TEHRAN, Jan. 12--Bank Sepah of Iran in a statement on Thursday dismissed the baseless and false charges brought up against Iran by the US Department of the Treasury.
According to IRNA, the statement underlined that the decisions of US officials to impose restrictions on the bank’s dollar transactions under illusive and unjustifiable pretexts will affect neither BSI exchanges nor its financial commitments.
According to the document, Bank Sepah is determined to legally pursue the issue in future. “Such a decision taken by US officials on political grounds is an indication of a general scenario drawn up against the national interests of an independent country.
“Obviously, it will not leave any impact on or restrict ongoing transactions. Neither will it influence the nature of implementation of Bank Sepah’s current and future financial commitments,“ he added.
The statement added that Bank Sepah, as the first Iranian bank, and said that ever since its establishment in 1925, it has been rendering transparent banking services, based on internationally acceptable banking principles and regulations, both on the domestic as well as world scene ever since its establishment in 1925, and it will continue in the same in future.
The bank assured its clients that it will continue its full banking services in Iran and overseas.

TEHRAN, Jan. 12--The Guardians Council (GC) has endorsed a Majlis ratification for banks to revert to their previous working hours.
Based on the ratification approved on January 3, banks should open before other state institutions and organizations begin their daily activities.
Mousa Qorbani, a member of parliament, told IRIB that Majlis only adopted a general framework and did not interfere in executive affairs.
A research study conducted by Tehran Municipality showed that traffic congestion would decline by 20 percent if banks were to open at 7:30 a.m. and schools at 8:30 to 9:00 a.m.
Director General of Tehran Municipality’s Transportation and Traffic Department Mahmoud Saffarzadeh said on Monday that the best way of reducing traffic in Tehran is to have banks and offices open before schools.

KISH ISLAND, Hormuzgan, Jan. 12--Expansion of tourism is a top priority for this Persian Gulf Island, said managing director of Kish Free Trade Zone.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of Second International Exhibition of Hotel Management, Services and Equipment and Third International Furniture and Interior Architecture held here from January 9-12, Majid Shayesteh noted that the organization is pursuing development and improvement of hotels alongside with expansion of local tourism industry.
According to a press release faxed to Iran Daily, the exhibitions are sponsored by KFZO, Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, Tehran Municipality’s Beautification Organization and Kish Trade Promotion Center.
He noted that supporting private sector investments is the main principle of Kish Island’s Comprehensive Development Plan, which was compiled based on 20-Year Vision Plan (2005-2025).
The exhibitions, which feature the latest products, accessories, equipment and services in hotel management, is being held in an area of 14,000 sq. m.
Each year, a large number of industrialists and businesspeople organize conferences and exhibitions in this Persian Gulf island given its facilities including three fully equipped exhibition halls with a total floor space of 21,000 sq.m. It also has more than 50 hotels and lodges, various restaurants, no-visa entry for representatives of foreign companies, appropriate airport and sea transport facilities, daily flights to and from the mainland and the UAE, favorable climate and tourist fascinations.
Shayesteh called on investors and producers to display their goods and products in professional exhibitions which are held on Kish Island.
Referring to the one million tourists visiting the island each year, he noted that Kish has high potential for developing tourism.
The First International Exhibition of Hotel Management, Services and Equipment was held in Kish from January 24-27, 2006.

TEHRAN, Jan. 12--A lawmaker from Tehran has blamed previous governments and political issues for the rising inflation and high prices of commodities.
Mehdi Kouchakzadeh also told ISNA that economic issues are based on fundamental steps and infrastructures, cannot be tackled in one year or few months and the pre-requisites should have been established over the last 10 to 15 years.
The lawmaker noted that some production and economic units which disagree with the ninth government’s policies try to use different tactics, such as hoarding, to defame the government.
He said that the ninth government is not a divine miracle and is responsible for a part of recent price hikes.
Criticizing the Judiciary’s actions in countering economic corruption, he added that the Judiciary deals with this issue very leniently. This, he said, assures the criminals that they would not be punished for their wrongdoings.
Kouchakzadeh said that publicizing the names of rent-seekers and those who encroach on public property will prevent economic corruption, but it is not the sole solution to the dilemma.
Rent-seekers harm the economy and Iran’s reputation to a great extent, he said, stating, “If I was sure that naming those involved in economic corruption would be beneficial, I would announce their names myself.“

Iran produces about 900,000 to one million tons of dates annually.

