Iran’s defense Iran ousts U.S. Time lists FM Zarif Cannes 2015 picks chief urges a as leading pistachio among 100 influential Iran’s “Nahid” for 2 bloc against U.S. 4 producer 10 world people in 2015 12 Un CertainCertain Regard NATION ECONOMY SOCIETY ART&CULTURET & C U L T U R E

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12 Pages Price 10000 Rials 36th year NO.12247 Saturday APRIL 18 2015 Farvardin 29 1394 Jumada Al Thani 28 1436 Iranian male and female teams claim Asian Cadet Taekwondo Championships 9 IAEA Nuclear terms talks Zarif renews call for quick deal to with Iran double Iran ‘constructive’ end to Saudi attack on Yemen growth next TEHRAN — The Political Desk UN nuclear Iran FM says ‘foreign interference in Yemen must stop’ year: IIF watchdog said on Thursday it had a TEHRAN — Iranian For- He made the remarks in a phone conver- less” people of Yemen. The Institute of International Fi- “constructive exchange” this week Political Desk eign Minister Moham- sation with UN Secretary General Ban Ki- The Iranian foreign minister also said nance, which is an association of with Iran on two issues related to its mad Javad Zarif has called for an immediate moon on Thursday. that Iran is ready to help end crisis in more than 400 global financial in- nuclear program. end to Saudi Arabia’s raids on the Yemeni He also highlighted the importance of Yemen. stitutions, has said that the nuclear “The IAEA and Iran held a tech- people and infrastructure. sending humanitarian aid to the “defense- Contd. on P. 11 deal between Iran and the six world nical meeting in Tehran on 15 April powers could accelerate the coun- 2015. The two sides discussed the try’s economic growth from around continuation of the implementation 3 percent in fiscal year 2015-16 to 6 of the Framework for Cooperation. percent in fiscal years 2016-17 and In this context, they had a construc- 2017—18. tive exchange on the two practical The Washington-based associa- measures under discussion. The tion said the deal has the potential Agency and Iran will continue this for a big surge in Iranian exports, dialogue and agreed to meet again private investments, narrowing of in the near future,” the agency Saddam deputy fiscal deficit and decreasing the wrote on its website. large spread between the official A delegation of experts from the and the black market rates. International Atomic Energy Agency al-Douri killed Even assuming a conclusion of a (IAEA) arrived in the Iranian capital nuclear agreement in June, it would of Tehran on Wednesday to hold Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, a former top adviser to take a while for its economic impact technical talks with Iranian officials. Saddam Hussein and the highest-ranking mem- to be felt on the ground. Growth According to the Press TV, Behrouz ber of the Iraqi leader’s regime to evade capture, could remain at around 3 percent in Kamalvandi, the spokesman for the has been killed in an Iraqi security operation, Iraqi 2015-16, driven by investment and Atomic Energy Organization of Iran state-run television reported on Friday. consumption. (AEOI), had announced earlier that Al-Douri, who the U.S. military said helped fi- “Lifting the sanctions will allow talks between Iran and the UN nucle- nance a Sunni insurgency in Iraq after Hussein’s the Iranian authorities to use more ar agency focused on the two issues regime fell in a 2003 U.S.-led invasion, served as a of their foreign exchange reserves of alleged explosives testing at a site military commander and effectively was Hussein’s (estimated at $90 billion), half of in the western city of Marivan and deputy. which have been frozen abroad. neutron calculations. He also was the “king of clubs” in a deck of Business opportunities in Iran fol- Earlier on Wednesday, Iranian playing cards used by American troops to identify lowing a comprehensive agreement Ambassador to the IAEA Reza Najafi the most-wanted regime officials. Contd. on P. 3 would be enormous. Contd. on P. 4 also said that Tehran and the IAEA have come up with solutions to a number of existing issues. Assad: Moscow talks breakthrough, future talks promising PERSPECTIVE Russia, NEWS Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Stockholm to exert its influ- has hailed as a “breakthrough” ence on the European Union China, Iran: Iraqi PM urges the latest round of talks be- in an attempt to remove the tween Damascus and opposi- bloc’s sanctions against the In sync end to Saudi war y Pepe Escobar tion groups in the Russian capi- Syrian people, saying the bans B on Yemen tal city of Moscow. have forced many Syrians to “This is the first time to reach seek shelter in European coun- ver past decades, the pre-fabri- The Iraqi prime minister has urged an agreement upon some of the tries including Sweden. Ocated myth of an elusive “Irani- an immediate end to Saudi Arabia’s principles that could make the “Sweden is an important an bomb” was never the real issue war on Yemen, saying Yemenis foundation for the next dialog country in the EU. It can play between the U.S. and Iran; the issue themselves must be allowed to at- between the Syrians. We haven’t a major role in lifting the sanc- was how to subdue – or “isolate” - a tend to the affairs of the impover- finalized it yet, because the sched- tions, because many of the Syr- powerful, independent nation that ished country. ule of that meeting was very com- ed Takfiri terrorists in Syria. He also said that the Western ians who went to Sweden or refused to toe the exceptionalist line. On Thursday, Premier Haider prehensive,” said Assad in an “This behavior is not relat- nationals who have joined the any other country, didn’t only Now that the “rehabilitation” of al-Abadi sharpened his earlier criti- interview with the Swedish news- ed to the crisis in Syria. They ranks of terrorist groups in Syr- leave because of the terrorist Iran – at least for some exceptionalists cism of the Saudi aggression against paper Expressen, Syrian news supported the terrorists in Af- ia will pose a great threat to the acts; they left because of the and their minions - may be imminent, Yemen, saying, “We think an end agency SANA reported on Friday. ghanistan, they supported the security of Europe upon return- embargo, because they have pending a nuclear deal to be clinched to this war of Yemen must be very “When you have a break- Wahhabi ideology, the extrem- ing to their homelands. no way for living,” he stated. in June, various Washington factions soon and the only way forward is a through, even if it’s a partial ism that led to terrorism re- “As long as the backyard of Syria has been grappling with still can’t get their act together. political solution by Yemenis them- breakthrough, it means that the cently in Europe, for decades, Europe, especially the Mediter- a deadly crisis since March 2011. The Pentagon has all but admit- selves.” next meeting will be promising and now they are supporting ranean and Northern Africa is in The violence fueled by Takfiri ted the perennial wet dream of neo- A day earlier, Abadi had lashed in reaching a full agreement the same ideology and the chaos and full of terrorists, Eu- groups has so far claimed the cons and corporate media remains out at Saudi Arabia for conducting about what are the principles same factions under different rope cannot be safe,” the Syrian lives of over 220,000 people, ac- on the table; the military option. aerial attacks against Yemen, saying of Syrian dialog that will bring a labels and names in Syria,” As- president went on to say. cording to reports. The U.S. Congress will go no holds Riyadh’s deadly military campaign Syrian, let’s say, solution to the sad pointed out. Assad further called on The Takfiri terrorist groups, barred in trying to scotch the deal. had created huge humanitarian conflict,” he added. with members from sever- The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations problems in the Arab country. The Syrian leader also lashed The Syrian leader also lashed out at Saudi Arabia, al Western countries, control Committee unanimously passed a “To me, there is no logic to the out at Saudi Arabia, Turkey and swathes of land in Syria and bill that would give Congress the operation at all in the first place,” he Qatar for “following and imple- Turkey and Qatar for “following and implementing” Iraq, and have been carrying out right to interfere with anything re- said on Wednesday, adding, “What menting” the policies of foreign the policies of foreign powers including the United horrific acts of violence such as lated to the removal of sanctions. is the aim? What are they trying to powers including the United public decapitations and cruci- Iranian Foreign Minister Moham- do? Mainly, the problem in Yemen is States, saying he does not expect States, saying he does not expect a sudden change of fixions against all communities mad Javad Zarif faces an even more within Yemen.…There is a political a sudden change of behavior on behavior on the part of these regional countries which such as Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, and uphill battle as the “fact sheet” the problem.” the part of these regional coun- have for long supported Takfiri terrorists in Syria. Christians. Obama administration insisted it Saudi Arabia’s aggression against tries which have for long support- (Source: Press TV) needed to release to make the case in Yemen started on March 26 - with- Washington complicates how the nu- out a UN mandate - in an attempt clear deal may be received in Iran. To to restore power to fugitive former top it off, “fact sheet” or not, the case President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, Zarif says Iran holds Obama ‘responsible’ for fate of nuclear deal was not made in Washington after all. a close ally of Riyadh. It has drawn And now the usual suspects widespread condemnation from in- Iran’s foreign minister said Wednesday that a possible final agreement on the Iranian program. – from the State Department to ternational rights groups. U.S. President Barack Obama was ‘respon- nuclear issue. Zarif also said that Russia’s decision to Congress and the Israel lobby – are Civilians and Yemeni infrastruc- sible’ for making sure that Washington re- Zarif, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, said go ahead with the sale of S-300 air defence predictably going bonkers on a de- ture have been targeted in the Sau- spects a final agreement over Iran’s nuclear Iran would study the bill “to see if it infring- missile systems to Iran is “fully legal” and mented “Putin selling missiles to di war. program even though Congress has been es upon or hinders the capability of the pres- has no impact on the talks for a nuclear deal the ayatollahs” narrative. According to Yemeni sources, given a say on the accord’s fate. ident to carry out the obligations that he is with major powers. Got “S”, will sell some 2,600 people have been killed “It is the obligation of the government going to assume with Iran.” “Russia is fulfilling its contractural treaty What Russian President Vladimir in the Saudi war over the past three of the United States to implement its in- Israel, which is bitterly opposed to the obligation to deliver the S-300 defense capa- Putin has just done is to get back to weeks. ternational agreements. And we will hold emerging agreement between Iran and bilities to Iran. It had nothing to do with the business as usual; even before sanc- Adding to his Thursday remarks, the U.S. government, the U.S. president world powers, has welcomed the U.S. bill. negotiations,” he said during a joint news tions are lifted, he signed a decree Abadi said, “We are on the same accountable” for the application of the Global powers reached a framework conference with his Portuguese counterpart lifting Moscow’s own ban on the boat in the region. If anybody makes treaties that they sign, Mohammad Javad agreement for a deal with Iran on April 2. Rui Machete. delivery of the S-300 surface-to-air a hole in that boat, we all will sink.” Zarif told journalists in Lisbon. They must now resolve a series of techni- “I think it is the right decision that Russia anti-missile system to Tehran, fol- “We have suffered so much from He was reacting to a move by the U.S. cal issues by a June 30 deadline for a final has made, it is a contract that we have with lowing an $800 million 2010 con- wars in Iraq. We are very sensitive to Senate foreign relations committee on deal, including the steps for lifting sanctions Russia which is fully legal and will have no tract that was not fulfilled due to wars, very sensitive to humanitarian Tuesday giving the green light to a bill that on Iran, and remaining questions over the impact on the negotiations.” relentless U.S. pressure. (Source: Daily Mail) Contd. on P. 11 costs,” he added. Contd. on P. 11 would give Congress the right to review possible military dimensions of its nuclear I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 2 NATION APRIL 18, 2015 http://www.tehrantimes.com/politics

MEDIA MONITOR Rouhani says 5+1 needs nuclear deal Ansarullah TEHRAN -- Deputy command- has long- er of the Iranian Revolution Guard Corps says the Yemeni more than Iran range Ansarullah group has long- missiles: range missiles. TEHRAN – Iranian The fact that the world powers

