MOSCOW, Oct. 26--President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, late Tuesday stressed the importance of resolving Iran’s nuclear issue within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other political channels.
In a telephone conversation, Ahmadinejad and Putin discussed Iran’s nuclear programs in anticipation of the next IAEA Board of Governors’ meeting scheduled in late November, IRNA reported.
Putin said he would encourage expansion of Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA and resumption of nuclear negotiations.
The two presidents also exchanged views on bilateral and international developments and stressed implementation of accords recently reached between officials of the two sides in New York.
Ahmadinejad and Putin also agreed that promotion of Iran-Russia ties was based on mutual interest and benefit regional and international stability.

TEHRAN, Oct. 26--State Expediency Council’s committee mandated by the leader to supervise implementation of the state’s macro policies by the three branches of the government held its first session on Wednesday.
Speaking in the meeting, SEC Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said the committee’s activities are highly significant.
“A transparent and effective performance of this committee within the framework of the country’s Constitution can guarantee proper execution of macro policies within the country’s planning and legislative structure,“ he said.
The committee will soon release a comprehensive report about its formation in accordance with legal documents and the leader’s decree, as well as its supervisory duties and responsibilities, ISNA reported.
The committee comprises 15 members, including SEC Secretary Mohsen Rezaie, Rafsanjani, heads of the three branches of the government, and ten representatives from five parliamentary commissions.
Rezaie earlier said setting the supervision criteria for overseeing the execution of state macro policies, and assessing and compiling annual reports on state performance based on the same factors are among the committee’s responsibilities. He added that the Guardians Council will regularly be informed of the outcome of the committee’s studies.
Controversy erupted among the political elite over the plan, with some saying it allows the arbitrary body to interfere in the affairs of the three branches.

TEHRAN, Oct. 26--Iran’s ambassador in Ankara said Tuesday Iran’s policy toward Iraq is to support that country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Speaking in an interview with Turkish Canal D television network, Firouz Dolatabadi noted that Iran’s stance toward Iraq and its opposition to the Arab country’s disintegration have been unchanged since 1991, IRNA reported.
“Syria and Turkey have the same opinion about Iraq’s disintegration,“ he said.
Asked about Iran’s stance on establishment of an autonomous state in northern Iraq, Dolatabadi noted that the Kurds in northern Iraq couldn’t establish an independent government on their own.
“Iraq’s Kurdish leaders are trying to cooperate with Iraq’s central government,“ he said.
He added that Washington, London and Tel Aviv are pushing Iraqi Kurds to break away from Iraq.
On Iran-Turkish security cooperation, he said, “Fighting terrorist groups is among our declared policies. Iran and Turkey have already signed a security cooperation pact.“
Dolatabadi pointed out that Tehran does not allow any terrorist group to operate in Iran against the neighboring country.
Commenting on bilateral economic ties, the envoy noted that economic cooperation between Iran and Turkey has improved considerably in recent years.
“Our two countries have close political collaboration at both regional and international levels,“ he told the TV.

Parviz Davoudi

MOSCOW, Oct. 26--First Vice President Parviz Davoudi and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov met in Moscow on Wednesday to discuss issues of mutual concern.
Fradkov expressed satisfaction over the common approach of both countries toward most international and regional issues, including the international multipolar structure and participation of the United Nations in solving the problems of Iraq and Afghanistan, IRNA reported.
He expressed Russia’s readiness for further political negotiations and cooperation with Iran in all fields.
Appreciating Iran’s support for his country’s proposal for expansion of cooperation with the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the premier said Russia supports Iran’s membership in Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
“We believe that such membership would strengthen cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the campaign against international terrorism and smuggling of narcotics,“ Fradkov said.
For his part, Davoudi underlined the determination of his country to broaden collaboration with Russia.
Currently in Moscow to attend the SCO meeting, the first vice president met prime ministers of Mongolia and Tajikistan.
Davoudi met with Tajikistan Prime Minister Akil Akilov before the start of the fourth conference of prime ministers of SCO member-states.
During the meeting, Akilov and Davoudi discussed bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, culture and railroad construction.
In his meeting with Mongolian Prime Minister Tsahiagiin Elbegdorj, Davoudi voiced Iran’s firm determination to expand relations with eastern and central Asian states.
Elbegdorj, whose country holds observer status at the SCO along with Iran, Pakistan and India, urged expansion of ties with Iran based on their historical and cultural commonalities.
The two sides expressed hope Iran and Mongolia would soon be accepted as a regular members of the organization. China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, in a joint statement issued in 2001, bonded themselves together to form the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Emad Afrough

