Most foreign exchange reserves are in euros and a small part of them are in yen or dollar.

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TEHRAN, Feb. 19--Head of Iranian Space Organization said on Tuesday Kavoshgar-1 (Explorer-1) has transmitted data from 200 km above the earth’s hemisphere and the satellite ’Omid’ will be launched in summer.
Ahmad Talebzadeh noted that Kavoshgar-1 was launched in two different phases, IRNA reported.
“In the first phase, the first section of Kavoshgar-1 separated after 100 seconds and returned to earth by parachute,“ he added.
The official pointed out that in the second phase, Kavoshgar-1 began transmitting data, which are being currently analyzed.
“Omid telecommunications satellite will also be launched in summer by using the data transmitted by Kavoshgar-1 to earth,“ he said.
He opined that no space project can become operational in a short period.
“We have skilled manpower in the field of aerospace technology. Space technology courses have also been launched at the doctorate level,“ he added.
Talebzadeh further said different tests should be conducted for upgrading security and standards of space activities.

BRUSSELS, Belgium, Feb. 19--The US and the European Union’s biggest powers quickly recognized Kosovo as an independent nation on Monday, widening a split with Russia, China and some EU members strongly opposed to letting the territory break away from Serbia.
A day after Kosovo declared independence, ethnic Serbs in the north angrily denounced the United States and urged Russia to help Serbia hold on to the territory that Serbs consider the birthplace of their civilization, AP said.
Protestors also marched in Serbia’s capital and that nation recalled its ambassador to the US to protest American recognition for an independent Kosovo.
Despite clamoring of Serbs to retake Kosovo, Serbia’s government has ruled out a military response.
But the dispute is likely to worsen already strained relations between the West and Russia, which is a traditional ally of Serbia and seeks to restore its influence in former Soviet bloc states. The Kremlin could become less likely to help in international efforts important to the US and its allies, such as pressuring Iran to rein in its nuclear program.
Still, for Washington the declaration of independence by Kosovo vindicated years of dogged effort to help a land achieve its dream of self-determination after years of ethnic conflict and repression by Serbia.
Speaking in Tanzania, President Bush declared, “The Kosovars are now independent“--and Washington formally recognized Kosovo as an independent country soon afterward.
Germany, Britain and France also gave their heavyweight backing, saying they planned to issue formal recognitions.
But Russia, Serbia’s key ally, and emerging global power China remained adamantly opposed to Kosovo’s independence, warning of the danger of inspiring separatist movements around the world, including in their own sprawling territories.
Despite Russian opposition, Bush, speaking just before departing for Rwanda, said he believed “history will prove this to be the correct move.“
Asked about timing of the declaration and whether there was any effort to smooth things over with Russia, Bush said, “We worked with the European nations. This strategy was well-planned.“

Alireza Ali-Ahmadi

TEHRAN, Feb. 19--Alireza Ali-Ahmadi received the vote of confidence from Iran’s Majlis on Tuesday as the country’s new education minister.
Ali-Ahmadi, chancellor of Payam-e Nour University, was appointed as the caretaker of the ministry on December 3, IRNA reported.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad introduced him to Majlis on February 13 as his nominee for the post of education minister to replace Mahmoud Farshidi who resigned in early December.
Ali-Ahmadi received 133 votes in favor, 92 against and 29 abstentions out of a total of 258 votes.
The president attended the Majlis Tuesday morning to defend his proposed minister.
In his address to MPs, the president said the Education Ministry shoulders the heaviest responsibilities of the society.
Ahmadinejad stressed the need for making more investments in the field of education and called for mobilizing all national potentials and facilities to help the ministry reach its desirable status.
He described Ali-Ahmadi as a committed and hardworking person who can fulfill his declared programs for the ministry.
Ahmadinejad added that the government expects Majlis to help materialize its goals by giving its vote of confidence to the proposed minister.
In his 30-minute speech in Majlis, Ali-Ahmadi outlined his programs and promised to run the Education Ministry in accordance with the country’s major policies.

