SHARQ: Last week’s ruling by the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, has adversely influenced Tehran Stock Market. The once fledgling bourse has declined by more than 200 units. Sudden decline in the value of stocks has come at a time when it is not even certain that Iran’s nuclear dossier will be referred to the United Nations Security Council. Furthermore, since changes are likely to take place in management of TSE, the prevailing conditions of TSE can be attributed to uncertainty of TSE managers about their own future.

MARDOMSALARI: Despite the difficulties of recent weeks, there are certainly many options for Iran that can help end the nuclear standoff. It would be rather naive to completely ignore a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear dossier. True, the West has ruled out the possibility of military action against Iran to terminate its nuclear program. But it goes without saying that referral of the nuclear dossier to UN Security Council will bring in its wake many negative consequences for Iran. The Foreign Ministry must work harder to convince other countries that it is Iran’s inalienable right to acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

Vigilant
ABRAR: Iraqi Shiites are regular targets of terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda operatives in the Shiite-dominated country. Thousands of Iraqis have been killed in criminal attacks throughout the war-battered country. The main purpose of such attacks is to force Shiites to take retaliatory measures against their Sunni compatriots. However, Iraqi Shiites and their top religious leader, Aytaollah Seyyed Ali Sistani are aware of malicious intention of terrorists and their sponsors. Hence, the Shiites have so far refused to take unplanned measures and try to convert the threats into opportunities.

JOMHOURI-E ESLAMI: It may not be a coincidence that anti-Iran resolution by International Atomic Energy Agency was issued during the Sacred Defense Week. There is little doubt that the IAEA document is politically motivated. Iran should turn this threat into an opportunity. Iran’s national interests will be undermined if it reverses its civilian nuclear program. Iranian expatriates also believe that Tehran should stay the course and move ahead with confidence. Officials and policymakers must concentrate on the people’s demands when making decisions on crucial national issues. Access to peaceful nuclear technology is a factor that brings Iranians from all walks of life closer together.

Elections in Iraq are by no means an end of the game. The Americans will not be seen marching out of the country, as the Iraqis believe. The violence will continue after elections. The country might get divided into various factions. The Americans will continue to suck the blood from the land of Iraq, and the exit of occupiers appears remote. Will the Iraqi elections lead to a democracy or will it be seen as hypocrisy? History will give us the answer.
There is dwindling cohesiveness in Iraq. This will have a profound impact on the neighbors of Iraq. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria and Turkey form a council of countries that are directly involved in dealing with Iraq and will feel the ripple effect from the dynamics in Iraq. The break-up of Iraq will draw the countries of the region into conflict.
Turkey is worried about an independent Kurdish state in the north of Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, which is primarily made up of Sunni Muslims, is concerned about the growing influence of Iran in southern Iraq through its co-religionists, the Shias.
Jordan and Kuwait are worried of hosting the influx of refugees from Iraq. Syria is already under sanctions from America, and fears an impending attack from the Americans or Israelis.
Therefore, Iraq is not only insecure for Iraqis but also for its neighbors. It is also attracting Mujahideen (warriors) from all over the Islamic world to fight against the illegal occupation of Iraq. Therefore, predictions that security in Iraq will improve after the election appear to be far remote. Until and unless something is done to bring Iraqis together, elections alone won’t do the magic.
The past week saw an upsurge of tensions around the southern Iraqi city of Basra, where many of Britain’s troops in the country are based. British troops stormed an Iraqi police station after two British undercover soldiers were arrested by the police and then kidnapped by a Shiite militia. Clearly they were on a secret mission. Given the facts, the only plausible explanation is that the undercover soldiers were engaged in pseudo-insurgency operations.
Without a shadow of doubt, a full-scale sectarian war would help the coalition forces; they would be the primary beneficiary. But the sectarian conflict failed to ignite, and then the coalition forces engaged in pseudo-insurgency activities by exploding bombs in markets, mosques and churches.
There have been earlier reports about American involvement in the insurgency, but this was the first report of direct involvement of Britishers in creating unrest in Iraq.
So, what is the remedy for Iraq? The occupiers of Iraq would like to continue their occupation, fuel the unrest for justifying their presence and take advantage of the oil resources of Iraq. It is now only up to the Iraqis and its neighbors who have an interest in “keeping Iraq intact“.
The options are limited. There cannot be a military solution, as the occupiers are powerful; neither a political solution as the interest of the occupiers is to fragment the country, and it is finding people in Iraq, who are helping it to do so.
However, this is an opportunity for the fragmented Islamic Ummah to unite and come forward to assist their Iraqi fellow Muslims to find a pragmatic solution to the current crises. Muslim countries can play a vital role in guiding the Iraqis for coming out of the current crises. They can not only influence the occupiers, but can also support their fellow Muslims in Iraq.
A coalition with the other powerhouses of the world like Europe or China can be considered for influencing the occupiers. A media campaign to nullify the image of Muslims, being labeled as terrorist, all over the world is also the need of the hour. Muslims face a Herculean task to prove that they are against terrorism, as the odds are currently against them. It can only be disproved, if they are united, strictly follow the guidelines of their religion and prepare for sacrifices.
Otherwise, today it is Iraq, tomorrow it will be Syria and then others to face the same challenges as Iraq.

Minhaj A. Qidwai

The Senior Official Meeting (SOM) of the Council of Ministers (COM) of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was held on September 29-30, 2005 in Astana, Kazakhstan.
High ranking officials from ECO member states including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan attended the meeting.
The meeting, which was chaired by Rapil Zhoshybaev, deputy foreign minister of Kazakhstan, considered and adopted the agenda for the 15th meeting of the ECO Council of Ministers to be held on October 1, 2005 in Astana.
It also approved the reports to be submitted to the ministers. They include reports of the 15th Regional Planning Council held on 2004, Council of Permanent Representatives (CPR) meeting since 14th COM meeting held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Senior official reviewed the finalized draft of ECO Vision 2015 that would serve as a main policy guideline for the organization and sets goals and targets for ECO to be achieved by 2015.
The ECO Vision would be adapted by the Council of Ministers and issued at the end of the meeting.

Economic Cooperation Organization Secretariat