Iranian ALALAM In interview with Al-Alam Po l i t i c a l D e s k President Hassan have accepted Iran’s right to peaceful commander TV channel, General Hossein Rouhani says the 5+1 group of world nuclear energy should be regarded as Salami also said the Yemeni peo- countries involved in nuclear talks with a “breakthrough,” he pointed out. ple can quickly move into Saudi Tehran need a nuclear agreement with He said such an agreement would Arabia’s cities. Iran, even more than Tehran does. pave the ground for interaction be- The war on Yemen has a vast “We do not want to speak about not tween Iran and other countries, includ- horizon, and Saudi Arabia will reaching an agreement; agreement is ing the 5+1 states. enter a quagmire in which it will what everyone needs; of course the Reminding that Iran and 5+1 group drown, he said. 5+1 group needs this agreement more have a tough road ahead for reaching He stated, “What has hap- than us,” Rouhani told reporters in a final deal before the end of June as pened in Yemen is the outcome of Rasht, Gilan province, on Thursday. there are lots of complicated issues to a series of political failures. It is the “But if we do not reach an agree- be settled between the two sides, he result of political dead-ends which ment, the sanctions regime will not said, “If these countries show the re- faced the strategic policies of both continue like before. They know that quired determination, as it has been the U.S. and the House of Saud.” the sanctions regime has been disrupt- the case, [the deal] will be possible.” Salami said that Saudi actions in ed and they know that this regime will Iran and 5+1 group of countries - the Yemen follow hegemonic policies not last, and in any event, not achiev- United States, Britain, France, China, by Riyadh aimed at turning Saudi ing an agreement will benefit no one,” Russia and Germany - reached a mutu- Arabia into the epicenter of the Rouhani stated. al understanding on Tehran’s nuclear Arab world. The remarks by Rouhani came as a voice on the proposed nuclear ac- prove to the world that the allegations program on April 2 in Switzerland. The the White House relented on Tues- cord with Iran. made against the Islamic Republic’s two sides are expected to start draft- Iran ready TEHRAN – Iran’s Ambassa- day and said President Obama would Rouhani said Iran’s main objective nuclear program over the past years ing a final inclusive deal which they to transfer dor to Dushanbe Hojjatollah sign a compromise bill giving Congress in seeking a final nuclear deal is to were “baseless and unreal”. seek to sign by the end of June. Faghani voiced his Tehran’s medical IRNA readiness to share experienc- know-how to es and transfer know-how in the Vienna to host next round of Iran’s defense chief urges a bloc Tajikistan field of medicine and treatment to Tajikistan. nuclear talks against U.S. According to Iran’s embassy in Tajikistan, Faghani discussed ways Zarif may meet 5+1 counterparts in New York TEHRAN – Iranian on all countries to work together of promoting mutual cooperation Po l i t i c a l D e s k Defense Minis- closely to confront and foil Washing- in the fields of medicine and treat- on April 27 ter Hossein Dehghan suggested ton’s one-sided moves. ment with Chancellor of Ibn Sina Ta- on Thursday that it is a necessity He then urged Russia, China and jik State Medical University Dr. Qur- By staff and agencies final deal is reached.” to form a united front against the Iran to hold a joint summit in the near banov on Thursday, IRNA reported. Earlier on Wednesday, Iranian expansionist policies of the United future to coordinate their policies TEHRAN — Referring to upcoming visit to The next round of nu- Foreign Ministry spokeswoman States and its allies. for confronting common threats. Tajikistan by two Iranian medi- clear talks between world powers Marzieh Aham also announced Dehqan made the remarks in a The two sides also agreed to ex- cal delegations to the country, he and Iran is scheduled for next week that a fresh round of nuclear meet- meeting with Russian Defense Min- amine all technical issues related to said that this is an opportunity for in Vienna, as the two sides begin to ing between Iran and the world ister Sergey Shoygu. the S-300 air defense missile system promoting collaboration in educa- address the issues they left unre- powers will be held on Wednesday He hailed Russia for not trusting in the coming months, so that it tional and medical fields. solved earlier this month in Laus- to discuss the details of a possible the United States, saying Tehran could be delivered to Tehran by the Touring Ibn Sina Tajik Univer- anne, Switzerland, and try to con- comprehensive nuclear deal. and Moscow should insist on adopt- end of the current year. sity, Faghani also described Iran as clude a comprehensive agreement It is possible that the deputy- ing policies to foil security threats Iranian defense minister pre- among forerunners in modern and by the end of June, the New York level and expert-level meetings will facing them. dicts Saudis Arabia will face defeat traditional medicines. Times reported. be held next Wednesday, she said, “We support Russia’s correct un- in Yemen The European Union, the host adding that however the venue has derstanding at the strategic level Addressing an international secu- Iraq says to TEHRAN -- Iraq’s defense min- of the talks, said in a statement re- not been decide on yet, Xinhua re- that the U.S. government could not rity conference in Moscow on Thurs- ister has said that if the U.S. leased on Thursday that its senior ported. be a reliable friend and partner,” day, Dehghan also said, “The Saudi look to Iran negotiator, Helga Schmid, will meet In the next meeting, representa- Press TV quoted Dehqan as saying. government, which undertook this IRIB delays delivering weapons to if U.S. fails to the Arab country, Baghdad with Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister tives from Iran and the world pow- He also hailed Moscow’s stance military invasion [of Yemen] with provide arms will seek weapons from Iran, the Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, to ers will bring with themselves pre- in appreciating the necessity for the the help of America and Israel and IRIB reported on Friday. pursue an agreement that would liminary drafts to work on, she said, establishment of a new global order. intelligence help from some regional Khaled al-Obeidi who was restrict Iran to peaceful research in adding that in the drafts there are For his part, the Russian defense countries, not only will not achieve speaking in Washington said, “If the nuclear area in exchange for the numerous blank spaces as well as minister called for expansion of ties its own illegitimate goals, but has we come to the conclusion that phased lifting of economic sanctions. bracketed words or phrases which between Tehran and Moscow, say- provided the grounds for its own col- the U.S. Army would not be able After the parties reached a require discussions. ing constructive relations between lapse and irreparable failures and a to equip our forces with weapons framework agreement in Lausanne, Aham also said that Iranian the two sides can play an important fate similar to that of Saddam [Hus- within the predefined time span, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad role in securing regional and global sein] is awaiting it.” we will turn to other countries Seyyed Ali Khamenei emphasized Zarif, who will attend an NPT sum- stability. Dehghan added, “The Saudi gov- which are able to give us weapons that all sanctions would have to be mit in New York on April 27, may Shoygu touched upon a recent ernment should know that by sup- and would cooperate with us, be- lifted immediately and that all mili- hold nuclear talks with the foreign military agreement between Iran porting financially, logistically and by cause Iraq needs swift action in or- tary sites would be off limits to in- ministers of P5+1 group, namely and Russia, calling it a significant training of takfiris and terrorists in der to carry on this heavy battle.” spectors. the United States, Britain, China, foundation on which the two sides Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Central Asia, He added that Iraq would be like- President Hassan Rouhani on France, Russia plus Germany. could expand their ties. and the Caucuses, and attacking ly to buy weapons from China, Ro- Thursday acknowledged the prob- A delegation of experts from The Russian defense chief also Yemen while preventing humanitar- mania, the Czech Republic, or Iran. lems but said he remained opti- the International Atomic Energy lashed out at Western governments ian aid, will not turn it into an impor- mistic that the negotiators would Agency (IAEA), which is a UN body for imposing sanctions on sovereign tant country in the region.” reach a deal. “There is a difficult to confirm peaceful nature of U.S. won’t TEHRAN -- Tehran Friday states, describing them as tyranni- He said that Saudi Arabia will be- path ahead of us towards the final Iran’s nuclear activities, also held cal and against international regula- come an important country in the re- live to see preacher has said that the deal,” he said at a news conference talks in Tehran on Wednesday with U.S. will lose the chance of tions. gion when it can unite Muslims and

