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FBIS3-53608_0 | Saudi Arabian Ties Enter `New Phase' | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Unattributed commentary] [Text] Saudi Minister of Higher Education 'Abd-al-'Aziz al- Khuwaytir, who is carrying Saudi King Fahd's message for Mr. Hashemi-Rafsanjani, called on the Iranian President Saturday evening. During the meeting, Mr. Hashemi-Rafsanjani pointed to regional issues, as well as falling world oil prices, as among the most basic issues that warrant cooperation among all Muslim countries, especially Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian president also stressed the need for greater unity and cooperation between Islamic countries. The meeting between the Saudi minister and the Iranian president has attracted the attention of many political observers. Though Iran-Saudi Arabian ties have undergone several ups and downs during recent years, the trend of events of recent months reveal that the two countries' officials, in view of the significance of Iran-Saudi unity and the need for expanding bilateral cooperation, have opened a new phase of bilateral ties with the intention of reinforcing unity among Islamic countries and overcoming the problems of the Muslim world. Iran-Saudi ties basically have wide dimensions, since they are the major oil-producing countries among OPEC members. In connection with oil production, analysts believe cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, with the largest oil and gas reserves in the world, can play a significant role in stabilizing oil prices; so much so that economic experts say the two countries can have a great impact on checking the falling price of oil, stabilizing it on the world market. Besides, the two countries' membership in the Organization of Islamic Conference, the OIC, further reveals the significance of bilateral relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. This is so because, if the two countries reach a ground for bilateral understanding, their key and effective role in improving the situation of the Muslim ummah [community] will become undeniable. Therefore, under the present conditions, when bloody fighting in some Islamic countries has created a difficult situation, the (?power) of Muslim ummah coordination among the OIC member states, especially Iran and Saudi Arabia, can be of special significance in following up the problems of Muslim nations. It is worth noting that during the meeting, President Hashemi-Rafsanjani welcomed the deepening of ties in the areas of mutual interest, stressing the need for the exchange of economic and political delegations between the two countries to bring the viewpoints of Iran and Saudi Arabia closer. The president said he would send a special envoy to Saudi |
FBIS3-53616_0 | Visiting Azerbaijani Official on U.S. `Plots' Against Iran | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Tehran, Jan. 17, IRNA -- Head of Azerbaijan's Academy of Sciences Salayev Elder Monday [17 January] said "selfish and baseless" propaganda of the U.S. and the west are aimed at hatching plots against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Speaking at the seminar on the process of developemnt in Central Asia and the Caucasus, opened here Monday morning, Elder noted that the U.S. and the west were thinking in vain to obtain their goals through Caucasus. The Azeri official told IRNA that plots hatched by the U.S. and the west were threatening unity among Muslim populated republics in Central Asia. He said what is presently hindering the process of development in Central Asia is attempts made by Russia to seperate the Muslim republics from Iran. |
FBIS3-53620_0 | Foreign Ministry Official on Ties With South Africa | Article Type:BFN [Editorial Report] Tehran Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran First Program Network in Persian at 1600 GMT on 17 January carries in its "World of Politics" program a recorded interview with Mohammad Mahdavi, Foreign Ministry director general for Africa, on relations with South Africa. In reply to a question as to what led Iran to decide to establish ties with South Africa, Mahdavi says: "It should noted that diplomatic ties have not been established with South Africa. After the elections in April 1994, when the deprived and suffering people of South Africa have attained their rights and taken over the management of the country, we will, God willing, establish diplomatic ties with South Africa. But what was recently approved in the country and brought to the attention of the people was the lifting of the restrictions we had on our economic ties with South Africa." Mahdavi then comments on the events leading to the forthcoming free elections and abrogation of apartheid in South Africa. On the reason for Iran's decision, he says: "What led us to decide to establish economic ties with South Africa was, first, the recent events in South Africa and, second, the direct request of the combative groups in South Africa, who wrote to us and asked us to lift the restrictions on trade with South Africa. However, we have deferred the establishment of diplomatic ties, which will be the main basis of relations between our country and South Africa, until after the elections, when every black person has attained his rights there." Asked about Western media propaganda about Iran's u-turn in its policy on Israel and South Africa, Mahdavi says: "They, themselves, know that they are not being truthful and that what they are saying is not correct. We have declared our stance on these two from the start. About South Africa, we said that when racism is abolished there and the oppressed and innocent people of South Africa take over power -- on the basis of one man one vote -- we would establish diplomatic and economic ties with that country. And we are moving in that direction now. However, our stance on the Zionist regime has been clear from the start. His holiness the imam said that the Zionist regime must be destroyed. Yes, when the Zionist regime is destroyed and the people of Palestine take over power, our relations with |
FBIS3-53622_0 | Accord With Ireland Positively Appraised | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] London, Jan. 14, IRNA -- The new memorandum of understanding, signed in Dublin this week, offers wide-ranging possibilities in numerous areas of expanding and diversifying economic cooperation between Ireland and the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to the memorandum, mutual benefits have been identified in such fields as heavy and light industry, mining, agriculture, rural and urban planning, petroleum and oil products, pharmaceuticals, medicine, telecommunications and education. Proposed are a whole set of possible initiatives through mutual investments, joint ventures, development projects, utilizing the capabilities of expertise, management skills, professional training and courses, holding seminars, conferences and exhibitions. During the holding of the second joint commission Wednesday and Thursday, Iranian and Irish officials expressed their satisfation with the ever-growing and deepending trend of relations that was attributed to the atmosphere of understanding developed between the two countries. To take advantage of the opportunities, both sides agreed to increase the exchange of information and contacts to acquaint themselves with each other's markets and expert industries and to maximize the potential offered. Proposals went as far as encouraging economic and trade enterprises to embark on joint activities for exports to third markets, such as to the newly-independent republics of Europe and Central Asia. Ireland itself has a population of only 3.5 million, but it has a projected GDP growth of 3 percent this year, higher than most countries in the European Union, of which it is a member. The major development in economic relations last year was in the reopening of Iran's beef market to Irish exporters, which has the potential of being the second largest after Britain. The move has the potential of creating a trade imbalance in Dublin's favor, but both sides recognized the need to correct this to expand the volume of business between the two countries. To this end, Irish officials welcomed the desire for Iranian enterprises to have an active presence in the Irish market and committed to help arrange `Iran weeks' and exclusive trade fairs to promote exports to Ireland. Dublin further agreed to consider favorably oil imports from Iran to meet its considerable needs, while the Iranian side expressed its readiness for cooperation in refining and jont investment for the construction of refineries. |
FBIS3-53623_1 | Khamene'i Addresses Islamic Guard Corps | rule in the Islamic Republic. Everything that has been done since Imam Husayn's uprising has been an introduction to today for you. All those scholars, thinkers, philosophers, and speakers; all those efforts and all the Crusader wars -- throughout it all, Islam was protected and conditions were prepared for today, so that a government be created that is based on divine and Koranic values. You, the Iranian nation, were fortunate to have the opportunity to be trusted, for the first time, with that responsibility. [passage omitted] This is not something that will end. Do not think that the Islamic Republic is going to be destroyed by the utterances of a few simple-minded wishful thinkers who say it is going to end today or tomorrow. No, sir. These foundations are not going be annihilated. [Crowd chants: "God is great;" "Khamene'i is the leader;" "Death to America;" "Death to Israel," and other slogans] You and I will of course come to an end. Individuals do not go on for ever. The best are those who guard themselves until death. And some even fail to do that. There are all types. Individuals are vulnerable to damage and destruction. However, the basics continue. This Islamic revolution, this Islamic revival has its roots in history, in 10 centuries of effort and struggle. It relies on Islam, and for this very reason today -- at a time when, more than ever, Zionist and arrogant propaganda has tried to portray an ugly image of the Islamic Republic, Iran, Iranian people, us, and everyone -- popular attraction toward Islam, in all parts of the Islamic world, is growing at a greater rate than five or 10 years ago. Look at Islamic countries. Look at Muslim minorities in non-Islamic countries. Look at the harsh measures taken by the arrogant powers against Muslims. There is a reason for such severity. If the Muslims were like a body at the hands of the mortician, there would be no severity. I wish to state that the element of loneliness in the contemporary movement has created a degree of similarity between us and the movement of Husayn Bin-'Ali. Do not fear the loneliness. Do not be scared, for Husayn Bin-'Ali and his companions -- for whom we mourn and weep, and whom we love more than our own children -- reached the heights of loneliness. The result was that Islam is alive today. |
FBIS3-53625_0 | Paper Criticizes Besharati Decision To Ban March | Language: Persian Article Type:BFN [Unattributed commentary: "In the Margin of the Interior Minister's Remarks in Majles"] [Text] The esteemed Interior Minister Mr. Besharati's answer to a question by Rasht Deputy Elyas Hazrati about why students of the Unity Consolidation Bureau [UCB] were not allowed to stage a rally against the United States on 2 November [on the anniversary of the occupation of the American Embassy in Tehran], is worthy of discussion since, as he himself stated, our Islamic revolution is a revolution against world blasphemy and oppression and its symbol-- the United States--in the world today. The need for a multifaceted struggle in all its dimensions against the United States was repeatedly pointed out by the founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeyni--may his soul be sanctified--and by Ayatollah Khamene'i, leader of the Islamic revolution. But neither of them said that this struggle should be carried out at a specific time and specific place. Basically speaking, our revolution is a popular revolution; and when the Muslim people of Iran and the revolutionary strata, especially the combatant students--despite their tastes and political platforms--want to work toward this objective [a popular revolution] within the framework of the recognized laws and regulations of the country, no obstacles should be raised for them. In his remarks, Mr. Besharati listed several reasons why the student rally was banned. But none of these reasons are justifiable, either from the legal or revolutionary aspects. 1. He said: "We disagreed with the rally that the UCB students had proposed because we are in favor of a show of unity by our nation, which can become a powerful phenomenon that can prevent and thwart any aggression or overt or covert intervention in this society and this unity. This was the main reason for our disagreement." First of all, the rally that was proposed by the students was not to take place parallel with the official march that had been planned, but two days before the official march. But where does it say that permission should be granted for an expression of aversion to the United States on a specific day, at a specific time, and in a specific way? Also, the UCB is a student organization that is allowed to operate on the basis of our Islamic country's laws; and rallies can be held under any circumstance, on any day, and in any form by requesting permission from the |
FBIS3-53684_0 | Vatican Firm on Inalienable Rights, Jerusalem | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Text] A PLO delegation that visited the Vatican during the last three days, has reached an agreement on the setting up of a joint committee to define the existing bilateral relations between the organization [PLO] and the Vatican, in an official document. The Vatican spokesman considered what has been achieved during the bilateral meetings between the organization and the Vatican as an important starting point that constitutes an initial step toward officially promoting the relations. The organization's delegation, led by brother Muhammad Zuhdi al-Nashashibi, member of the PLO Executive Committee, Nimr Hammad, Ibrahim al-Daqqaq, and Zuhdi al-Tarazi, had held talks over two days at the Vatican with a high-ranking Vatican delegation led by the Vatican's foreign minister [title as received], Jean-Louis Tauran, and with the participation of the deputy [foreign] minister and the head of the Middle East Department. The Vatican's official delegation said during the talks that the Vatican's policy was firm and has not changed regarding the Palestinian people's inalienable rights, the issue of Jerusalem, and the Palestinian people's right to regain it, and the Vatican's commitment to legal legitimacy on the basis of UN Resolution 181, stipulating the partition [of Palestine] and the establishment of two states [Palestine and Israel]. In another development, WAFA's [Palestinian news agency] correspondent in Rome has learnt that the Palestinian-Vatican joint committee will continue its meeting at a later time to draw up all the details in connection with bilateral relations. |
FBIS3-53693_0 | Al-Bashir Cites Reasons for U.S. `Hostility' | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Text] Lieutenant General 'Umar al-Bashir, president of the republic, has described the foreign interference in Sudan's internal affairs as an obstacle to the settlement of the country's problems through dialogue. He said that the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development is working for a peaceful settlement of [word indistinct] the south and other African areas. Lt. Gen. al-Bashir explained that the information campaign launched by the Western states against Sudan, which lacks substantiation and evidence, aims to distort the reputation of Sudan. In an interview in the magazine SOCIETY, he said that diplomats residing in Khartoum and some neutral personalities had confirmed that Sudan's record of human rights is better than that of the advanced states. Some envoys of human rights organizations also witnessed to the nonexistence of violations of human rights in Sudan. On American hostility toward Sudan, Lt. Gen. al-Bashir explained that the cause of disagreement between Sudan and the United States began after the existence of a sovereign independent leadership in Sudan. His Excellency added that the United States wants a government that can be controlled. It also sees Islam as a threat to its interests in the Middle East and the states neighboring the region. This is in addition to the effect on American foreign policy in the Middle East of the Zionist Israeli orientation that is biased against Islam. |
FBIS3-53699_0 | ICO Meeting on Bosnia-Herzegovina Concludes ICO Chief on Air Strikes, Troops in Bosnia | Language: French Article Type:BFN [Excerpt] The three Bosnian factions and the international mediators will meet in Geneva again today in order once more to discuss the peace plan which splits Bosnia into three territorial entities. Today, the foreign ministers of eight Muslim countries will be in Geneva to lend their support to the Bosnian Muslims. Yesterday, they were received by the UN Secretary General. The secretary general of the Islamic Conference Organization [Hamid al-Ghabid] spoke to our reporter Luc Lemmonier: [Begin al-Ghabid recording] It was a very positive, very encouraging meeting. Our contribution was designed to bring about progress in the negotiations. The secretary general, as you know, has great responsibilities regarding the recourse to NATO air strikes. We have asked the secretary general to stand by his responsibilities. Of course, he is ready to do so provided he is not blocked by certain countries. The Islamic Conference is willing to cooperate with the international community in the search for a just solution to this conflict; it is prepared to contribute politically, morally, and financially -- and militarily -- to this end. The Islamic countries have long been proposing the use of troops. We would wish to see the obstacles to this removed. [end recording] [passage omitted] |
FBIS3-53700_0 | ICO Meeting on Bosnia-Herzegovina Concludes Statement Issued on Bosnia-Herzegovina | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Geneva, Jan 18, SPA -- Foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Conference have called for a just settlement of the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Members of a ministerial contact committee, who concluded a meeting in Geneva yesterday issued a statement on behalf of the OIC, expressing their deep anxiety over the failure of the Security Council in shouldering its responsibilities toward the Bosnian problem and the council's failure to implement its resolutions in this connection. The ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Tunisia, Pakistan, Senegal and Iran have expressed the OIC states' readiness to take part in the peace talks between the conflicting parties in Bosnia-Herzegovina. They also regretted the diplomatic and military pressures being practiced against the Bosnian Government in order to accept the disintegration of the independent state of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The statement said the Islamic countries rejected the description of the conflict as "a civil war." The ministers urged the world community and the chairman of the international conference on the former Yugoslavia to implement the U.N. resolutions and the principles of the international law. They paid tributes to the Bosnian Government for its flexibility and constructive stands during the peace talks. The statement expressed OIC's deep sorrow over the continuation of aggression against the Bosnian people despite the current peace negotiations. It urged all conflicting parties in Bosnia- Herzegovina to implement the ceasefire and halt all offenses in order to create a conducive atmosphere for peace. "The success of the peace process requires respect for the independence and sovereignty of Bosnia and the return of the land usurped by the Serbs with the use of force against Bosnia-Herzegovina." The statement reiterated OIC's readiness to provide peace-keeping forces under the patronage of the U.N. and called on the NATO to carry out air strikes against Serb positions in Bosnia-Herzegovina. It also expressed the Islamic states' grave concern over the volatile situation in Croatia. The statement said the OIC calls upon the International Court of Justice to begin its work on the situation in Bosnia and to put before justice the war criminals. It appealed for maintaining the current boycott against Serbia and Montenegro until a final settlement is achieved. |
FBIS3-53702_0 | Arab League Chief Comments on Syrian-U.S. Summit | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Excerpt] Alexandria, 16 Jan (MENA)--Arab League Secretary General Dr. 'Ismat 'Abd-al-Majid has praised Egypt's leading contribution to a peaceful settlement in the Middle East and to Arab reconciliation and solidarity. Speaking to reporters in Alexandria last night, Dr. 'Abd-al-Majid affirmed that pan-Arabism has not and will not suffer from a setback as a result of ethnic or regional fanaticism. Arabs will continue to be Arabs from the ocean to the Gulf; they will not experience what other ethnic groups, such as those in former Yugoslavia and Mexico, suffered lately, he said. 'Abd-al-Majid described today's meeting between Syrian President Hafiz al-Asad and U.S. President Bill Clinton as a very important event. He expects that meeting to help reach a peaceful settlement and resolve problems between Israel and both Syria and Lebanon. He affirmed Arab League support for Syria and Lebanon and underlined the need for Israel to withdraw from the Golan and south Lebanon. Touching on Egyptian-Sudanese relations, the secretary general stressed the need to resolve the two countries' border dispute through dialogue. He said that Egypt is eager to have good relations with Sudan and to preserve Sudan's unity and avoid the separation of the south from the north. He remarked that the problem in southern Sudan requires solution to be reached through dialogue, while keeping foreign hands off the region. Commenting on the Lockerbie issue, 'Abd-al-Majid remarked that the legal aspects of the case are in Libya's favor, because it is not obliged to hand over its citizens for trial in another state with which it has no extradition agreement. Unfortunately, he said, the political aspect of the case is dominated by the UN Security Council's escalatory measures. The risk lies in a possible oil ban against Libya, he remarked. [passage omitted] |
FBIS3-53722_1 | `Document of Pledge and Accord' Outlined | to take the appropriate measures regarding this. Regarding the security and military aspect, the document affirms the need to remove all checkpoints inside and outside the cities, whether these checkpoints are affiliated with the Interior Ministry, Defense Ministry, or both ministries. The Interior Ministry will be responsible for defining the places in which security interests require security points, provided that it cooperates with the Defense Ministry to define the joint military and security checkpoints. The document also calls for general reconciliation among tribes to stop Yemeni bloodshed. In accordance with this reconciliation, no acts of revenge will be taken, and anyone who takes revenge will be considered an outlaw. The competent state organizations will take firm legal measures against these outlaws and will define the cases -- which would prompt revenge -- which took place before the date on which the declaration was issued. The military units -- which were stationed in the outskirts in some areas in the Governorates of Ta'izz, Lahij, Abyan, Shabwah, al-Bayda', and Ma'rib -- will be redeployed in areas agreed upon by a technical committee from the Armed Forces. No military patrols will be deployed in the cities, or along the roads. The police will be in charge of this in accordance with security requirements. An intelligence organ will be established in accordance with the law that will define its structure, tasks, and powers to safeguard national sovereignty. The document calls for discussing the methods to end the unofficial armed presence, including the distribution of weapons to citizens under any pretext. Any such act will be considered a crime. It calls for reorganizing the Ministry of Interior in a way that the various security units, including the central security forces, will be incorporated into it, so the ministry will have control over them. It calls for the withdrawal of the armed forces from the cities, and their redeployment during a period not exceeding two months in accordance with a consolidated central plan to reposition, merge, and reorganize them. It also calls for a commitment not to move any military units or troop or equipment reinforcements, to suspend the implementation of military exercises, and to confine the military police's role to that of keeping the security and promoting the discipline of military units. The military police will be prevented from carrying out any activity or patrols which conflict with the duties of the public security. Any |
FBIS3-53746_0 | Birri on Beirut-Damascus Summit, Geneva Summit | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Text] Chamber of Deputies Speaker Nabih Birri has revealed that an expanded Lebanese-Syrian summit meeting will be held at 1100 tomorrow. He said that the Geneva Summit has placed the key in the lock but we must not be hasty and think that the doors have been opened. Speaker Birri met today with Chairman of the Editors Association Milhim Karam and the Association Council members. He called for maintaining the principles that were established at the beginning of the present regime. These are: national solidarity, first and foremost; solidarity with fraternal Syria; and adherence to UN Security Council Resolution 425. He said that Syrian President Hafiz al-Asad has placed the ball in the Israeli court, but we must not be overly optimistic. He expressed the view that Israel will try to find a way to dodge the new U.S. position. After stressing the importance of internal solidarity, he maintained that the recent explosions and tension were done before the U.S.-Syrian summit to divert attention from the need to liberate the occupied border strip and to discuss ways to calm the situation. Regarding his holiness the pope's visit to Lebanon, Speaker Birri confirmed that this visit will take place and that all Lebanese will welcome his holiness the pope because it will benefit Lebanon and the Arabs. |
FBIS3-53777_0 | KEYHAN Criticizes Egypt's Overtures to Tehran Egypt's Representative in Kerman | Language: Persian Article Type:BFN [Text] The head of the office in charge of Egypt's interests in Iran declared Egypt's willingness to expand relations and industrial and agricultural cooperation with Iran. Dr. Faraj met the Kerman governor general on Sunday [2 January] and said that in view of the many common denominators between Iran and Egypt and past cultural ties, cordial relations between the two countries could foster bilateral cooperation in the industrial and agricultural fields. He expressed the hope that by forging ties with Iran, Egypt could further expand its relations with the Central Asian countries. He announced that Egyptian investors were willing to upgrade economic relations with Iran. Kerman Governor General Seyyed Hoseyn Mar'ashi elaborated on the potential resources of Kerman Province especially with regard to agricultural production in pistachios, dates, citrus fruits, and in the mineral industries. It is worth mentioning that in the past few years, the Egyptian Government has made extensive efforts to eliminate obstacles in the path of relations with Iran. The Egyptian regime's desire for relations with Iran stems from the fact that the Islamic Revolution of Iran has emerged as a model and a legend in the minds of Egypt's revolutionary youth. By establishing relations with Iran, the cradle of the Islamic Revolution, Egypt will strive to shatter this pattern and legend and to harm it. Of course, in conjunction with these efforts, the Egyptian Government continues to express its malice and hostility from time to time and to level accusations against Iran. The Egyptian Government also continues to instigate the regional governments of the Persian Gulf against the Islamic Republic of Iran by pursuing active diplomacy in this regard. |
