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Prayer Time (Tehran)
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Dawn: 4:41
Sunrise: 6:14
Noon: 13:02
Evening: 20:08
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Weather Guide
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SAT |
SUN |
Tehran: |
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High: |
25oC |
28oC |
Low: |
19oC |
17oC |
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Athens |
19 |
19 |
Ankara |
11 |
11 |
Paris |
26 |
26 |
New Delhi |
37 |
36 |
Rome |
21 |
21 |
Riyadh |
33 |
35 |
Frankfurt |
20 |
23 |
Cairo |
26 |
27 |
Kuwait City |
32 |
36 |
Karachi |
33 |
33 |
Copenhagen |
14 |
16 |
London |
20 |
21 |
Moscow |
15 |
12 |
Madrid |
29 |
28 |
Vienna |
20 |
25 |
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Identification
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Published by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA)
Address:
Iran Cultural & Press Institute, #212 Khorramshahr Avenue Tehran/Iran
Managing Director: Mohammad T. Roghaniha
Executive Editor: Amin Sabooni
Editorial Dept. Tel: 8755761-2
Editorial Dept. Fax: 8761869
Advertising Dept. Tel: 8753119, 8757702, 8733764
Internet Address:
www.iran-daily.com
E-mail Address:
iran-daily@iran-daily.com
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Khatami:
People Should Elect Mayors Of Big Cities
TEHRAN, April 29--President Mohammad Khatami on Thursday said people should elect the mayors of big cities.
Addressing the National Conference of Islamic City and Village Councils, Khatami said, “This will strengthen the executive section of urban management system. Isn’t it logical that people of cities with a population of over one million elect their own mayors?“
He added that if the councilors considered this proposal useful, this can be implemented by the end of his government’s tenure with their collaboration.
The chief executive went on to describe councils as one of the important means for the establishment of democracy and one of the lofty goals of the Islamic Revolution.
“When councils started their activities in Iran, the world was surprised É Now the world believes that the Islamic system is truly abiding by democratic principles,“ he said.
The president recalled that great strides have been taken in the past 26 years in terms of social developments.
“Although we still have shortfalls, we cannot transit from a dictatorial society to a democratic one overnight. In fact, compared with other countries, we have been very successful,“ he said.
Noting that the drive for democracy comprises different stages, he said, “In this drive, establishment of councils was an important move.“
Khatami emphasized that it is important for people to touch base with their identities and select their representatives or criticize the status quo.
“In a democratic society, all peoples stand united for a single national identity,“ he said.
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Russian Aid Pledge For Palestinians
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Russia's President Vladimir Putin (r) smiles next to his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas in the city of Ramallah, April 29. (Reuters Photo)
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RAMALLAH, Occupied Palestine, April 29--Russian President Vladimir Putin, on an historic visit to the Middle East, pledged military equipment and aid to the Palestinians Friday to boost security and rebuild the shattered economy.
Putin, the first Kremlin leader to visit Palestinian territory and Israel, held talks with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas in the West Bank following a day of negotiations with Israeli officials and a two-day stop in Egypt, AFP reported.
“We support the efforts of President Abbas to reform the security services and fight against terrorism,“ Putin told a news conference.
“Russia will continue to offer aid to the Palestinian Authority to implement reforms and construct a state.“
“We will give the Palestinian leadership technical help and deliveries of (military) equipment and training,“ Putin said, promising “aviation technology“ and helicopters would come first.
Alluding to Israeli fears, Putin said the Israelis understood that “today’s Palestinian leadership should have the necessary resources.“
“If we expect President Abbas to fight effectively against terrorism, we cannot expect him to do this with stones,“ Putin said.
In return, Abbas welcomed Putin’s offer to host a conference on the Middle East in Moscow in a bid to push forward the stagnant peace process. “The conditions are ripe,“ he said.
But Putin’s offer to host such an event elicited only cool responses from the United States and Israel.
Abbas reiterated the Palestinians’ commitment to the internationally drafted peace roadmap and said his government was willing to coordinate with Israel over this summer’s pullout of troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip.
Putin also warned of the dangers of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East while defending Moscow’s nuclear cooperation with Iran.