ISNA during a trip to northern Iran, but Iranian officials on the two remain- deal with striking a nuclear deal with Shoygu further took a swipe at bring together the different sects, Iran if going the country’s “will and decision is ing questions about Iran’s nuclear the United States for its unilateral given that they are the custodian of Iran if it makes the smallest to continue the negotiations until a program. an inch mistake in its relations with the Is- policies across the world and called the two holy mosques in Islam. wrong: cleric lamic Republic. “Obama says if Iran moves wrong an inch, the entire sanc- tions will be reinstated. We say in Putin defends lifting embargo on Iran air defense deal turn if the U.S. moves half an inch wrong, it will not live to see sign- Vladimir Putin has defended his decision to approve ry, called his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, to ing a deal with Iran,” Ayatollah Ali the delivery of the Russian long-range S-300 air-de- object to the move, and the U.S. government said Movahedi Kermani asserted, ISNA fense missile system to Iran, saying a ban imposed in the delivery could complicate plans to eventually lift reported. 2010 was voluntary. sanctions on Iran. “The U.S. should stop being The Russian president said during a televised The move also drew swift condemnation from the greedy. It should rather decide to call-in show on Thursday that his decision this government of Israel, which has lobbied hard against accept - within the remaining time week to lift the ban did not contradict internation- the nuclear agreement. - a program free of lies and viola- al sanctions against Iran, which are still in place The missile contract was frozen in 2010 by Dmitry tions; and accept that Iran is hon- despite a framework agreement struck this month Medvedev, Russia’s then president, following pres- est and principled,” he stressed. between Iran and six world powers over Iran’s nu- sure primarily from the U.S. and Israel. clear program. The embargo followed the passage of UN Secu- Suitable way TEHRAN -- Head of the Manage- Putin said he made the move because Iran “has rity Council resolution 1929 banning the sale to Iran ment and Planning Organiza- shown a great degree of flexibility and a desire to Putin said he made the move of “battle tanks, armored combat vehicles, large should be reach compromise”. He said the S-300 was a defen- caliber artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack heli- tion says a suitable way for pay- because Iran “has shown a great found for IRNA ing the cash subsidies should sive weapon that should not pose any threat to Is- copters, warships, missiles or missile systems”. cash subsidy be sought in cooperation with rael, and may in fact serve as “a deterrent factor in degree of flexibility and a desire to Iran had already paid for the missile contract, the Oil Ministry, IRNA reported. connection with the situation in Yemen”. signed in 2007, and sued for non-delivery. payment: On Monday the U.S. Secretary of State, John Ker- reach compromise”. (Source Guardian) Nobakht Mohammad Baqer Nobakht’s statements came on Friday follow- ing remarks by Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh who had de- Portuguese, Iranian foreign ministers hold talks in Lisbon scribed the subsidies as a “crush- ing” burden on the Oil Ministry that TEHRAN – Iranian operation with Portugal in various Machete also highlighted the im- cripples the ministry’s projects. Po l i t i c a l D e s k Foreign Minister spheres. portance of increasing political consul- A sum of 35 trillion rials (about Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Portu- Zarif went on to say that Tehran-Lis- tations between the two countries. $1.2 billion) of the oil revenue is guese counterpart Rui Machete held bon ties should not be restricted to bi- Elsewhere in his remarks, he called consigned for payment as cash talks in Lisbon on Thursday. lateral ones and should be extended to for increase in dialogue between Iran subsidies every month. During the meeting Zarif said Iran international areas such as campaign and the European countries on devel- Nobakht underscored that the has always moved on the path of en- against extremism and terrorism. opments in Syria, Iraq and the issue of subsidies’ terms of use are clari- joying a peaceful nuclear technology The Portuguese foreign minister terrorism. fied in the current year’s national and never deviated from this path. stated that there are various capaci- He added that the behavior of the budget and the money cannot be The Iranian foreign minister also ties in the two countries for expansion Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant used elsewhere. said that Iran is ready to expand co- of ties. (ISIL) has nothing to do with Islam. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y http://www.tehrantimes.com/international APRIL 18, 2015 INTERNATIONAL 3 Saudi airstrike targets Ansarullah Saddam deputy al-Douri convoy, 20 fighters reported killed killed Contd. from P. 1 The latest Saudi airstrike against Friday’s state TV report Yemen has reportedly targeted a said al-Douri played a lead- convoy of Ansarullah (Houthi) move- ership role in various ter- ment fighters in the south; fatalities rorist organizations that have been also reported. opposed the Iraqi govern- Abedrabbo al-Mihwali, an official ment. in the southern province of Lahij, said Al-Douri was vice chair- at least 20 members of the Ansarul- man of the country’s revo- lah movement died in the Friday at- lutionary command coun- tack, which hit the convoy as it was cil in Hussein’s regime. heading out of the country’s largest The U.S. military had military airbase of al-Anad, located said that after Hussein’s northeast of the provincial capital, regime fell, al-Douri helped Lahij. finance a Sunni insurgency Two tanks and four armored ve- with money he transferred hicles belonging to the Ansarullah to Syria before the govern- fighters were also destroyed in the ment collapsed. (Source: CNN) airstrike, the official added. The airstrike came against the backdrop of ongoing battle between fighters of the Popular Committees loyal to the Ansarullah fighters and Russia condemns U.S. al-Qaeda militants in the area. over Ukraine mission In Ta’izz (Taiz), southwest Yemen, more than a dozen people, includ- Russia has accused the U.S. of wanting “complete ing three civilians, were killed in the dominance” after the arrival of 300 troops in Ukraine clashes. to train Ukrainian troops. Saudi Arabia’s air campaign Speaking at an annual security conference in Mos- against Yemen started on March 26, cow on Thursday, Sergei Shoigu, Russian defense without a United Nations mandate, minister, said the U.S. had crossed all possible lines in a bid to restore power to the coun- and the move “could not have failed” to trigger a re- try’s fugitive former President, Abd ly run the affairs of the country and dren, have so far lost their lives in Reports also say three rockets action, Reuters news agency reported. Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a staunch ally contain the growing wave of corrup- the Saudi attacks, which have also fired by the Saudi military have land- General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general of Riyadh. tion and terror. upended the humanitarian situation. ed in the al-Dhaher district in Yemen’s staff of the Russian armed forces, told the audience The Ansarullah movement says According to reports, over 2,600 Yemenis face shortage of food, wa- northwestern province of Sa’dah. at the same meeting that the U.S. was trying to: “re- Hadi’s government failed to proper- people, including women and chil- ter, fuel and vital medicines. (Source: Press TV) shape the world to fit its needs”. “Aiming at complete dominance, Washington stopped taking into account the interests of other countries and respect international law,” he said. Israeli court allows confiscation of New data: U.S. Army soldiers suffer Troops from the 173rd Airborne Brigade arrived on Palestinian homes low morale, pessimism Tuesday and Wednesday in Yavoriv, western Ukraine, to spend six months training three battalions of An Israeli court has approved a was applied to East al-Quds to ena- The majority of soldiers in the U.S. happening. Ukrainian troops. law which allows Tel Aviv to confis- ble the Tel Aviv regime to confiscate Army are pessimistic about their future Other results obtained by USA To- Tensions have been high between Russia and the cate abandoned Palestinian-owned the homes of the Palestinians that in the military and unhappy in their jobs day found that 48 percent of soldiers U.S. since former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanuko- homes in occupied East al-Quds (Je- are not absent or missing, but live following fourteen years of continuous lack commitment to their job and 40 vych was toppled after protests and fled to Russia. rusalem). in adversarial territories. wars, according to new data. percent do not trust their immediate The U.S. and other Western countries accuse Rus- The Israeli Supreme Court on Palestinian officials have con- About 52 percent of the 770,000 sol- supervisor or fellow soldiers in their sia of arming pro-Russian separatists who have taken Thursday approved the contested demned the ruling as racist. They diers tested by the Army scored badly unit or didn’t feel respected or valued. control of some areas in eastern Ukraine, a charge Absentee Property Law, according say the main purpose of the law is in the area of optimism, agreeing with The startlingly negative results that Russia denies. to which the Tel Aviv regime will be to totally remove any trace of Pales- statements such as “I rarely count on come despite a six-year, $287 million The U.S. troops will train the National Guard of able to seize abandoned Palestinian tinians from the occupied al-Quds. good things happening to me,” find- campaign to make troops more opti- Ukraine (NGU), a reservist force reformed in 2014 to homes in occupied East al-Quds. Palestinians say Israel is trying to ings obtained by USA Today show. mistic and resilient. bring volunteers and militia under government con- The law paves the way for Israel change the city’s status quo to pave The study found that 48 percent The U.S. Army began a program of trol. to take over the property of Pales- the way for further settlement ex- have little satisfaction in or commit- positive psychology in 2009 as suicide “We will be conducting classes on war-fighting tinians who have been forced out of pansions and the Judaization of al- ment to their jobs. The results stem and mental illness were on the rise in functions, as well as training to sustain and increase their homeland following the 1948 Quds. from assessments that soldiers are re- the midst of two wars in Iraq and Af- the professionalism and proficiency of military war. Thousands of acres of privately- quired to take every year. ghanistan. staffs,” a U.S. official said, according to the AFP news It stipulates that houses could be owned Palestinian lands were given In addition to high pessimism and However, a panel of scientists from agency. confiscated if their owners are cur- to Israeli settlers in the Jordan Val- job dissatisfaction, over half reported the Institute of Medicine concluded Fighting between the separatists and Ukrainian rently residing in the West Bank or ley in the 1960s and 1970s, and the poor nutrition and sleep, and only 14 last year that there is little or no evi- troops is rumbling on in the east despite a February the Gaza Strip. confiscation of Palestinian land in percent said they are eating right and dence the Army’s positive psychology ceasefire agreement. The conflict has so far claimed The law was first passed in 1950, the area still continues at the hands getting enough rest. program prevents mental illness and more than 6,000 lives, according to the UN. right after the creation of Israel of Israel, regardless of international The internal data obtained by USA suicide. On Thursday a journalist known for his pro-Russia inside the occupied Palestinian laws and resolutions. Today also shows most U.S. soldiers Fourteen years of war and recent views was gunned down in Kiev. lands. It said owners of the houses In most cases, Israel confiscates today are trending in the wrong direc- decisions to downsize or cut funding (Source: agencies) who fled to the “enemy states” lands near illegally-built settlements tion. for the military have left morale low or “enemy territory” are declared in the West Bank under the pretext Two-thirds were borderline or in the military, the scientists said. A “absent” or “missing,” and their of security reasons, but in this case, worse for an area called “catastrophic recent survey by the Military Times property can be put at the disposal they have officially annexed these thinking,” where poor scores mean the and a Navy Retention Study also show of the regime. occupied lands. soldier has trouble adapting to change troops increasingly unhappy. Talks resume between Following the 1967 war, the law (Source: Press TV) or dwells on the worst possible things (Source: usatoday.com) Libyan rivals in Morocco Representatives from Libya’s two rival governments are meeting in Morocco for UN-brokered talks to end UN hears accounts of Syria chemical France Islamophobia acts surge the conflict that has split the country. Delegates at Friday’s meeting, in the resort of Skhi- weapons attacks five-fold since Charlie Hebdo rat on the country’s western coast, are expected to The United Nations Security Coun- Dr Zaher Sahloul, of the Syrian Reports say Islamophobic acts in Back in February, Council of Eu- consider a six-point UN proposal to end the conflict. cil has heard firsthand accounts American Medical Society, told Al France have soared 500 percent rope Commissioner for Human Rights The plan set out by Bernardino Leon, the UN envoy, from Syrian doctors of alleged Jazeera that the scene was “very since the deadly terrorist attack on Nils Muižnieks warned of the increase calls for the setting up a transitional unity government chemical weapons attacks in their traumatic”. the French satirical weekly magazine, of discrimination against religious mi- until constitution is adopted and fresh elections are held. country. “Doctors and nurses were strug- Charlie Hebdo in January. norities in France. Leon warned on Wednesday the talks in Morocco Following the closed-door meet- gling to treat them. They all had The French Council of the Muslim “Despite advances in legislation would be the last chance to end the conflict, in com- ing at the UN headquarters in New respiratory symptoms, they had Faith (CFCM) said on Thursday that and measures to combat intolerance ments reported by the AFP news agency. York on Thursday, Samantha Pow- coughs, they had wheezing, some the European country witnessed 222 and racism, discrimination and hate “I really hope that the negotiators that are com- er, U.S. ambassador to the UN, said of them had fluid in their lungs,” Islamophobic acts in the first quar- speech not only persist in France ing today are understanding that we cannot wait any the Security Council will now seek Sahloul said. ter of 2015, showing a drastic surge but are on the rise,” he said, adding, more and this will really be the final round,” Leon said. to identify those behind the at- That attack took place on March in comparison with the 37 incidents “There is an urgent need to combat “The patience of Libyans is finished and the pa- tacks and ensure they face justice. 16 - just 10 days after a rare mo- recorded over the same period last this in a sustained and systematic tience of the international community is finished.” She said council members be- ment of agreement when the Se- year. manner... It is essential to put an end The resumption of efforts to reach a deal followed came “very, very emotional” while curity Council passed a resolution Meanwhile, the French National to such acts, including on the Inter- an air strike by the Tobruk-based UN-recognized gov- watching a video of the doctors condemning the use of chlorine. Observatory against Islamophobia net, and to punish those responsi- ernment on a rival-held airport near Tripoli. struggling to save children who UNSC condemns chlorine at- warned of an unprecedented “implo- ble.” tacks The country is split between the UN-recognized were vomiting and choking. sion of anti-Muslim acts” in the coun- On January 7, gunmen attacked government, the House of Representatives headed “If there was a dry eye in the The global watchdog, the Or- try. the Paris office of the French satiri- by Abdullah al-Thinni, and the legally installed govern- room, I didn’t see it,” Power said. ganization for the Prohibition of “Not since the observatory was cal magazine, Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 ment, the General National Council, which existed pri- The U.S., along with Britain and Chemical Weapons, is carrying out established in 2011 have we seen an people and wounding 11 others. The or to elections held last year and is backed by the Libya France, accuse President Bashar a fact-finding mission in Syria on implosion of anti-Muslim acts, wheth- attack, which was later claimed by al- Dawn alliance. al-Assad’s regime of using chlorine the use of toxic chemicals during er actions, threats or on social net- Qaeda terrorist group, was largely be- In November last yeark, Libya’s Supreme Court gas against civilians, but Russia the attacks last month and their works,” said Abdallah Zekri, the ob- lieved to have been launched over the cancelled the outcome of elections that brought the maintains there is no firm evidence report will be key to guiding the servatory’s president, adding, “These weekly’s blasphemous cartoons of the House of Representatives to power, essentially mak- that Damascus is responsible. council on next steps. anti-Muslim acts resulted in violent Prophet of Islam. Muslims worldwide ing its legal mandate void. The 15 envoys heard a report U.S.-based Human Rights Watch assaults on men and women, some condemned both the attack and the The two sides are made up of a series of complex by a Syrian doctor who said that has said it investigated six report- pregnant.” publication of the cartoons. alliances based on tribal, city, religious, ethnic, and po- he last month treated victims of a ed attacks in Idlib and villages out- The reports also said that most of The incident was followed by a litical affiliation. chlorine bomb attack on the village side the city, collecting evidence the Islamophobic attacks were car- series of sieges and shootings across On Tuesday, military chief of the Tobruk-based gov- of Sarmin, near Idlib in northern from rescue workers and civilians ried out in January, thus proving a Paris, resulting in the killing of more ernment, General Khalifa Haftar, cast doubt on the Syria that killed six people, includ- that provided a compelling case in strong link between the attacks and people and an extensive sense of in- outcome and said he was “betting on a military solu- ing three children. three of them. the Charlie Hebdo incident which security in the country. tion”. ‘Very traumatic’ (Source: agencies) took place the same month. (Source: agencies) (Source: agencies) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY APRIL 18, 2015 http://www.tehrantimes.com/economy

