorists we are complaining about had some official and covert relations with the United States. These are facts proven through some U.S. documents such as the Central Intelligence Agency's cooperation circle in Afghanistan during the eighties with Hekmatyar and the group called the Afghan Arabs through funding and support. Information was also leaked about coordination in joint terrorist activities between the Abu-Nidal group and the Israeli intelligence, Mosad. Therefore, the campaign that claims the Muslims are coming and that there is going to be a cultural clash and Islamic war against the West have their own political reasons. Terrorism is not characteristic of Islam, nor is it characteristic of the Muslims. |
FBIS3-13629_0 | Paper Urges Examination of Foreign Policy | Language: Urdu Article Type:BFN [Editorial: "After Kashmir, the Pressler Amendment -- That Fond Hope Also Dashed"] [Text] The United States has excluded Pakistan and Afghanistan from the list of countries which will receive international development aid in 1995. Robin Raphel, the under secretary of state and chief of the Clinton administration's committee on South Asia and the Pacific, told the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee that aid to Pakistan was suspended under the Pressler Amendment. The Pressler Amendment has been helpful in slowing down Pakistan's nuclear program. After assuming office, the present government gave the nation good news that it would not only bring Pakistan out of the isolation resulting from the wrong policies of the previous government, but that it would also improve Pakistan-U.S. relations to such a level that it would lead to the annulment of the Pressler Amendment and resumption of U.S. aid to Pakistan. Stories about world support on the Kashmir issue and further revision in the Pressler Amendment by the United States, especially Pakistan's exclusion from it, could be heard in those days. But all the fond hopes are now evaporating one by one and it is becoming clear to the people that what they witnessed was a dream and what they heard was merely a story. At first, the UN General Assembly was approached about the Kashmir issue and the government declared that once again they were raising the issue at the world body. A resolution was also presented about which the opposition claims that it was planned during the Nawaz Sharif government and it had also secured the support of most of the friendly countries as a result of lobbying by the previous government. But suddenly, the present government announced the withdrawal of the resolution and the people were told that it had been done due to the insistence of "friends" and their reported assurances. It was also said that those friends had assured that they would exert pressure on India and ensure that the Kashmir issue is resolved through negotiations. Naturally, the whole nation's attention was focused on the Pakistan-India talks in the first week of January. However, the talks remained unproductive and India not only repeated its old claim that Kashmir is an integral part of India, but also belied hopes of normalizing relations between the two countries by embarking on a major operation against Kashmiris in Sopor. The siege |
FBIS3-13632_0 | `Concern' Expressed Over Pakistani Receipt of U.S. Weapons | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] India has conveyed to the United States serious concern over the transfer of sophisticated weapons to Pakistan, as this would affect the security environment. The minister of state for external affairs, Mr. R.L. Bhatia, informed the Rajya Sabha today during question hour that the government's concern has been conveyed through various channels to the Clinton administration. He said defense contacts between India and the U.S., including high-level visits and information exchanges, were conducted on a regular basis with a view to enhancing understanding of India's position and concern. Mr. Bhatia said no date has been fixed for Prime Minister Mr. Narasimha Rao's visit to Washington. |
FBIS3-13634_0 | U.S. Official Cited on Desire To Control Exports to Iran | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Vienna, March 16, IRNA -- North Korea's ballistic missile program is becoming "more ambitious" and U.S. officials are concerned not only about the nation's weapons programs but also its export plans, says Ashton Carter, assistant secretary of defence for nuclear security and counter-proliferation. According to U.S. Embassy Information Service here Wednesday, at a meeting in Washington convened for specialists on non-proliferation issues, Carter said that the United States, would like to control the export of "everything" to Iran and Iraq. Explaining the Clinton Adminstration's Counter-Proliferation Initiative (CPI), he noted that Defence Secretary Perry and Central Intelligence Agency Director Woolsey will announce soon the new position of a deputy director for military support at the CIA's Counter-Proliferation Centre. In the past, he explained, too much of Pentagon's counter-proliferation focus had been on characterizing and cataloguing individual nation's weapons program. In the future, the official suggested, the focus will be on what actions to take after certain countries acquire weapons of mass destruction. |
FBIS3-13636_0 | Kurdish Party Leader on Efforts To `Overthrow' Regime | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Interview with "Mr. Jalil," the secretary of the Democratic Party of Kordestan in Iran, by Mustafa 'Abdallah in Vienna; date not given] [Text] ['Abdallah] I met him during a tour he was making of a number of European countries that took him to Britain, France, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and finally Austria, to explain the cause of the Iranian Kurdish people and inform the public about the aspects of their revolution. At the start of his interview he stated that their main goal is to overthrow the regime in Iran and establish a democratic regime in which human rights and the rights of national minorities will be respected. He added that the Democratic Party of Kordestan [DPK] represents 90 percent of the Kurdish people living in Iran. What is the DPK's relationship with the Mujahedin-e Khalq in Iran? [Jalil] By virtue of our common struggle against the present Iranian regime, we have strong ties