TEHRAN, Jan. 12--United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) agreed to allocate $200,000 to enhance Iran’s date exports.
Mehrdad Jalalipour, director general of Export and Service Promotion Bureau of Trade Development Organization, told IRNA that UNIDO will help small industries increase Iran’s date exports.
Pointing to the talks with director general of UNIDO Processing Industries Office, he said that based on preliminary agreements with UNIDO, the UN body will allocate $200,000 for holding training classes on information dissemination and marketing, and upgrading packaging and side industries.
He contended that if Iran performs efficiently on its initial agreements, UNIDO will support further development of the industry and date exports.
Jalalipour observed that Iran produces about 900,000 to one million tons of dates annually, of which 10 percent is exported.
To gain a satisfactory position in the global dates market, Iran should enhance its packaging industry, production and harvest processes, he concluded.

TEHRAN, Jan. 12--The 6th International Paint, Resin, Industrial Insulations and Composite Materials Exhibition opened here Thursday at Tehran International Fairground.
Some 174 domestic and 42 firms from the UK, Germany, Italy, Russia, the UAE, India, Kuwait, Turkey, Pakistan, Sweden, Canada, Ukraine, Taiwan, China, France, Egypt, Oman, Japan, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands are taking part in the four-day event.
An executive official in charge of the exhibition said at the inauguration ceremony that the event aims at improving the quality and quantity of products for presentation in global markets.
Shahnam Sepasdar added, “We want to make our products more competitive than foreign brands by improving them to increase exports.“
He said that the exposition will introduce new job markets and make domestic experts familiar with state-of-the-art technologies and services.
Industrial paint is very important for decorative works and as a protective material, he said noting that the problems in the way of paint industry should be removed.
UN sanctions on Iran, he declared, did not affect the participation of foreign firms in the fair.
He stressed that international exhibitions should meet global standards and serve to remove the shortcomings and introduce Iranian products.

KERMANSHAH,
Jan. 12--Head of the Handicrafts Office in Paveh, Kermanshah province, Jabbar Setareh, said here Thursday that the traditional hand-woven footwear known as ’giveh’ is being exported to Iraq and Europe in view of its high quality.
Setareh told IRNA that 4,000 pairs of various kinds of giveh are produced annually in Paveh with prices ranging from 200,000-250,000 rials per pair.
He said that a 100-million-rial credit has been made available to giveh workshops for repair, purchase of equipment and raw materials as well as for paying the wages of master weavers.
“At present, some 300 people are involved in the production of this traditional footwear in Paveh under the supervision of the city’s handicrafts office.
“This year, 110 women from Paveh received training in weaving givehs under a 90-day training course conducted free of charge,“ he added.
He noted that most weavers do their weaving in their houses.
Giveh is local footwear made from cotton thread and leather. It is mainly produced in the rural areas of cities such as Paveh and Javanroud and is mostly used in summer.
Production of this type of footwear has been common in Kermanshah since ancient times and old workshops still exist in this western province.
Paveh, with a population of 90,000, is located northwest of Kermanshah province.

TEHRAN, Jan. 12--An international forum on oil refining industry will be held here on February 17-18 to introduce Iranian companies’ capabilities, said the forum secretary on Friday.
According to IRNA, Seyed Mohsen Alaqeband-Hosseini added that foreign enterprises will cooperate with Iran more easily when their managers have sufficient knowledge about the country’s capacities.
International seminars play a major role in establishing ties between domestic and overseas contractors and in making them familiar with refining facilities and plans, said the secretary.
According to Alaqeband-Hosseini, an exhibition will be held on the sidelines of the forum with the aim of demonstrating Iranian contractors’ capabilities and attracting foreign contractors.
Some 33 domestic and foreign companies are to display their achievements at the exhibition which will be held in an area of 543 sq.m.