FBIS3-53778_3 | KEYHAN Criticizes Egypt's Overtures to Tehran Commentary on Diplomatic Activity | comes to the minds of readers of this report is: What is the common factor between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the anti-Islamic Government of Egypt, that the head of its interests office was permitted to meet a governor general of a province far removed from the center? Is this not the same Egypt that has surpassed all the tyrants and pharaohs of history in its suppression of active Islamic movements and its killing of the oppressed Egyptian people? On the other hand, according to existing reports, the Cairo regime is the main base for promonarchical Iranians and the radio station of these elements affiliated with the former regime is located in Cairo and broadcasts programs from there at specific times. In addition, we wish to remind the head of the Egyptian interests office in Iran, for his information, that: First, he is quite well aware of our country's position with regard to his government and in view of the "complete severance of relations" between the two countries, such proposals stem from his political immaturity. Second, the phenomenon of the so-called "Islamic fundamentalism" in the Central Asian countries has not reached a level whereby it has to be suppressed with the help of "foreign intervention" and by utilizing Egypt's "valuable experience" in this regard! Therefore, it would be preferable if the Cairo government is advised to use its experience to surmount the problems of its own domestic situation which have stifled the very breath of its regime. This is because, according to existing information, President Husni Mubarak has been greatly perturbed by the cresting of the Islamic movement in recent months and the assassinations of those criminals whose hands are stained with the blood of the Egyptian nation. If he is looking for a scapegoat for a way out of this predicament, tell him "to look elsewhere." Third, if--in the past few months--the enrapturing whiffs of the zephyr which blows in Tehran have made you so delirious that you are voicing such crude proposals, we declare, for your information and for that of the government of Cairo, that nothing has changed and the former position prevails with the same intensity, especially since in the last few months efforts are being made to place the filthy mantle of Camp David onto the oppressed Palestinian nation and to find a way to prevent the defeat of the ill-omened Gaza- Jericho accord. |
FBIS3-53791_33 | Saddam Delivers Gulf War Anniversary Speech | Otherwise, the punishment of the criminals is an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. God is great. For all those concerned among the Arab rulers, we say: All that you have done against the people of Iraq is something that angers God, his prophet, the believers, all free Arabs, those who keep their pledges before God, and all those who work for the nation's glory, loftiness, and happiness, and for the sake of triumphing for the poor ones and for supporting the wronged people against the positions of injustice, corruption, and hunger. I also say that there is still some way out of this. I tell the wise believers: Will you do so? I have conveyed the message, and may God be my witness. O glorious Iraqi women; O zealous and glorious Iraqi men: You have endured a great deal. You are worthy of the honorable endurance you have experienced, and of the rewards of such endurance. But, you still have to demonstrate the endurance usually required of believers during the last 10 days of the blessed month of Ramadan. Of course, there are rewards for fasting during this period in Ramadan. Patience and fasting during this period further cleanses the mind while the body is relieved of additional burdens to obtain the satisfaction of the merciful and compassionate God. Afterward, people celebrate the great feast, and mark a great victory of the mind, as well as a great victory over enemies, God willing. May God answer our prayers, ease our burdens, strengthen our patience, and grant us great victory. May God protect our people, Army, and nation from adversity and mischief. May God grant us victory over the infidels. Amen. You are the cherisher and sustainer of the world. We beseech God to bestow his mercy on the souls of the martyrs who fell in the Mother of Battles and the al-Qadisiyah battle, and on all of our righteous martyrs, who fell to uphold honor, the national cause, and principles. We beseech God to bestow his mercy on the Arab nation's martyrs, who fell along the path of struggle, jihad, and fateful battles. Long live our glorious Arab nation. May its message remain eternal. Long live Palestine as a free Arab country. Long live Palestine. Long live Iraq. Long live Iraq. God is great. God is great. God is great. And may the lowly be |
FBIS3-53792_0 | ICO Meeting on Bosnia-Herzegovina Concludes Iran's Velayati Meets Bosnian President | Language: Persian Article Type:BFN [Text] The Islamic Conference Organization [ICO] Liaison Group session on Bosnia-Herzegovina concluded in Geneva with an 18-point statement. In it, the foreign ministers in the group expressed their opposition to the occupation of the territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina by means of force, aggression, ethnic cleansing, and genocide and called for the return of refugees, homeless, and POW's to their homes. In the statement, the ministers reiterated the willingness of some ICO member countries to provide peacekeeping forces under the aegis of the United Nations. Our colleague in Paris has sent us a report on the statement and the meetings of Foreign Minister Dr. Velayati: [Begin unidentified correspondent recording] In the statement, the Islamic countries again stressed their categorical and urgent call to the United Nations to lift the arms embargo against the Muslims of Bosnia-Herzegovina and to terminate the siege of Sarajevo. Dr. Velayati, who is in Geneva to participate in the session, met Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic on Monday [17 January] night. Izetbegovic described the peace proposals presented to the Muslims as unjust and criticized the international community's lack of support for ensuring the Bosnian Muslims' interests in these talks. He stated: The Serbs are perpetrating atrocities but are in a far better position than us. Dr. Velayati stressed that for most Western countries, the term peace has lost its meaning as noble and just and he appraised Izetbegovic of his talks with the UN secretary general. At the conclusion of the Liaison Group session, Dr. Velayati met Butrus-Ghali and again stressed that Iran is willing to dispatch 5,000-10,000 peacekeeping troops to Bosnia-Herzegovina. He accused the Security Council of inattention toward the genocide of Bosnian Muslims and a lack of definite action against the Serbs. [end recording] |
FBIS3-53825_0 | Paper Accuses U.S. of Antifundamentalist Plans | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Report by Mahmud Bakri] [Text] Al-SHA'B has learned that the U.S. Administration has conveyed a memorandum to some regional Arab countries containing the details of a U.S. plan that aims to exterminate Islamic fundamentalists this year. According to the memorandum, the step will be coordinated between the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (C.I.A) [abbreviation in English] and the security services in these Arab countries. The memorandum stressed that the cycle of fundamentalist terrorism has started to threaten particular regimes. It called for increasing financial aid by 30 percent to confront terrorism in the region. The U.S. plan calls for the following: 1. Signing a security agreement between the Arab countries and the United States on confronting religious terrorism; 2. Letting U.S. intelligence teams stay in the Arab countries permanently to survey the activities of the terrorist fundamentalists; 3. Intensifying punishment of detained terrorists; 4. Cornering [muhasarat] those states that support and harbor terrorist fundamentalists politically and economically. This is a reference to Sudan and Iran; 5. Expressing U.S. readiness to earmark part of its economic and military aid, granted to particular countries in the region, for confronting fundamentalist terrorism; and 6. Taking joint Arab-U.S. steps to establish a joint security committee that will cooperate with the U.S. intelligence service to curb and wipe out terrorism. |
FBIS3-53902_0 | Paper Accuses U.S. of Antifundamentalist Plans | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Report by Mahmud Bakri] [Text] Al-SHA'B has learned that the U.S. Administration has conveyed a memorandum to some regional Arab countries containing the details of a U.S. plan that aims to exterminate Islamic fundamentalists this year. According to the memorandum, the step will be coordinated between the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (C.I.A) [abbreviation in English] and the security services in these Arab countries. The memorandum stressed that the cycle of fundamentalist terrorism has started to threaten particular regimes. It called for increasing financial aid by 30 percent to confront terrorism in the region. The U.S. plan calls for the following: 1. Signing a security agreement between the Arab countries and the United States on confronting religious terrorism; 2. Letting U.S. intelligence teams stay in the Arab countries permanently to survey the activities of the terrorist fundamentalists; 3. Intensifying punishment of detained terrorists; 4. Cornering [muhasarat] those states that support and harbor terrorist fundamentalists politically and economically. This is a reference to Sudan and Iran; 5. Expressing U.S. readiness to earmark part of its economic and military aid, granted to particular countries in the region, for confronting fundamentalist terrorism; and 6. Taking joint Arab-U.S. steps to establish a joint security committee that will cooperate with the U.S. intelligence service to curb and wipe out terrorism. |
FBIS3-53936_1 | Consequences of Communist-Islamic Victory Viewed | now it was Pakistan, supported by private Saudi networks, which had tried to impose its favorite in Kabul and we condemned it for that. But Pakistani policy has now changed; similarly, the Saudi Government has made a clear break with the extremists. Unfortunately, these positive gestures did not mark the end of foreign interference: Iran openly supports General Dostam, former head of the Communist militia, and Golboddin Hekmatyar, head of Hezb-e Eslami [Islamic Party of Afghanistan], who have been shelling Kabul for 18 months, and Babrak Karmal who was placed in power by the 1979 Soviet invasion. Why? But why are the Iranians and the former Communists interested in Afghanistan? Do they want to turn it into a base for action against the moderate Muslim countries and Western interests in the world? The armed extremists of the FIS [Islamic Salvation Front], who are perpetrating one outrage after another in Algeria, were trained in Hekmatyar's camps; it is from these same camps that the armed groups now active in Azerbaijan come. It was immediately after President Rabbani's visit to Egypt that the decision to attempt a coup d'etat against him was made. The president was launching a rapprochement with the moderate Muslim countries and trying to build a stable, neutral, and moderate Afghanistan. After 15 years of jihad against the Communists, we do not need to prove our Muslim loyalty and we think that dialogue can be established between the Muslim world and the West: We are being made to pay for it. Today, the defense forces under the command of Ahmad Shah Masud are the last bastion of peace in a tolerant Afghanistan. Many commanders from different ethnic groups have mobilized their troops to defend the state. So far the Wahdat Shi'ites have refused to bow to Iran's orders urging them to join the conflict. A victory by the Communist-Islamic coalition would make Afghanistan an inviolable base for world terrorism, because who would envisage action against Kabul? That would enable Iran to pursue its policy of destabilization using others as intermediaries. The United States, which supported Hekmatyar until the last minute, is now losing interest in Afghanistan. But the specter of the Cold War is still there with its procession of dead and injured, and its destruction amid the snow and cold. We urge the European countries to condemn the attempted coup d'etat in Kabul before it is too late. |
FBIS3-53953_2 | Rafsanjani, IRIB Head View Media Role, Prospects | important and basic projects in the country, including the construction of the biggest dams, power generators, refineries, silos, huge oil and gas platforms, and bridges, the development of the communication industries and transportation, the provision of gas to towns and villages, the manufacturing of petrochemical products, the provision of raw materials for many domestic industries, the discovery and exploitation of mines, and hundreds of other development projects have been implemented by our own committed experts and capable local human resources. He stressed that the mass media, including the Voice and Vision, have a major role in reporting these activities to society and should make greater efforts in this field. The president referred to the particularly distinguished status of the Islamic revolution in the world, and said: Historical experiences have proved that safeguarding the revolution is much more difficult than the achievement of its initial triumph. In Iran the movement of the masses around the axis of the leadership of the late imam, and the special virtues of our people, not only made victory in military and political wars possible, but also put the country on the right economic course toward comprehensive growth and development. The president added: Constructive moves by the government in economic spheres and success in making up for earlier underdevelopment and in repairing the damage caused by the imposed war [with Iraq], constitute issues which have forced the enemies to revise their attitudes and viewpoints towards the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to a report by a Central News Unit correspondent, at the beginning of this meeting Mohammad Hashemi, the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting organization [IRIB] presented a report and announced: At present, in addition to broadcasting 40 hours per day of domestic and foreign political, cultural, economic, and scientific news, the IRIB has an external service which broadcasts across the globe in 19 different languages. The IRIB head said: Due to possession of an expert workforce with an interest in the Islamic system, the IRIB is at present in a very good condition, in that it now plays an active role in the global information system arena. He then referred to the operation of the third television network and the radio news station, as well as new efforts underway to make IRIB programs more varied. He added: With our current active workforce, we are also ready to establish a television news network. |
FBIS3-53992_8 | Saddam Addresses Athens Conference Team | source, whether a Frenchman was killed, an Iraqi was martyred, or an American was killed. They all were killed because of this war. False information contributed to making the war decision. False information was disseminated in America and the U.S. President and his aides were aware of it. They learned about the story of a young girl, who was the daughter of a Kuwaiti official, who was introduced to a film director in accordance with a special scenario, and who acted falsely when she cried on television. She told a story in which she said that she saw Iraqi soldiers taking incubators from Kuwaiti hospitals to take them to Baghdad. This story was later exposed and it became clear that the whole thing was fabricated. However, what happened to those who fabricated this story? This story was responsible for shedding the blood of many people. It played a role in making the American public accept the war idea. Thus, U.S. public opinion was deceived, and as a result of this deception, it gave in to the American rulers' premeditated intentions. So, as peoples, wherever we find an official in charge who understands the peoples' principles and has faith in human relations, we must work hard to reach a sound level of human relations and of relations among peoples and nations. The prophet says that a Muslim cannot commit adultery. Nor can a Muslim steal or lie. A Muslim cannot lie. So, when a Muslim ruler lies then he has lost every legitimate right to be a ruler. And you know that one of the Ten Commandments is: "Thou shalt not lie." I do not want to take much of your time. Although we know that this is an uncommon opportunity, you are friends and guests in Iraq, and we should not bore you and or take advantage of your presence as guests here to explain all our problems to you. The work you are undertaking is considered great by almighty God and the people of the world, because you are truly democratic and because you want others to enjoy what you yourselves are enjoying. Meanwhile, the others -- those who speak about democracy and human rights -- kill and slaughter people and persist in killing and starving them to death. If we wish, we could become friends with this type of people overnight. But friendship for those rulers who mobilized |
FBIS3-54044_0 | Pro-Baghdad Kurdish Party Assails `Conspiracy' | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Text] The [pro-Iraq] Kurdistan Revolutionary Party [KRP] has hailed with deep pride and appreciation leader President Saddam Husayn and his wise and brave leadership of our great Iraqi people. In a statement issued at the end of its Central Committee meeting, the KRP reiterated that it would place all its energy, its masses, and its friends at leader President Saddam Husayn's disposal in defense of the people and the homeland. In its final statement, the KRP Central Committee denounced the imperialist-Zionist conspiracy against Iraq, and urged the international community to shoulder its full legal, human, and moral responsibility to lift, immediately and unconditionally, the blockade imposed on the Iraqi people. The Central Committee condemned the criminal, terrorist, and destructive plan of the foreigner's agents, led by Jalal Talabani and Mas'ud Barzani in Kurdistan, stressing support for the Kurdish masses' perpetual struggle and their heroic daily confrontation of the agents of the foreigners. The KRP also stressed its determination to defend Kurdish national rights against slogan traders and brokers of international politics, who have turned the Kurdish cause into a commodity for bargaining and cheap blackmail in order to achieve their evil intentions. It also pledged to defend the homeland and safeguard the achievements and gains, which the 17-30 July revolution has given to the Kurdish people under the leadership of leader President Saddam Husayn, foremost of which is the Autonomous Region law. The Central Committee emphasized the KRP's solidarity with the Palestinian Arab people to enable them to determine their fate and it denounced the American and the Zionist role in liquidating the Palestine question. It condemned the foreigners' occupation of Somalia, as well as the Egyptian regime's criminal positions against the Egyptian militant popular forces, and stressed the KRP's solidarity with the Yemeni people. It also said in its final statement that the Arab nation has no choice but unity and economic integration to confront all foreign challenges. The KRP then warned the international community in general and the Arab nation in particular of the serious role U.S. imperialism is playing to control the world economy, and appealed to the international community to work to end the imperialist hegemony over the international organization. |
FBIS3-54046_0 | Weekly: West's `Meddling' in North Threatens Security | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Tehran, Jan. 23, IRNA -- The meddling of the West in northern Iraq is threatening the security and integrity of Iraq and its neighbors, commented KAYHAN HAVAI. In its latest issue, the bilingual weekly referred to the crimes committed by Jalal Talebani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) against members of the Islamic movement in northern Iraq. According to the weekly, the PUK "attacks were seen as an attempt by Talebani, under the aegis of the U.S. and its allies, to squeeze groups who have no sympathy towards his pro-Western approach." Noting that the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) has remained neutral in the conflict, it said there remains no doubt "about the meddling by U.S., Britain and France whose troops are serving their national interests in Iraq's northern no-fly zone." It referred to Talebani's Washington visit in 1992 and his talks about establishing an opposition government in the northern no-fly zone. Stressing that Washington's policy is to get rid of Kurdish groups, it said "the West makes use of Kurds as a leverage to put pressure on Saddam Husayn's government and influence developments in Iraq. "To any analyst there is an important question unanswered. If there are troops to protect Kurds from attacks by Saddam's army in the northern no-fly zone for humanitarian reasons, why are there no troops to protect Shiite Muslims in marshlands in southern Iraq for the same reason?" It said that Washington considers Muslims as troublesome and dangerous for America's interests and perhaps for this reason the anti-Iraq alliance abandoned the idea to topple Saddam's regime. The weekly concluded that there is no accurate evidence to prove that the West supports the establishment of an independent state for Kurds but that their meddling in northern Iraq is threatening the regional security and integrity. |
FBIS3-54071_3 | Culture Minister Discusses Government Crisis | north. How true is this report and why was it published? [Al-Kuhali] First of all this report is absolutely untrue. The YSP is aware of what war means, what it means to have a warplane bomb military positions. For a plane to mount combat missions means that war is actually going on. This is not a joke and therefore, the report is baseless and fabricated. As to why this lie was disseminated, I have no idea. You can ask those who published it. [Al-Qallab] It was decided to hold the reconciliation meeting between the president and his deputy in Hadramawt between 25 and 30 January. Do you think that this meeting will take place in Hadramawt and within this timeframe? [Al-Kuhali] As a member of the committee, I do not want to say anything in this regard before the committee meets and discusses this issue in detail and see what other options we have. [Al-Qallab] You have said that this document may be for the future generations, what are the threats facing that agreement and its basic elements? [Al-Kuhali] The document may not please certain parties and may pose a threat to the positions of certain centers of power. But I think the most important issues are the local government, removing military forces from cities, and arresting the "terrorists." In all cases, let us wait. I think that, in the short term, some of those who feel they are the stronger party will seek to abort this document. As for the longer term, I believe that the Yemeni people will be the stronger party and will impose their will on everybody and implement the document sooner or later. We have to start implementing what can be implemented now, and at the same time work on implementing this document in the future, because it concerns the interest of all people and because it is the document of all Yemeni political parties and forces, and not the document of the YSP or the General People's Congress. It does not mark the victory or the defeat of any party. It marks a triumph for the homeland and a genuine buttress for the state of unity. [Al-Qallab] As a member of the follow-up committee, a government minister, and a YSP leader, aren't you afraid that a major security or military emergency will obstruct that agreement? [Al-Kuhali] In fact such a concern exists, and I |
FBIS3-54087_3 | Culture Minister Discusses Government Crisis | north. How true is this report and why was it published? [Al-Kuhali] First of all this report is absolutely untrue. The YSP is aware of what war means, what it means to have a warplane bomb military positions. For a plane to mount combat missions means that war is actually going on. This is not a joke and therefore, the report is baseless and fabricated. As to why this lie was disseminated, I have no idea. You can ask those who published it. [Al-Qallab] It was decided to hold the reconciliation meeting between the president and his deputy in Hadramawt between 25 and 30 January. Do you think that this meeting will take place in Hadramawt and within this timeframe? [Al-Kuhali] As a member of the committee, I do not want to say anything in this regard before the committee meets and discusses this issue in detail and see what other options we have. [Al-Qallab] You have said that this document may be for the future generations, what are the threats facing that agreement and its basic elements? [Al-Kuhali] The document may not please certain parties and may pose a threat to the positions of certain centers of power. But I think the most important issues are the local government, removing military forces from cities, and arresting the "terrorists." In all cases, let us wait. I think that, in the short term, some of those who feel they are the stronger party will seek to abort this document. As for the longer term, I believe that the Yemeni people will be the stronger party and will impose their will on everybody and implement the document sooner or later. We have to start implementing what can be implemented now, and at the same time work on implementing this document in the future, because it concerns the interest of all people and because it is the document of all Yemeni political parties and forces, and not the document of the YSP or the General People's Congress. It does not mark the victory or the defeat of any party. It marks a triumph for the homeland and a genuine buttress for the state of unity. [Al-Qallab] As a member of the follow-up committee, a government minister, and a YSP leader, aren't you afraid that a major security or military emergency will obstruct that agreement? [Al-Kuhali] In fact such a concern exists, and I |
FBIS3-54093_0 | Pro-Baghdad Kurdish Party Assails `Conspiracy' | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Text] The [pro-Iraq] Kurdistan Revolutionary Party [KRP] has hailed with deep pride and appreciation leader President Saddam Husayn and his wise and brave leadership of our great Iraqi people. In a statement issued at the end of its Central Committee meeting, the KRP reiterated that it would place all its energy, its masses, and its friends at leader President Saddam Husayn's disposal in defense of the people and the homeland. In its final statement, the KRP Central Committee denounced the imperialist-Zionist conspiracy against Iraq, and urged the international community to shoulder its full legal, human, and moral responsibility to lift, immediately and unconditionally, the blockade imposed on the Iraqi people. The Central Committee condemned the criminal, terrorist, and destructive plan of the foreigner's agents, led by Jalal Talabani and Mas'ud Barzani in Kurdistan, stressing support for the Kurdish masses' perpetual struggle and their heroic daily confrontation of the agents of the foreigners. The KRP also stressed its determination to defend Kurdish national rights against slogan traders and brokers of international politics, who have turned the Kurdish cause into a commodity for bargaining and cheap blackmail in order to achieve their evil intentions. It also pledged to defend the homeland and safeguard the achievements and gains, which the 17-30 July revolution has given to the Kurdish people under the leadership of leader President Saddam Husayn, foremost of which is the Autonomous Region law. The Central Committee emphasized the KRP's solidarity with the Palestinian Arab people to enable them to determine their fate and it denounced the American and the Zionist role in liquidating the Palestine question. It condemned the foreigners' occupation of Somalia, as well as the Egyptian regime's criminal positions against the Egyptian militant popular forces, and stressed the KRP's solidarity with the Yemeni people. It also said in its final statement that the Arab nation has no choice but unity and economic integration to confront all foreign challenges. The KRP then warned the international community in general and the Arab nation in particular of the serious role U.S. imperialism is playing to control the world economy, and appealed to the international community to work to end the imperialist hegemony over the international organization. |