with the forces that oppose this regime, including the Mujahedin-e Khalq movement, of course. Political cooperation is continuing. But regrettably there is no coordination in the field due to geographical conditions. But we are in the process of initiating such coordination. ['Abdallah] You said that you are working to overthrow the regime in Iran. Is there a specific plan for this? [Jalil] After having failed in the past 15 years to convince the Iranian regime to grant our people their national rights, we were forced to undertake military operations. We have dealt painful blows to the regime in many places, weakening their forces in these areas. By virtue of our indomitable struggle, we have turned Kordestan into an impregnable fortress for the Kurds. Although there have been many victims, amounting to 60,000 civilians and about 6,000 military men, our morale and the morale of our Kurdish people is high. Our struggle has strengthened the struggle fronts in many areas in Iran. ['Abdallah] When do you expect your plan to overthrow the regime in Iran to succeed? [Jalil] The Iranian regime is now closer to falling and is very weak. According to our study of the situation, the main problem lies in the absence of an organization that unites all the opposition forces to speed up the overthrow of the regime. But we are currently trying hard to establish a joint Kurdish organization and an Iranian organization of all the opposition forces |
FBIS3-13636_1 | Kurdish Party Leader on Efforts To `Overthrow' Regime | Kordestan [DPK] represents 90 percent of the Kurdish people living in Iran. What is the DPK's relationship with the Mujahedin-e Khalq in Iran? [Jalil] By virtue of our common struggle against the present Iranian regime, we have strong ties with the forces that oppose this regime, including the Mujahedin-e Khalq movement, of course. Political cooperation is continuing. But regrettably there is no coordination in the field due to geographical conditions. But we are in the process of initiating such coordination. ['Abdallah] You said that you are working to overthrow the regime in Iran. Is there a specific plan for this? [Jalil] After having failed in the past 15 years to convince the Iranian regime to grant our people their national rights, we were forced to undertake military operations. We have dealt painful blows to the regime in many places, weakening their forces in these areas. By virtue of our indomitable struggle, we have turned Kordestan into an impregnable fortress for the Kurds. Although there have been many victims, amounting to 60,000 civilians and about 6,000 military men, our morale and the morale of our Kurdish people is high. Our struggle has strengthened the struggle fronts in many areas in Iran. ['Abdallah] When do you expect your plan to overthrow the regime in Iran to succeed? [Jalil] The Iranian regime is now closer to falling and is very weak. According to our study of the situation, the main problem lies in the absence of an organization that unites all the opposition forces to speed up the overthrow of the regime. But we are currently trying hard to establish a joint Kurdish organization and an Iranian organization of all the opposition forces to achieve our goal of weakening and overthrowing the present regime. ['Abdallah] Mr. Jalil, do you have any information about Iran's support for terrorism? [Jalil] It is known that the present Iranian regime is a terrorist regime in all respects. It resorts to terrorist means to achieve its objectives. Among these means are physical liquidation of the opposition forces and leaders. This is in addition to exporting terrorism. We have so far noted more than 100 terrorist operations by the regime at home over a short period of time. In the past month alone, the regime carried out three terrorist operations against members of the Kurdish leadership, killing two of them in Kordestan and Iraq and the third in Turkey. |
FBIS3-13650_5 | Al-Qadhdhafi on Lockerbie, Terror, al-Kikhya | Biblical story of Samson] Asked about the acts of terrorism in Egypt and Algeria, al-Qadhdhafi said: It is known that the leaders of terrorism and the new atheistic movements live in Washington, Bonn, London, and Paris. From there they send instructions to carry out of acts of sabotage inside Egypt and Algeria. This is all a part of a Western-crusader-Zionist conspiracy against the Arabs and Muslims. Their principal objective is to destroy Egypt, because they know well the importance of Egypt's weight and role, and that by sabotaging it they would cripple the Arab world. They are trying to stunt and balkanize Egypt. All those are Zionist objectives and the new atheists are implementing these objectives. They should not call themselves Islamic Jihad, because jihad stands for the liberation of Jerusalem or coming to join with Libya to liberate Ceuta and Melilla. Jihad does not mean killing innocent people in Egypt nor killing truthful journalists in Algeria. This is not Islam. To a question about the fate of former Libyan Foreign Minister Mansur al-Kikhya, al-Qadhdhafi said: He is a Libyan citizen and we are concerned about him. It is not true that he was an opponent. He was a junior employee when the revolution broke out. He worked with me until he assumed the position of foreign minister. He then became Libya's representative to the human rights committees. He sent me a message with our friend 'Ashur Qarqum, saying that he would visit Libya. I told him that he is welcome, because he has been abroad for a long time. He was scheduled to visit the Jamahiriyah after his visit to Cairo. But I do not rule out the possibility that U.S. intelligence knew about it and kidnapped him. He added: The CIA [preceding term in Roman script] is behind the whole thing and the U.S. President had nothing to do with it. Clinton is a good guy and he was against the Vietnam war. But the CIA is deceiving him; it made him support the bombardment of the Russian parliament building by tanks and strike Iraq. Al-Qadhdhafi said Clinton is a Democrat and they are our friends because, like them, we sympathize with the blacks. But the CIA is deceiving Clinton and has recruited agents to kidnap al-Kikhya. When asked if he has evidence, he said: There is no evidence, but there is the CIA's black record. [passage omitted] |
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