NEWS Iran’s annual agricultural Iran ousts U.S. as leading pistachio producer exports up 27%: official Iran ousted the US as the leading producer of pistachio nuts last year and reclaimed the position which it has long held to TEHRAN — Iran’s agricultural its credit, an official has said. Economic Desk Production of the nut surpassed 235,000 tons thanks exports in the previous Iranian to satisfactory precipitations and Iran’s implementation of calendar year, which ended on March 20, rose development measures for better yield, an official with the by 27 percent compared to its preceding year, agriculture ministry, Ali Mohseni said. according to the Iranian deputy agriculture minister Iran outpaced the United States as the top producer after Abdolmehdi Bakhshandeh. unofficial figures of 240,000 tons of pistachio crop in the US The country exported $6.6 billion of for 2014 were brushed aside by the Food and Agriculture agricultural products in Iranian calendar year Organization (FAO), Mohseni said. 1393 (March 2014-March 2015), a 27 percent rise “Such figures, far from being realistic, are disseminated year on year, the Mehr news agency reported on by profiteers who seek to buy at knockdown prices from Wednesday. pistachio producers and pave the way for imports,” he said. Meanwhile, agricultural imports amounted to $12 Iran is the top pistachio exporter, a position the country billion, a 9 percent fall compared to its preceding has maintained, thanks to the premium quality of its produce. year. Mohseni said Iran exported 180,262 tons of the nut worth Some 10 trillion rials (about $300 million based on $1.62 billion last year. Those exports marked a 50% rise both in the free market exchange rate) has been earmarked terms of volume and value, the official added. for expanding modern irrigation networks and Iran also has the largest acreage of land dedicated to building dams across the country. pistachio plantation, spread over more than 20 provinces in According to the official, modern irrigation the country. systems are currently used over 170,000 hectares Mohseni says the country plans to propagate pistachio area of farmlands. culture to more provinces, including those in the west, Iranian Agriculture Minister Mahmoud northwest and northeast. Hojjati has said that by producing over 90 million In an ongoing “pistachio war, Iran faces a fierce tons of agricultural products per year, Iran is among priority of Iran’s Ministry of Agriculture, and that saffron, pomegranates, and pistachios, the competition from the United States which plans to quadruple ten top countries in the world. the government has provided all infrastructures second for producing dates and apricots, the production by 2020. The official said that attracting capital needed to support foreign investment in this sector. third for producing figs and cherries, and the Up to 70% of Iran’s pistachio crop comes from Kerman for the development of the agriculture sector is a Iran is ranked the first worldwide for producing fourth for producing walnuts and apples. Province, which has an ideal climate and soil for growing the nutty fruit. The province, however, is grappling with years of drought which has affected farming. Iran is famous for its high quality fruits, described as Indian delegation to visit Iran to discuss oil deals: sources second to none, including grapes, pomegranates, quinces, An Indian delegation will visit Iran this Saturday, the sources said. by end-June that would lift economic and Natural Gas Corp, signed a deal in tangerines and oranges. week to scout for investment India is Iran’s biggest oil client sanctions imposed by the West December 2002 to explore the Farsi Mohseni said the country exported 1.8 million tons of opportunities ahead of an anticipated after China although its imports from against Tehran’s nuclear program. offshore block in Iran. fresh fruits, worth $2.7 billion, in 2014. Total fruit production nuclear deal between the OPEC- Tehran have declined under pressure Apart from seeking more The Farzad-B gas field is estimated stood around 15 million tons in the period. (Source: Press TV) member and world powers that would from western sanctions. oil at better terms and other to hold initial in-place reserves of 12.5 soften sanctions against the country, New Delhi’s oil imports from investment opportunity in the trillion cubic feet (tcf) and to have a sources privy to the plan said. Tehran have eased from 370,000 energy sector, India will push for lifetime of 30 years. Officials from India’s finance and bpd in 2010/11 to about 220,000 development rights at the Farzad-B Iran’s oil and gas sector needs JUMP oil ministries and executives from bpd in 2014/15 under pressure from gas field in Farsi block, the sources $220 billion for new projects and ONGC Videsh and Mangalore Refinery international sanctions. said. rehabilitation of existing assets, an Nuclear deal to double Iran and Petrochemicals Ltd are part of Iran and six world powers reached A consortium headed by ONGC Iranian diplomat told Reuters, adding the delegation that will hold meeting a framework nuclear agreement on Videsh, the overseas investment Farzad-B development could cost $7 growth next year: IIF with their Iranian counterparts on April 2, spurring hopes for a final deal arm of the country’s top explorer Oil billion. (Source: Reuters) Contd. from P. 1 Iran has a population of 78 million, the labor force is relatively well educated, and the economy is more diversified ECB President Mario Draghi G-20 finance officials confronting than other oil exporters in the region,” said Garbis Iradian, attacked by protester global weakness Chief Economist, Africa/Middle East of IIF. The agreement could restore Iran’s oil production and European Central Bank President Mario and again early this year by launching a WASHINGTON (AP) — Finance officials In addition to concerns about exports before mid-2017, adding to pressure for continued Draghi was attacked by a protester $1.3 trillion stimulus program to get the from the world's major economies boosting global growth, the finance low oil prices beyond 2015. There are risks that the deal will during a briefing for journalists in economy moving. are searching for the right mix of meetings were also addressing issues fall apart. Frankfurt. But the ECB is also a high-profile policies to bolster a still-weak global including a plea for more help in fighting Improvement in economic policymaking since President Just minutes into his opening symbol of the austerity that has recovery nearly six years after the Great the Ebola outbreak in the West African Hassan Rouhani took office in August 2013, combined remarks, a women jumped onto his desk caused hardship for millions across the Recession while confronting a range of nations of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra with some relief from the previous two interim nuclear shouting "end ECB dictatorship!" She region. Together with the International new threats from a soaring U.S. dollar to Leone. The presidents of those three agreements, have helped the economy to grow by an was carried out of the room by security Monetary Fund and European a big drop in oil prices. nations were scheduled to meet Friday estimated 3.5 percent in 2014-15, after contracting for two guards, but not before showering the Commission, it formed the so-called The financial officials from the Group with World Bank President Jim Yong successive years. The recovery was driven by a rebound in startled Draghi with confetti. "troika" to police bailouts that kept of 20 nations were also expressing Kim and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki- public investment and modest growth in exports. Draghi had just begun explaining countries such as Greece, Ireland and concerns about potential market moon. Non-oil revenues how well the ECB's new program of Portugal afloat. instability once the Federal Reserve The finance meetings were taking Despite the significant depreciation of the official money printing was working when the The rescue loans were provided starts increasing a key interest rate place at a time when much of the global exchange rate, the 12-month inflation rate was down to 15.5 attack happened. He was unhurt and in exchange for commitments by which has been at a record low near economy remains stuck in a prolonged percent in February 2015 from 22.8 percent in February 2014, the news conference resumed after a governments to get borrowing under zero since late 2008. period of sluggish growth following the and the spread between the official and the parallel rates short break. control -- by slashing spending and The discussions were being held 2008 financial crisis and a recession that has narrowed to 16 percent in April 2015 from 24 percent a Radical feminist group Femen raising taxes -- and to overhaul their among finance ministers and central was the worst in seven decades. year earlier. claimed responsibility on Twitter for the economies to make them more bank presidents of the G-20, composed IMF Managing Director Christine According to IIF, Iran’s nonoil revenues are estimated to protest. competitive. of traditional economic powers such as Lagarde told reporters Thursday: "The have surged by 47 percent in 2014-15, helped by tax reforms, The ECB said initial findings of its Nearly seven years on from the start the United States, Japan and Germany good news is that the global recovery improvement in tax administration and modest economic investigation suggested the activist of the financial crisis, economic hardship and emerging countries such as China, continues. The not-so-good news is recovery. Dependence on oil revenues has been reduced registered as a journalist for a news remains a reality for many in Europe. India and Brazil. that growth remains moderate and from an average of 51 percent of total revenues in 2008-2013 organization she did not represent. Her Unemployment in the eurozone is Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and uneven." to 30 percent in 2014, the lowest among oil exporters in the identity was checked on entering the falling, but is still around 11%. Growth is Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen She said the goal of this week's talks Mena region. building. recovering but from a very low base, were representing the United States was to produce a revamped action plan A substantial increase in public spending, particularly on It's the second public protest against and the rate of joblessness among at the meetings, which began with that will "prevent this new mediocre infrastructure, combined with global lower oil revenues has the central bank in a month. young people is much higher in Spain a dinner Thursday night and were to from becoming the new reality." more than offset the increase in tax revenues, leading to Riots erupted outside the ECB's new and Greece. conclude with a news conference Friday The IMF's latest economic forecast a wider fiscal deficit of 4 percent of GDP. The fiscal deficit $1.3 billion headquarters in March after Draghi has acknowledged that the afternoon. Deputy Prime Minister Ali predicted only modest overall growth would have been much larger if the official exchange rate thousands of protesters gathered to central bank may have become a "focal Babacan of Turkey will sum up the and downgraded the prospects for had not been devalued sharply in July 2013. rage against an institution they blame point for those frustrated with this group's discussions. Turkey holds the some nations including the United Exchange rate flexibility since then has also helped to for ruining the lives of millions in the situation." rotating chairmanship of the G-20 this States, forecasting U.S. growth of just smooth the transition to an environment with lower oil eurozone. "This may not be a fair charge. Our year. 3.1 percent this year, a half-point lower prices. Draghi has been credited with taking action has been aimed precisely at The G-20 talks were coming in than its January estimate. The reason: Exports and imports of goods have increased significantly bold steps to save Europe from financial cushioning the shocks suffered by the advance of the spring meetings of the IMF economists believe the sharp rise in in volume terms despite the sanctions (7 percent and 8 disaster: First in 2012 with his famous economy," he said at the opening of the 188-nation International Monetary Fund the value of the dollar will hurt American percent, respectively). Given the sanctions, barter trade promise to do "whatever it takes" to new HQ last month. and its sister lending organization, the companies trying to export goods has flourished between Iran and its main trading partners, prevent the euro from falling apart, (Source: CNNMoney) World Bank. overseas. particularly China, which accounted for about 30 percent of Iran’s exports in 2014. (Source: Gulf News) Ukrainian Ukraine’s Finance Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia has BP dropped BP pumped billions of Minister Natalya Yaresko increased the oil pounds into low-carbon Finance is concerned not only ups oil production in March by green technology and green Minister: over the current state of production 659,000 barrels per day energy energy over a number MAJOR CURRENCIES Kiev’s the Ukrainian economy in March to 10.29 million barrels per projects of decades but gradually but also over the social day, OPEC said in its April retired the program to To U.S. To IR. To U.S. To IR. Currency Currency austerity by 659,000 worth Dollars Rial* Dollars Rial* upheaval that may follow statement. focus almost exclusively measures the austerity measures barrels per Oil production by OPEC billions to on its fossil fuel US dollar 1 33420 UAE dirham 0.272 9140 may trigger introduced by the day countries in March focus on business, the Guardian British Pound 1.502 49450 EURO 1.081 36050 authorities in Kiev. increased by 812,000 fossil fuels has established. *The free market rates (Sources: Mehrnews.com & xe.com) social unrest Speaking at the U.S. Board barrels per day, compared At one stage the of Trade in Washington, with February to 30.79 company, whose annual Yaresko noted that she was million barrels per day. general meeting is in worried by uncontrollable At the same time, OPEC London on Thursday, MAJOR COMMODITIES social unrest, voicing has maintained the was spending in-house apprehension that shaky growth forecast for around $450m (£300m) Light Crude $ / barrel 56.71 Silver $ / troy ounce 16.28 truce in the east of the global oil demand in 2015 a year on research Gold $ / troy ounce 1,198.00 Platinum $ / troy ounce 1,159.20 country would not hold, and at 1.17 million barrels per alone - the equivalent of a new outbreak of violence day as compared with $830m today. Copper $ / pound 2.77 Wheat ¢ / bushel 496.75 would follow. 2014. Source: cnnmoney.com NEWS IN BRIEF I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y http://www.tehrantimes.com APRIL 18, 2015 HISTORY & HERITAGE 5

