Mohsen Rahami

TEHRAN, Dec. 11--Iranian society is gradually becoming familiar with principles of human rights, a law university professor said.
Mohsen Rahami also told ISNA on Saturday that Iran is presently passing through the initial stages with regard to human rights.
"The majority of human rights conventions referred to Majlis for approval have usually been accepted by parliaments of other countries. This is while the Guardians Council rejects the parliament's approvals which is a legal barrier. This shows that Iran has not made much progress in accepting the human rights systems," he said.
Asked about the West's double standards vis-ˆ-vis human rights, Rahami noted that no government in the world acts in accordance with the international human rights convention.
"The attitude of certain western countries toward the Islamic dress code in the West contradicts human rights conventions," he said.
Rahami pointed out that basic principles of human rights, including a suspect's right to have a lawyer and to remain silent, are violated under certain circumstances in Iran.

TEHRAN, Dec. 11--Former Judiciary Spokesman Hossein Mir Mohammad-Sadeqi is reportedly planning to participate in the May 2005 presidential election.
According to IRNA, the Coalition of Graduates of US, European and Pacific Universities, here on Saturday announced its support for Mir Mohammad-SadeqiÕs nomination in the presidential election.
Mir Mohammad-Sadeqi teaches at TehranÕs Shahid Beheshti University.
Meanwhile, Maryam Behrouzi, the head of the Political Bureau of the Followers of Imam and Leadership Front, said on Friday the former director of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Ali Larijani, is willing to run in the ninth presidential elections, Mehr News Agency reported.
Behrouzi said the front has negotiated with Larijani about his candidacy and believes he could serve as the front's candidate.
ÒWithin the next two weeks, the front will negotiate with other potential candidates as well to field one candidate for the top post,Ó she said.
Currently, Larijani serves as the leader's representative in the Supreme National Security Council.
Asked about the possible candidacy of former Majlis Speaker Mehdi Karroubi in the election, Behrouzi said the front welcomes the participation of Karroubi in the presidential race.

Seyyed Mehdi Tabatabai

TEHRAN, Dec. 11--Double standards by Majlis Presiding Board can adversely influence the political atmosphere of the next presidential election, a Tehran MP said.
Seyyed Mehdi Tabatabai also told ILNA on Saturday that the board should avoid taking factional stances in its managerial interactions. Commenting on the objection of university students over the performance of certain fundamentalists, he said this needs to be investigated.
"Fundamentalists should pay more attention to religious and human principles," he added.
Commenting on claims by fundamentalist MPs that they did not take advantage of cellular phones, houses and cars allocated customarily, Tabatabai asserted that the lawmakers are not sincere when they speak about these issues.
Tabatabai warned that if Majlis Presiding Board does not pay heed to his objections, he will protest through other means.

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 11--President Mohammad Khatami on Thursday wrote a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan supporting his continuation in office.
In his letter, submitted to Annan by Iran's permanent representative to the UN Mohammad Javad Zarif, Khatami praised the leadership and firm commitment of the secretary-general to the UN Charter, IRNA reported.
He said the ongoing moves in the UN to try to oust Annan were politically motivated and would fail to tarnish his image as a human rights defender.
Khatami expressed hope Annan will continue in his position and never hesitate to discharge his responsibilities for materializing the ideals on the basis of which this international organization was established.

A delegation of lawmakers visited Bam recently and discussed the pending problems of residents.

TEHRAN, Dec. 11--Majlis is not satisfied with the trend of reconstruction of the quake-hit city of Bam, the rapporteur of Majlis Development Commission said Saturday.
Vali Azarvash also told Fars News Agency that a delegation of lawmakers visited Bam recently and discussed the pending problems of residents.
"Bam reconstruction needs a proper timetable. Lack of a suitable distribution system is linked to the delay in Bam reconstruction," he added. Commenting on the absence of new roads and transportation minister since the former ministerÕs impeachment, Azarvash said President Mohammad Khatami will introduce the new minister soon to Majlis.
Some 35,000 people perished and more than 70 percent of buildings were destroyed in the devastating quake that hit Bam on Dec. 26, 2003.

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Dec. 11--IranÕs Ambassador in Baku Afshar Soleymani in his meeting with Azeri Minister of Justice Fikret Mamedov here on Friday discussed bilateral judicial cooperation.
Soleymani praised the efforts of Azeri officials to exchange criminals and urged measures to expedite it, IRNA reported.
The Iranian ambassador described judicial agreements as a basic step for resolving pending issues related to the two countries' nationals.
He thanked Azeri officials for efforts to resolve the problems of Iranian nationals residing in Baku.
The Azeri minister, for his part, referred to Iran-Azerbaijan judicial ties as ÔconstructiveÕ.
Mamedov called for exchanging visits between judicial officials to expand bilateral cooperation.
Cooperation in other fields between Iran and Azerbaijan was among other issues discussed by the two officials.

TEHRAN, Dec. 11--Iran's ambassador to Armenia, Alireza Haqiqian, reiterated the need to settle the Karabakh crisis through peaceful ways and negotiations between Azeris and Armenians, it was announced here Saturday.
Speaking in an interview with a Yerevan-based weekly about Iran's approach toward Karabakh, Haqiqian said his country's attitude toward regional developments is clear and based on cooperation, establishment of balance and understanding.
He declared Iran's constant readiness for rendering any assistance in this regard.
Stressing that Iran's policy regarding developments in the region has not changed, he said, "Iran's bilateral relations with foreign countries, in particular its neighbors, are based on mutual respect and non-interference in their domestic affairs."
Expressing his satisfaction over the current level of Iran-Armenia relations and its growing trend, Haqiqian said the visits of Armenia's President Robert Kocharian to Tehran and President Mohammad Khatami's trip to Yerevan played a crucial role in further strengthening mutual ties.
"Bilateral ties, whose cornerstone has been laid upon the historical commonalities between the two nations, can help promote sustainable peace and security in Caucasus. Expansion of relations in political, economic and cultural fields and exchanges between the two nations are currently on Iran's agenda," he said.

BUSHEHR, Dec. 11--Iranian Red Crescent Society announced on Saturday that 28 people were killed and 11 others wounded as a result of floods in Bushehr province on December 9.
IRCS announced that seven housing units were damaged by 60 percent in the province, IRNA reported.
Meanwhile, 13 people were killed after four automobiles collided with each other on the Zahedan-Khash Road in the southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province late on Friday.
The wounded were rushed to the nearest hospital.
Provincial police officials are investigating the cause of the accident. According to statistics, one Iranian dies every 24 minutes as a result of a road accident.
Experts link the high death toll from road accidents to dilapidated vehicles, reckless driving, insufficient emergency assistance, lack of communication facilities and inadequate emergency centers along land routes.

TEHRAN, Dec. 11--Iran-Oman Technical Commission will convene its sixth meeting in Oman's capital, Muscat, on Sunday which will continue up to December 14.
During the meeting, delegates from both countries will discuss issues such as illegal visits, campaign against drug smuggling and implementation of earlier agreements, IRNA reported.
Deputy head of the Interior Ministry's department in charge of border affairs, Mohammad Heidari, will head the upcoming round of the commission meeting.
Members of nine organizations are included in the Iranian delegation.
The fifth commission meeting was held in Tehran on May 9, 2004, during which the Iranian and Omani delegations were headed by Heidari and the commander of Oman's Coastguards, Colonel Ali bin Saleh Al-Balushi.
Iran-Oman Technical Commission convenes at one of the capitals of the two states every six months.