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5 Spy Rings Busted
TEHRAN, July 10--Iranian security forces have busted five spy networks and detained 20 people in connection with espionage activities.
A security official, who was not named by IRNA, said in the western province of Kermanshah on Monday five spy networks in the province have been uncovered and disbanded.
The official added that the members of the networks included foreign elements and were trained by “the enemies’ intelligence services“ to operate in economic, military, political, cultural and social fields.
The report said the arrested spies, whose identities were not revealed on security grounds, are being interrogated.
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Iranian Jews Reject Israeli Offer
TEHRAN, July 10--Representatives of Iran’s Jewish community declared that Iranian Jews will never sacrifice their national identity for the Zionist regime’s incentives.
Zionist newspapers had announced that the occupation regime’s agencies are persuading Iranian Jewish families to immigrate to the occupied lands by offering cash incentives and other benefits, PressTV reported.
Benefits include free education at universities and large loans to buy houses, cars and other home appliances.
The representatives added that the Zionist regime has offered $60,000 to each Jewish family moving to Israel.
This is while Israeli dailies have admitted the failure of the scheme, saying Iranian Jews have shown no desire to leave their motherland.
The Iranian Jews’ representative in parliament, Maurice Motamed, and Chairman of Tehran’s Jews Assembly Siamak Mare-Sedq also rejected the proposal.
The two envoys said Iranian Jews adore their national identity and culture, and will not be duped by the ill-intended Zionist offer.
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Efforts Intensified
For Securing Diplomats’ Release
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Mohammad Reza Baqeri
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TEHRAN, July 10--A senior Foreign Ministry official said on Tuesday Iran is pressing ahead with diplomatic efforts to secure the freedom of Iranian diplomats seized by the US forces in January in Irbil, Iraq.
Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Mohammad Reza Baqeri said Tehran’s pressure for arranging the consular visit to the five kidnapped Iranian diplomats proved fruitful.
In an exclusive interview with IRNA, Baqeri said Iran exerted huge pressure, which was followed by support of Iraqi officials along with regional and European countries.
“The US should apologize and pay reparations to Iran for kidnapping the diplomats from the consulate. During the five-hour long meeting with the Iranian diplomats, they complained against the US for keeping them in solitary confinement and for subjecting them to numerous interrogations,“ he said.
On the second round of talks between Iran and the US on Iraq’s security, he said the exact time of the meeting has not been specified yet and Iran has not put the issue on its agenda.
“We have no inclination of holding talks with the US and if they feel so, they should inform us beforehand,“ he said.
On the possible shift in the level of talks with the US, he said first of all they should forward their request and then the level of talks will be discussed.
He stressed that security of Iraq and the role of Iraqi nation in restoring security in the country would be on the agenda of talks with the US.
The official also said that the US is attempting to weaken the Iraqi government while pretending that the Iraqi government enjoys their support.
On the formation of a nuclear consortium between Iran and other Persian Gulf states, he said Iran has held constructive talks with them on the subject.
Commenting on security pacts to be signed with these states, Baqeri said Iran has declared its readiness to sign a non-aggression pact with them.
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India’s Anti-US Stance Lauded
TEHRAN, July 10--Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said India’s resistance to the US hegemony has always been laudable for the Non-Aligned Movement member-states.
Responding to a question concerning the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s advice to India to quit NAM, Hosseini said on Monday, “Such statements by the US officials are in line with their unilateralist policy to weaken international bodies and organizations which is a useless effort,“ IRNA reported.
“NAM is a group of countries whose foreign policies are not based on US interests and India is one of the NAM founders which has always had an important role in the movement’s dynamism,“ he said.
Hosseini called on NAM member-states to forge greater unity, cooperation and solidarity.
On June 29, India rebutted Rice’s statement questioning the relevance of NAM in the post-Cold War world, and reiterated its “firm and abiding commitment“ to those ideals.
In a speech made at the 32nd anniversary celebrations of the United States-India Business Council in Washington Rice called upon India to abandon the NAM “as it had lost its relevance“.
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1st Nuclear Game Ready for Launch
TEHRAN, July 10--Iran’s first nuclear energy game designed and produced by Student’s Islamic Association will be launched on July 16.
The game is designed in eight steps and its protagonist visits several countries during the game, Fars reported.
The storyline of the game is as follows: Dr. Saeed Koosha and his wife Maryam are nuclear scientists taken hostage by the US during their trip to the holy city of Karbala in Iraq and taken to an unknown place.
Bahman Naseri, chief commander of Iran’s Special Intelligence Forces, is appointed to rescue the couple. In the meantime, he becomes involved in the case of Shapour Farmanfarma, one of the nuclear experts with an Iranian-Israeli background, who transfers nuclear information to the enemies.