FBIS3-54100_4 | Al-Qadhdhafi Addresses General People's Congress | sleep. It was a mistake. Reagan was crazy and insignificant. He did a great deal of harm to the American reputation in the world. He committed a horrible crime that made America speechless and very embarrassed. Let us turn a blind eye to Lockerbie even if the Libyans are behind it. Despite the fact that we did not do it, they are still after us. They are holding us responsible no matter what. [passage omitted] The UN Security Council asked Libya to cooperate with a French investigation and Libya expressed its readiness to cooperate with the French investigation and informed France. France refused the investigation out of solidarity and linked the UTA issue to the Lockerbie question. What is the link between UTA in Niger and Pan-Am at Lockerbie? France does not want a solution and took a stance which contradicts that of the UN Security Council. If there were a real UN Security Council which was not under Western hegemony, it would meet and pass a resolution against France, declare Libya not guilty, and drop this aspect from the resolutions and the issue, considering that Libya has fulfilled its commitments toward France and it is the latter that refused. After that the council would have to condemn France. [passage omitted] Yesterday, Dr. Swire, the chairman of the Association of the Lockerbie Airliner Victims, made a proposal and said that The Hague was an approriate place for the trial, and should the English want to hold this trial, let them move to The Hague. This is the chairman of the Lockerbie victims association who said this. They are telling the world: We, the U.S. and UK Governments, are under pressure from the Lockerbie victims association, at a time when the chairman of the Lockerbie victims association is saying before the world: I am not obstinately attached to a trial in Scotland, and even The Hague is an appropriate place. So, their argument is no longer valid. Should someone claim responsibility for Lockerbie now, they would not be able to recognize their mistake. Because they have already involved the Security Council against Libya, it would not be able to deal with an unidentified criminal. Let us suppose that one person was involved in the Pan-Am explosion over Lockerbie, they would obliterate all the facts, because this would put them in a very embarrassing position. How could the Security Council be involved |
FBIS3-54100_15 | Al-Qadhdhafi Addresses General People's Congress | the victim of the imperialist policy; they treat him as they did Kennedy. They may get rid of this poor man as they did Kennedy. If he does not go along with them they will get rid of him. The CIA, the American Central Intelligence Agency--I hope someone brave will come along one day and disband and destroy it. It is this that sabotaged the world; this notorious agency has brought the United States into disrepute and the whole world into disrepute. It has undermined the world. It is like woodworm and poison. It played havoc with governments and regimes and the economy, the dollar, and currencies and everything. It is behind the undermining of the entire world. One hopes that a brave man will come along and do something and deliver America and the American people and the world of this nightmare called CIA. It has spread its nets everywhere. You are aware of all this. Your sons might be among those caught in these nets. Everyone in this whole world is worried about his children lest they get caught in the CIA's nets. The CIA is like a deadly disease. The CIA forges money, the dollar, and the currencies of the whole world. It has long arms and it has devilish plots. [passage omitted] How can Clinton escape from it, the poor man? How can he free himself of it, no matter how good a man he may be or how much he is a man of peace? How can he get rid of this nightmare short of dissolving it? If he did this, he would be able to breathe easy. There are some imperialist quarters which are very, very dangerous and against freedom and peace. They are to be found in America and the West and are more powerful than Clinton, more powerful than his administration, and more powerful than anyone who loves peace. If Abraham Lincoln or George Washington came back to life they would be powerless unless they destroyed and dismantled these nightmares. [passage omitted] The same applies to America. If the National Security Council is not dismantled, and the White House which is like the Kremlin and the CIA which is like the KGB, no one, not the American people, will be liberated. What kind of freedom is this when they have these organizations? It is all lies if they say that have a |
FBIS3-54211_15 | Al-Qadhdhafi Delivers Speech in Banghazi | before yesterday, or those stray dogs. Your children, who have joined the Muslim Brotherhood, are also traitors; those of them, who have joined heretics, are also traitors. Those calamities which are called Atonement and Flight, the Call, al-Jihad, the Party of Liberation, and the Muslim Brotherhood -- did they exist during the era of the prophet or during the era of 'Umar? Did they exist when were fighting the Italians? If they did exist we did not know about them. Even of they had existed no one would have followed them because hundreds of denominations have always existed. [crowd chants] [passage omitted, including one-minute break in reception] The spies whom you have caught were found to be responsible for many rumors which we have been hearing on the street. This was done on the orders of U.S. intelligence; rumors which were hatched by U.S. intelligence, taught to them [the spies] who were then asked to spread them in the Libyan streets to undermine the Libyan people's morale, make the Libyan people doubt their revolution, their ability to revolt, and their capabilities, so that the Libyan people would weaken before America, Britain, and France, hand over their sons, accept to be ranked among the agents and those who have surrendered, and again surrender their oil and their land to the enemies. The rumors that we used to hear; they [the spies] have now admitted that they were spreading these rumors at the instigation of U.S. intelligence. They say: They told us to spread a rumor against so and so; distort this and distort that; do this and do that. This is known to us; it is not strange to us. When rumors emerge, we know that there is a black hand and foreign intelligence is behind them. However, we are not so stupid as to repeat them. What, repeat them and destroy our homes and dig our own graves? This is what would hurt and mean that we are stupid people. America wants us to repeat rumors. America has hatched and spread them in our streets. The hashish you hear about -- this is on the orders of the Western states. Israel runs narcotics farms. Hashish is planted in Palestine and directed against the Arab countries. The Israelis have said: If there is no war of missiles, let us have a hashish war. We cannot accept the existence of an Arab |
FBIS3-54218_1 | Official Criticizes Continued UN `Blockade' | the Security Council expressed strong protests. The Chinese ambassador called strongly for the lifting the blockade, while the ambassadors of Spain, Brazil, and Nigeria reiterated this stand. The French ambassador, as well as the British ambassador, noted the positive stands adopted by Iraq. Despite this, the Security Council issued a statement, without introducing any amendments, because of the U.S. ambassador's insistence on this. The U.S. ambassador expressed her government's concern over the security of Iraq's neighbors. We, in Iraq, realize that the blockade no longer has any justification, and our friends realize this, as well. Now, the camp of the enemies has begun to collapse and some of its members have become aware of the dangerous political game played by the managers of U.S. interests and their agents in the region, who are besieging Iraq at the expense of their people and at the expense of the interests of other nations and countries. We also are aware that the Americans want us to guarantee the security of the bandits, the rulers of the Kuwait governorate and Saudi Arabia. They want us to relinquish the rights of our people and nation in Palestine, imagining that the wisdom and necessity of implementing the Security Council resolutions -- despite their injustice -- will make Iraq accept whatever it is asked for. The Iraqis will not say more than what leader Saddam Husayn said on the third anniversary of the aggression: They will not turn wisdom into a prelude for weakness and despair. The Iraqis will not remain silent at the continuation of the blockade and the violation of Iraqi airspace. We will never abandon our people in northern Iraq. If we become certain -- despite our patience and the good offices exerted by our friends to end the abnormal situation resulting from the blockade and the violations of Iraqi sovereignty in the north and south -- we are capable of bringing the game back to the beginning. [sentence as published] We are the original people in this region and we are the ones who own everything on our land. We will not allow the agents, lowly people, or coveters to encroach on what we own, on our rights, and on our dignity. As the leader said, the punishment of the criminals will be an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. The Arabs say: "Beware of the patient man's rage." |
FBIS3-54219_1 | Editorial: Use Exchange Rates To Judge Government | one hand and the implementing tools on the other. The following facts explain this: When the new cabinet took office and made a number of decisions, the dollar price jumped from D68 to D80. Later, the dollar jumped to D150, dropped to D130, and continued to range between D130 and D135. Now it stands at D171. The real danger is that while in the past decisions reflected various aspects, they now reflect only the political aspect in isolation from other aspects because our departments commit mistakes in dealing with the blockade and the continuous pressure from abroad. Political decisions now are associated with economic facts that are not in harmony with them. They do not go hand in hand to realize their target. This prompts us to deal with this issue seriously, with extreme precision, and with an academic intelligence [dhaka' akadimi] coupled with the actual conditions. Why? The UN Security Council statements say: "Two months have elapsed since the Security Council issued its resolution on long-term monitoring of Iraq. Twelve months must pass in order to ascertain Iraq's goodwill and be able to discuss or lift the embargo." The statements of the French have become so ugly, exactly like their treatment of strangers in their land. Their statements are like their behavior and the behavior of their president, Mitterrand the supercilious, who is completely connected with the morals and behavior of those who ruled the Fourth Republic. Let us consider the following: In the past, when the dollar was exchanged for D30, we made our observations in a newspaper column. When it reached D60, we held a discussion, which did not last more than 15 minutes, to express observations and point out the negative aspects of the rising dollar prices. When the dollar price exceeded D100, we held a one and a half hour discussion to make some observations. If we want to discuss the current conditions, we will have to spend no less than two or three hours in order to propose solutions. This means that those who are responsible for implementing decisions do not benefit from these observations. Their work is confused. This is proved by the fact that after every meeting of the ministerial committee charged with the economic conditions, the dinar slumps further and further. Therefore, we suggest that each ministerial portfolio be dealt with in accordance with its achievements. And this is directly connected |
FBIS3-54226_1 | Disagreements Reportedly Cause Discord in Hizballah | Beirut -- It is no longer a secret that the death of the supreme Shiite authority Mohammad Reza Golpayegani in December has provoked a direct confrontation between Muhammad Husayn Fadlallah, the Shiite cleric, and the Qom seminary in Iran. This crisis has affected the relationship between Fadlallah and Lebanese Hizballah, which is supported by Iran. The wing opposed to Fadlallah has succeeded in causing organized "confusion" among its followers and supporters, both in the southern suburb and Beirut. It seems that they have for some time time been preparing a "bill of indictment" against Fadlallah, pending Tehran's "verdict." The indictment includes the following: -- His public assertion of the weakness of the historic Shiite story about the misdeed of Fatimah al-Zahra', daughter of the prophet (peace be upon him) and wife of 'Ali Bin-Abu-Talib, to Caliph 'Umar Bin-al-Khattab. -- His opposition to the possible takeover of the supreme authority position by 'Ali Khamene'i, guide of the Islamic revolution, when the current authority Mohammad 'Ali Araki dies. It is said that a video was sent to Tehran, showing Fadlallah attacking Khamene'i. The first accusation is considered a violation of the common Shiite belief, and the second has been exploited for political ends in order to place the accused in a direct confrontation with Khamene'i. [passage omitted] The other aspect of this dispute is reflected in the context of talk of the need for the "Shiite scene" in Lebanon to remain separate from the religious leadership in Tehran. Maybe what Ja'farite Mufti in Lebanon Shaykh 'Abd-al-Amir Qabalan said on 10 December 1993, namely that "the Islamic republic [of Iran] is responsible for safeguarding the authority's affairs," is part of the bid to tighten the noose around Fadlallah's movements in Lebanon. Fadlallah rejects this dark and tense picture of his relationship with Tehran. He attributes everything said about his differences with it to "people trying to fish in muddy water." He says that anyone who tries to raise such issues is trying to "foment sedition." He does not rule out that the "intelligence service" could be behind this. Actually both Fadlallah and the Iranian leadership are trying to reunite the scene. Fadlallah may admit the existence of an overt battle that is not in his favor with Iran. While others believe that Tehran cannot abandon its relationship with Fadlallah, who has a "distinctive" position at both the Islamic and Shiite levels. [passage omitted] |
FBIS3-54238_0 | IDF Reports Provide Casualty Data for 1993 | Article Type:BFN [Editorial Report] Three reports in Tel Aviv HA'ARETZ and one in Tel Aviv YEDI'OT AHARONOT in Hebrew on 20 January carry data presented by the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] on the number of incidents and casualties during military activity in 1993. A report from the Knesset by Gid'on Alon and Tzvi Zrahya on page A6 of HA'ARETZ cites a report presented yesterday to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee by Major General Yoram Ya'ir, head of the IDF Personnel Branch. According to the report, "45 IDF soldiers were killed in enemy activity last year; 26 of them were killed in the security zone in south Lebanon and 19 were killed in the territories of Judaea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip." The figures indicate a "significant rise in the number of IDF casualties from enemy activity; 24 soldiers were killed in 1992, and 11 in 1991." Gen. Ya'ir further reports that, compared to 37 fatalities due to accidents in 1992, 17 IDF soldiers were killed in accidents in 1993, according to the following breakdown: seven soldiers were killed in military traffic accidents, five in operational accidents, three in gun and ammunition accidents, one in a labor accident, and one other was electrocuted. "Gen. Ya'ir noted with satisfaction that not a single soldier was killed in training accidents last year (as compared to 10 fatalities in 1992)." The report cites Gen. Ya'ir as saying that "despite the efforts the IDF has made to prevent suicides, 38 soldiers committed suicide last year (31 standing Army, four career soldiers, and three reservists)." Ya'ir notes that in only two of the cases, a direct link was established between the suicide and the soldier's military service. Knesset correspondent Gabi Bron and military correspondent Arye Kiesel write on page 13 of YEDI'OT AHARONOT: "In 1993, there was a dramatic rise in reports of 'near casualty' in IDF accidents: 1,080, as compared to several hundred in 1992." The report further says that "in 1993, there was a dramatic drop in the number of aerial accidents in the IDF, when compared to the dozens of such accidents in the 1970's and 1980's. The damage caused by fatal aerial accidents last year stands at $14 million, as compared with $170 million in damages by the end of the 1970's." Citing data presented by "officers at the Central Command summing up last year's statistics," HA'ARETZ military correspondent Eytan |
FBIS3-54252_4 | Al-Qadhdhafi Addresses General People's Congress | sleep. It was a mistake. Reagan was crazy and insignificant. He did a great deal of harm to the American reputation in the world. He committed a horrible crime that made America speechless and very embarrassed. Let us turn a blind eye to Lockerbie even if the Libyans are behind it. Despite the fact that we did not do it, they are still after us. They are holding us responsible no matter what. [passage omitted] The UN Security Council asked Libya to cooperate with a French investigation and Libya expressed its readiness to cooperate with the French investigation and informed France. France refused the investigation out of solidarity and linked the UTA issue to the Lockerbie question. What is the link between UTA in Niger and Pan-Am at Lockerbie? France does not want a solution and took a stance which contradicts that of the UN Security Council. If there were a real UN Security Council which was not under Western hegemony, it would meet and pass a resolution against France, declare Libya not guilty, and drop this aspect from the resolutions and the issue, considering that Libya has fulfilled its commitments toward France and it is the latter that refused. After that the council would have to condemn France. [passage omitted] Yesterday, Dr. Swire, the chairman of the Association of the Lockerbie Airliner Victims, made a proposal and said that The Hague was an approriate place for the trial, and should the English want to hold this trial, let them move to The Hague. This is the chairman of the Lockerbie victims association who said this. They are telling the world: We, the U.S. and UK Governments, are under pressure from the Lockerbie victims association, at a time when the chairman of the Lockerbie victims association is saying before the world: I am not obstinately attached to a trial in Scotland, and even The Hague is an appropriate place. So, their argument is no longer valid. Should someone claim responsibility for Lockerbie now, they would not be able to recognize their mistake. Because they have already involved the Security Council against Libya, it would not be able to deal with an unidentified criminal. Let us suppose that one person was involved in the Pan-Am explosion over Lockerbie, they would obliterate all the facts, because this would put them in a very embarrassing position. How could the Security Council be involved |
FBIS3-54252_15 | Al-Qadhdhafi Addresses General People's Congress | the victim of the imperialist policy; they treat him as they did Kennedy. They may get rid of this poor man as they did Kennedy. If he does not go along with them they will get rid of him. The CIA, the American Central Intelligence Agency--I hope someone brave will come along one day and disband and destroy it. It is this that sabotaged the world; this notorious agency has brought the United States into disrepute and the whole world into disrepute. It has undermined the world. It is like woodworm and poison. It played havoc with governments and regimes and the economy, the dollar, and currencies and everything. It is behind the undermining of the entire world. One hopes that a brave man will come along and do something and deliver America and the American people and the world of this nightmare called CIA. It has spread its nets everywhere. You are aware of all this. Your sons might be among those caught in these nets. Everyone in this whole world is worried about his children lest they get caught in the CIA's nets. The CIA is like a deadly disease. The CIA forges money, the dollar, and the currencies of the whole world. It has long arms and it has devilish plots. [passage omitted] How can Clinton escape from it, the poor man? How can he free himself of it, no matter how good a man he may be or how much he is a man of peace? How can he get rid of this nightmare short of dissolving it? If he did this, he would be able to breathe easy. There are some imperialist quarters which are very, very dangerous and against freedom and peace. They are to be found in America and the West and are more powerful than Clinton, more powerful than his administration, and more powerful than anyone who loves peace. If Abraham Lincoln or George Washington came back to life they would be powerless unless they destroyed and dismantled these nightmares. [passage omitted] The same applies to America. If the National Security Council is not dismantled, and the White House which is like the Kremlin and the CIA which is like the KGB, no one, not the American people, will be liberated. What kind of freedom is this when they have these organizations? It is all lies if they say that have a |
FBIS3-54256_0 | Weekly: West's `Meddling' in North Threatens Security | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Tehran, Jan. 23, IRNA -- The meddling of the West in northern Iraq is threatening the security and integrity of Iraq and its neighbors, commented KAYHAN HAVAI. In its latest issue, the bilingual weekly referred to the crimes committed by Jalal Talebani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) against members of the Islamic movement in northern Iraq. According to the weekly, the PUK "attacks were seen as an attempt by Talebani, under the aegis of the U.S. and its allies, to squeeze groups who have no sympathy towards his pro-Western approach." Noting that the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) has remained neutral in the conflict, it said there remains no doubt "about the meddling by U.S., Britain and France whose troops are serving their national interests in Iraq's northern no-fly zone." It referred to Talebani's Washington visit in 1992 and his talks about establishing an opposition government in the northern no-fly zone. Stressing that Washington's policy is to get rid of Kurdish groups, it said "the West makes use of Kurds as a leverage to put pressure on Saddam Husayn's government and influence developments in Iraq. "To any analyst there is an important question unanswered. If there are troops to protect Kurds from attacks by Saddam's army in the northern no-fly zone for humanitarian reasons, why are there no troops to protect Shiite Muslims in marshlands in southern Iraq for the same reason?" It said that Washington considers Muslims as troublesome and dangerous for America's interests and perhaps for this reason the anti-Iraq alliance abandoned the idea to topple Saddam's regime. The weekly concluded that there is no accurate evidence to prove that the West supports the establishment of an independent state for Kurds but that their meddling in northern Iraq is threatening the regional security and integrity. |
FBIS3-54261_0 | Hekmatyar Group To Meet Peshawar-Based Groups | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Peshawar, Jan 22 -- A four-member delegation, representing the four-party alliance fighting against Rabbani forces in Kabul, which had arrived in Peshawar on Thursday [20 Jan], is expected to hold meetings with Afghan leaders based here on Sunday [23 Jan]. According to reliable sources, the delegation which had been sent by Afghan Prime Minister Golboddin Hekmatyar to explore avenues for finding a lasting solution to the Afghan imbroglio, could not meet Mowlawi Yunus Khales and Mowlawi Nabi Mohammad, chief of his own faction of Hezb-e Eslami [Islamic Party of Afghanistan] and Herakat-e Enqelab-e [Islamic Revolution Movement], respectively, on Friday [21 Jan] and Saturday [22 Jan] due to some unknown reasons. The delegation, which comprises Abdol Hadi Arghandwal of Hezb-e Eslami, Hashamatollah Mojaddedi, a representative of Prof Sebghatollah Mojaddedi's Afghan National Liberation Front, Dr Talib of Hezb-e Wahdat [Islamic Unity Party], and Dr Abdol Karim Zaray of militia warlord Rashid Dostam's Jonbesh-e Melli Eslami [National Movement], Afghanistan, also intends to meet President Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari and Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to convey to them a personal message from Hekmatyar and to inform them of the four-party coordination council's stand on the fighting in Kabul. Meanwhile, a spokesman for Hezb-e Eslami, Ustad Qaribur Rahman Saeed, said that reports appearing in section of the Press on Saturday about the destruction caused by bombing in Charasyab were exaggerated. Talking to DAWN by telephone, Saeed said that, in fact, the Rabbani forces were left with very limited air power after the recent bombings and there was no question of their jets hitting Charasyab with such severity as was reported. He denied that Hezb controlled radio station, Payam-e Azadi, and a TV booster were destroyed. "Only a rocket had fallen there which did not cause as much damage as was claimed by the enemy," he maintained. |
FBIS3-54278_0 | Head of Human Rights Association Arrested | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Nouakchott, Jan 20 (AFP) -- The head of the Mauritanian Association for Human Rights, which is unrecognised by the authorities, has been arrested for alleged incitement to agitation, an informed source said Friday [21 January]. Sheikh Sadibou Camara, who is also a member of the executive of the opposition Union for Democracy and Progress (UDP), is accused of saying that descendants of former slaves whose parents had lost trace of them had been sold. Under Mauritanian law any reference to a return to the country's traditional practice of slavery is considered prejudicial to national unity and banned. The UDP for its part said Camara's arrest Thursday followed contacts he had with the human rights organisation Agir Ensemble (Act Together) in condemning the conduct of the campaign for municipal elections on January 28. |