Discovering Iran: HISTORY Alex Haley’s “Roots”: A Saga From Caspian Sea to Persian Gulf of an American Family y Arron Merat B On this day in 1977, the American writer Alex Haley was awarded with Pulitzer Prize for his magnum opus “Roots”. oreigners! Welcome to Tehran! You may also The book is the monumental two-century drama of Kunta “Fline up here,” announces a smiling airport offi- Kinte and the six generations who came after him. By tracing cial dressed in a long, black chador who is pointing to a back his roots, Haley tells the story of 39 million Americans of newly opened immigration booth. A throng of young African descent. Dutch, Polish and German travelers pick up their ruck- He has rediscovered for an entire people a rich cultural sacks and peel off from the back of our queue and heritage that ultimately speaks to all races everywhere, for rush towards the new one. the story it tells is one of the most eloquent testimonials ever Queues for foreign passport holders at Imam written to the indomitability of the human spirit. Khomeini International airport have been conspicu- Early in the spring of ously short for almost a decade, but 2014 is tipped to 1750, in the village of Juf- be the biggest year for western tourism in Iran. fure, four days upriver from Most Europeans can pick up a two-week visa on ar- the coast of The Gambia, rival and Britons can get a visa in London. Rock West Africa, a man-child was Although most travelers to Iran will opt for traditional formations born to Omoro and Binta destinations such as Isfahan’s stunning Naqsh-e Jahan on the Kinte. Forcing forth from Square and Shiraz’s ancient Persepolis ruins, a minority, island of Binta’s strong young body, including me, will choose less-trampled routes. Qeshm he was as black as she was, New Iran Tours offers everything from fully es- (Image flecked and slippery with corted trips with guides to hotel bookings for those by: The Guardian) Binta’s blood, and he was travelling on a shoestring. We used them to plan a trip bawling. The two wrinkled from the lush pastures of the north-east over the vast Gorgan is also a short drive to the Miankaleh pen- much of an eating-out culture; restaurants are largely midwives, old Nyo Boto and central desert plateau to the sultry lowlands of the insula, a 50-mile stretch of protected sandy beach limited to novelty food Iranians don’t get at home the baby’s Grandmother Persian Gulf. and forest, home to several species of migratory much – namely kebabs. Yaisa, saw that it was a boy Turkmen and the north-east birds and the only truly unspoiled section of Iran’s Tehran and the north-western province of Gilan and laughed with joy. Ac- In Iran the car is king, and if you only have a week Caspian Sea coast. are exceptions. To save time, we head to Yazd for the cording to the forefathers, a boy firstborn presaged the spe- or two you can save a lot of time by renting one at the Around 80 miles north-east of Gorgan, along a high- day before catching an evening flight south. Yazd is an cial blessings of Allah not only upon the parents but also upon airport with an international driving license. After pick- way flanked by men hawking watermelons or dangling ancient desert city famous for its Towers of Silence, the parents’ families; and there was the prideful knowledge ing up an Iranian-assembled Kia Pride and catching a questionably fresh fish off long rods, lies the farming hills carved by Iran’s pre-Islamic Zoroastrian people to that the name of Kinte would thus be both distinguished and few hours’ sleep in Tehran we took the Old Mashhad town of Kalaleh, famed for horses, silk and saffron. “bury” their dead in the sky using vultures. perpetuated. Road north-east, past the snow-capped Damavand Desert plateau Persian Gulf and islands Alexander Murray Palmer Haley was born in Ithaca, New volcano – the Middle East’s highest peak – and into We drive due south for a day (588 miles) to Tabas. It A 25-minute flight from Yazd takes us to the busy York, on August 11, 1921, the oldest of three sons. the verdant valleys of Mazandaran. is perhaps Iran’s most remote city and where, in April (and sweltering) port town of Bandar Abbas. We head In 1976, after twelve years of research, Alex published The province was the birthplace of Iran’s Reza 1980, the U.S.’s Operation Eagle Claw reached its fiery to the beach, where families are paddling in the sea “Roots”. It was eventually published in thirty-seven lan- Shah, who showered millions on Mazandaran during end during a mission to free American hostages held and young boys take tourists for horse and camel guages. the interwar period in the form of mechanized farms in Tehran by the new revolutionary government. rides along the sand. From here we take a boat into It won the 1977 National Book Award as well as a Pu- and German-engineered railways and tunnels. We Ali, a young man we meet in a tea shop, drives us the Strait of Hormuz, the geostrategic choke point for litzer Prize, and went on to become a landmark television pass Veresk bridge, where it is said that, in order to to the crash site, long since cleared. We sit in the car most of the world’s oil, to Qeshm. miniseries in 1977. The book and film both reached unparal- allay local fears that it could not support a train, Reza gazing at the endless unchanging landscape as a flute The island of Qeshm is divided into a large bone-dry leled success. Shah ordered the chief engineer and his family to version of George Michael’s Careless Whisper plays section where you can visit colonial Portuguese navy Alex Haley died in Seattle, Washington in 1992; howev- stand under the bridge as the first carriages passed, from his stereo. fortifications, deep salt caves, Martian-like rock forms er, his life and his legacy continue to impact the lives and with the king himself riding as a passenger. The tiny oasis town of Garmeh has grown popular and a bizarre museum exhibiting conjoined twin works of people throughout the world to this day. After a quick lunch of delicious heart and liver ke- with Iranian city types during their winter holidays, and goats. Then on the north end of the island, mangrove Here you can read an excerpt from “Roots”: babs and a jug of dugh, a popular salted and minted the Ateshuni Guest House, nestled in groves of date and trees grow up from the sea. Local guides will take you It was the hour before the first crowing of the cocks, and yogurt drink, we continue to Gorgan (land of the palm trees, is at its heart. The owner, a taciturn hippy on a boat around the strange sea forests and to visit along with Nyo Boto and Grandma Yaisa’s chatterings, the wolves), the capital of the wild north-eastern province named Maziyar, knows the region well and can help you a crocodile farm. The island’s bare, white rock relief first sound the child heard was the muted, rhythmic bomp- of Golestan, where we stop for the night. get around to see the best of this desert, whether it be is unmistakably eerie. While driving down one stretch a-bomp-a-bomp of wooden pestles as the other women of Gorgan is the perfect base for hiking trips to dozens of salt lakes, rolling sand dunes or nearby villages. Maziyar’s of the island we encounter an enormous oil platform the village pounded couscous grain in their mortars, prepar- nearby virgin forests, such as Nahar-Khoran on the fringes kitchen also serves fresh homemade khoresht or ghey- that had apparently blown in during a storm from the ing the traditional breakfast of porridge that was cooked in of the city, or the Golestan national park, a two-hour drive meh stews with fluffy, fragrant rice. neighboring UAE. earthen pots over a fire built among three rocks. east, and home to leopards, wolves and gazelles. Make the most of the food, as Iran does not have (Source: The Guardian) The thin blue smoke went curling up pungent and pleas- ant, over the small dusty village of round mud huts as the na- sal wailing of Kajali Demba, the village alimamo, began, calling men to the first of the five daily prayers that had been offered Archaeologists unearth stone tools believed to be oldest ever found up to Allah for as long as anyone living could remember Has- Archaeologists say stone tools recently ing in Ethiopia announced the discovery say some are very crudely made while tening from their beds of bamboo cane and cured hides into unearthed in Kenya are the oldest ever of animal bones from 3.4 million years others are a bit more sophisticated. their rough cotton tunics, the men of the village filed briskly found, at least 700,000 years older than ago bearing cut marks, suggesting hu- While not as advanced as most early hu- to the praying place, where the alimamo led the worship: “Al- any discovered before. mans made the cuts using stone tools. man-created tools found previously, “there’s lahu Akbar! Ashadu an lailahailala!” (God is great! I bear wit- The stone flake tools found along the There was considerable controversy no doubt it’s purposeful” tool-making, says ness that there is only one God!) It was after this, as the men shores of the African country’s Lake Tur- and debate over that claim, but the newly Richard Potts, who heads the Human Origins were returning toward their home compounds for breakfast, kana have been dated to 3.3 million years discovered Kenyan tools — and their Program at the Smithsonian Institution. that Omoro rushed among them, beaming and excited, to tell ago, they report, strong evidence that our 3.3-million-year age — strongly supports The 700,000-year gap between the them of his firstborn son. Congratulating him, all of the men echoed the omens of good fortune. earliest ancestors were making and using the possibility of tool use earlier than had Kenyan tools and the previously oldest (Source: rootsthebook.com) tools hundreds of thousands of years been suspected before, researchers say. known examples suggests the knowl- before the modern Homo lineage arose “The artifacts were clearly knapped looking for remains of an ancient human edge of how to make them could have around 2.8 million years ago. and not the result of accidental fracture relative, Kenyanthripos platyops, when died out with those early human ances- The area around Lake Turkana has of rocks,” Harmand told the annual meet- they took a wrong turn and ended up at a tors and then been “reinvented” several yielded many fossils of early humans and ing of the Paleoanthropology Society be- different site known as Lomekwi 3, just to millennia later, scientists say. ON THIS DAY their tools; a team headed by Sonia Har- ing held this week in San Francisco. the west of Lake Turkana. Still, the new discovery identifies an ear- mand of Stony Brook University in New Knapping is the process of chipping After finding some tools on the sur- lier starting point in our attempts to track Fighting ceases in the American Revolution, eight years to face, they dug deeper and eventually 1783 York made the latest discovery. flakes off a larger stone, flakes that pos- human evolution, Harmand suggests. the day since it began. Previously, the oldest stone tools sess sharp edges that can be used to cut recovered almost 20 preserved flakes, “The Lomekwi 3 tools mark a new be- known had been 2.6-million-year-old plants, nuts or meat. source stones and anvils used as bases on ginning to the known archaeological re- items found in Ethiopia. The discovery of the tools was an ac- which to knapp stones. cord,” she says. 1834 Charles Darwin sails to Rio Santa Cruz up Patagonia Then, in 2010, researchers also work- cident, Harmand says; her team had been Experts who’ve examined the tools (Source: techtimes.com)

1853 1st train in Asia (Bombay to Tanna, 36 km)

A TASTE OF IRAN By Franco Czerny/Getty Images 1881 Natural History Museum opens in South Kensington, England

1902 Denmark is 1st country to adopt fingerprinting to identify criminals

1924 1st crossword puzzle book published (Simon & Schuster)

1942 James Doolittle bombs Tokyo & other Japanese cities

1954 Colonel Nasser seizes power & becomes PM of Egypt

1975 John Lennon releases “Stand by Me”

1977 Alex Haley, author of “Roots”, awarded Pulitzer Prize

Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia) declares 1980 independence from UK

View of Tehran with 1982 Zimbabwe capital Salisbury renamed Harare Milad Tower at sunset. The Iranian capital is a modern metropolis which 1994 Former President Nixon suffered a stroke & dies 4 days later also boasts a number of palaces belonging to 12 Nepalese climbers are killed by an avalanche on Mt. the Pahlavi dynasty and 2014 dozens of museums. Everest I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL APRIL 18, 2015 http://www.tehrantimes.com/international

ANALYSIS Why I’m urging black and Asian Brits to vote Whatever happened to ‘Whiting up’ for the registration campaign was strange, but the message is strong: Obama’s pivot to Asia? if we don’t vote in the election, we’re taking our very color out of British politics. By David Harewood and 60s with hopes and dreams of By Fareed Zakaria making a prosperous environment ere we go again: It’s general elec- possible for their family, and it is argua- he Obama administration’s foreign policy energies Htion time. Politicians racing furi- ble whether or not those dreams have Tare fully engaged in the Middle East — negotiat- ously around the country, kissing ba- been realized. It’s still a struggle for ing the Iran deal, sending Special Operations forces bies and shaking the hands of anybody many people in black and Asian com- into Iraq, supporting Saudi airstrikes in Yemen, work- who cares to show up. I’m 50 this year, munities – and things aren’t getting ing with the Syrian rebels. Whatever happened to the so I’ve seen a fair few of these occa- any easier. But this is precisely why it pivot to Asia? sions; and while it doesn’t surprise is important that those in power hear Remember, the basic argument behind the pivot me that ever fewer people feel voting our voices: not because we ask for was that the United States was overinvested in the makes any difference to their lives, it change but because we are demanding Middle East, a crisis-prone region of dwindling impor- does alarm me that so many people, it. How can we demand anything if we tance to the U.S. national interest. Asia, on the other particularly ethnic minorities, have no don’t actively participate? hand, is the future. Of the four largest economies, intention of participating in this year’s Black achievement three are in Asia, if measured by purchasing-power general election and haven’t even reg- I’ve been fortunate enough to spend parity. As Singapore’s late leader Lee Kuan Yew often istered to vote. much of my time in the United States told me, “America will remain the world’s dominant Among white Britons, the propor- over the past couple of years, and al- power in the 21st century only if it is the dominant Pa- tion not registered to vote is about 8%; though the situation there is very differ- cific power.” for racial minorities this figure rises to ent in many ways, I find the level of black And yet the United States is up to its neck once more 24%; and staggeringly, among those of achievement and aspiration inspiring. in the Middle Eastern morass. President Obama and Sec- African origin, as many as 50% are not pian medalist turned TV presenter nation’s politics. When I first went there some 15 years retary of State John Kerry spend little time in Asia. Few registering. Ade Adepitan. For a promotional film Now, I’ll be honest, I hadn’t thought ago, I was told that in order to get my new initiatives have been announced. Despite the deal This week I took part in a campaign I had to cover myself in white make- of it in this way before, but it was such pay check I’d have to open an American on “fast-track” authority, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a organized by Operation Black Vote up, which I can tell you wasn’t a par- a striking thought that I decided to get bank account, and I duly went off to the trade agreement that was at the heart of the pivot, faces that graphically illustrates just what ticularly pleasant experience (it took involved in the campaign. If we sim- nearest branch. “Take a seat,” said the congressional opposition, mostly from the president’s this lack of electoral participation leads quite some time to get on and off, and ply leave the decision-making process clerk, “I’ll just go and get the bank man- own party. The administration lobbied hard to get its to. If people of color do not exercise seeing my face change color was very to others without making ourselves ager.” Five minutes later a young, black closest allies to spurn China’s new Asian Infrastructure In- their democratic right to vote they will weird), but I felt it was important as it’s heard, without expressing an opin- woman walked in and asked me if she vestment Bank, only to be rebuffed by everyone — even remain an invisible, voiceless and large- such a striking image and conveys the ion, we can’t possibly hope to effect could help. I told her I was waiting for the Britain. ly ignored part of the electorate. message so vividly – if we don’t vote, change in our society. bank manager and she said: “Yes … that The stability of the world will not rest on whether the By not registering they are literally we’re taking our very color out of the My parents came here in the 1950s would be me!” I think she could tell by Houthis win or lose in Yemen. (Yemen has been in a state “taking all that is vibrant, diverse and the look on my face that I was surprised. of almost constant conflict since 1962.) It will be shaped dynamic” about this country’s black, “Haven’t you ever seen a black bank by how the world’s established superpower handles the Asian and minority communities out of Among white Britons, the proportion not registered manager before?” she asked. I shook my rising one, China. As Harvard’s Graham Allison has noted, the democratic equation. to vote is about 8%; for racial minorities this figure head and said: “No!” In all my years go- of the 15 cases since 1500 where this transition has taken The campaign also involves rap rises to 24%; and staggeringly, among those of ing to branches in the most diverse cities place, 11 times the result was a war. star Tinie Tempah, former England Britain, I’ve never seen a person in such a Contd. on P. 11 footballer Sol Campbell, and Paralym- African origin, as many as 50% are not registering. senior role. Contd. on P. 11

The influence of the (military) Tatmadaw over Myanmar’s judicial process remains the single largest obstacle to the country meeting its

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The Economic and Commercial Office of the Spanish Embassy, Tehran, is seeking applicaons for an Administrave Assistant posion from suitably qualified applicants. The successful applicant will be required to fully meet the following selecon criteria • Well developed oral and wrien communicaon skills in Spanish and Farsi • Knowledge in Accounng/Administraon. • Sufficient knowledge in computer applicaons.