Fidel Castro

HAVANA, Feb. 19--Ailing Cuban Leader Fidel Castro said on Tuesday he will not return to lead the country as president or commander-in-chief, retiring as head of state 49 years after he seized power in an armed revolution.
Castro, 81, who has not appeared in public for almost 19 months, said in a statement to the country that he would not seek a new presidential term when the National Assembly meets on February 24, Reuters reported.
“To my dear compatriots, who gave me the immense honor in recent days of electing me a member of parliament...I communicate to you that I will not aspire to or accept--I repeat not aspire to or accept--the positions of President of Council of State and Commander in Chief,“ Castro said in the statement published on the website of the Communist Party’s Granma newspaper.
The National Assembly or legislature is expected to nominate his brother and designated successor Raul Castro, 76, as president. Raul Castro has been running the country since emergency surgery to stop intestinal bleeding forced Castro to delegate power on July 31, 2006.
The title of “Comandante en Jefe“ or commander-in-chief was created for Castro in 1958 as overall leader of the guerrilla forces that swept down from the mountains of eastern Cuba to overthrow US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista. Castro’s retirement draws the curtain on a political career that spanned the Cold War and survived US enmity, CIA assassination attempts and the demise of Soviet bloc Communism.
A charismatic leader famous for his long speeches delivered in his green military fatigues, Castro is admired in the Third World for standing up to the United States but considered by his opponents a tyrant who suppressed freedom.
His illness and departure from Cuba’s helm have raised doubts about the future of the Western Hemisphere’s only communist state.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Feb. 19--Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf is facing perhaps his toughest political challenge after his parliamentary allies admitted defeat in an election poised to change the country’s balance of power.
The results cast doubt on the political future of Musharraf, who was reelected to a five-year term last October in a controversial parliamentary ballot.
His party chairman, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, told AP television “we accept the results with an open heart“ and “will sit on opposition benches“ in the new parliament.
The big winners were the Pakistan People’s Party of the assassinated opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, and Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-N. But neither party won an outright majority and are expected to enter power-sharing talks.
Nearly every major Musharraf lieutenant lost his seat and there were setbacks for the religious parties that have ruled the troubled North-West Frontier province since 2002.
“All the kings men, gone!“ read a headline in the Daily Times.
The losers included Chaudhry Shujat Hussain, the president of Musharraf’s party, the former foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri, and Sheikh Rashid, a close Musharraf confidante.
The private Geo TV network said the parties of Bhutto and Sharif had so far won 153 seats, more than half of the 272-seat National Assembly.
Which of the two opposition parties will ultimately benefit most from the situation is not immediately clear and both will likely wait to see their full haul of seats before committing to any deal. But what does seem certain is that the PML-N, lead by former Sharif, performed better in Monday’s polls than most had anticipated. In his home city of Lahore, there were loud celebrations overnight.
Sharif reminded reporters on Tuesday in Lahore that Musharraf had said he would step down when the people wanted him to do so.
“And now people have given their verdict,“ Sharif said, adding that political parties should “work together to get rid of dictatorship.“
Perhaps aware that he could soon be forced to try and work with an opposition government, Musharraf struck a note of conciliation. “I will give them full cooperation as president, whatever is my role,“ he said, after casting his own ballot in the military city of Rawalpindi.
But if the two opposition parties are able to form a government with a majority of two-thirds or more, it would raise even more serious questions about Musharraf’s future. Sharif has been pushing for the impeachment of the president and Musharraf has said he would stand down rather than face such proceedings.
If that were to happen, it would mark a remarkable end for the leader whose support just 12 months ago appeared unshakably solid. His approval rating--currently at an all-time low--has tumbled following a series of political errors and soaring prices within the country. His support for the US’s so-called “war on terror“ has also been unpopular.
With security concerns high, officials estimated that turnout across Pakistan was low, with perhaps as few as 35 percent of voters bothering to vote.
Final results were not expected before Tuesday evening.