FBIS3-54279_0 | International Community Seeks Release | Language: French Article Type:BFN [Passages in italics recorded] [Text] With four days to go for the municipal elections in Mauritania the opposition is already crying wolf. It has denounced the attempts of massive fraud made by the Nouakchott government. In connection with these elections, Sheikh Sadibou Camara, influential leader of the opposition, was arrested on 20 January. Sadibou Camara is also the chairman of the Mauritanian Human Rights Association. For Camara's lawyer, Fatimata Mbaye, this arrest is connected with his fight against slavery in Mauritania: [Mbaye] Professor Camara is a well-known figure whose activities are no secret to anyone. He is not only a human rights activist, but also takes part in the UN efforts to fight slavery. He is also a member of the board of administration of a nongovernmental antislavery organization. It is therefore quite normal for Prof. Camara to stand against slavery. What is really interesting is that Prof. Camara's arrest occurred around the time that the Acting Together and the International Human Rights Federation joint delegation arrived in Mauritania -- a delegation which received authorization at the Mauritanian Embassy in Paris -- only four days after getting this authorization. Like every Mauritanian who is at all aware of the Mauritanian political atmosphere, we quite understand the reaction of the Mauritanian authorities inasmuch as Prof. Camara is an influential personality who plays quite an important role in his party, the Union for Democracy and Progress, by attracting a large number of activists. This is just another violent act which the authorities have perpetrated on our new democracy. Prof. Camara's arrest has, since this morning, raised a general outcry within the international community. Here is the reaction of the chairman of the International Human Rights Federation, Daniel Jacob: [Jacob] I have sent a telegram to the Mauritanian head of state asking him to release the professor immediately because he was arrested as a result of his human rights activities in Mauritania. We are contacting immediately the UN working group on this disappearance -- on this arbitrary detention -- and on this situation which we consider as particularly serious because, according to the information in our possession, the main accusation against Prof. Camara is first, he continued to head an association that did not have the required authorization and second, and above all, he gave information to the investigation mission of the international federation which was in Mauritania last |
FBIS3-54291_4 | Prime Minister Al-'Attas: Accord `Last Chance' | faces immediately following unity. They carried out several actions harming security and targeting Yemeni national figures, particularly Yemeni Socialist Party [YSP] leaders and cadres and some leaders of the General People's Congress [GPC], and figures from other parties. In addition to this, these forces targeted oil companies, and what happened the day before yesterday is part of this ongoing series. [Al-Qallab] Is the issue of the plane over, and have the hijackers given themselves up? [Al-'Attas] No. Efforts are still under way. It is known that two days before the hijacking of this plane, another plane was hijacked. This reminds us of the incident of the kidnapping of the U.S. diplomat. As soon as he was released, a German national was kidnapped. If you ask why these things occur, I will tell you it because the way we handle those who commit such deeds is wrong. For example, when a tribesman carries out a kidnapping, the authorities placate him instead of arresting him and taking him to court. This encourages others to do the same thing. This is one of the points on which I have not budged as I have repeatedly rejected placating kidnappers when they commit the crime of hijacking. [Al-Qallab] We notice that you talk about those who carry out such acts as if they were ghosts. You are not giving names. Who are those people behind the kidnappings, explosions, and assassinations? [Al-'Attas] We know the names and affiliations of those people, but we avoid talking about them because we are doing our best not to harm any party directly unless we are sure. You know that a person is innocent until proven guilty. The problem is that some people are trying to obstruct the activity of the judiciary, which should pass an honest, impartial judgment. Giving a more active role to the judiciary would spare us many problems, especially concerning the trading of accusations between the major powers. For example, a certain party could be accused of being behind a certain incident, but the court could prove its innocence, and thus sedition would be prevented. [Al-Qallab] Who is preventing the judiciary from playing its role? [Al-'Attas] Last August, I addressed a letter to the Presidential Council asking for either the arrest of those who are carrying out the explosions and assassinations -- who include Armed Forces officers -- or sacking the Interior Ministry command, because it |
FBIS3-54296_0 | Tehran-Turkmenistan Ties Viewed | Language: Azeri Article Type:BFN [Text] President Saparmurad Niyazov's visit to Tehran was aimed at following up on the agreements concluded between Iran and Turkmenistan when President Hashemi-Rafsanjani visited that republic in October 1993. During his stay, President Niyazov visited Esfahan, [name indistinct], Shiraz, and [name indistinct] island and became closely acquainted with Iran's economic opportunities and issues. Undoubtedly, the two countries' economic approach and resources can improve economic exchanges and cooperation between them. The signing of some 20 cooperation agreements between Iran and Turkmenistan is very important for their bilateral relations. With these agreements we will try to quickly remove the effects of the 70-year long separation. In view of this, the protocol the two countries signed on cooperation in the supply of oil and natural gas, the establishment of sea and air links, and exchanges of agricultural products, commodities, and visitors is an important document. The fact that Iran and Turkmenistan share a common border gives us an opportunity to intensify our economic and cultural interaction. The common historic and cultural ties between the two sides may further promote their relations. Meanwhile, Iran is a bridge between Turkmenistan and the other republics in Central Asia and with the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. Considering the efforts of several Western countries following the USSR's collapse to impose their economic policies on the republics of Central Asia, including Turkmenistan, the improvement of those republics' relations with the regional countries, particularly the Islamic Republic of Iran, will be in their interest, for it will result in closer economic relations in which expansionist objectives have no place. Turkmenistan has rich oil and natural gas resources. In view of that, it could have a special place among the republics in Central Asia. As for culture, Turkmenistan has been separated from its cultural roots as an Islamic country for more than 70 years but it has prepared the necessary conditions to return to its true nature and foundations. The establishment of a network of cultural relations and channels between Iran and Turkmenistan will be one of the first steps the two countries will take in the future. The protocol between the two countries also calls for exchanges of students and experts, the establishment of libraries, book fairs, and cultural contacts, all of which indicates that Tehran and Ashgabat are determined to strengthen their relations. It must be recalled that Turkmenistan became a member of |
FBIS3-54300_1 | ABRAR Sees Need for Tehran To Form Alliances | Japan has become active in Asia and has extended the hand of friendship to Korea, China, and other countries in East Asia. Why? Many reasons can be listed. While Japan is a member of the G-7, it is also thinking of joining other alliances with its neighbors so that it will not be alone. And even though it is a big economic and technological power, it nevertheless takes into consideration possible dangers in the future. There was a report in THE WASHINGTON POST, which is known to reflect the views of the White House, that: "America's war with Iran is imminent." Referring to remarks by a Pentagon official, the newspaper added: "For some time now, America has been making the necessary preparations for a possible war." The same Pentagon official also referred to America's stance on the expansion of Iran's influence in Muslim countries in Africa and Asia and said: "Iran's influence is so strong that Clinton had to apologize to the Muslims of the world for the few minutes that he met with Salman Rushdie." Their fear is because of the Islamic Republic's influence. If this influence is condensed and gathered into an alliance, will anyone in the world be able to entertain thoughts of a possible war? In forming the alliance, we should not be satisfied with slogans alone. There should be a clear and genuine political strategy. Thoughts and ideas can be put into action only when they conform to the realities of the world today. We can clearly see the sensitivity of the issue when we put the above news item next to the following news item: "The 20th Israeli-American session for military and political coordination in dealing with crises and in fighting terrorism opened in Jerusalem yesterday." Such sessions have been held every two years [as published] since the signing of the strategic agreement between Israel and America in 1983; and various issues such as the dispatching of American materiel, arms control in the Middle East, and stopping Iran's maneuvers are discussed and decisions are adopted. When such political-military processes are taken into consideration, the need to form an alliance in the Middle East becomes more and more obvious. We should look at the past, at the future, and at the coming centuries and adopt a policy that is effective and free from fanaticism, sloganeering, and contradiction. Solitude in the world today means gradual vulnerability. |
FBIS3-54334_0 | Musa Meets With Nile Basin Countries' Ministers | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN ["Exclusive" to AL-ITTIHAD] [Text] Cairo -- AL-ITTIHAD has learned that, during his meeting with the irrigation ministers of the Nile basin countries at the end of their technical meetings in the Egyptian capital, Egyptian Foreign Minister 'Amr Musa discussed the political aspect of the Nile water issue, particularly some basin countries' cooperation with Israel in water and irrigation projects. The foreign minister voiced special interest in what is taking place in Ethiopia and Kenya, where a considerable number of Israeli irrigation and dam experts are working. He proposed that Egypt provide the two countries with Egyptian experts. Musa told the ministers that, despite peace and reconciliation between Egypt and Israel, it is not in the basin countries' interest to permit external parties to tamper with the Nile waters. He explained that under no circumstances would Egypt tolerate any harm to its water resources because this is "a life or death issue" for Egypt. Therefore, he added, it is better for experts from Egyptian and the other Nile basin countries to cooperate to implement projects in these countries, as such a cooperation will ensure the interests of the countries in which projects are implemented, as well as those of Egypt in which the Nile river ends. Employing Israeli or European experts, he said, may open the door for foreign interests to play a destructive role in the water issue. The Egyptian foreign minister pointed out that his country had informed all parties involved, including Israel and the big powers, that the Nile waters issue is not a subject of any Middle East multilateral negotiations or any Middle East cooperation in the water area and that it concerns no one except the basin countries themselves. In another development, Egyptian Irrigation Minister Engineer 'Abd-al-Hadi Radi told AL-ITTIHAD that alleged reports from Khartoum, or other capitals, on Sudan requesting new negotiations on sharing the Nile water by Egypt and Sudan are absolutely unfounded. |
FBIS3-54335_3 | Al-Turaybi on U.S., Terrorist Accusations, FIS | was excited by the richness and precision of the French language, the culture, the history of the revolution, the relations between church and state, and the study of the different constitutions. I was not focused exclusively on my law studies. I went to the national library, I visited museums. During the university vacations, I went to Strasbourg, Toulouse, and Albi, to Germany, and Italy. I think that the world is like a book of which you have only read the first page until you have left your own country. [Darcourt] How did you enter politics? [Al-Turaybi] My first public engagement was to launch a campaign for the emancipation of Sudanese women and to give them the right to vote. I thought that they should play a full part in building a new Islamic society, well-anchored in its century. They also needed to be taken from the exclusive confinement to domestic tasks. It was a difficult enterprise, but those reforms succeeded. [Darcourt] You are the founder of the Arab-Islamic People's Conference, which holds its congress in Khartoum each year. Are you satisfied with its work? [Al-Turaybi] The scale of this meeting is a unique event in history. More than 500 delegates representing 56 countries from four continents -- Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America -- took part in it. Nobody was excluded. Among the delegates were around 20 leaders of the Sunni clergy; muftis from Bosnia, Greece, and Albania; the rector of the Grand Mosque in Paris; German imams; several mullahs; imams from the United States, and others -- Belgians, Spanish, French -- many women; and even 12 American bishops in the framework of the Church-Islam dialogue which we launched last year. This conference primarily aimed to mobilize the largest number of groups and prominent individuals to reconcile the Muslims divided among the four corners of the world and unite them in face of those who are relentlessly hostile to them. Consensus was reached on a firm will: To raise the idea of God in face of American society in which the supremacy of commercial materialism backed by an overwhelming military power leaves room for no faith in divine law. [Darcourt] During the conference, the United States was clearly named as "Islam's mortal enemy..." [Al-Turaybi] The arrogance of the United States which has become the only world superpower offends us. It subjects countries which refuse to bow to its diktats to |
FBIS3-54335_4 | Al-Turaybi on U.S., Terrorist Accusations, FIS | representing 56 countries from four continents -- Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America -- took part in it. Nobody was excluded. Among the delegates were around 20 leaders of the Sunni clergy; muftis from Bosnia, Greece, and Albania; the rector of the Grand Mosque in Paris; German imams; several mullahs; imams from the United States, and others -- Belgians, Spanish, French -- many women; and even 12 American bishops in the framework of the Church-Islam dialogue which we launched last year. This conference primarily aimed to mobilize the largest number of groups and prominent individuals to reconcile the Muslims divided among the four corners of the world and unite them in face of those who are relentlessly hostile to them. Consensus was reached on a firm will: To raise the idea of God in face of American society in which the supremacy of commercial materialism backed by an overwhelming military power leaves room for no faith in divine law. [Darcourt] During the conference, the United States was clearly named as "Islam's mortal enemy..." [Al-Turaybi] The arrogance of the United States which has become the only world superpower offends us. It subjects countries which refuse to bow to its diktats to a harsh economic blockade. This is true of Sudan, which is deprived of all development aid, and blacklisted for "violation of human rights and collaboration with terrorist organizations." [Darcourt] This is also true of Libya... [Al-Turaybi] The situation is different. Nobody is accusing us of having blown up airplanes, and we respect the embargo. Colonel al-Qadhdhafi has been in power for a quarter of a century. He started his national socialist revolution inspired by al-Nasir, then he launched his revolution of the Little Green Book. He apparently no longer believes in it. His current preoccupation is to unite the tribes. But the Americans are stepping up the pressure on his entourage and will continue to stifle Libya. This is only a remark, but al-Qadhdhafi is likely to end up in the next cell to General Noriega, the former dictator of Panama. [Darcourt] Sudan is regarded as one of the hubs of international terrorism... [Al-Turaybi] These accusations are unfounded. Sudan, devastated by a civil war which has been going on for 10 years and which is costing it $1 million per day, does not have the money or material resources to maintain guerrillas abroad in Egypt or Algeria. On the other |
FBIS3-54345_0 | Editorial: Iraq's Disarmament Linked With Peace | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Text] Cairo, 25 Jan (MENA)--AL-AHRAM writes that the United Nations' efforts to disarm Iraq, which are part of the preparations to implement long-term monitoring of Iraq's armament, again raise the issue of controlling nuclear, conventional, and nonconventional armaments in the Middle East. The paper recalls the Security Council resolutions that said disarming Iraq should be part of a process to rid the Middle East of all weapons of mass destruction and to establish a new security order in the region. While acknowledging that the effort to control armaments in the region is primarily linked with an Arab-Israeli settlement, the paper, in its editorial today, adds that the part of these resolutions that has been implemented involves Iraq alone. AL-AHRAM stresses that the Iraqi threat, which some parties used as an excuse in the past, no longer exists. It adds: Further, achieving progress in the efforts to control armaments will necessarily create a better climate for boosting the overall settlement process. |
FBIS3-54350_0 | Foreign Minister on Oil Pipeline Talks in Baghdad | Language: Turkish Article Type:BFN [Interview with Foreign Minister Muhammad Sa'id al-Sahhaf by Husnu Kaftan in Baghdad on 25 January -- recorded; in Arabic with superimposed translation into Turkish] [Text] [Kaftan] Mr. Minister, the talks in connection with the Karkuk-Yumurtalik oil pipeline were held between the Turkish and Iraqi foreign ministry officials in Ankara on 8-9 January. As you know, the UN resolutions still stand. How will this problem be resolved? [Al-Sahhaf] As you know, the under secretaries of the Turkish and Iraqi Foreign Ministries met in Ankara upon the invitation of the Turkish side. The oil pipeline issue was particularly discussed during the Ankara talks. The crude oil in the pipeline must be emptied out and the pipeline must be refilled to prevent rotting and to maintain it. We have been suggesting this to the Turkish side for a long time. We should not wait any longer. Turkey suffered great economic loss because the pipeline was closed down. The international economic embargo imposed on Iraq greatly affected Turkey as well. Turkey suffered great damages. Turkey can extract certain resolutions from the United Nations to compensate for its losses. |
FBIS3-54402_1 | Says Iraq To Supply Oil | officials and attended a meeting with the energy ministers of Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Turkey on linking the power grids of the five countries in a regional network. The agreement signed in Baghdad by Dr. 'Asfur and Mr. Jawad also renewed an arrangement under which Jordan will buy four million tonnes of crude and fuel oil from Iraq during the year 1994. This would roughly mean a daily supply of 50,000 barrels of crude oil and 25,000 barrels of fuel oil--Jordan's full needs of imported energy. According to industry sources, part of the oil will be supplied free of cost and the rest at market prices. The Iraqi oil supply to Jordan is exempt from the sweeping international sanctions imposed against Iraq following its August 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Dr. 'Asfur also discussed with the Iraqi officials possibilities of exchange of expertise in oil and mineral exploration in cooperation with Jordan's natural resources authority and conducting studies on the al-Rishah gas fields near the Jordanian-Iraqi border. The al-'Aqabah pipeline project appears to be a dusted-off version of a plan Jordan and Iraq abandoned in the mid-80s after Israel refused to provide an international undertaking not to attack the installations. The Israel refusal, which was demanded by both Jordan and Iraq, [as published] prompted the U.S. Eximbank to refuse a $550 million loan for the project, which at that time was estimated to cost $1 billion. The project was considered at the height of Iraqi oil exports through al-'Aqabah when part of the Iraqi oil exporting facilities were crippled during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. It envisaged laying a 1,000-kilometre long pipeline of 75- centimetre diameter from the H-3 pumping station in Iraqi territory near the border and down south through the desert to al-'Aqabah. The H-3 station was part of a pre-1948 pipeline that pumped Iraqi oil across Jordan to the Mediterranean port of Haifa in British Palestine. According to industry sources, the Iraqi part of the pipeline remains largely intact. Parts of the line in Jordanian territory near al-Mafraq have been destroyed. Another project under consideration in the late 80s was taping an Iraqi pipeline with the Saudi oil port of Yanbu at midway and building a link with al-'Aqabah. This project envisaged the linkage in Saudi territory near the border with Jordan in the south and would have substantially reduced the cost when compared with the earlier proposal. Officials |
FBIS3-54403_1 | Transport Minister To Hold Talks With Iraqis | the sanctions on Iraqi imports of food and medicine exempt from the sanctions, but the overall volume of such cargo has decreased gradually, with Iraqi government agencies as well as private sector merchants turning to Iranian, Lebanese and Turkish ports for their imports to avert the costly delays incurred while importing through al-'Aqabah. The delays and higher freight charges are caused as a result of what importers describe as overzealous enforcement of the sanctions by inspectors aboard warships patrolling the Red Sea. During his talks in Baghdad, Mr. Halasah, who is accompanied by the Jordanian board members of the IJLTC and senior company officials, is also expected to raise Jordan's concerns over further decline of Iraqi imports through al-'Aqabah following the reopening of Iraq's Gulf port of Umm Qasr in November, the officials said. While on a visit to Amman in late November, a senior Iraqi transport ministry official was reported to have assured Jordan that there was "a political decision" not to let the reopening of Umm Qasr affect Iraq's imports through al-'Aqabah. But a campaign launched in Baghdad to encourage private sector importers to use Umm Qasr through incentives such as free fuel and bunkering, and guidelines given to shippers to use small-size vessels suitable to the Gulf port's capabilities have fuelled Jordanian concrns. In one case, the Australian Wheat Board was requested to use two 25,000-tonne ships to carry 50,000 tonnes of wheat to Iraq instead of one 50,000-tonne vessel. Umm Qasr can only handle vessels up to a 25,000-tonne capacity. Jordanian shipping agents however, expect a minimum level of Iraq-bound cargo to pass through al-'Aqabah. "Umm Qasr is suitable for Iraqi imports from the Far East," said a shipping agent. "But volume of Iraqi purchase from the Far East is not much anyway. The bulk of Iraqi imports is from Europe, and this has to come through al-'Aqabah." Furthermore, said the agent, many shipowners are reluctant to send their vessels to Umm Qasr because most international insurance companies either refuse to extend coverage to the vessel or demand high premiums. Umm Qasr lies in an area where the threat of mines planted during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war as well as the war over Kuwait remains high. The Jordanian Shipping Agents Association (JSAA) has called on the government to cooperate with the shipping sector to devise a package of incentives to attract shipping lines to use al-'Aqabah. |
FBIS3-54439_16 | Rowhani Comments on Domestic, International Issues | esteemed leader's emphasis on relations with America shows that the system strongly rejects political relations with America. From the point of view of slogans, what political and ideological logic do you have to offer in justification of this policy? [Rowhani] Because of its historical, ideological, and religious roots, the issue of America is of special importance to our country. First of all, when we look at history we see that from its outset the Islamic revolution was a struggle against foreign, and specifically American, colonialism in tandem with a struggle against domestic colonialism. [passage omitted] Therefore, we see that the struggle against America from the very first years of this movement was the pivotal and major slogan. On the other hand, the Americans too played a major role in crushing the revolution. We see how at the peak of the revolution, the American General Huyser personally came to Iran in a bid to crush and to destroy the revolution. Of course, we knew all these things at that time, and the fact that the shah had plans engineered by the Americans and especially aimed at confronting the revolution and Islam has become clearer now. In his famous speech at the Feyziyeh School, which sparked off the 1342 [1963] movement and the 5 June 1963 incidents, his eminence the imam, may his soul be sanctified, told the shah: "Don't do whatever the Americans dictate to you. At least, think and see what they are dictating to you." Therefore, we see that this movement, which was a struggle against America from the very start, led to the victory of the revolution, after which the American Embassy's plots started. This was followed by the occupation of the nest of espionage and the revelation of documents for the world to see how from the very outset the Americans were working toward defeating the revolution and overthrowing the system. Now, too, wherever there is a plot against Iran, against the system of the Islamic Republic, against the revolution, and against the Islamic movement in the world--be it in Algeria, Egypt, or anywhere else where an Islamic movement is seen--we see how the Americans play the main role in suppressing it. Thus, the issue of the people's enmity with America is both a matter of history and revolution, and of slogans and religion. The Americans have always opposed Islamic thought and Islamic movement. This opposition and |
FBIS3-54439_17 | Rowhani Comments on Domestic, International Issues | Feyziyeh School, which sparked off the 1342 [1963] movement and the 5 June 1963 incidents, his eminence the imam, may his soul be sanctified, told the shah: "Don't do whatever the Americans dictate to you. At least, think and see what they are dictating to you." Therefore, we see that this movement, which was a struggle against America from the very start, led to the victory of the revolution, after which the American Embassy's plots started. This was followed by the occupation of the nest of espionage and the revelation of documents for the world to see how from the very outset the Americans were working toward defeating the revolution and overthrowing the system. Now, too, wherever there is a plot against Iran, against the system of the Islamic Republic, against the revolution, and against the Islamic movement in the world--be it in Algeria, Egypt, or anywhere else where an Islamic movement is seen--we see how the Americans play the main role in suppressing it. Thus, the issue of the people's enmity with America is both a matter of history and revolution, and of slogans and religion. The Americans have always opposed Islamic thought and Islamic movement. This opposition and confrontation continues today, too. The imam, may his soul be sanctified, very clearly specified the pivotal slogan of struggling against America. Of course, it is true that we did not sever our political relations with America and that it was the Americans who severed their relations with us. But the imam stated his satisfaction at this. What did we need these relations for? In other words, even though the Americans started everything, both the imam and the people welcomed it. Throughout this period, the Americans have not decreased their enmity even for one day. They have frozen our assets, but what we owed them, compared with our frozen assets, was minimal. Therefore, the Americans have resorted to various means to express their overt hostility toward us. And when they have entered a war against us with such hostile feelings, what reason is there for us to propound the issue of relations with America in such an atmosphere? Basically, it is not correct to propound this issue at all at this juncture in history. I think that the esteemed leader's remarks on 4 November this year [the anniversary of the occupation of the U.S. Embassy] were extremely sagacious. He clearly stated |