TEHRAN, Oct. 26--A lawmaker said nuclear negotiations at the international level should not be limited to the concepts of technology and science.
In an interview with ISNA Wednesday, the head of Majlis Cultural Commission Emad Afrough also said scientific issues are closely linked with cultural, political and economic matters, such that no country can afford to overlook the latter which mostly emerges as international challenges.
“To successfully pursue its rightful demands, Iran should prepare cultural, political and economic strategies and fortify itself against encroachments by capitalist systems that emerge under the pretext of globalization,“ he said.
Afrough, a member of the rightist faction, said before attacking a country, the US launches a rigorous campaign to legitimize its action because otherwise it would be difficult to inform the world of its illusions.
“Iran has yet to strike a genuine balance between its cultural, political and economic interactions. The country needs to adopt a broad-based outlook toward national matters, implying that an issue like gaining access to nuclear technology, which is our basic and rightful demand, should not be treated on the basis of political and factional predispositions alone.“
Referring to Britain’s hostile stance, Afrough said when a country, one of Iran’s major trading partners, is willing to disregard its economic interest by refusing to support us politically, “why should we not react in the same way?“
“If we had the right understating about global developments and a new definition of stability and modern order wherein the government constantly resorts to cultural leverages to pursue political objectives, we would have been able to stand up to the West’s greed and double standards through proper cultural, political and economic strategies,“ he said.

TEHRAN, Oct. 26--Majlis Speaker Gholamali Haddad-Adel said on Wednesday the US prejudgment about the UN report on Rafik Hariri’s assassination before the publication of the same shows the US is trying to politicize the issue.
Speaking at the induction ceremony of the new head of National Iranian Library and Documents Organization, Haddad-Adel said when the Syrian government is accused by the US of involvement in the former Lebanese premier’s assassination without any compelling evidence, this shows that the case is politicized, IRNA reported.
“Whoever has been involved in the assassination of Hariri should be brought to justice. This should not turn into a pretext for US interference in the internal affairs of Syria and Lebanon,“ he said.
Commenting on Iraq’s constitutional referendum, Haddad-Adel hailed the vigilance of Iraqi people for their nationwide participation in the referendum.
He expressed optimism that the Iraqi people will maintain their unity in the upcoming parliamentary election.
Asked about ’Qods Day’ rally held on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan every year, Haddad-Adel said this day marks the international day of fighting US injustice and oppression throughout the world.
The speaker opined that unfortunately those who claim to be supporters of human rights, instead of supporting Palestinians, support the occupying Israeli regime.
On the plan for fixing prices of essential goods, Haddad-Adel said the Majlis is trying not to pressure the vulnerable social class.

MADRID, Spain, Oct. 26--Iran’ ambassador to Spain Morteza Alviri voiced the readiness of the Iranian Embassy in Madrid to take legal measures to support the rights of the Palestinian nation.
Talking at an Iftar (fast-breaking) ceremony hosted on Tuesday by the Iranian Embassy for Muslim ambassadors, Alviri said the defense of the oppressed Palestinian nation by taking measures to champion their cause is a duty of all Muslims, IRNA reported.
Pointing out that the last Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan is annually observed as a day of supporting the cause of Palestinians by Muslims all over the world, the envoy expressed hope Muslims worldwide would use this day as an opportunity to focus the world’s attention on the despicable crimes committed by the Zionist regime in occupied Palestine.
Alviri further said focusing attention on the crimes being committed by the Zionist regime in occupied Palestinian territories every `Qods Day’ is the least that Muslims could accomplish.
The late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, declared the last Friday of Ramadan as `Qods Day’ in support of the Palestinian struggle.
Muslims on this day stage worldwide demonstrations in support of Palestinians and denounce the crimes of the Zionist regime.