Naseri learns that Shapour informed the US forces on Koosha’s Iraq trip while cooperating with an American named Jackson in plotting an American military attack on Iran. He arrests Jackson and extracts important information during investigations.
The other steps of the game pertain to Naseri’s operations in Iraq.
The first nuclear energy game will be launched in a ceremony attended by officials and students.
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IOM to Increase
Afghan Aid
KABUL, Afghanistan, July 10--Afghanistan’s branch of the International Organization for Migration announced on Monday in a communiquŽ it will increase its assistance to Afghans returning from Iran.
It noted that $2.8 million from the budget of the UN Central Emergency Response Fund has been allocated to increase relief aid for Afghan repatriation, IRNA reported.
The IOM assistance mainly includes foodstuff, emergency shelter and transportation.
IOM’s Chief of Mission Fernando Arocena is quoted in the communiquŽ as saying that the organization is currently facing budgetary problems and would begin to offer its assistance as of mid July.
Since late April, over 130,000 Afghan workers without valid residential permits have been repatriated to their country along with their family members from Iran.
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TEHRAN, July 10--Abdolkarim Nasrallah (3rd l) and Mahdiyeh Safieddin (4th r), father and mother of the leader of Islamic resistance movement Hezbollah, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, accompanied by a delegation of Lebanese citizens, visited
different sections of Iran Cultural and Press Institute in Tehran on Tuesday.
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Criticism
IRAN: Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad Hossein Saffar Harandi two weeks ago in his speech in the holy city of Mashhad criticized the print media for their stances against the incumbent government. It was strange to see that a domestic news agency covered Harandi’s statements in a critical manner and in a coordinated manner some of the newspapers opposed to the government’s policies also published the same. In fact, the government has always pursued the policy of moderation with its critics. This is while no government after the 1979 Islamic Revolution has faced such flak and even listened to the insulting remarks of rivals as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his team have done so far. Of course, no one says that the incumbent government has not made any mistake and that no one should criticize the government’s performance. However, the strident manner in which some newspapers treat the government is unacceptable.
Disadvantage
HAMSHAHRI: Tehran and Washington agreed in their first round of direct negotiations on Iraq to hold the second round in less than a month. However, the US officials are avoiding the second round on different pretexts. As opposed to the Western media claims, Iranians have expressed their readiness to continue talks for the sake of Iraqi security, peace and welfare. Americans on the one hand have negotiated with Iran and on the other are continuing their hostile policies and rallying the support of allies to isolate Iran. So, it is clear that the second round of negotiations will be to their disadvantage.
Subsidies
HAMBASTEGI: The experience of other countries, especially those in the former Soviet Union, regarding subsidies shows that these countries faced economic stagnation. The former Soviet Union did not even manage to become self-sufficient in wheat production and depended on imports. Two commodities are heavily subsidized in Iran, namely bread and gasoline. And the rate of consumption for these commodities is high. Some critics claim that gasoline is the government’s Achilles’ heel, but the fact is that a subsidized gasoline system hinders the government’s march on the road to progress and development.
Foreign Investments
SARMAYEH: Attracting foreign investment is of paramount importance to the government, Majlis, economists, industrialists and even ordinary people. It creates job opportunities, increases exports, earns revenues and boosts economic growth. The main concern of all these groups is to prepare the ground for appealing to potential foreign investors. Although foreign capital can resolve many of our problems, it should be viewed as a tool and not a goal. However, it is illogical to assume that foreign investments would improve the economic conditions overnight. Foreign investors will be encouraged if they are assured of assistance and incentives in launching a project, but the ground reality shows that things move very slowly in Iran.
Development
ETEMAD-E MELLI: Nearly everyone agrees that successful development theories in different countries are implemented by qualified people. If capital and other parameters were regarded as key elements of national development on the basis of earlier theories, today the role of human resources in development is undeniable. The absence of experienced and qualified people in the administration and delays in development programs are the most important obstacles. In fact, the unwanted phenomenon of brain drain is the main cause of the slow pace of development.
Developing Countries
TEHRAN-E EMROUZ: Developed or industrial countries have already passed through their reconstruction phases where measures are carried out in a systematic manner. The developing countries that respect their elite and provide them with facilities are economically successful. And most industries in such countries are administered by the private sector. For example, a person who has completed his studies in the field of aerospace in a developed country is provided with facilities by industries to continue research. This is while in developing countries most industries are state-run, which are largely inefficient and unprofitable. A majority of state companies in developing countries rely on state budget. Hence, no competition exists among such companies. Managers are not accountable for their performance in developing countries where those who occupy state positions exploit their positions to make personal gains. This is not the case in developed countries.
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