FBIS3-54460_7 | * Majles Investigates Activities of Voice and Vision Second Part of the Inquiry and Investigation Report of the Majles Concerning the Activities of the Voice and Vision Report on the Financial Situation of the Voice and Vision of the Islamic Republic of the Islamic Republic Balance of the Organization's Deposit Account With Others (With the Main Code of 126) Balance of the Account of Deposits of the Persons in the Organization (With the Main Code 213) Brief Statements of the Speaker of the Majles After the Reading of the Inquiry and Investigation | Islam and the revolution, 55 percent were indifferent to Islam and the revolution or were deviant. Among the programs related to Islam and the revolution, 95 percent were in the form of direct messages, that is, speeches, news, call for prayers, and recitation of the Koran and 5 percent in the form of documentaries and reports, and no programming in the form of films and serials. Among the indifferent or deviant programs in relation to the revolution, 1 percent were in the form of direct messages, 28 percent in studio and report forms, and 68 percent in the form of films and serials. In other words, 99 percent of the neutral and negative messages were presented in very artistic, cinematic, and studio methods, while not even one case of Islamic revolutionary messages was presented through cinematic methods. Among the serials and films unrelated to Islam and the revolution, 64 percent were foreign and 36 percent domestic. Unfortunately, even in the 36 percent domestic production, no supervision was implemented to see that they be in defense of Islam and the revolution. An examination of the seven years after the initial study, that is, during the week of 26/01/1370 to 01/02/1370 [15-21 Apr 1991], shows that 42 percent [of the programming] was related to Islam and the revolution and 58 percent was indifferent to or a deviation from Islam and the revolution. In other words, in quantity, a decrease of 3 percent in programs related to Islam and the revolution was revealed. Of course, among the programs related to Islam and the revolution, 20 percent were studio productions and reports and 13 percent films and serials, which indicates a relative improvement compared to the previous seven years. After seven years, neutral programs and those that deviate from Islam and the revolution have progressed in quantity and quality, which is very worrisome. On the one hand, in 1363 [21 March 1984-20 March 1985], Iranian films and serials comprised 14 percent of the total programs, whereas in 1370 [21 March 1991-20 March 1992], they decreased to 11.5 percent. On the other hand, foreign films and serials, which in 1363 comprised 24 percent of all the programs, increased to 38 percent in 1370. Apparently the Voice and Vision is gradually losing Islamic and revolutionary incentives and has become indifferent and neutral. C. Examination of Network 2 Programming An examination of Network 2 programming for the |
FBIS3-54460_25 | * Majles Investigates Activities of Voice and Vision Second Part of the Inquiry and Investigation Report of the Majles Concerning the Activities of the Voice and Vision Report on the Financial Situation of the Voice and Vision of the Islamic Republic of the Islamic Republic Balance of the Organization's Deposit Account With Others (With the Main Code of 126) Balance of the Account of Deposits of the Persons in the Organization (With the Main Code 213) Brief Statements of the Speaker of the Majles After the Reading of the Inquiry and Investigation | serials that can be eliminated with changes in the dialogues. For example, in the serial "The Secret Army," which was an attractive serial, in the last section, the character of the antidomination and antiforeign strugglers was questioned somehow and, on the other hand, the character of a criminal element in Nazi Germany was embellished. The leader of the rescue line trades all of his self-sacrifice for money and ownership of a restaurant... [sentence as published] Or in the serial "The Mountain Fighters," which is the story of a group who have suffered injustice at the hands of the cruel government and was appropriate to the antioppression policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the main subject of the film is trivialized as a result of the violence, killings, and murder and the excitement of the fighting, which had negative educational effects. Incidentally, the negative educational effects caused problems for the Islamic Republic, and in the riots of Arak in 1371 [21 March 1992-20 March 1993] a large number of unmotivated young people who had destroyed many government buildings and their equipment said in interrogations that they were influenced by the serial "The Mountain Fighters" and had enjoyed doing what they did. A basic criticism of the pictorial programs of the Voice and Vision is lack of attention to full veiling of women, lack of attention to the chador, and spreading the culture of the "manteau" and scarves of the immoral kind. If statistics of the serials of the Voice and Vision are prepared, it can be said practically no programs are devoted to veiled women with chadors. And if there are women with chadors, they lack authentic identity and positive, intelligent character. The women with chadors in the films and serials are portrayed negatively as nosey snitches, impolite and illiterate. In any case, such examples, whether intentional or unintentional, oppose the philosophy of the chador and promote improper veiling, the effects of which we see in the society. On the whole, it can be said that despite the cultural policies devised by the policy making institutions, in the Voice and Vision, in terms of reforming the society, in practice programs are injected into the society by the antennas of that organization that can be said to be serving cultural invasion in some way. In addition to the issue of veiling, the broadcast of popular music from the Voice and Vision |
FBIS3-54460_73 | * Majles Investigates Activities of Voice and Vision Second Part of the Inquiry and Investigation Report of the Majles Concerning the Activities of the Voice and Vision Report on the Financial Situation of the Voice and Vision of the Islamic Republic of the Islamic Republic Balance of the Organization's Deposit Account With Others (With the Main Code of 126) Balance of the Account of Deposits of the Persons in the Organization (With the Main Code 213) Brief Statements of the Speaker of the Majles After the Reading of the Inquiry and Investigation | nature of this payment and examining document No. 6565 of 1368, it can be seen that physicians under contract with the organization requested the management of the organization to participate in the annual conference in San Francisco in connection with infertility research and also requested that that woman, due to a long history of infertility and the opposition of the Medical Council, be sent to the United States. She was sent abroad, along with her husband, and they each received $3,500 for treatment. In examining the documents of expenditures deposited in Nos. 4820 and 4833 in 1369, it can be seen that the Ministry of Health has opposed sending the above to the United States and agreed to send them to Australia, provided they receive no government foreign currency and go there with personal funds, whereas the organization took steps to send them on official assignment for 50 days, with a per diem of $100. Because the Central Bank has paid only $70 of the per diem due to foreign currency restrictions (a total of $7,000) in accordance with its internal regulations, the organization has paid the difference between $70 and $100. In later investigations we found documents that indicate the sending of medical teams abroad, including to the United States, to participate in research seminars and courses. For example, Mr. J., the head of the Voice and Vision, along with nine other physicians, including Ms. F.K. (naturally not all of them specialize in female problems) and one engineer (considering that this was an engineer and not a physician, most likely he, is a relative of one of the doctors, because he went abroad several times) went to Australia for 57 days to take part in medical research in connection with infertility and an inability to get pregnant, whereas the head of the medical delegation and another person were in the United States during this time. These individuals have had no employment relationship with the Voice and Vision and are merely physicians under contract with the organization and are not involved in the organization for the development and progress of medical science to go on such assignments abroad. As a rule, in the Voice and Vision, there are many assignments abroad for particular individuals, which are not very much related to the duties and the mission of the organization and take place under various pretexts. Apparently, even as New Year |
FBIS3-54461_29 | * Voice, Vision Response to Majles Inquiry Response of the Basij of the Voice and Vision to the Report of the Majles Inquiry and Investigation Group 2. Verification of the Balance Sheet of the Organization of the Supervisory Council 5. Inspection and Auditing of the Activities of the Organization 6. Noncentralized System of the Financial Affairs of the Organization 8. Advertisement Debtors and Other Debtors to the Organization 10. Payment of Loans to Employees in the Voice and Vision Organization 15. Carrying Out Postponed Affairs and Payment for Additional Work | section, it adds: If we consider the total programs of Networks 1 and 2, of the 85 weekly programs of the two networks in 1363, 39.5 hours concerned Islam and the revolution and in 1370 [21 March 1991-20 March 1992], out of 92 hours of weekly programs of the two networks, 33.5 hours concerned the revolution and Islam and 58 hours were neutral and indifferent. Voice and Vision response: First, the Inquiry and Investigation Group has examined the programs of one week of one network during the New Year holidays and generalized them to all the programs of the Voice and Vision organization over a seven-year period. Second, in a few lines on the previous page, they had claimed that only 25 percent of the Voice and Vision programs are our own and 75 percent of all programs are Western and anti-Islamic culture. If we compare these figures of the Inquiry and Investigation Group, we realize the contradictions of the group, because if 39.5 hours out of 85 hours, that is about 45 percent of the programs even during the New Year holidays, concern Islam and the revolution, naturally, they were domestic programs. Third, which fair, impartial, and just group would find it logical to examine only the programs of one week and one part of an organization and generalize its findings to cover seven years, whereas they were supposed to examine the activities of 12 years, and apparently they have expressed their opinion concerning 12 years. If we convert this ratio to mathematical figures, the Inquiry and Investigation Group has examined 85 hours out of more than a million hours of programs, and incidentally, for a specific week, and then makes a judgment about a million hours of programming. Is this the meaning of impartiality and precision by the Inquiry and Investigation Group? And is this the meaning of the piety that is cited in the oath of the Majles? Fourth, in categorizing the programs, the Inquiry and Investigation Group mentions the programs to be unrelated to Islam and the revolution or neutral, indifferent and deviant. If we were to make the same categorization about other organizations, what percentage of their activities would conform to Islam and the revolution? For example, what percentage of the ratifications of the Majles are directly related to the revolution? Or what percentage of the school textbooks are directly related to the revolution and |
FBIS3-54461_99 | * Voice, Vision Response to Majles Inquiry Response of the Basij of the Voice and Vision to the Report of the Majles Inquiry and Investigation Group 2. Verification of the Balance Sheet of the Organization of the Supervisory Council 5. Inspection and Auditing of the Activities of the Organization 6. Noncentralized System of the Financial Affairs of the Organization 8. Advertisement Debtors and Other Debtors to the Organization 10. Payment of Loans to Employees in the Voice and Vision Organization 15. Carrying Out Postponed Affairs and Payment for Additional Work | been witnessed by everyone from the Vision. Second, Islamic cover is not only the chador. Islam has restrictions and limits regarding women's covering, which clearly all the religious jurists by interpreting the Koran have explained in the scholarly dissertations and other religious jurisprudent and Islamic sources. For the informed people it is clear that Islamic covering is not only the "chador"; any form of cover that provides religious covering for women on the basis of the standards of the sacred religious law is Islamic covering. 2) They say: "In the foreign unit of the Voice and Vision, weak management has caused individuals even from the embassies to operate the foreign unit, some of whom have even been spies." Here, too, as in many other instances, they have also lied about the foreign unit and the committed Muslim forces of other countries who serve the sacred regime of the Islamic Republic in this unit without any document or evidence. Unfortunately, due to considerations of the interests of the country and this group of colleagues, we cannot give any more explanation about them, and these dear ones are even "oppressed" in our response. God willing, under more suitable conditions we will be able to introduce them. 3) They have said that the manager of one of the units has made a case against four Hezbollah elements last year and presented it to the Violations Court. The crime of the Hezbollah elements was protesting the illegitimate relationship between several employees and one employee. Voice and Vision response: This issue too, like other cases, is a pure lie. No such record exists in the Violations Committee [as published], and we do not know how, if the Inquiry and Investigation Committee believes in Islamic morality, it can accuse several people of having "illegitimate relations" with one person without investigation and proof. Is the publication of such untrue instances not spreading of debauchery? Is it not a crime punishable from a judicial perspective? Should not the honorable officials of the Judicial Branch investigate such crimes immediately and punish the spreaders of debauchery? God willing, it will be so. 4) They write: "A person who, because of relations with deviant individuals, has been dismissed from the institution (it has not been stated which institution) and then arrested and has had conflicts with Hezbollah individuals is now the manager of the Voice and Vision of one of the |
FBIS3-54461_125 | * Voice, Vision Response to Majles Inquiry Response of the Basij of the Voice and Vision to the Report of the Majles Inquiry and Investigation Group 2. Verification of the Balance Sheet of the Organization of the Supervisory Council 5. Inspection and Auditing of the Activities of the Organization 6. Noncentralized System of the Financial Affairs of the Organization 8. Advertisement Debtors and Other Debtors to the Organization 10. Payment of Loans to Employees in the Voice and Vision Organization 15. Carrying Out Postponed Affairs and Payment for Additional Work | number of professors and claiming not to choose them, states "the educational deputy in a letter asks the director of the organization to eliminate selection from entering students which is agreed to by the director of the organization and protested by the Supreme Council for Selection." Voice and Vision response: These instances are also untrue, because in his correspondence he requested selection to respond within a certain period (three months), whether the applicants are admitted or not, and it was agreed to by the director of the organization. And the reason was that the situation of those admitted must be clarified for registration. The group in the continuation makes unjust accusations against one of the most modest professors who wears a chador, which we are embarrassed to repeat here. The statements of the group in this case, too, are pure lies, and we do not know why this group that in one place defends women with chadors makes unjust accusations here against one of the most modest of women in the organization. We do not know how they want to answer before justice for such contradictions and accusations. God willing, God will protect us from the cursed Satan, Amen, oh Lord of Two Worlds. In the conclusion of the report, the Inquiry and Investigation Group quotes the students of the college concerning the low amount of student and welfare resources. Voice and Vision response: We admit that there are insufficient resources for the students, but the students of the Voice and Vision College are no worse off in terms of welfare and educational aid than those in other universities and higher education centers. We hope that with the increase in resources we will be able to provide the students with more resources, God willing. A Few Points By expressing its disappointment in the content of the inquiry and investigation report, which is full of accusations and slander, the Voice and Vision organization did not have any choice but to respond, because in this connection it may cause anxiety for the public and lack of trust and confidence in the regime and this public university that is the powerful protector of the revolution and Islam. Unfortunately, the inquiry and investigation report was broadcast from the Voice of the Islamic Republic on the threshold of the national and epic day of 13 Aban [4 November], the day of the struggle against the |
FBIS3-54464_6 | * Leadership Stops Voice, Vision Response to Majles | America. He said: Unfortunately the episode of the Voice and Vision organization's answer to the Majles inquiry and investigation report overshadowed the peerless remarks by the exalted leader on 13 Aban, which were the heart's desire of the Iranian nation, and little has been said about it. He said: When the exalted leader takes a position against America and cries out, one feels that it is His Holiness the Imam (peace be upon him) roaring against America. He added: Some people thought that the occupation of America's spy den was done blindly. The exalted leader mentions what happened before the revolution and says that the occupation of America's spy den was a reaction to America's crimes! Hojjat ol-Eslam val-Moslemin Nateq-Nuri noted: Our contemporary generation remembers America's crimes. After the triumph of the Islamic revolution some of them remained in the American Embassy and continued with their plots. They made contact with the opponents of the revolution and encouraged agents from the former regime to sabotage the revolution and the nation. These actions by America caused the spy nest to be occupied. He added: In his remarks the exalted leader says that some people look at the situation superficially, and that weak people with a superficial view should not be allowed to discuss the occupation of the spy den. Elsewhere he says: Revolutions have usually eliminated these weak ones. Powerful countries and nations have also usually eliminated these weak ones who have gained power illegitimately. The Majles speaker noted: The exalted leader said that preserving relations with America is damaging to nations and countries. In nations where there have been revolutions and they did not cut their ties with America completely, the Americans deprived them of heart and even of their revolutionary leaders. First they frightened the nations and their revolutionary leaders, and then they removed them from public life. In conclusion he said: I say to the exalted leader that it is an honor for the Majles to obey and follow you, and we never forget for a moment to follow your excellency and your positions. We vow to follow you on the path of battle with world imperialism, and death to America will always be our slogan. The same report states that Hasan Aminlu, deputy from Shabestar and Dari Najafabadi and Mohammad Reza Bahonar, deputies from Tehran, gave pre-agenda speeches at today's Majles session in which they discussed the |
FBIS3-54466_3 | * SALAM Comments on Friend, Foe of Voice, Vision | the fact that he was the owner of the revolution and the founder of the sacred government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, was the most knowledgeable theologian and the clear source of emulation, on matters of religious jurisprudence in the Voice and Vision organization such as the way women should appear on television or on the issue of music, we have acted in accordance with the Imam's theological views. In cases like this a council cannot judge according to its own views. Rather it must declare its view in accordance with the fatwas and the views of the late Imam concerning the aforementioned issues. In conclusion he announced that to avoid any kind of rumor about the organization not cooperating, which might be circulated by persons of ill will, or to allay any doubt, all the information and documents needed by the council should be requested in writing and the Voice and Vision organization will send you all the information in writing. The answer from the Voice and Vision organization says: In the report that the Majles Inquiry and Investigation Group broadcast from the Majles on 11 and 12 Aban [2 and 3 November], they did not mention any of the documents sent except in one or two cases. Rather, those making the report were completely unfair and in several parts of the report they made the declaration "despite the organization's failure to cooperate" or "despite the organization's failure to cooperate...." The answer also adds: While reading the report Mr. Parvaresh announced that despite the organization's failure to cooperate, the Inquiry and Investigation Group obtained its information through sensitive and nonsensitive means! Another part of this answer states: During the year while the research and investigation was under way, a lot of information about the members of the Inquiry and Investigation Group was given to the Voice and Vision organization. In obedience to guidance from the late Imam (may Almighty God be pleased with him) and the exalted leader, may his life be long, and in view of the belief and faith that we have, we will not disclose it. We will mention in general one or two points, which are very significant in analyzing the group's report, because failure to observe these points might do serious damage to the realities: Mr. 'Ali Akbar Parvaresh has a record of activity in the Hojjatieh Society, and brief reference has been |
FBIS3-54479_0 | Iran Economic Ties Continue Despite Island Dispute | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Report by Nadim Kawash] [Text] Abu Dhabi, Jan 26 (AFP)--The strong economic relationship between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iran has remained intact despite worsening political ties due to a dispute over three strategic Gulf islands. Official Iranian figures released at a regional exhibition in al-Shariqah showed the UAE has remained the top Gulf commercial partner of Iran, while Tehran's exports to the Emirates have even increased. UAE exports and re-exports to Iran stood at around three billion dirhams (817 million dollars) in 1993 and imports at 800 million dirhams (218 million dollars), creating a surplus for the UAE of 599 million dollars. The figures were slightly higher than in 1992, when exports stood at around 800 million dollars and imports at 163 million dollars. Most of Iran's imports from the UAE come from Dubai, the main commercial centre in the region. Hundreds of traders in Dubai are of Iranian origin, who assist businessmen from their country. Most of the trade between the two countries is hauled by traditional Arabian wooden boats, dhows, hundreds of which ply the Gulf waters daily. Iran's exports to the Emirates include mainly carpets, nuts and other foodstuffs while its imports include sugar, rice, cars and electronics. Iranian businessmen said actual trade with the UAE was much higher as those figures do not include Iranian exports through the five free ports set up in the Emirates over the past few years. Hundreds of Iranian boats converge on such ports loaded with home made products such as furniture, foodstuffs, clothes, home appliances, handicrafts and other light items. Trade through those ports, where the Iranians pay only token tariffs, is estimated at millions of dollars a month. "Iran is an important commercial partner of our country as it takes nearly one third of our re-exports," a Dubai trade official said. "Its exports to us are also increasing and most of them are being re-exported to other countries. Iran relies mainly on Dubai to reach other markets." Iran and the UAE have been locked in a dispute over the islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb, which control the vital Hormuz Strait through which nearly one fifth of the world's crude exports pass. But the dispute has not affected their ties in other sectors. More than 150,000 Iranians stil live in the UAE and Iran has even boosted its participating in |
FBIS3-54499_0 | SAIRI Leader Hakim Calls For UN Observers in South | Language: Arabic Article Type:BFN [Text] Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim, chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq [SAIRI], has reaffirmed the need to deploy UN observers in southern Iraq to prevent the regime from using heavy weapons against the civilians and to supervise the aid programs there. In an interview with the Austrian Broadcasting Company, al-Hakim also affirmed the need to send observers and inspection teams to investigate conditions inside prisons and detention centers, and issues connected with human rights in Iraq. Referring to the deteriorating conditions in the southern marshlands that the regime is draining, al-Hakim said returning life to normal in these areas has become an urgent need, stressing that the United Nations must open gaps in the huge earthen dams that the regime has built to cut off water to the region. All indications are that these dams are meant to kill the people and destroy their livelihood. Al-Hakim stressed that these areas are witnessing tragic conditions. The regime has imposed an economic blockade on them, preventing food and medical supplies from reaching the inhabitants. The regime is also draining the marshlands, forcing the inhabitants to emigrate en masse to Iran and to other areas in Iraq. Al-Hakim said the regime has not been content with these measures. It is also carrying out widespread searches in rural towns and villages, and is arresting citizens and torturing them to extract confessions on the activists opposed to the tyrant Saddam. Answering a question on the goals of the Islamic Resistance in southern Iraq, al-Hakim said the Resistance's target is not the Iraqi Army because many of the army's personnel do not sympathize with the regime. The Resistance is chasing and killing the wicked elements who are trying to involve the army in the fight. It is also destroying the heavy weapons used by the regime to kill civilians. |