“We are not against Iran using atomic technology for peaceful purposes and we think that the Iranian people have the right to modern technology in all fields.“
Earlier, Putin laid a wreath at the tomb of veteran Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, who died last November, after being greeted by a Palestinian guard of honor and being embraced by Abbas.
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Leader Grants Amnesty
TEHRAN, April 29--Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday pardoned or commuted the prison terms of 3,631 inmates sentenced by the civil, revolutionary and military courts.
The amnesty was granted on the occasion of the birth anniversaries of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Imam Jafar As-Sadeq (AS), the sixth Imam of the prophet’s infallible household, IRNA reported.
Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi had forwarded a list of those eligible for amnesty and the leader approved the proposal.
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New Iraqi Cabinet Appreciated
TEHRAN, April 29--President Mohammad Khatami on Friday expressed satisfaction over the formation of a new interim Iraqi government.
In a letter to Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari carried by the Iranian media, Khatami wrote, “The Iraqi people and government are going through a crucial period that requires alertness and preservation of national unity.“
He said Tehran is ready to assist Iraq’s political and economic development, and hoped the new Iraq would boost ties with its neighbors based on mutual respect.
Jaafari’s election as prime minister and the formation of a new cabinet were ’satisfying’, he wrote.
Iraqi lawmakers on Thursday approved Jaafari’s cabinet after weeks of political wrangling to give Iraq its first democratically-elected government in half a century. But several key posts have yet to be allocated, and Sunni Arab leaders whose community held the reins of power under deposed president Saddam Hussein expressed disappointment over the partial line-up and their representation.
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Rafsanjani Offers to Talk With the West
TEHRAN, April 29--Chairman of State Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Friday Iran is prepared to hold talks with the West on all disputed issues.
Rafsanjani, who was delivering this week’s Friday prayer sermons, went on to address western countries, IRNA reported.
“We do not seek adventurism. We pursue the spirit of interaction and dialogue, but the style you have been following in Iran’s nuclear dossier and the US pressures cannot entail positive results,“ he said.
Rafsanjani reiterated that Iran has every right in the world to gain access to nuclear technology.
“We will remain patient and attend your long meetings just to win your trust that Iran is not pursuing the atomic bomb,“ he said.
He emphasized that Iran will continue to use its right of utilizing nuclear technology.
“Iran is prepared to hold negotiations and answer all questions that may arise, but it will not accept bullying policies,“ he said.
The substitute Friday prayer leader, addressing European countries, said, “You should take sides with a powerful nation that relies on its own powers. It is better to hold talks instead of pursuing bullying policies.“
He noted that the main US objectives are to reduce public participation in the next presidential race and create tension within the society.
Rafsanjani also said that the US is trying to use the inexperience of some political parties to its own advantage and increase tension within the society in the year named “National Solidarity and Public Participation in State Affairs“.
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Italy Forging Anti-Drug Cooperation
By Hamid Reza Emadi
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Piero Luigi Vigna
(Photo by Mehdi Khoshnevis)
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Italy’s drug control chief was in town Thursday to discuss with Iranian authorities the ongoing campaign against drug trafficking and other organized crimes, and to sign a groundbreaking agreement on bilateral cooperation.
In an interview with Iran Daily later in the day, Chief Anti-Mafia Prosecutor Piero Luigi Vigna focused largely on the scientific ways of reducing demand for narcotics and not on cutting the ever-increasing supply.
He advised the youth not to take drugs, but stopped short of explaining why his European Union bosses at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)--which together with the Americans is building postwar Afghanistan’s security systemsÑhave failed to stop the massive growth in cultivating and processing poppies after the 2001 US-led war on the Taliban.
Chief Prosecutor Vigna said Italy is vastly active in efforts to create a new judicial system in Afghanistan. However, it remains to be seen how effectively the new system could tackle the growing poppy cultivation, which is now the main source of income for many Afghans.
One thing to remember is that the Iranians are the ones getting killed on the ground in the fight against drug trafficking. This is while very little has been coming forth from the European Union and the United Nations in terms of technical and financial support.
“My visit to Tehran has a clear message ... We are not expressing our verbal solidarity only; we are going to embark on practical cooperation,“ he said, stressing that lack of complete control on Afghanistan is to blame for the rise in poppy cultivation.
The Italian official also said the European Union is highly concerned about the situation of drugs in Afghanistan.