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http://www.tehrantimes.com/international APRIL 18, 2015 INTERNATIONAL 7

What’s left of the French left? COMMENT Muhammadu Buhari: French socialism has turned into another electoral machine that excels only We will stop Boko Haram at manufacturing empty slogans

By Ali Saad By Muhammadu Buhari ast month a majority of the French electorate (66 Lpercent) voted for the right wing - the Union for ABUJA, Nigeria — a Popular Movement (UMP) led by former President When Boko Haram attacked a Nicolas Sarkozy and other centre-right parties - in the school in the town of Chibok, in northeastern Nigeria, second round of regional elections. kidnapping more than 200 girls, on the night of April While this vote does not necessarily represent a 14, 2014, the people of my country were aghast. Across turning point in French politics - since it will not change the world, millions of people joined them in asking: the existing political balance of power in terms of the How was it possible for this terrorist group to act with parliamentary majority held by the socialists - the such impunity? It took nearly two weeks before the results offer an insight into the French public's mood government even commented on the crime. after three years of Socialist rule. This lack of reaction was symptomatic of why the One significant outcome, however, is how the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan was French public embarked on what could best be swept aside last month — the first time an incumbent described as a protest vote against the ruling party president has been successfully voted out of office in and chose instead to vote for the right and the far- the history of our nation. For too long they ruled, not right. governed, and in doing so had become so focused on But the issue is not whether those results are a their own self-interest and embroiled in corruption direct consequence of policies pursued by the socialist that the duty to react to the anguish suffered by their government since Francois Hollande was elected citizens had become alien to them. in 2012. The fundamental question here is what did My administration, which will take office on May 29, the socialist party, and the French left in general, will act differently — indeed it is the very reason we do to implement its ideological, political and social have been elected. This must begin with honesty as humanistic values whenever it took power in France? to whether the Chibok girls can be rescued. Currently the symbolic threshold of socialism towards social stick to its founding values has been registered their whereabouts remain unknown. We do not know The socialist idea democracy, to accept the market economy as the on the foreign policy front. Since 1981, all socialist If history is anything to go by, the "socialist the state of their health or welfare, or whether they end of economic history... What is left of the socialists governments backed U.S. military adventures. are even still together or alive. As much as I wish to, idea", for over a century, revolved around the once they abandon the struggle to replace capitalism Ironically, the only French opposition to an American social struggle to uphold humanist values above all I cannot promise that we can find them: to do so by a planned and controlled economy?" war campaign was under Jean Pierre Raffarin's right would be to offer unfounded hope, only to compound others: An egalitarian socialism that promotes social Change of heart wing government, during Jacques Chirac's presidency transformation and fights for people's emancipation the grief if, later, we find we cannot match such But the socialists' change of heart did not begin in 2003, regarding the U.S. invasion of Iraq. expectation. But I say to every parent, family member regardless of racial, religious, cultural or geographical with Hollande. A decade earlier, Lionel Jospin, More recently, during the Israeli bloody offensive conditions. and friend of the children that my government will do another prominent figure of French socialism and a against Gaza last summer, while the world everything in its power to bring them home. It was in 1897 when Jean Jaures, a founding father of presidential candidate, paved the road for Hollande's condemned Israeli crimes against the Palestinian French socialism, outlined one of the fundamentals of What I can pledge, with absolute certainty, is that policy shifts, when he adopted an electoral campaign population, the French socialist government did from the first day of my administration, Boko Haram the ideology in a speech titled, "the socialist idea", slogan: "My project is modern, not socialist." not move beyond empty diplomatic rhetoric calling denouncing the contrast between the proletariat's will know the strength of our collective will and Jospin's words accurately reflect the economic for self-restraint but without condemning Israeli commitment to rid this nation of terror, and bring back enormous misery and the bourgeoisie's social policies embraced by the socialist camp. Indeed, crimes. nepotism. Progressive values peace and normalcy to all the affected areas. Until most of the privatization schemes in the past decades now, Nigeria has been wanting in its response to their Jaures' theory retained the Marxist idea of the occurred under Jospin's prime ministerial mandate And when popular protests took place danger of capitalist concentration, the theory of threat: With our neighbors fighting hard to push the between 1997 and 2002, with all that privatization in many French cities, not even one socialist terrorists south and out of their countries, our military value and the need for a united working class: "All implies: Depriving the state - then the people - of minister or party official expressed any support for producers should become co-owners of the was not sufficiently supported or equipped to push its means of production. These privatizations had the martyred Palestinian population. Only Olivier north. As a consequence, the outgoing government’s instruments of labour […] in order to replace what is received the blessing of the right wing camp led by Besancenot, leader of the new Anti-Capitalist Party, called the capital, that is to say, the private ownership lack of determination was an accidental enabler of then President Jacques Chirac. This clearly indicates had participated in a demonstration in Paris. the group, allowing them to operate with impunity in of the means of production, by the collective social the extent to which economic policies pursued by More than 100 years after Jean Jaures' ownership of the means of production." Nigerian territory. the left, even then, were in harmony with the ideals speech, what we are witnessing today is socialism- That is why the answer to defeating Boko Haram It is essentially motivated by the desire to promote advocated by liberalism. lite, ie, a diluted version that makes way for a a humanist socialism where universal human begins and ends with Nigeria. That is not to say that allies But one of the landmark events that could hybrid socialism completely disconnected from its cannot help us. My administration would welcome the emancipation, social justice and solidarity - as opposed explain the left's shift towards embracing a liberal source and the reality of marginalized, exploited or to capitalist materialism - would form the core of the resumption of a military training agreement with the agenda came in 1983, when socialist Francois oppressed people. United States, which was halted during the previous socialist idea. Mitterrand, after two years in power during which So how could one justify such a disaster? Are Fast forward to 2012, Hollande, then the socialist administration. We must, of course, have better he raised great hopes and was supposed to embody we entitled to claim that each era or period of coordination with the military campaigns our African party's presidential candidate, declared: "My real an anti-capitalistic policy (four Communist ministers history has its own struggles, its values and type opponent is the world of finance." allies, like Chad and Niger, are waging in the struggle were part of his government), announced economic of action to justify or excuse this eclipse of the against Boko Haram. But, in the end, the answer to this Following his election as president in January 2013, measures worthy of a right-wing president. French socialism? Or is it right to say that human Hollande declared himself a Social Democrat, which threat must come from within Nigeria. It was the socialist government of Pierre Beregovoy values promoted by socialism in the early 20th We must start by deploying more troops to the means flirting with liberalism, market economy, and that put France on the track of financial globalization century are of timelessness and universalism that the temptation of abandoning the policies of the front and away from civilian areas in central and by opening up major French industrial companies to provides them with an almost sacred status and southern Nigeria where for too long they have been redistribution of wealth - notions that are in essence private capital, thus enforcing a withdrawal of the allows them to cross the centuries? opposed to socialism. used by successive governments to quell dissent. We state in favor of big international financial groups. French socialism seems to have turned must work closer with our neighbors in coordinating On another occasion, Hollande, during a conference These were bold moves that even a right wing into another electoral machine excelling in the art in London, declared: "Today there are no communists our military efforts so an offensive by one army does government could not dare to consider. of manufacturing ephemeral slogans empty of any not see their country’s lands rid of Boko Haram only in France. Or not many... The left was in government It was Mitterrand, according to historian Francois substance or undertaking challenges facing society, for 15 years during which time we liberalized the to push it across the border onto their neighbors’ Cusset whose policies led to "the left's abandonment whatever they are, economic, ideological, or social. territory. economy and opened up the markets to finance and of the lower classes… He [Mitterrand] quickly lost the Socialism no longer rhymes with progressivism, privatizations. There is no big fear." But as our military pushes Boko Haram back, as it people, in every sense of the word, social as well as the reason why recent election results were all but will, we must be ready to focus on what else must be Hollande was in fact doing what renowned French electoral". surprising. economist Guy Sorman described as: "Crossing (Source: Al Jazeera) done to counter the terrorists. We must address why it Another historic failure of the French left to is that young people join Boko Haram. The Jonathan "administration" was comatose, populated by ghosts, not acting in the face of deadly threat and action; not even speaking out.... Here’s a bold plan, Ed Miliband – it worked for Roosevelt He seems much more serious about governing the By Martin Kettle it. So is the amateurishness of some of the Miliband country than his predecessor, Goodluck What's-His- team’s leadership. Perhaps the team, indeed, is a bit Name. At least he doesn't appear to be a... hat does Hillary stand for? The Economist’s second rate, not up to the undoubted scale of the There are many reasons why vulnerable young Wfront cover posed that question last week: the task. Given how much time Miliband and his advisers people join militant groups, but among them are frontrunner for the U.S. Democratic nomination in 2016 seem to have spent talking about what they needed poverty and ignorance. Indeed Boko Haram — which will have to craft a plausible answer. to do, they have ended up with a rather modest plan. translates in English, roughly, as “Western Education Does she still understand the anxieties of ordinary Further back, New Labour can certainly be criticized Is Sinful” — preys on the perverted belief that the Americans whose real wages have stagnated while the for not making better use of the political space that opportunities that education brings are sinful. If you economy surged? And is she more than a moderate it commanded in the late 1990s to put inequality, and are starving and young, and in search of answers as and experienced liberal person who, in the end, has the disproportion between the power and wealth of to why your life is so difficult, fundamentalism can no clear answers to what elected government can the few compared with the many, at the centre of its be alluring. We know this for a fact because former actually do for those families in the face of corporate project. members of Boko Haram have admitted it: They offer American power, Wall Street’s flash boys and the So it’s definitely not all Miliband’s fault. If making impressionable young people money and the promise sleepless hatred of the Republican right? Behr puts it, that government should intervene social democracy work in a globalised capitalist of food, while the group’s mentors twist their minds But we shouldn’t single out Clinton over this. She more to correct the injustices that inevitably follow economy was easy, it would have been done long with fanaticism. is only one prominent example among many on the when wealth and power are hoarded by a minority. ago. So forget any accusations of betrayal. So we must be ready to offer the parts of our centre left who have a difficult time matching the Mistakenly or not, Miliband believes he is Labour The answer to social democracy’s failure, which country affected by this group an alternative. poetry and aspiration of opposition with the prose leader in order to sell that belief and to implement it. it is important to say is relative rather than absolute Boosting education will be a direct counterbalance to and practicality of governing. The same question, in Public opinion has often been broadly sympathetic (the NHS would not stand where it does if social Boko Haram’s appeal. In particular we must educate various permutations, faces all parties and leadership to the things that Miliband stands for. Yet today democracy was wholly discredited), is not to abandon more young girls, ensuring they will grow up to be candidates of the centre left across the developed Labour struggles to break the 35% ceiling. For more it wholesale. That was the mistake a few (not all) empowered through learning to play their full part as capitalist world. than 20 years, through most of the Thatcher-Major- Blairites made. But the answer is not to keep trying citizens of Nigeria and pull themselves up and out of Though the question itself was there long before Blair years, about 60% of the population thought that to hammer the wrong-shaped peg into a differently poverty. Indeed, we owe it to the schoolgirls of Chibok 2008, it has sharpened, and certainly been felt to taxes and public spending should increase. They don’t shaped hole, either. to provide as best an education as possible for their have sharpened, since the financial crisis. In Europe think so any more, particularly since the financial If making social democracy work in a globalised fellow young citizens. the question applies in many places, from Athens crisis, and they lack confidence in the government to capitalist economy was easy, it would have been done Boko Haram feeds off despair. It feeds off a lack of hope itself to Edinburgh, the Athens of the north. And it is a solve the country’s problems. long ago. that things can improve. By attacking a site of learning, and question that all centre-left leaders in large and small This is why Labour’s failure to combat the narrative Watching the final DVD of Ken Burns’s U.S. kidnapping more than 200 schoolgirls, it sought to strike countries, not least in the UK, struggle to answer in that “Labour wrecked the economy” – chorused television series on the Roosevelts the other day, at the very place where hope for the future is nurtured, electorally plausible and politically sustainable ways. again this week by David Cameron and Nick Clegg there was a glimpse of why Miliband and many and the promise of a better Nigeria. It is our intention to What, here in Britain in 2015, does Labour stand for? – remains so damaging. It means Labour has been others may be missing an important trick. In his 1944 show Boko Haram that it will not succeed. Many are asking that during this election. Ed Miliband denied the standing to make the kind of case that state of the union speech, Franklin Roosevelt told My government will first act to defeat it militarily has asked himself it continuously over the years. Few Miliband wants. Public opinion remains massively Americans that, when the second world war was and then ensure that we provide the very education politicians are as focused on the issue as he is. critical of industries such as banking, insurance and over, it would be time to enact an economic bill of it despises to help our people help themselves. Boko As Rafael Behr’s informed and important Guardian energy. Yet outside its core support, the centre left rights, a second constitutional tablet of stone to set Haram will soon learn that, as Nelson Mandela said, account of the Labour leader this week makes clear, fails to connect and inspire. alongside the political rights that were America’s “Education is the most powerful weapon which you Miliband has always had a more ambitious instinct Why should this be? The failure to rebut the foundation. can use to change the world.” about what to answer. He has always believed, as charges against the Labour record is certainly part of Contd. on P. 11 (Source: The New York Times) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 MED & SCI APRIL 18, 2015 http://www.tehrantimes.com