FBIS3-54502_0 | ICO Chief Meets With Iranian Leaders in Tehran Al-Ghabid, Hashemi-Rafsanjani Hold Talks | Language: Persian Article Type:BFN [Text] President Hashemi-Rafsanjani today received the Islamic Conference Organisation [ICO] Secretary General Mr. Hamid al-Ghabid, who is in Tehran. At the meeting, the president placed emphasis on the role and significance of the ICO in helping to resolve Islamic countries' problems. He said: The world of Islam, with 1.2 billion people and various political and economic levers, has a huge power, the appropriate and timely utilization of which requires decisions, planning, avoidance of side-issues, and attention to the main problems among Islamic countries. Mr. Hashemi-Rafsanjani expressed regret at current problems which have been imposed on the world of Islam due to inappropriate utilization of capabilities and resources in Islamic countries and added: Such problems can be solved through correct understanding of the world of Islam's sensitive current conditions and through coordination and exchange of views among planning officials of Islamic countries, as well as the targeted and coherent utilization of power levers. The president expressed concern over the continuation of war and fratricide in the Islamic country of Afghanistan and pointed out: The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly warned leaders of the warring sides in Afghanistan about the dire and worrying consequences of recent clashes and has called on them to think of the interests of the Muslim people, and the reconstruction and renovation of Afghanistan before anything else. Mr. Hashemi-Rafsanjani described the continuing genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the heart of so-called civilized Europe as a bitter incident which has hurt the feelings of over 1 billion Muslims and shamed the indifferent governments which have merely watched events. He said: The brave resistance and steadfastness of the oppressed people of Bosnia-Herzegovina have aroused fear and concern among the aggressive Serb forces and their western supporters. They are trying to break this resistance and force the Muslims to surrender. Therefore, one must strengthen the resistance of the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina and make the enemies lose hope of achieving such a surrender. He continued: The ICO and the free countries of the world are also expected to stop the further trampling of the rights of the oppressed people of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Pointing out that Islamic countries expect more from the ICO in solving the problems of the Islamic world, including the problem of Palestine, the president announced the readiness of the Islamic Republic of Iran for more cooperation with that organization in order to play a more active |
FBIS3-54503_0 | ICO Chief Meets With Iranian Leaders in Tehran Al-Ghabid, Velayati on Islamic Problems | Language: Persian Article Type:BFN [Text] In his speech at the fourth ministerial session of the Economic Cooperation Organization [ECO] in Tehran, the Islamic Conference Organization [ICO] secretary general called for the NATO forces to attack the positions of the aggressor Serbs in Bosnia-Herzegovina, self-determination for the Kashmiri people, a halt to the war in Afghanistan, and the withdrawal of Armenian forces from Azerbaijani territory. Hamid al-Ghabid stated that the new world order shapes us economically and politically and creates the minimum conditions required for a free and amicable existence. He stressed the need to broaden economic cooperation among Islamic countries and said: Permanent committees have been set up in the fields of economics, trade, science, and technology to foster solidarity among the member countries. The ICO secretary general also called for signing a memorandum of understanding between the ICO and the ECO to promote more cooperation among the Islamic peoples. On the sidelines of the ECO ministerial session, Hamid al-Ghabid also met Foreign Minister Dr. Velayati and discussed the problems of the Islamic world, ways and means to expand and boost cooperation among Islamic countries, and cooperation between the ECO and ICO as well as other topics of mutual interest. At the session, the ICO secretary general said he was pleased with his talks meeting President Hashemi-Rafsanjani yesterday and described his suggestions to strengthen the bases of the ICO as extremely valuable and constructive. Dr. Velayati said he hoped the extent of cooperation between the ICO and ECO would expand further. Various regional issues such as Afghanistan were also discussed at the meeting. |
FBIS3-54504_0 | ICO Chief Meets With Iranian Leaders in Tehran Further on al-Ghabid-Velayati Talks | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Tehran, Jan. 27, IRNA--Major developments in the world of Islam and ways to strengthen cooperation among Islamic countries were discussed by secretary general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Hamid al-Ghabid and Iran's Foreign Minister 'Ali Akbar Velayati in a meeting here Wednesday [26 January]. Cooperation between the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and the OIC were among other topics over which the two sides exchanged views. Turning to his meeting with President Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, earlier on the day, al-Ghabid welcomed the president's proposal on further strengthening of the OIC and expansion of cooperation among Muslim countries. Al-Ghabid, here for the fourth session of ECO foreign ministers which concluded work early Thursday morning, hoped that an agreement on cooperation between the two organizations would be signed soon. The two sides voiced concern over the continuation of war in Afghanistan and massacre of Muslim people there and exchanged views on ways to stop the ongoing fratricide. The two officials underlined the needs for the restoration of stability and peace to Afghanistan through peaceful ways. Elaborating on measures Iran has so far taken to stop the bloodshed in Afghanistan, Velayati voiced Iran's readiness for further efforts to establish a just peace in that country. |
FBIS3-54525_1 | Students Criticize Interior Minister, Condemn U.S. | Amir Kabir Industrial University; date not given] [Excerpts] Your Excellency, Esteemed Interior Minister, following your remarks in the Islamic Republic of Iran, which were full of accusations, when you hid under the cover of "solidarity against the United States" and attacked the purest Muslim forces that believe in the Islamic system and were the heart of those anti- U.S. forces who were behind the advent of the "second revolution" [the occupation of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran by students], it is necessary to mention the following points: [passage omitted] -- Do you fear students' protests against questioning the values of the revolution and their condemnation of American-style Islam and its suitability, as elucidated by the imam? This [American-style Islam] takes the form of foreign borrowing and economic policies that result in greater pressure on the deprived and oppressed strata; unlimited imports that have undermined the production system of the country; factories that have been auctioned off to the benefit of foreigners and affiliated investors; extensive and ludicrous publicity for foreign goods such as American Coca-Cola, foreign appliances, candies, bananas, and so on with foreign loans that have antagonized the Muslim forces and domestic producers; opening doors to foreign trucks; and the propagation of all means of decadence that are opposed to the pristine culture of Islam and our Islamic country. [passage omitted covered in referent item] -- Your Excellency, you are the one who is violating all the revolutionary values. You have indulged in extensive flights of fancy, which have exceeded all the boundaries specified by the founder of the Republic. Therefore, please consider this warning seriously; that you are not in a position where you, Mr. Minister, can make such claims, as all your legitimacy and that of your decrees depends on the fact that you are an official of the Islamic Republic, which is headed by the Vali-ye Faqih [The supreme jurisconsult]. [passage omitted] O God Almighty! You know what the Americans and their ilk have done in our country and the entire world. They have shed the blood of Muslims, have subjugated and pillaged our resources and our honor, and have planted their puppet governments. They have killed, burned, and plundered and now they are preparing for the most extensive and multifaceted onslaught of all, based on their communications technology. We beseech you to grant our officials awareness, the power to plan against this eventuality. [passage omitted] |
FBIS3-54541_3 | Editorial Condemns Amnesty International Report | accept asylum seekers from among the applicants they get. With the kinds of laws adopted by many European countries regarding asylum, it seems unlikely that there will be many. Instead of preaching to Pakistan about standards of responsibility that we know better about, AI should concentrate on urging the West to atone for its crimes against Afghanistan. When Amnesty accuses the warring parties in Afghanistan of using civilians as human shields, does it forget that this is only a natural continuation of the policies of the superpowers in their quest for global supremacy? Their violations of human rights are much more significant, yet all Amnesty has to say to them is: Please try to send some aid, if it's not too much of a bother. It's for a good cause. We cannot afford to take on more refuges simply on the promises of the international agencies, because unless they can get other countries to pay their share. Pakistan will once again be left to absorb the costs into its own barely solvent economy. If the US can get the Gulf states to foot the bill for such a massively destructive war effort in Iraq, surely there is something available to use constructively for the Afghans. Amnesty International would do well to consider human rights on a macro rather than a micro level. Don't expect Third World countries to go out of their way if you can't even convince your own people to start taking responsibility for their doings and misdoings. Notwithstanding this aspect of the Afghan Refugees' cases, our Interior Ministry needs to handle the issue with sensitivity. Eye witness accounts of arrival at Torkhum suggest insensitive handling of the policy laid down by Islamabad. There are reports of crying women and children at the barrier and of families who fled in such a hurry that they brought their dead. Some women have given birth waiting on the other side. The border guards enforced the rule that only those recommended by the Afghan authorities would be admitted. The Afghans with all their humanity burnt out by a long exposure to brutalities, recommended only those who could pay for their recommendation. The going rate was Rs 500/- [as published] per person. Pakistan rupee is hard currency in Afghanistan. It is difficult to suggest any foolproof method of verifying genuine hardship cases. But a few honest officers posted as assessors may help. |
FBIS3-54543_1 | Government Official on Foreign Policy Decisions | for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation has said that the decisions taken by the basic people's committees relating to foreign policy were readily accepted despite the difficult political conditions which prevail in the world and the unjustly harsh blockade imposed on the Libyan people under the pretext of so- called "international legitimacy" which was exploited by the three Western countries for their own ends to undermine the great al-Fatih revolution. In his response to the points concerning the matter of the Basic Peoples' Congresses yesterday evening, al-Muntasir said that the great al-Fatih revolution has the honour of confrontation and defiance to colonialist designs. He said that attempts by the Western countries to undermine the Great Jamahiriyah had reached the degree of armed aggression against it and the bombing of the house of the leader of the revolution. When these countries failed in their attempts, they used the downing of a Pan Am airliner flight number 103 and a Uta airliner in another attempt to undermine the Great Jamahiriyah. He said that at a time when the United States is in sole leading position over the world, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the end of the Cold War, the Western powers used the Security Council and transformed the issue from a criminal one to a political one despite the fact that there is no evidence which shows that the Great Jamahiriyah is responsible for this act. He said that the Jamahiriyah attempted to seek a solution to this crisis, the need to find the truth, and to have a trial held in a neutral country but the three Western countries closed all the doors which shows that the main aim behind their actions is not to find the truth but to carry out their own political ends. He added that the Great Jamahiriyah's stance in this crisis was well received and appreciated by more than two thirds of the countries of the world, including the countries of the Non Aligned Movement, the Islamic Conference Organisation, the Arab League and the Organisation of African Unity as well as several trade and other organisations, in addition to other countries. This reflected itself in the Security Council when the vote was taken on three of the Western countries proposed resolutions and were extremely difficult to be approved, despite the strong pressure it applied and the threats and inducives [as received] it used. |
FBIS3-54553_0 | ECO Foreign Ministers Conference Wraps Up End to Afghan Trouble Sought | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Tehran, Jan 27 (AFP)--Foreign ministers of the 10-member Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), winding up a meeting in Tehran on Thursday [27 January] search for ways of ending the civil war in Afghanistan which they consider a threat to the region. The ECO was founded in 1985 by Iran, Turkey and Pakistan and was expanded in 1991 to include Afghanistan as well as the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. On the sidelines of the two-day meeting, organised to discuss economic cooperation, the ministers of 10 Muslim countries in the region put forward several "practical proposals" to help end the conflict, Iranian Foreign Minister 'Ali Akbar Velayati said. Speaking to reporters, Velayati acknowledged the difficult task of restoring peace to Afghanistan, but added that Iran and other countries in the region "were determined to continue their search." He declined to explain what the "practical proposals" were. Several participants in the meeting revealed that "a certain number of ideas" have been put foreward by the ministers, among which is establishment of a regional conference under the auspices of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which comprises 50 Muslim countries. The OIC's Secretary General Hamid al-Qabid, who took part in the seminar, said an OIC delegation was currently in the Afghan capital to try and secure a ceasefire. He said that he would himself go to Kabul if asked to start mediation among rival Afghan forces. Qabid told AFP that the accord reached between the factions in Islamabad last spring, at the prodding of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, was no longer effective but could be used as "a basis for future discussions". Afghan Foreign Minister Hedayat Amin Arsala told AFP that he favored a comprehensive solution searched for by the United Nations or OIC rather than mediation efforts undertaken by Afghanistan's neighbors, whose "objectives are not clear so far." "After all, finding a solution is primarily the responsibility of Afghans themselves," he said. The ministers also addressed other regional crises, namely the civil war in Tajikistan between the pro-communist government and the Islamic opposition, as well as the Armenian-Azeri conflict. Azerbaijan did not appear to have gathered the solid support it expected in a bid to impose widespread economic sanctions against Armenia, according to participants. The Tajik minister, for his part, categotically rejected mediation offers by several ECO members, saying his country |
FBIS3-54567_0 | Authorities Release Human Rights Activist | Language: French Article Type:BFN [Excerpt] With the pressure being so strong, the Nouakchott authorities could not continue keeping Professor Sheikh Sadibou Camara in jail. The chairman of the Mauritanian Human Rights Association was released last night after four days of detention. After he was released last night he explained the reason for his arrest. According to him, the authorities have not forgiven him for his activities against slavery, which still exists in Mauritania. [passage omitted] |
FBIS3-54575_5 | King Addresses Journalists at End of U.S. Visit King Holds News Conference | immediately hailed what happened as a courageous step on both sides in terms of a vision of the future and a sense of responsibility towards generations to come. And we immediately, on the 14th of September, ratified the agenda that we had held up to that time to see some progress on the Palestinian track. Now we are dealing with the agenda and all the items there and I hope we will see some rapid progress. In the meantime, all the other parties are involved and engaged and it certainly is my hope that what will come out is a comprehensive peace at the end. But now we are dealing with our own problem. And I think that they are complex and they will be demanding of time and effort and yet we are going at our own speed now. [Reporter] Some of the Palestinian leadership would believe that one of the problems, which is security of Jericho and whether Palestinians alone will be able to police the border between Jericho and Jordan, there is some in the Palestinian leadership who suggest that Jordan has objected to the idea that Palestinians would be able to control the border by themselves and that Jordan made those objections known to the United State and to Israel. [Husayn] I would like to categorically deny that, and suggest that it was very unfortunate that such a suggestion should even be made. Jordan is a state, sir, Jordan has its borders, Jordan has its positions on the bridges and Jordan continues to have the right to exercise looking after its borders and its territories. We were informed that the Oslo agreement stipulated that external security was Israel's domain for the initial phases. We did not comment in any form or way. We heard what you all heard and obviously if the Palestinians are able to look after the bridges on their side, that is most welcome by us. But that is something that Israel and the Palestinians have to decide upon. It is nothing that reflects on us or concerns us in any way except in the hope that whatever happens will help our brethren in the occupied territories and will make them feel that there is real progress towards a change, a change in the quality of life, a change in conditions that have persisted for 26 terrible years. [Reporter] [words indistinct] Your Majesty, |
FBIS3-54600_0 | Rowhani on Relations With Neighboring States | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Qom, Jan. 27, IRNA -- Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Dr. Hasan Rowhani, says despite the world power's becoming unipolar by the United States, the Islamic Republic of Iran has not changed its policies. Speaking to theologians in a mosque here Wednesday night, he said "despite all efforts launched by the U.S. to conspire against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iran's policies formulated by the late Imam Khomeyni are successfully going ahead." Rowhani who is the chief of Majles Foreign Policy Committee and the leader's representative at SNSC, said the United States has suffered defeat in post-Soviet era in international and regional arena and after the admission by Russia that they have failed in their plans. He said the hard efforts of the U.S. to persuade Europe and Japan not to cooperate with Iran in economic and commercial areas have failed. He deplored the U.S. for raising a ballyhoo on Iran's foreign debts by giving unrealistic figures which he said had failed to reach anywhere. Answering a question on Iran's relations with the neighbouring countries, Rowhani said ties with Turkey are satisfactory. In light of national and security issues, Turkey has no other way but to maintain growing relations with Iran and "we welcome friendly relations with Ankara." On relations with Iraq, he said if grounds are provided for Iraq in the international arena, Baghdad would be willing to consolidate ties with Tehran. However, he added, it was Iran's natural right to respond severely to the armed attempts by counterrevolutionary groups outside the borders. On ties with the Persian Gulf littoral states, he said Iran employed logical ways is to settle its problems with these states in order to foil U.S. attempts to bring discord into the Persian Gulf. He described Iran's relations with Pakistan as excellent and on Afghanistan, he said Iran was the only mediator in the conflict. He said the prospect of relations with Afghanistan was promising. On the fall in oil prices, he said lower oil prices can prompt a new mechanism to cut off dependence on oil and pave the way for economic growth through non-oil exports. Rowhani said Iran's non-oil exports reached dlrs. 5,000 million [figure as received] this year. The figure is expected to reach dlrs. [dollars] 6,000 million next year, he said. He put emphasis on Iran's relations with Saudi Arabia and said issues |
FBIS3-54635_3 | ITAR-TASS Carries Press Review for 31 Dec | implementation of laws rather than on arbitrary rule," Gorbachev stresses. "I believe that Russia can restore its economic, political, constitutional, legal and spiritual wealth," former chairman of the Russian Constitutional Court writes in the PRAVDA newspaper. "All of us should think over where we go, whom we elect and whom we obey. We should overcome legal nihilism. We should think abot responsibility, above all, of statesmen and officials." The SOVETSKAYA ROSSIYA newspaper prints an interview with Metropolitan Gedeon who says: "As a believer I claim: Russia is the home of Holy Virgin. The mother of Jesus Christ cares for our homeland. But we turned away from her. `Freedom' was granted to us. "Well, we partook of this freedom -- immorality, crime, drug addiction and such shame when our Russian girls go to sell themselves to underdeveloped countries for a piece of bread or pie. Russia weeps with bloody tears and prays for stopping this disgrace of lawlessness. Merciful Holy Virgin makes such miracles and omens that we shall regain our consciousness earlier or later and shall come to our senses." The TRUD newspaper carries an article by chairman of the Interdepartmental Commission of the Russian Security Council on ecological security, dealing with the demographic situation in Russia. "According to the latest forecasts," he writes, "some stabilisation of birth-rate is expected in the country, mostly thanks to an increase in women of child-bearing age. "The demographic situation in Russia as a whole, that is the future of the nation, largely depends on whether the average family will withstand this difficult time. "If to speak honestly about the tragic statistics, the conclusion is quite definite: Russia is ill, and the state of its population's health already threatens the security of the country." Major-General Gennadiy Zaytsev, head of the Alfa group of the chief security department, describes the struggle against terrorists in the KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA newspaper. "Guided by an analysis of the present situation, we can draw the conclusion that it is highly improbable that the level of terrorism will drop in the near future. On the contrary, we may encouter even its more audacious manifestations. "To prevent them, it is necessary to create a streamlined system of terrorism control at the state level. Besides, this work should be directed from a single centre. In that case, cooperation of various organisations participating in such measures could be more close and fruitful," Zaytsev stressed. |
FBIS3-54667_0 | Police Given `Temporary Rights' To Search | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Excerpt] Riga, Dec 30, BNS -- The Latvian Cabinet granted the state police and the Home Guard temporary rights to search transportation vehicles, their drivers and passengers on the basis of grounded suspicion, beginning Dec. 31. The government motivated the decision with the increasing abuse of firearms and explosives in the republic and the fact that criminals often use cars as means of transportation. [passage omitted] |
FBIS3-54680_0 | Survey Shows 80 Percent Without Basic Foods | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] The center of Sociological Research at the Armenian Academy of Sciences headed by Gevork (Bobosyan), based on the opinion polls conducted in November and December 1993, have come to the conclusion that about 80 percent of the urban population of Armenia are incapable of purchasing the basic foodstuffs after the introduction of the national currency, the dram. The level of monthly income is insufficient to buy the necessary food in the minimal amounts. One kilogram of butter, 1kg of sugar, 1kg of cheese, meat, and at least 5kg of potatoes, to say nothing of the expenses (?and) public utilities transportation, and which is most important today, kerosene and wood for heat. According to the experts at the center the coming indexation of wages will lead to greater forestalling increase in prices on the market which will only make things worse. [sentence as heard] The state of the Armenian economy nowadays is such that a sweeping indexation of wages for all budget enterprises without a differentiation by the level of income will result in further decrease in living standards the growth of inflation and the fall of the dram rate. In such a situation it would be more advisable to redistribute the money reserved for indexation and spend it on guaranteed rationing of basic foodstuffs in minimal amounts at least for that part of the urban population whose income is not higher than 100 drams per family member. The introduction of food cards for low income families proposed by the analysts of the center will not affect the other groups of population (?so it) would not promote the further growth of prices and hyperinflation. On the contrary, it will to some extent soften the disastrous situation we are facing this winter. |
FBIS3-54696_0 | Diplomat Views Relations With Macedonia | Language: Macedonian Article Type:BFN [Interview with Jurij Trushin, representative of the Russian Federation in Macedonia, by Moscow correspondent Mirce Adamcevski; place and date not given: "Macedonian Policy -- the Future in the Balkans"] [Text] Moscow, December--The Russian Federation has recently appointed Jurij Petrovich Trushin [name as published] as its permanent representative to the Republic of Macedonia. He is a professional diplomat, involved in the Balkans for 20 years. His dissertation was on the Balkans, and he has also written a number of scientific works related to this region. He has spent more than 10 years working in the diplomatic service in Bulgaria. This year, he has been engaged in the global problems of that part of Europe. He has been professionally and scientifically linked to the Balkans for more than 20 years. [Adamcevski] Mister Trushin, how do you view your appointment to the post of permanent representative of the Russian Federation in Macedonia? [Trushin] This appointment to Macedonia is a great honor for me. The Macedonian people are few in number, but have a deep and old culture, and if we look at the history of the Balkans, it cannot be disassociated from Macedonia. Moreover, our two peoples are closely connected through close blood, religious, and historic links. As you know, Russia was christened (it accepted Christianity) and became a Christian country through the great merit of the Ohrid Exarchate. We know that Kiev Russia had strong relations with Ohrid. There are numerous other examples in history when the two countries and peoples had active cooperation. From that aspect, it is a great honor and duty for me to be appointed to Macedonia. I say great duty because, unfortunately, the history of the Macedonian people was carried on in such a way that many in Macedonia know a lot about Russia, but only a few in Russia know about Macedonia. That will be one of my basic goals, to get to know that country better and to bring the truth about that people to the brotherly Russian people. [Adamcevski] You have now touched the next question. What other aims will be basic to your activities? [Trushin] I have already mentioned them: The intensification of the traditional friendship and cooperation between our two peoples. The second goal is to get to know the history and culture of that people, to study the present situation, and to inform my leadership, my government, |