“I assure you that the EU is putting heavy pressures on Kabul to fight poppy cultivation,“ he said.
Vigna said as Iran is losing lives in the anti-drug fight, Italy’s modern history is also witness to high-profile assassinations of police officers and senior judges by the Mafia. He called on other countries affected by drug trafficking to embark on international cooperation with Iran.
“I expect other countries to do with Iran what we are doing now,“ he said.
Italian Ambassador to Tehran Roberto Toscano also talked about efforts by Italy to help reduce demand for narcotics. He said Italy is planning to provide the UN Office on Drugs and Crime with greater financial support.
But is it not easier and less expensive to work to stop production of drugs, rather than spending much money, time and energy stopping their distribution or discouraging people not to buy them?
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Obstacles Should Not Affect Voter Turnout
TEHRAN, April 29--Interior Minister Abdolvahed Mousavi Lari said on Thursday obstacles faced by President Mohammad Khatami in the past eight years should not impede a maximum voter turnout in the next presidential race.
Speaking at the 12th Conference of the House of Iranian Political Parties, Lari said, “The president is the number two man of the country and is in charge of implementing the constitution.“
He stressed that the most important duty of the house and its members is to boost people’s awareness about the president’s role in the society, IRNA reported.
“The president’s status in the society should be distinguished from the restrictions imposed on him so that the ground is prepared for the largest public participation in the presidential election,“ he said. Lari stressed that the biggest duty of the people in charge of holding the future presidential race is to protect people’s votes.
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Blair Clashes With Rivals
LONDON, April 29--Prime Minister Tony Blair and his main rivals in Britain’s general election next week returned to attacking each other over domestic issues Friday after a bruising exchange on the war in Iraq.
As Blair attempted to push the conflict out of the spotlight, a mother who lost her son in Iraq pledged to take the government to court, AFP reported.
The governing Labour Party, main opposition Conservatives and smaller Liberal Democrats are pulling out all the stops to woo Britain’s pool of 44 million potential voters ahead of polling day on May 5.
Tory leader Michael Howard was also keen to broaden the debate after he scored a string of points against Blair over Iraq by branding the prime minister a liar for misleading the public over the war.
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Safety First
By M. Yousef
Use of old and ageing commercial aircraft has undermined the safety of our domestic and international flights over the past several years.
After a Kish-Tehran flight with more than 170 passengers and crew operated by Saha Airlines crash landed at Mehrabad airport, the people have become more skeptical about air travel by plane. The accident on April 21 claimed three lives and more than 50 were injured. TV footage showed chaos at the airport after the Boeing 707 reportedly burst its tires and authorities refused reporters to get close to the crash site.
The domestic aviation industry has to stand up and take responsibility. It must realize that the time has come to answer some very critical questions related to its poor performance. How much longer should the people feel insecure about air travel despite the fact that fares have been of the ascending order?
To regain the trust of the passengers it is essential that those in charge get more training in transparency and accountability if they really intend to resolve the problems of the key aviation industry.
Our people and the world are not unaware that the aviation industry’s main problems lie in the unilateral sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic by the United States. Due to the embargo Iran cannot buy new aircraft to meet the growing demand for air travel in recent years.
People also know that the aviation industry has done everything in its power to repair and maintain the existing fleet in the best possible manner. Production is also underway of small aircraft in cooperation with Ukraine.
However, what is and must be of the greatest importance is the safety of air transport. Under the circumstances, it has to be decided once and for all that air safety cannot be compromised come what may. The very first step in this direction is to decommission all aircraft over and above the age specified by international treaties.
Although this will impose further restrictions on the industry and availability of seats, especially on domestic routes, but those who do fly will feel much safer, which of course is their right.
One solution could come in the form announcing a reduction in the number of seats available on domestic and foreign flights operated by local carriers. Rearranging schedules and flight sectors could be another short-range solution and may well convey the right message to passengers that the shortage of airworthy planes is for real. In the meantime, smaller planes with limited capacity could be used to partly offset the shortage.
Needless to say, as long as the US sanctions are in place, we need to work out intermittent and temporary ways of overcoming the problems of the aviation industry without jeopardizing air travel safety. Those in charge can afford not to do so at their own peril.
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