IN THE NEWS Major advance in artificial Gray whales’ Pacific crossing leads to questions photosynthesis could turn carbon of origin

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Scientists studying the migration of endangered western Pacific gray whales emissions into desirable chemicals are questioning whether they’re a separate population or simply California gray whales that have expand- By Justin Beach ed their territory. Western Pacific gray esearchers with the U.S. De- whales are the most en- Rpartment of Energy (DOE)’s dangered of the large Lawrence Berkeley National Labo- whales. Only 150 remain. ratory (Berkeley Lab) and the Uni- They’re considered a versity of California (UC) Berkeley distinct population from are reporting what could be a game California gray whales, changing innovation in energy and which once were endan- drastically reduce greenhouse gas- gered but have recovered. ses. Scientists over two mi- It is actually, simultaneously, a gratory seasons tagged breakthrough in artificial photo- western Pacific gray synthesis as well as carbon capture whales off Russia’s Sakha- and storage. The system described lin (SAHK’-ah-leen) Island, hoping to discover where they in the journal Nano Letters has the spend winters. potential to not only reduce carbon They were surprised to discover that three migrated emissions, but to turn across the Pacific. Once the carbon into a desir- Oregon State University researcher Bruce Mate says carbon dioxide able commodity. the whales likely were born in Mexico waters. But he says is reduced, The system cap- the sample size is too small to determine whether all the tures carbon dioxide western Pacific gray whales are California gray whales. genetically emissions then uses engineered solar energy and arti- ficial photosynthesis E.coli take over to turn the carbon Sugar-sweetened and synthesize emissions that would the desired have gone into the beverages could reduce atmosphere, into use- stress levels chemical ful chemical products products. including liquid fuel, Useful products nium oxide nanowire structures to diverse array of useful chemicals. According to a study from the University of California, According to biodegradable plastic The problem, to date, with “car- create an “artificial forest”. We were able to uniformly popu- consuming sugar-sweetened beverages such as juice or and even pharmaceu- bon capture and storage” is stor- “Our artificial forest is similar to late our nanowire array with S. soda can reduce stress responses in the brain, Fox News the researchers tical drugs. age. The carbon needs to be stored the chloroplasts in green plants. ovata using buffered brackish wa- reported. The study was published in the Journal of Clini- the S. ovata Just like plants use somewhere and that has the poten- When sunlight is absorbed, photo- ter with trace vitamins as the only cal Endocrinology & Metabolism. sunlight to turn car- tial to create new environmental excited electron hole pairs are gen- organic component,” aid Michelle Scientists discovered that diet aspartame-sweetened and E.coli bon dioxide and water problems. By “storing” the carbon erated in the silicon and titanium Chang, an expert in biosynthesis. drinks did not exhibit the same stress-relieving effect. steps could into carbohydrates, in useful products the technique oxide nanowires, which absorb Once the carbon dioxide is re- Kevin D. Laugero, the author of the study, said that this potentially be the new system would has the potential to completely different regions of the solar spec- duced, genetically engineered is the first proof that eating large quantities of sugar, but use carbon dioxide eliminate that problem and make trum. The photo-generated elec- E.coli take over and synthesize the not aspartame, may alleviate stress in people. He further combined in and water to make ac- carbon reduction profitable. trons in the silicon will be passed desired chemical products. Accord- said that the concern is emotional or psychological stress the future. etate, which can then “In natural photosynthesis, onto bacteria for the CO2 reduc- ing to the researchers the S. ovata could lead to the habitual overconsumption of sugar and be put to a wide vari- leaves harvest solar energy and tion while the photo-generated and E.coli steps could potentially increase the detrimental health effects of sugar such as ety of uses. carbon dioxide is reduced and holes in the titanium oxide split be combined in the future. obesity. “We believe our system is a combined with water for the syn- water molecules to make oxygen,” While this is, potentially, a re- Scientists looked at 19 female participants aged be- revolutionary leap forward in the thesis of molecular products that said Yang. markable and timely breakthrough tween 18 and 40 years. They asked eight participants to field of artificial photosynthesis. form biomass. In our system, The forest is then populated the technology is not quite ready drink aspartame-sweetened beverages and 11 subjects to Our system has the potential to nanowires harvest solar energy with microbes that catalyze the yet. consume sugar-sweetened beverages over a period of 12 fundamentally change the chemi- and deliver electrons to bacteria, carbon dioxide reduction. For the “We are currently working on days. Scientists instructed the participants not to drink cal and oil industry in that we can where carbon dioxide is reduced study, the team used the anaerobic our second generation system any other sugary drinks. produce chemicals and fuels in a and combined with water for the bacterium Sporomusa ovata which which has a solar-to-chemical con- The subjects consumed these drinks at breakfast, totally renewable way, rather than synthesis of a variety of targeted, takes electrons from its environ- version efficiency of three-percent. lunch and dinner. They underwent functional MRI screen- extracting them from deep below value-added chemical products,” ment and uses them to reduce car- Once we can reach a conversion ing and performed math tests to demonstrate their the ground,” said Peidong Yang a said Chris Chang of Berkeley Lab bon dioxide. efficiency of 10-percent in a cost brain’s response to stress. The researchers also took sa- statement. and UC Berkeley, an expert in cat- “S. ovata is a great carbon di- effective manner, the technology liva samples of subjects to test cortisol levels. Cortisol is Yang is a chemist with Berkeley alysts for carbon-neutral energy oxide catalyst as it makes acetate, should be commercially viable,” Lab’s Materials Sciences Division conversions. a versatile chemical intermediate said Yang. a hormone made by the adrenalin glands that is vital for (Source: National Monitor) the body’s response to stress. and one of the leaders of this study. The system uses silicon and tita- that can be used to manufacture a (Source: Yibada) Diabetes and depression may NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope finds SUBSCRIPTION FORM increase risk of dementia exoplanet 13,000 light years away

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Family name: ...... Adults who have either depression mentia was increased by 80 percent. Using the Spitzer Space Telescope, ets are more common in the cen- Company: ......  or Type 2 diabetes may have an in- The researchers were surprised scientists have discovered many tral bulge of our Milky Way galaxy 12-month subscription: 3,200,000 rials creased risk of developing dementia, that the risk of dementia for the peo- new exoplanets that they have or as far out as the spiral arms of  6-month subscription: 1,600,000 rials  and the risk may be even higher for ple with depression but not diabetes never known before. Rather, it our galaxy reach (which is where 3-month subscription: 800,000 rials people who have both conditions, was so much higher than for those might be more accurate to say our solar system lives). according to a new study. who had diabetes but not depres- that our newest technology has “We don’t know if planets are Phone No.: ...... In the study, researchers exam- sion, said study author Dr. Dimitry finally confirmed what many have more common in our galaxy’s cen- ined the risk of dementia in more Davydow, of the University of Wash- believed for a very long time: that tral bulge or the disk of the galaxy, Fax: ...... than 2.4 million people in Denmark ington School of Medicine in Seattle. there are probably an infinite num- which is why these observations ages 50 and older, a group that in- “Essentially, what we found is ber of world’s out there. are so important,” explains lead Address: ...... cluded people who had type 2 diabe- that the risk associated with depres- Anything which would qualify as study author Jennifer Yee, of the tes, depression or both conditions. sion was four times greater than that a planet but is not part of our solar Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Postal code: ...... About 2 percent of the people in the associated with diabetes,” Davydow system, though, is considered an Astrophysics. study developed dementia over the told Live Science. “exoplanet,” and scientists have This exoplanet was found E-mail: ...... six-year study period. The people who had been diag- been finding these “exoplanets” through a phenomenon called But among those who developed nosed with both diabetes and depres- all over the place! microlensing. Study co-author An- ATTENTION: The money can be depos- dementia, more than 26 percent had sion were more than twice as likely to One of the most recent exoplan- drew Gould of Ohio State Univer- ited into Tehran Times account number depression, and almost 11 percent have dementia during the study period ets to be discovered, though, is the sity, in Columbus, explains “Micro- 6973086221 in Bank Mellat at any branch. had Type 2 diabetes. In addition to than people who did not have either furthest away from Earth ever to lensing experiments are already Send the subscription form along with the those groups, another 7 percent had condition. (In people with type 2 diabe- have been found. At least, so far. detecting planets from the solar deposit receipt to No. 18 Bimeh Lane, Ne- both conditions. tes — which is the most common type This planet is a gas giant (so that neighborhood to almost the cent- jatollahi Street, Tehran, or fax to number The researchers found that the of diabetes, making up about 90 per- means it is much like our Jupiter) er of the Milky Way. And so they 88808895 (special for Tehrani citizens). people with diabetes had a 20 percent cent of cases — the cells of the body and it lives in the middle of space at can, in principle, tell us the rela- Interested individuals in other cities can greater risk of dementia compared can no longer respond to the hormone 13,000 light years from our Earth. tive efficiency of planet formation contact the subscription office at with the people who did not have dia- insulin by taking in sugar from the Of course, NASA still wants to across this huge expanse of our 8880-3025 betes or depression. For the people bloodstream.) find more planets and, more im- galaxy”. who had depression, the risk of de- (Source: Live Science) portantly, determine if these plan- (Source: Pioneer News) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y http://www.tehrantimes.com/sports APRIL 18, 2015 SPORTS 9

Iranian male and female teams claim FOOTBALL Iran set sights on Beach Asian Cadet Taekwondo Championships Soccer glory