FBIS3-54697_0 | Article Views Peacekeeping Role, Efforts | Language: Russian Article Type:BFN [Aleksandr Nikolayev article: "Russia's Peacemaking Role. What Will It Be?"] [Text] At the Rome session of CSCE Foreign Ministers Council, the Russian delegation raised the question of giving a legitimate status within the CSCE framework to the peacemaking efforts of the Russian Federation and the CIS. While recognizing the existence of the real threat to international security emanating from the interethnic conflicts which are erupting in the former USSR and giving de facto approval to the actions of the Russian Federation, the Council of Ministers was nevertheless reluctant to give its forces the status of CSCE "blue helmets." The Russian side's argument did not meet with understanding from a whole series of delegations, first and foremost Ukraine, a number of East European countries, Canada, and Norway. At the session, the opponents of the legitimation in international law of the actions of the Russian Federation's peacemaking forces raised the hypothesis of the revival of Russian "neoimperialism" and accused Russia of trying in this way to mask its true intentions with regard to the new division of the Eurasian continent. It goes without saying that Russia, like any great power, has zones of traditional geopolitical interests and regions to which it gives paramount attention. Our approach in this regard is dictated not by an imperial ideology but by perfectly understandable pragmatic considerations. It is obvious that the creation in Russia of a successfully functioning market economy mechanism is impossible without ensuring that market's normal interaction. Russia's prime interest is in a normalization of the situation in the neighboring former Union republics not only in a military sense but also economically. It was considerations such as those which has motivated Russia's diplomatic efforts in New York, Rome, Brussels, and at other international forums where it formulated practical steps on peacemaking questions. The charges of neoimperialism are groundless even if only because Moscow, by bearing on its shoulders the full burden of peacemaking in the post-Soviet area, is certainly not seeking to operate in isolation. On the contrary, collective actions are no less necessary in Nagorno-Karabakh, for example, than they are in Yugoslavia. Russia operates in the "hot spots" not only in its own interests but also in the interests of the whole world community. That was confirmed at the 48th UN General Assembly [UNGA] session and formed the main theme of the decisions of the CSCE Foreign Ministers' Council. |
FBIS3-54702_3 | IMF's Foglizzo Views Russian Economic Reforms | that there must be a firm and unwavering desire for reforms, stabilization of the economy, and radical reduction of the rate of inflation. [passage omitted] [ROSSIYSKIYE VESTI] Is the IMF currently holding talks with the Russian Government on further cooperation? [Foglizzo] An IMF mission visited Moscow in the first half of December. Our specialists would like to come here again as soon as possible. But I do not think that there will be any serious negotiations until the question of the new parliament is finally resolved and the composition of the Russian Government is confirmed. We can hardly construct real plans for next year before 15 January. U.S. President Clinton is due to arrive in Moscow soon. He will have talks with President Yeltsin. IMF Executive Director M. Camdessus has also been invited to Moscow. The IMF's subsequent activity in your country will depend on the results of this top-level meeting. [ROSSIYSKIYE VESTI] Clearly, work in Russia has brought the IMF more problems than it anticipated? [Foglizzo] No, we are cooperating quite well with Russia. Of course this does not mean that all our efforts have been successful. But during this year we have come to understand the country better and have learned how various traditional mechanisms influence the economy. In your government we have found people who really understand the situation, who know what must be done, and who know how to explain the decisions that are made in a way that is accessible to the population. First and foremost this applies to Vice Premier and Finance Minister Boris Fedorov. I think that Russia has changed enormously in the past year. Even the actual standard of the debates on economic questions is far higher now than it used to be. The privatization process is making quite successful and rapid progress. We are glad that the currency market has operated without interruption and that the rate of the ruble there has stabilized in the past six months. Markets in vouchers and other securities have been formed. This is an important factor for stabilization. The structural reorganization of industry has begun. This, after all, is the key to a successful economic reform. Production is beginning to respond more flexibly to changes in the situation in the market. New relations are developing between the government and the Central Bank. In May-June the IMF supported the agreement between them. Without that accord we |
FBIS3-54726_18 | Kravchuk Holds 30 Dec News Conference | in relations with other states. If we have all this -- and I will say sincerely that as long as I am president I will do my utmost to ensure peace in every home, in every house, to prevent bloodshed in our land -- we will manage everything; we will build, restore, and take the democratic and law-governed road of development. This is inevitable, we merely need time. But let us not destroy that which we have, let us not destroy life. We will greatly intensify and take new steps to step up the fight against corruption, crime, and all shameful phenomena now existing. We are not concealing a single fact referred to in the Supreme Council or elsewhere. I have instructed the prosecutor's office to sort this out, and we will show everything to the people -- both facts and analysis. Those guilty will made to bear responsibility, while the innocent will be innocent, and we will not stick labels on them, will not insult them or brand them as criminals before the verdict of a prosecutor or a court. (?Do not think that because) you happen to be a people's deputy you can get away with it. I think we will get over all these diseases in a way worthy of our people who are patient, wise, peaceful, and closely bound, and will do their best to keep it that way. As for families, I wish them good fortune, health, and happiness, health to children and grandchildren. I have children and grandchildren myself and I know how important this is -- when I hear that my daughter or my grandson is sick, I cannot put it out of my mind even with the strenuous and difficult job I have. Whenever I have a free minute I run to the phone to find out how they are, whether their fever is high or not. That's me, with my workload. What about other people? Actually the workload has nothing to do with it, it is a normal thing for a person to want a clearly determined future, to want its family to go on and, as they say, to wish that our family will never become extinct. I also wish you well, as a woman who has her own family and wants her family to be healthy, and all those guarding our family. As for the legislation, it will improve. |
FBIS3-54745_5 | Government Said Violating New Constitution | canceled, the president in turn will cancel the results of the elections to the Federal Assembly. Either the Constitution imposed by means of a deception or presidential rule not limited by any laws -- this is the poor choice offered Russians today by the "Russia's Choice" limited partnership. There Will Be a Black Obelisk But what about the international observers? Why did several hundred very experienced politicians, gathered from all over the world, assure the country and the whole world that the elections in Russia were held according to the highest standards of democracy? This was despite the fact that the elections were preceded by the shooting up of parliament and the introduction of a state of emergency (during which it is forbidden by law to hold elections). The elections were held not according to the law but according to a statute which was adopted personally by the president and was changed repeatedly in the course of the elections. A number of public organizations were banned illegally, by presidential edict, on the eve of the elections. An entire section of the political spectrum -- movements of a national-patriotic orientation -- was criminally cut off. The opposition press was blocked for practically the whole duration of the election campaign. The government made attempts to exert crude pressure on electoral associations and individual candidates (a ban on campaigning against the constitution, the institution of criminal proceedings). Despite the fact that foreign observers responded to the question "Would you like such elections to be held in your country?" by opening their eyes wide and starting to wave their hands in horror. Despite all this, the elections and the referendum in Russia were acknowledged a model of democracy. Congratulations poured in from all over the world.... There can only be one rational explanation for all this. To all appearances, the West has decided firmly to categorize Russia among the countries to which panhuman notions of legality and a rule-of-law state cannot apply: "What can you expect from them -- they are savages!" Thank you. We have probably deserved this. But do not take it amiss if a tablet is set up in the Russian parliament at some time inscribed with the names of those foreign statesmen who approved of the shooting up of the Supreme Soviet and applauded the shameful machinations over the new Russian Constitution. To remind your descendants and ours. [passage omitted] |
FBIS3-54770_0 | Gaydar Interviewed on Outlook for Economy | Article Type:BFN [Editorial Report] Moscow Radio Rossii Network in Russian at 1330 GMT on 30 December carries an interview with First Deputy Prime Minister Yegor Gaydar by Arkadiy Bererov. The place and date are not given. Gaydar begins by reviewing the performance of the economy over the past year, noting that despite the various political problems a number of tasks in the first stage of reform were solved, albeit slowly, by the end of 1993. The volume of subsidies for agricultural production has been sharply reduced of late, and a single customs tariff will be enforced from 1 January. A new system of financing and boosting investments has been prepared, which will comprise the gradual redistribution of budget allocations to support enterprises and social programs as well as family benefits, pension reform, and gradual preparation for introducing benefits for the less well-off sections of the population. Small business will be encouraged. "In short, we are trying to put together a foundation that will ensure stable economic growth," Gaydar notes. He goes on to say that there should be "a gradual reduction in the rate of inflation in 1994 to about 5-7 percent by the end of the year." It will be a year of "a gradual fading away of the slump in production, which may be basically eliminated some time around the end of the fourth quarter, and the creation of preconditions for stable growth in 1995." But, Gaydar says, one must naturally be apprehensive after the political damage incurred in trying to solve anti-inflation tasks in the recent period, and this must be avoided in the coming year. Gaydar goes on to say that unemployment has not risen in the Baltic republics either because a similar set of employment-protection measures is in effect both there and in Russia. "I will, therefore, say that provided there is a sensible scenario of monetary policy, I do not envisage a sudden incredible rise in unemployment -- not in 1994 at least. It will rise gradually." Regarding inflation, Gaydar describes as soft and consistent a policy that aims at bringing inflation down from 12 percent this December to 5-7 percent in the last quarter of 1994, the goal of which is to gradually remove financial disproportions and create prerequisites for stopping price rises. |
FBIS3-54816_1 | Economic Stabilization Seen Unlikely in 1994 | fat cats will increase 11-fold. Academician S. Shatalin, the well-known "marketeer," has said the following: "The Russian Government is pursuing a not very well-conceived or responsible policy in this area. Governments throughout the civilized world regulate the population's income, and nobody considers this a violation of the laws of the development of the market economy...." Take the United States, for instance. Business circles there reacted loyally to the ousting of the right-wing Republican government by the center-right Democrats. They were hopeful of tipping the balance between the "market" and "nonmarket" sectors of society toward a better resolution of the social problems which have deteriorated even in that prosperous country as a result of the latest economic crisis. According to information published in BIRZHEVYYE VEDOMOSTI by Yevgeniy Boshnyakov, director of the "Issledovateli Rynka" enterprise, America has its own macroeconomists, whom our "apprentices" imitate. The U.S. Democrats even involved some of them in their election campaign. But, once victory was assured, none of them was taken into the leadership -- electioneering is one thing, while actually running a state is quite another. That is why in America the transition did not result in any shocks or general confrontation between such usually hostile forces as entrepreneurs, workers, and the nonmarket section of society. Russia has done the same as America, only...back to front -- power has been handed over to extremists from science and production. And, naturally, society has suffered a terrible shock, the economy is in an unprecedented crisis, and the executive is meeting with opposition and hostility from such economically different forces as state and private employers, stockbrokers and bankers, the military and pensioners. What now? Despite the fact that the mutual offsetting of debts is anathema to government officials, this will clearly be unavoidable in the new year, otherwise we will have hyperinflation again -- but this time because of the wholesale reduction in commodity supply. In the opinion of the well-known economist Algimantas Lebedinskas [name as transliterated], squeezing the money supply in absolute terms after reducing the supply of goods is a sheer illusion. Moreover, the country can expect mass unemployment -- requiring state spending that the state budget will hardly be able to withstand owing to the tax collection shortfall. So the Russian economy can look forward not to stabilization -- as the monetarist reformers stubbornly promise -- but new upheavals. Perhaps even stronger upheavals than last year. |
FBIS3-54832_0 | New System of Taxes Becomes Effective 1 Jan | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] TALLINN, Jan 03, BNS -- Estonia's taxation law, which establishes excises, income tax, gambling tax, gift and inheritance tax, turnover tax, land tax, social tax and customs tax as state taxes, took effect as of the beginning of the year. Most of the taxes are regulated under new laws adopted last year. Besides state taxes, local governments may impose local taxes that are in force only in their territories. The local taxes are to be defined by a separate law that hasn't been passed yet. The turnover tax law, which was amended last year, didn't change the 18-percent tax rate but trimmed the list of goods and services exempt from the tax. No turnover tax is imposed on the export of goods and services. The turnover tax was Estonia's biggest source of revenues at 2.26 billion kroons. The income tax law, which was also amended last year, set the tax at 26 percent for both private persons and corporate bodies. The income tax is imposed also on income from interest, but the parliament ruled not to apply it this year. All wage earners are likely to benefit from the new rate. The 40-percent gambling tax that replaced the former 10-percent rate will be channeled into the state budget. It will be divided as follows: 30 percent to the National Culture Foundation, seven percent to the Red Cross, seven percent to the Children's Foundation, seven percent to the Child Protection Union, and 49 percent to the Chamber of the Disabled. |
FBIS3-54962_3 | Military Lobbyist Views Military Production | the military industry lasted as long as that. [Vida] How can the political situation that has emerged after the elections influence the prospects of the military industry? [Maley] All in all, the defense establishment came out victorious from the political shocks of the past few months. First of all, this is because we support Yeltsin and he is beginning to understand that we are the only means left for continuing the reforms. Secondly, the serious defeat of the Gaydar bloc, Russia's Choice, actually means the defeat of the enemies of military industry, and this will probably be a warning for those who still have not realized what kind of force they are facing. Finally, as the military industry is an island of calm and social peace, all political forces will try to win us over. In order to gain as precise as possible information on the interests of the military industrial complex, we will soon establish an electronic information system including all 2,200 enterprises, with the help of which we can ask the views of the directors and trade union leaders of all of these enterprises on important issues within a few hours. We would as soon as possible like to launch the experiment of economic reform that will affect the Udmurtia, Mari, and Chuvashia Republics, and Nizhniy Novgorod and Moscow counties, namely the areas where the military industry is concentrated. We will maximally decentralize the control of the economy and make this industry export-oriented. According to our plans, 70 percent of the foreign currency income would go to the regions and only the remaining amount would have to be given to the federal budget. We will request bids for the military programs and the winner will be the supplier of the Army while the losers will be able to go to the international markets with their own solutions. [Vida] What changes do you consider necessary in Russian foreign politics to establish favorable conditions for the Russian military industry on foreign markets? [Maley] First of all, we need pragmatism. We will restore the state monopoly of weapons exports. The president himself will approve the one-year and five-year export plans. We will market our latest military equipment: We would always like to sell one dollar cheaper and one technical unit better products than our competitors. If you observe the activities of Kozyrev, you will see that he reached pragmatism from an |
FBIS3-55024_0 | Crack Forces Shutdown of Ignalina Turbine | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Vilnius, Jan 04, BNS -- The Ignalina nuclear power plant, Lithuania's chief electricity producer, shut down New Year's eve one out of two turbines of the first nuclear reactor, the RESPUBLIKA newspaper said. The stoppage reportedly resulted from a crack in the turbine's pipe system. Repairs will presumably be completed Jan. 10. The reactor will continue to operate with one turbine until then. Experts said the shut down of one turbine will not have any noticeable effect on the country's energy system. |
FBIS3-55093_0 | Reportage on Zviad Gamsakhurdia's Death `Shot Himself' 31 Dec | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Former Georgian President Zviad Gamsakhurdia, the country's first democratically-elected head of state, shot himself dead at a hillside village in western Georgia on December 31 while being surrounded by members of the paramilitary Mkhedrioni unit, his wife Manana told Interfax. She said Gamsakhurdia and part of his supporters were ambushed in a village but she was not told about its location. Mrs. Gamsakhurdia said her husband had told his supporters to blow themselves up with grenades in the face of an overpowering pro-government unit. But he later shot himself dead "not wanting to cause anguish and pain to his associates," she said. Gamsakhurdia said she was told about her husband's death only on Wednesday. Gamsakhurdia's death puts an end to the national liberation movement in Georgia, which will forever remain in slavery, Manana said in tears. She said her husband was Georgia's last hope. She said she would like her husband to be buried next to his father's grave in the courtyard of their house in Tbilisi, something she said the government would never allow. The 54-year-old Gamsakhurdia took over the country's national democratic movement in 1989 following the death of its leader and well-known human rights campaigner Merab Kostava. In the same year, pro-democracy groups forged a "Round Table-Free Georgia" alliance which won an overwhelming majority in Georgia's free elections a year later, its first for many years. In 1991, Gamsakhurdia became the country's first democratically-elected head of state after gaining 97 percent of the vote. However, he was accused of dictatorship and overthrown in December 1991, after the anti-government forces mounted an attack on the presidential palace. Gamsakhurdia left it and went into hiding in the Chechen republic early in January 1992. However, the former president returned to western Georgia last fall to take charge of troops loyal to him. |
FBIS3-55142_15 | LPDR, Orthodox Church Official View Yugoslav Events Vsevold Gaplyn: In the Russian Christian-Orthodox Church We Have Monarchists, and Even Communists! | to ask you a question regarding the war in Yugoslavia, particularly because you support the Serbian side.... [Vengerovskiy] We usually find out what has been happening in former Yugoslavia from our members who have been there. Personally, I have been best informed by the author Edward Lymonov. You know from history that our Slav brothers, Serbs and Montenegrins, have always been close to us! We are bound together historically. We also know that Croats are Slavs as well. But the Serbs are much closer to us, because they are Christian-Orthodox. We have defended them many times. What is happening in former Yugoslavia right now is absolutely abnormal! It is a religious war! Let us say "No!" to all your nation states! We do not want Russia to be founded on the national principle. Let Yugoslavia be founded, as was Russia before, or as the United States is now, on the principle of states [gubernija]. Vsevold Gaplyn: In the Russian Christian-Orthodox Church We Have Monarchists, and Even Communists! [Vurusic] In the last few years, after decades of the Soviet authorities, the Russian Christian Orthodox Church has started to reassume the place it had for many centuries. Many churches were demolished, most of the clergy were expelled, and believers were imprisoned. Even the very top of the Russian Christian Orthodox Church was controlled by the almighty KGB. On the eve of the recent bloody events in the Russian Parliament, the Russian Christian Orthodox Church and its patriarch, Aleksey II, were mediators in the negotiations between the conflicting factions. The mediating mission failed, which, as is said, was taken quite badly among church officials. They even consider that the church has missed a chance to win the political and religious place in Russian society it had at the time of the empire, when Orthodoxy was recognized as the official state religion. Although church officials deny it, the Russian Christian Orthodox Church exerts significant influence on the politics of other Christian Orthodox churches, so that after the outbreak of war in former Yugoslavia, several meetings took place between Pavle, patriarch of the Serbian Christian-Orthodox Church, and Patriarch Aleksey II. In Danilovskiy monastery, which dates from the 13th century and is now the home of the Department of Foreign Church Affairs of the Patriarch of Russian Christian Orthodox Church, we are talking with father Vsevold Gaplyn, head of inter-church cooperation and relations with international organizations. |
FBIS3-55200_2 | Democratic Process Needs Untainted New Blood | to this day the democratic process is somewhat cautiously and timidly based on science. It "trusts" only certain, staid elements, who were always geared toward power and prepared to serve any system for the sake of obtaining a portfolio. It is with equal success that they praised socialism, as indeed they reject it today. Suspicion is aroused by the fact that during the election campaign, for instance, the staid elements of one and the same branch of knowledge "split" into dozens of blocs, as if there can exist dozens of truths in one and the same science, on one and the same subject. Hence the selective nature of the approach to proposed recommendations, the tendency to select from the them only that which is politically "beneficial" to somebody, and the orientation toward certain one-sided postulates. As a result, in the policy and practise of state administration there is much in the way of subjectivist improvisation, actions geared to the moment and not to the future, "flitting" from one side to the other, servility in the face of some foreign model or other, a solicitation of "advice" from one visiting authority after another without due consideration of the fact that he represents the interests and views of that structure which sent him. Naturally, all this impacts on the country's development and it does not in fact advance reforms. And if we are talking about the latest election campaign "performances," scientific know-how in the sphere of social psychology was employed by the democrats according to the principle of "whatever it says, do the opposite." After actions like that, were the results of the Federal Assembly elections really so surprising? And there is yet another aspect which abruptly catches the eye as a consequence of the foregoing factors: The depressing incompetence and aggressive ignorance of many of those who were swept into the offices of power on the wave of democratic reforms and who now set themselves up as a buttress of democracy. Instead of studying, trying to get to grips with the science, art, and experience of administration, closely watching what and how experienced people in other countries of the world do it, honestly analyzing the consequences of their deeds, decisions, and actions, such people found nothing better to do than to get drunk on power, to engage in their own pet development projects, and to organize "battles" for the most influential |
FBIS3-55202_14 | Reforms Must Now Be `Adjusted' | for our prosperity; that we have to put up with this filth as other peoples have done in order to avoid coming full circle and finding ourselves back in long lines facing empty shelves in the stores like our Ukrainian brothers, for instance; that we are almost on the point of more or less getting out of this filth -- in the face of all this the democrats arrogantly say: "We are laying the foundations of a new society in accordance with common sense and world experience, as other peoples have done." The people want to know what our social ideal is, what our new values are, what our new spirituality is. If their questions are not answered by the democrats, they will turn -- and in part already are turning -- to other political forces. In the extremely difficult struggle against the forces of the past, against the numerous and diverse forces of reaction, the democrats have consciously or otherwise surrendered to their political opponents some extremely important values revered by the people and capable of rallying them in the fight for the country's future. These include the ideals of social justice, patriotism, statehood, and lofty spirituality. These values must be won back without fail, especially as this process has already begun. Unless, of course, the democrats want to be defeated, thereby dooming the young Russian democracy to defeat as well. Last. In the years since August 1991 the democrats were concerned primarily to destroy the material and spiritual foundation of communism and prevent it from being revived. This is understandable. The forces of revenge are a real threat to our progress. But the focus of the struggle must now be shifted. I am convinced that the only social model that can be successfully implemented in our country is one which from the outset attaches exceptionally great importance to the social aspect of change and is geared, if you like, toward state paternalism, as in Japan, and toward preventing severe social contrasts. In the struggle between the two principles of freedom and social justice that has dragged on over the centuries, it is the latter that will triumph in our country unless we succeed in harmonizing them. And in this connection it is very annoying, no, very worrying that the democratic authorities seem to have divested themselves of everyday concern for people, or at any rate have not created |
FBIS3-55208_0 | Editor Gives Reasons for Strike | Language: Russian Article Type:BFN [Chief editor Vitaliy Tretyakov article: "If `NG' Does Not Appear Next Week. We All Are in the Clutches of the State"] [Text] Our readers will know that an absolute majority of dailies and weeklies of Moscow and of all Russia are ready to interrupt their publication for the duration of the next week. As this issue of "NG" is going to print (the last issue during this "short" pre-Christmas week), such a decision was confirmed at the conference of chief editors that took place last night. Readers are entitled to know what "NG" editors are being guided by in this protest action. First and foremost, this is no classic strike. The editorial office will work, gather information, and journalists will write articles. True, the newspaper will not be printed. Subscribers and readers in general will be the worse for it, as well as the numerous "NG" contributors whose articles are in next week's plans but will not be published. On behalf of the editorial office I apologize to all of them, but we have to do this. "NG" was not the initiator of this action, yet it will take part in it because it has more than once experienced not only the absence of journalist solidarity in Moscow and Russia (the story of our repeat registration), but also a direct and aggressive non-solidarity (attacks on "NG" and other newspapers for the "blank spaces" instead of censured material). Not many people understand the main economic sense of journalists' demands. Stripped of unessential nuances, the crux of the problem is as follows. The revaluation of the fixed assets introduced by government decree No. 1233 automatically leads to an increase in all and sundry payments and taxes, etc. To be effected by the owners of these assets. In our case, by the printing and publishing complexes. They would naturally put the burden on their customers, or newspapers and magazines. Hence there will be a doubling or quadrupling (to begin with) of the costs of printing services for editorial offices. According to one version, there is not a direct dependence here, because printers capitalized on this decree in their own interests. Why was "NG" not the first to propose this action? Just because the relatively small print run of our newspaper takes smaller funds than of those newspapers whose circulation runs to 1 million copies. While we paid, say, 10 |
FBIS3-55212_1 | `Absurd' Lawsuits Against Media Questioned | which the interviewee -- Sergey Filatov, leader of the Russian Federation President's Administration -- termed Barannikov's behavior "treachery," clearly claiming that he had "worked for two camps." It is these expressions in quotation marks that the plaintiff is seeking to refute through the courts. Without in any way predetermining the court's ruling or impinging on its prerogatives and powers, I would nonetheless like to dwell initially on two purely formal points. First, why was the defendant named as the "All-Union (?) State Television and Radio Company"? What millennium are we living in, Dear Friends? Where is that Union? Second, why was presenter Andrey Karaulov named as a defendant? After all, as is well known, he is an interviewer, he asks questions -- he has no responsibility for the quality or accuracy of the answers. Did he perhaps suggest the answers? The plaintiff does not make this claim. Consequently, the defendant is a man who listened (like millions of viewers) to what the interviewee said. In Barannikov's opinion, this should cost him dear. But more of that later.... We say notion of the fact that this is an attempt to rebut not a widespread and allegedly inaccurate report, but an assessment of someone's behavior -- a judgment that any citizen is legally entitled to make. A patient, while not denying that he had numerous symptoms of a certain disease, could with equal success angrily contest the diagnosis reached by the doctor. This is all the more pertinent as Barannikov does not dispute the fact that he was indeed in a different "camp" during the famous events. But, I repeat, the courts will decide all this. S. Filatov and A. Karaulov do not need my help or protection; their lawyers are highly qualified and have repeatedly confirmed their reputation as very experienced counsel. But there is one aspect whose importance goes beyond this particular case. The law allows plaintiffs in cases of this sort to seek compensation from defendants for the moral wrong done them, setting the sum at their own discretion. And it is envisaged that people concerned about their reputation will not be unrealistic and that they have two true friends -- logic and common sense. How much do you think V. Barannikov wants for this "dishonor"? Don't be shy, let's talk big money, using the minimum wage as the starting point -- 100,000, 200,000, 500,000? Wrong. Surely not a |
FBIS3-55233_0 | Premier Addresses Diplomatic Corps on 29 Dec | Language: Russian Article Type:BFN [Speech by Prime Minister Vyacheslav Kebich at a meeting with diplomatic corps in Minsk on 29 December] [Text] Dear compatriots, ladies, gentlemen, colleagues! Let me pass my most sincere greetings and wishes of prosperity and happiness to you and the entire diplomatic corps. I want to emphasize that I am extremely happy to have the chance to meet you and share opinions with you on various issues of bilateral relations and international problems. I am grateful to you for the nice wishes and opinions that you have repeatedly voiced at meetings with me and other Council of Ministers representatives. I sincerely hope that the spirit of mutual understanding, friendship, and personal sympathy will prevail in our relations. I am convinced that this will serve the interests of our states and nations. Due to the nature of your work you are well-informed about the problems Belarus are experiencing. I do not want to conceal the fact that we are living through hard times -- critical processes in the economy are aggravating which has a negative impact on the sociopolitical sphere and causes negative reaction on the part of certain social groups. Many people have difficulties comprehending what is going on, and demand that the course of reform be abandoned. We clearly see the seriousness of the current historic period and are doing our best to decently exit the situation. Of course, the economy is not the only important factor. A radical reshaping of the political and administrative systems is under way that involves changes in mentality and ideology and thus, the entire system of personal and social values. At the same time, everyday mentality fails to follow these processes, also because we have not formed a comprehensive theoretical footing for the latter. This causes frustration and dissatisfaction and optimistic thinking often gives way to pessimism. Doubts continue to grow regarding the authenticity of the path upon which the Republic has set out. Diametrically opposing opinions are voiced -- some suggest orienting toward the East, while others maintain that the key to resolving our problems lies in the West. With regard to this, I would like to answer one question that disturbs me: Does Belarus has its own foreign policy? Yes, we have such a policy and its essence is not seeking priorities from the so-called "class perspective." Its essence is to be driven solely by national-regional interests. |
FBIS3-55236_0 | Democratic Party Leader Demands Reforms, Blames Apathy | Language: Russian Article Type:BFN [Interview with Aleksandr Dorovolskiy, leader of the United Democratic Party of Belarus, by Galina Dobrovolskaya; place and date not given: "Life Itself Will Force Us To Be Active"] [Text] [Malakhovskaya] After taking a short stroll along the Minsk streets, one of my friends from Moscow said: "How bizarre it is to see such a drowsy and lethargic city." Do you agree with this? [Dobrovolskiy] After my recent trip to Poland, I unexpectedly realized that not only is our people's life much worse, they also think in a different way. For example, they wouldn't move a finger to make their life any better. Poles, by contrast, seek to achieve Western living standards. The effects of economic reforms in Poland are easily seen -- storeshelves are always full, and even low-paid workers can lead a decent life there. Our Republic found itself in a bind not only because of the ineptness of its government, but also because of people's apathy. In a society undergoing economic reforms, ordinary workers participate in changes. There will be no more tranquility -- one will have to work better to earn a good salary or simply to retain his workplace. [Malakhovskaya] So we should adopt an American style of living. Is that correct? [Dobrovolskiy] Mired in an old habit, we are waiting for someone to pass some good law and settle our problems. We must take the initiative and change our society, so that the government and parliament consist of reform-minded professionals. A famous saying has been borne out: People have leaders that they deserve. To change something in life, one should change himself in the first place. [Malakhovskaya] What should we expect from the new year then? [Dobrovolskiy] First of all, a shift in public sentiments. Life itself will force us to be more active. Our neighbors -- perhaps with the exception of Ukraine -- have left us far behind. If no resolute measures are undertaken, we will end up in limbo. The economic situation will worsen. God help us avert a collapse. We have long proposed creating a free banking zone in Belarus. This would allow us to finance Belarusian, Russian, and other enterprises. We should also try to ram our refrigerators, automobiles, tractors, and television sets into foreign markets. |
FBIS3-55296_0 | New State Privatization Program Viewed | Language: Russian Article Type:BFN [Article by Aleksandr Velichenkov: "Privatization Dessert; In Late December Government Adopted New State Program of Privatization"] [Text] Behind this document we can discern the guiding hand of the GKI [State Committee for the Administration of State Property] leadership. Let us recall that the GKI's previous attempts to establish a new state program ended with the program being recalled for further work while the GKI ultimately issued a statement on the extension of the operation of the old 1992 state program for a further three years. The GKI has several reasons for wanting the program to be adopted right now. The main one is the desire to avoid a detailed examination in the new parliament which would end in an as yet unknown way. The document is being put into operation by a president's edict. It is characteristic that its draft lacked the point, traditional for the president's October and November decrees, according to which the document should be examined and approved by the Duma. But in the end it was decided not to bypass article three of the law on privatization, in accordance with which the state program is put into operation by parliament. One of the document's clauses is extremely curious, banning the use of procedures for re-registering debts on which state enterprises have defaulted as bills of exchange and circulating these bills on the secondary market in securities. In practice that means one thing: The opportunity for demanding the payment of debts from state enterprises is closed. As a result sooner or later the need will arise for another reciprocal setting off of debts. By defending its own property from being dragged apart in accordance with bill of exchange commitments, the GKI is in fact creating a situation in which no one is responsible for state enterprises' debts: neither the state nor the state enterprise itself. The government session particularly criticized the benefits for investment funds (and that is tax legislation, not privatization legislation), procedures for the participation of foreign investors, and also the need to adopt a state program "for just half a year," that is until the voucher's term runs out. Although changing the privatization concept at a moment when the population has already used 80 percent of the vouchers is quite obviously already impossible. Despite the fact that the state program provisions have been worked through, individual "underwater rocks" could prove |
FBIS3-55297_3 | Ways of Increasing Oil Well Yields Viewed | its development. The shortage of financial resources is fatally compounded by the overall crisis of nonpayment in the economy, whereby our enterprises, because of the rapid pace of inflation, take a long time to obtain money for the output they dispatch. The scale of the nonpayment problem -- debts to the fuel and energy complex are building up in an avalanche and are already approaching 10 trillion rubles -- of course greatly exceeds all others. At any rate, were it not for nonpayment many financial difficulties would have been overcome independently by the sector. Now it is in an impasse. We should not pin hopes on the introduction of promissory notes. To whom should we present a promissory note? To the municipal services, to whom we are obliged to supply energy resources despite their inability to pay? Or to the industrial enterprises whose fixed capital is worth several times less than its debts? The process has gone so far that measures characteristic of an efficient market economy are no help here. As a result of the simultaneous operation of these and other adverse factors, the accumulation and mingling of problems continues. It is not only oil extraction which is in decline -- the entire oil industry is experiencing a slump and crisis is paralyzing the oil supply system. A paradoxical situation has taken shape: While we are grieving over the drastic decline in production we are unable to sell readily the oil we have already obtained. Export deliveries are being disrupted. For instance, as of 24 November we had failed to deliver over 2 million tonnes of oil on schedule. At Novorossiysk, where our main terminal is located, we have been hampered by stormy weather, but in Ukraine and Belarus it is not just the elements that call the tune. We have been obliged to restrict deliveries to them because of chronic nonpayment. Once they encounter a few frosts they sometimes take advantage of the fact that oil pipelines cross their territory and try to lay hands on oil that does not belong to them, that is, they are simply starting to steal it. Thus in Belarus, in the Mozyr region, 112,000 tonnes of oil were recently stolen in a few days. There are many problems connected with oil storage in Russia itself. Right now there is no room for nearly 3 million tonnes. A crisis has overtaken oil refining. |
FBIS3-55326_0 | Talbott Explains Post-Election `Analytical Pause' | Language: Russian Article Type:BFN [Vladimir Nadein report: "Clinton Not Averse to Talking With Yeltsin in a Small Group"] [Text] Washington -- "There have been no zigzags in our attitude toward Russia," Strobe Talbott, U.S. deputy secretary of state, said in an interview with IZVESTIYA's correspondent on the eve of President Bill Clinton's trip to Russia. "We have not been backtracking or wavering. We have simply taken a short breather to study the results of the 12 December elections and to be sure that we have understood them correctly." Even after his appointment to the number two job at the State Department, Strobe Talbott retains his position as architect of policy on the CIS countries. Critics consider Talbott's erroneous forecast of the Russian Duma election results to have been a blunder. "What happened 12 December was something we had not expected," Talbott admits. "But I do not think many Russians expected it either.... Our policy needed clarification. This has been done." This interview took place on the eve of President Bill Clinton's departure for Europe. Certain critics have rebuked the presidential team for leaving some important tour issues unresolved until the last minute -- from the vague proposals on Bosnia to the question of whether or not representatives of pro-Communist factions in the new Russian parliament should be invited to the reception at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. But Talbott clearly hinted that the United States has already gotten over its analytical pause, has cleared up its conceptual blank spots, and is again relying on a consistent program -- "although nobody is ever 100-percent happy." Using very cautious expressions and invariably accompanying his conclusions with riders to the effect that "it is not for a U.S. official to give Russian citizens and Russian leaders directions about how they should run their economy or their policy," Strobe Talbott gives two main reasons for the pro-government blocs' election failure. "No democracy can fail to be concerned about how humane the government appears to its citizens. All U.S. presidents have to be concerned about this. Leaders may be sincerely convinced that everything they do is exclusively in people's interests. It may even be directly in people's interests. Nonetheless, leaders need public support. If a leader and his policy do not meet with society's support, they will fail. This is not such a big message, but we want to bring it to the Russian side's |
FBIS3-55326_1 | Talbott Explains Post-Election `Analytical Pause' | the question of whether or not representatives of pro-Communist factions in the new Russian parliament should be invited to the reception at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. But Talbott clearly hinted that the United States has already gotten over its analytical pause, has cleared up its conceptual blank spots, and is again relying on a consistent program -- "although nobody is ever 100-percent happy." Using very cautious expressions and invariably accompanying his conclusions with riders to the effect that "it is not for a U.S. official to give Russian citizens and Russian leaders directions about how they should run their economy or their policy," Strobe Talbott gives two main reasons for the pro-government blocs' election failure. "No democracy can fail to be concerned about how humane the government appears to its citizens. All U.S. presidents have to be concerned about this. Leaders may be sincerely convinced that everything they do is exclusively in people's interests. It may even be directly in people's interests. Nonetheless, leaders need public support. If a leader and his policy do not meet with society's support, they will fail. This is not such a big message, but we want to bring it to the Russian side's attention, because it is the truth about how a democracy works." The second reason for the Russian Government's difficulties, Talbott believes, lies in the means used to implement the economic reforms. "I have learned from the Russian press that a considerable number of those who voted for the Liberal Democratic Party were middle-aged people scared of losing their jobs. But this is something with which we are very familiar." Strobe Talbott said that certain observers had attached to his words "less shock, more therapy" a meaning that they did not have. Russian citizens will merely suffer if the reforms are delayed. Another reason why the "Partnership For Peace" program has undergone no changes since the 12 December elections is because the U.S. Administration interpreted Zhirinovskiy's success as a failure by the democratic government to explain its policy and as a reaction to specific mistakes in the implementation of democratic transformations -- but by no means as evidence that three-quarters of Russian citizens like Zhirinovskiy's views. There has been increased criticism of "Partnership" in the United States itself and particularly in East Europe in the wake of 12 December. The fact that the program lays down no specific timetable or conditions |
FBIS3-55330_0 | Adviser Warns Against `Illusions' on U.S. Trade | Language: English Article Type:BFN [By ITAR-TASS diplomatic correspondent Aleksandr Krylovich] [Text] Moscow January 11 TASS -- "One should have no illusions about trade and economic ties between Russia and the United States. If U.S. companies see no advantages, they will not go to Russia," said Anatoliy Porokhovskiy, deputy head of the Institute of the U.S. and Canada Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in an interview with ITAR-TASS timed to coincide with the issue of the "diplomatic courier" bulletin devoted to the forthcoming visit of the U.S. President Bill Clinton to Russia. Porokhovskiy said that "cherishing hopes that the U.S. will spend money only because Russia needs help is pointless. One must take into account that whenever the U.S. allocates funds to support this or that country, primarily, it will give support to their own companies which will provide this aid, i.e. up to 80 per cent of funds will be realised trough American private business and only 20 per cent of the allocated amount will directly reach facilities on the territory of our country." "What we can hope for is the acceleration of processes which already began and the creation of a favourable atmosphere for the American business in Russia. As for the main task, we have to resolve it by ourselves. In this country, pinning hopes on the American capital to take us out of the situation in which we found ourselves will be another illusion, to put it mildly," Porokhovskiy said. "It is necessary to precisely forecast what will be advantageous to our country and not to confine ourselves to only one variant in the search for the best option. Apart from America, there are Europe, Japan and other countries. We should take a flexible and active economic position which would clearly show that we come out for the development of relations with all countries, but on a mutually advantageous basis, which is accepted in business circles of any country," Porokhovskiy said. |
FBIS3-55331_0 | Progress in U.S. Economic Ties Welcomed | Language: Russian Article Type:BFN [Article by Candidate of Economic Sciences A.G. Kvasov, deputy director of the Foreign Ministry's North America Department: "Russian-American Economic Relations Geared toward Era of Open Markets"] [Text] Russian-American relations occupy a special place in the multipolar geometry of the world that has taken shape since the end of the Cold War. Looming larger and embracing more and more new spheres, economic collaboration between Russia and the United States has become a direct or indirect subject of discussion in our country. Discarding all the accretions, the main question here is: Why do we need economic relations with the United States? What is their role in Russian foreign economic policy? Objective analysis of the world economy and the trends in technical progress indicates that for the commercial development of the most advanced achievements -- "the technologies of tomorrow" -- which Russian science and in part the defense industry possess we cannot do without the American market. In the 20th Century no country, not even Japan, has been able to establish a major technical innovation of any description without passing the test of the American market. That market, by virtue of its readiness to accept any innovation and its unsurpassed size, can also serve as a springboard for Russian enterprises. Our economic collaboration will require more favorable conditions if this plan is to be realized. Russian-U.S. trade and economic ties have for many decades been subordinated to a considerable extent to considerations of a political nature. From this standpoint the meeting between Boris Yeltsin and Bill Clinton in Vancouver in April 1993, which initiated the development of partnership relations between our countries, was a landmark. Even outwardly it was unusual in that for the first time discussion of economic problems took up a large part of the presidents' time. It was there that mutual understanding was achieved for the first time that the most effective way to help the Russian reforms is to give us the chance to earn the requisite foreign currency ourselves. The creation of an intergovernmental commission under the leadership of Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin and U.S. Vice President Al Gore was an important decision made at the Vancouver summit. The commission was essentially charged with the task of "depoliticizing" trade and economic relations between our countries and rendering them such that they promote the development of Russian-American partnership. The commission's mandate is to remove |
FBIS3-55392_1 | Analogies With Weimar Germany Considered | sacrifices for the sake of victory over fascism. There is also a second conclusion: The democratic stratum in our society has proved all too thin and barren. During the years of the triumphal routing of totalitarianism the small number of true democrats has been swelled by a vast number of fellow travelers and timeservers, and all together they have been unable to take advantage of the unique opportunity that they have been given by the people and history. And panic and hysteria are now springing up among certain people as a result -- owing to the realization that Russia today does not need them. Especially since the new constitution does not envisage any "eternal" sentinels under democracy -- it is itself the guarantor of democracy. In this connection I would like to remind you that the coming parliamentary battles that some politicians are craving so much cannot be of crucial importance for Russian citizens' lives. If the Federal Assembly adopts sensible, necessary laws, they will be grateful. If not, well, vast sums of the people's money have been wasted and people may be called to account.... In any case the parliament has its own functions strictly defined by the Constitution and those who are trying to overstep them will be running a very great risk. That is the third conclusion, with which of course by no means everyone agrees. Finally, a word about something that must be discussed, picking one's words as carefully as possible. There are just two or three men along with the president today (perhaps a few more) who are real Russia-wide figures in terms of character, erudition, and their understanding of the real problems and ways of resolving them. That is lamentable since a commander's strength lies in his marshals, and Russia is a burden that one man alone cannot bear. I think that the elections were a litmus test measuring not verbal effusions of personal devotion but various politicians' true significance and clout and their popularity with the people. To be blunt, the voters did not see anyone worthy of universal trust among those for whom they were asked to vote. And had Vasiliy Ivanovich Chapayev suddenly appeared in this situation, 99.99 percent of the voters would quite probably have voted for him.... It is also bad that the president is running the risk of losing such a devoted ally as the mass media, in |
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