Iran’s male and fe- 3- Ma Yu-hsin (Chinese Taipei) Iran are readying themselves for a trip to the Portuguese Sport D e s k male teams won the 3- Nur Abilla Atillia Sabri (Malaysia) resort of Espinho, where they will shortly contest their titles of the 1st Asian Cadet Taekwondo -41 kg: sixth FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Backed by a nation Championships in Chinese Taipei on 1- Thi Kim Ngan Ho (Vietnam) that loves its football and sport in general, Team Melli Thursday. 2- Madinabonu Mannopova (Uz- are determined to build on their recent progress and The male team bagged five gold bekistan) make this their best performance yet. medals and three silvers and finished 3- Gulbala Abyzbayeva (Kazakh- To gauge their expectations in the countdown to Portugal in first place with 72 points. stan) 2015, FIFA.com spoke to Iran’s celebrated Brazilian coach Mar- South Korea came second with 48 3- Huai-en Su (Chinese Taipei) co Octavio and their star striker Mohammad Ahmadzadeh. points, winning three gold medals and -44 kg: The road to Portugal two silvers. 1- Setareh Chaboki (Iran) Octavio is a very well-known figure on the world beach Kazakhstan became third with one 2- Chia-hsing Hsieh (Chinese Taipei) soccer circuit, after successful spells in charge of Brazil silver and eight bronze medals. 3- Botakoz Kapanova (Kazakhstan) and Portugal over the last two decades. In his first stint The Iranian female team won the ti- 3- Sandra Dib (Lebanon) as Iran coach, he took them to Rio de Janeiro 2007, later tle with 74 points, bagging seven gold -47 kg: returning to the post to lead them to the Asian title and on medals and one silver. The Philippines 1- Gilwel An Jynamae Ira ng (Philip- to the quarter-finals at Tahiti 2013. came second with 29 points winning one 3- Bekzod Ibragimov (Uzbekistan) 3- Dulat Sikhymov (Kazakhstan) pines) The Iranians went into this year’s AFC Beach Soccer gold, two silvers and one bronze medal. 3- Mansour Faisal (UAE) -65 kg: 2- Laetitia Aoun (Lebanon) Championship in Qatar as favourites to retain their crown, Kazakhstan finished in third place -45 kg: 1- Mohammad Khani (Iran) 3- Chia-ling Lo (Chinese Taipei) but went out in the semi-finals before seeing off Lebanon with 29 points, claiming one gold, one 1-Hamed Asghari (Iran) 2- Ejay Dongbo (Philippines) 3- Namuun Boldbaatar (Mongolia) 8-3 in the match for third place, a win that secured their silver and five bronze medals. 2- Saudi Arabian representative 3- Dulat Sikhymov (Kazakhstan) -51 kg: passage to Portugal. At the end of the competitions, Iran’s 3- Uzbekistan representative 3- Hong-sheng Qiu (Chinese Taipei) 1- Narges Hasannia (Iran) Giving his views in the wake of that handsome victory, Oc- Erfan Moradi and Mahla Momenzadeh 3- Kazakhstan representative +65 kg: 2- Shaira Isabel Garbanzos (Philip- tavio said: “The other teams are getting better all the time, were named Most Valuable Players. -49 kg: 1- Lee Meng-en (Chinese Taipei) pines) and everyone came here looking to qualify for the World Also, Hosseinali Naeimi and Mahro 1- Jung-ho Yun (Korea) 2- Hossein Hosseinzadeh (Iran) 3- Aiym Togyman (Kazakhstan) Cup. It wasn’t easy but we were ready to win our place.” Comrani were chosen as the Best 2- Dang Quang Pham (Vietnam) 3- Shyngys Sandibayev (Kazakh- 3- Durdonakhon Abdulkhaeva (Uz- He added: “We also came to retain our title but we lost Coach Male Team and the Best Coach 3- Timur Nurgeldi (Kazakhstan) stan) bekistan) to Japan in the semis and had to settle for third place. It was Female Team respectively. 3- Zhang-wei Luo (Chinese Taipei) Cadet Female: -55 kg: important for us to make the World Cup. Missing out would Cadet Male: -53 kg: -29 kg: 1- Zohreah Hasan Nataj (Iran) have been a massive disappointment, especially bearing in -33 kg: 1- Mojtaba Pasar (Iran) 1- Alima Kaidarova (Kazakhstan) 2- Thi Hong Han Nguyen (Vietnam) mind the progress we’ve made over the last few years. I’d 1- Amir Valipour (Iran) 2- Yerassyl Bekbolat (Kazakhstan) 2- Fatemeh Abadouz (Iran) 3- Anushiya Priyadarshini Premraj like to thank all the players for their hard work, though I’m 2- Kang-min Kim (Korea) 3- Jad El Khazen (Lebanon) 3- Chloe Moujaes (Lebanon) (India) expecting even more from them at the World Cup.” 3- Jasurbek Zokirov (Uzbekistan) 3- Shou-Kuo Sha (Chinese Taipei) 3- Min-feng Tang (Chinese Taipei) 3- Zhadyra Khairullina (Kazakhstan) Eyes on the prize 3- Yelzhan Yelshibay (Kazakhstan) -57 kg: -33 kg: -59 kg: Looking ahead to what will be his third world finals with Iran, -37 kg: 1- Erfan Moradi (Iran) 1- Mahla Momenzadeh (Iran) 1- Negar Pourjamali (Iran) the feted Brazilian coach said: “We have to try and win the title. 1- Chan-yeong Lee(Korea) 2- Seung-wan Bong (Korea) 2- Anne Sharmaine Albarracin (Phil- 2- Hui-ching Yang (Chinese Taipei) We are a strong team, as we’ve shown in the past. We reached 2- Ali Noormohammadi (Iran) 3- Cheng-Chieh Hsu (Chinese Taipei) ippines) 3- Amina Nurgazykyzy (Kazakhstan) the quarter-finals at the last World Cup, where we went down 3- Aryslan Tilegen (Kazakhstan) 3- Maksat Kabi (Kazakhstan) 3- Huang Wei-Ting (Chinese Taipei) 3- Reign Charisse Ragutana (Philippines) fighting to world champions Russia. After the world finals we 3- Rama Chandra Liporada (Philippines) -61 kg: 3- Riya Bisht (India) +59 kg: then went on to beat Russia and Brazil, and we’ll need to be -41 kg: Yeong-seok Kim (Korea) -37 kg: 1- Zahra Nasir Ahmadi (Iran) ready to figure among the title contenders this time.” 1- Dineson Wilrej C.Cneda (Philippines) 2- Shao-ming Hsu (Chinese Taipei) 1- Mobina Nejad Katesari (Iran) 2- Zhibek Kopen (Kazakhstan) Reflecting the advances being made by Iranian beach 2- Mohammad Hossein Zahedi (Iran) 3- Yelaman Baltabayev (Kazakhstan) 2- Mi-reu Kang (Korea) 3- Wei-Chieh Chen (Chinese Taipei) soccer, he then added: “The sport is coming on fast in Iran. The league is of a good standard and the players, who do not lack talent, are keen to learn. I’m trying to pass my phi- losophy on to them and to help them make progress when Slobodan Kovac announced Iran preliminary roster for FIVB World League it comes to competitions. “They’re very professional now and all that remains for TEHRAN – With one month prior at the Azadi Indoor Stadium, Tehran, Iran. 11. Farhad Piroutpour us to do is get our preparations right. We’ll be trying to set Sport D e s k to the start of the 2015 FIVB World The team will play Poland on June 26 and 28 in 12. Mojtaba Mirzajanpour up matches against European and South American teams in League, Slobodan Kovac announced his 25-man pre- Tehran and also face Russia on July 3 and 4. 13. Mehdi Mahdavi the weeks ahead so that we can arrive in Portugal on top of liminary squad for the prestigious event. Iran Preliminary Roster for the 2015 FIVB 14. Arash Keshavarzi our game and in the best possible physical shape. We have Iran will begin the campaign against the U.S. on World League 15. Mostafa Sharifat to believe that we have a chance at the World Cup.” May 30 and 31 in Los Angeles. 1.Shahram Mahmoudi 16. Abdolreza Alizadeh Ahmadzadeh aiming high Iran has been drawn in Pool B along with Olympic 2. Milad Ebadipour 17. Pouria Fayyazi As their Asian title win in 2013 and their subsequent run champion Russia, 2014 World Champion Poland and 3. Saman Faezi 18. Mohammad Taher Vadi to the last eight in Tahiti showed, the Iranians are full of World League titleholder U.S. in the current FIVB 4. MirSaeid Marouf 19. Mehdi Marandi self-belief and are not to be taken lightly, especially with World League. 5. Farhad Ghaemi 20. Mikaeil Tajer the likes of Muhammad Ahmadzadeh in their ranks. Team Iran will face Poland on June 5 and 6 in Cze- 6. Mohammad Mousavi 21. Reza Abedini Portugal 2015 will be the forward’s fifth Beach Soccer stochowa, Poland. 7. Hamzeh Zarrini 22. Mohammad Hassan Senobari World Cup, the first of them coming in 2006. Reflecting on Slobodan Kovac’s men have been scheduled to 8. Farhad Zarif 23. Hamed Rezaei his World Cup experiences, Ahmadzadeh said: “Every one play Russia on June 13 and 14 in Kazan, Russia. 9. Adel Gholami 24. Mohammad Javad Manavinejad of them has felt different. After the results we obtained In Week $, Iran will host the U.S. on June 19 and 21 10. Amir Ghafour 25. Rasoul Najafi at Tahiti 2013, we’ll be going to Portugal full of confidence and determination. I want to have another good tourna- ment and help my team. I’m aiming to be 100 per cent for the matches, and we’re all going to be working hard in the Iran Professional League: Malavan 1 – 1 Esteghlal next few weeks with that goal in mind.” Esteghlal football houb Karimi. seven points behind leader Tractor Ahmadzadeh’s previous World Cup appearances have Sport D e s k team was held to a Just two minutes into the second Sazi. brought him 13 goals in 13 matches, an excellent record giv- 1-1 draw against Malavan in the 26th half, U-21 national defender Hossein Elsewhere, relegation strugglers en the standard of opposition. He was in among the goals round of Iran Professional League Kanaanizadegan leveled the score Rah Ahan was held by a 2-2 draw again in the recent Asian qualifiers, scoring seven times to (IPL) on Friday. with an excellent scissor kick from in- against Esteghlal Khouzestan. Padideh finish the tournament as its fourth-highest marksman. Reza Enayati gave the lead to Es- side the six yard box. beat Gostaresh Foolad 2-1 in Mashhad “When I’m playing I don’t think about individual awards,” teghlal in the 16th minute with a won- Esteghlal is currently stands in the while Saba and Paykan played out a he said. “Our aim was to qualify for the World Cup and re- derful header after a cross by Yag- fifth place of IPL table with 43 points, 0-0 draw. tain our Asian title. We bounced back from defeat to Japan in the semis by putting eight past Lebanon the following day, which only goes to show how much we want to win. “Whenever I score I think about my team-mates and I thank Bayern Munich doctor Hans-Wilhelm Juergen Klopp in demand as Italian them for the help they’ve given me. I try to make the most of Muller-Wohlfahrt resigns clubs are linked each pass I receive by scoring a goal, though I’m always aware of the fact that we’re a team. That’s what our game is based on. Our first objective is to win matches and pick up trophies.” Winding up our chat, Ahmadzadeh said: “We’re on the way to getting up there with the very best in the world, and we have a very clear objective in Portugal: to reach the second round at least. (Source: FIFA)

Rafael Nadal no longer seen as the favourite at Roland Garros

Despite Nadal's record of unparalleled dominance at the Bayern Munich doctor Hans-Wilhelm missed Tuesday's quarter-final first AC Milan and Napoli are the first two that England and Germany were French Open, bookmakers believeNovak Djokovic is the Muller-Wohlfahrt has resigned af- leg because of injuries. European powerhouses rumoured to the two countries he felt most most likely winner this year. ter 38 years in the role, claiming Coach Pep Guardiola had queried have contacted Juergen Klopp. equipped to work in but he could No male tennis player has ever won a Grand Slam title the club's medical department was why France international Ribery re- The 47-year-old, who won two still be tempted by an offer from as often as Rafael Nadal has won the French Open. blamed for the Champions League mains sidelined with an ankle injury he Bundesliga titles with Borussia Dort- Italy or Spain. His record is simply astonishing, 66 wins and only one defeat by Porto. sustained on 11 March and was only ex- mund and led the side to a Champi- Despite being on the verge of defeat, to Robin Soderling, in the fourth round in 2009. Bayern were missing several key pected to keep him out for a few days. ons League final in 2013, is expected the Europa League semi-finals, In nine other attempts he has won the title nine times, players for Tuesday's 3-1 loss in Portugal. Muller-Wohlfahrt, who has also to be the most in-demand coach in Napoli and Rafa Benitez are ex- keeping his hands on the trophy since 2010 and extending Muller-Wohlfahrt, 72, said: "For worked as Germany's national team Europe this summer after announc- pected to part ways in the sum- his winning ratio to an incredible 98.51%. unexplained reasons, it was the doctor, has previously treated some ing he is leaving Signal Iduna Park at mer when the Spaniard’s contract But despite all of that, the Spaniard is not seen as the medical department that was chiefly of the world's leading sportspeople, the end of the season. comes to an end. favourite going into this year’s event. blamed for the defeat." including six-time Olympic champion Reigning Premier League cham- Filippo Inzaghi’s position as Novak Djokovic is the man tipped to end Nadal’s run, He added that "the relationship Usain Bolt. pions Manchester City are still head coach at AC Milan also looks with almost every bookmaker giving the Serbian shorter of trust has been permanently dam- Champions Bayern are 10 points seen as his most likely destina- extremely insecure, with the 18- odds for this year’s tournament. aged". clear at the top of the Bundesliga tion by book-makers after a disap- time Italian champions down in Nadal’s odds drifted once it became clear the number Wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen and will face Borussia Dortmund in pointing campaign under Chilean ninth place - 28 points behind five seed could face either Djokovic, Roger Federer, Kei Ni- Robben, midfielder Bastian Schwein- the German Cup semi-finals. coach Manuel Pellegrini. league-leaders Juventus. shikori or Andy Murray as early as the quarterfinals. steiger and defender David Alaba all (Source: BBC) Klopp has previously suggested (Source: Eurosport) (Source: Eurosport) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 SOCIETY APRIL 18, 2015 http://www.tehrantimes.com/society

FOOD FOR THOUGHT Time lists FM Zarif among 100 influential world people in 2015 Calling Zarif “Iran’s dealmaker”, the magazine says Zarif is the happy face of Iran’s revolution Time magazine has listed “happy face” sities, Zarif is well qualified to recon- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad cile the revolutionaries and the world. Javad Zarif in the list of 100 Most Influ- As Iran’s ambassador to the UN, he en- ential People 2015. The magazine re- gaged many in Congress. In March, an leased the list on April 16. The list was Iranian poll picked Zarif as man of the divided into 5 categories: Titans, Pio- year,” it added. nees, Artists, Leaders and Icons, with “After a deal, Zarif would be the Zarif being among the most influential natural go-to guy for broader détente world leaders. with the world too.” Calling Zarif “Iran’s dealmaker”, the Other personalities that landed on magazine said Zarif is the happy face the Leaders category are included: Raúl “The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at of Iran’s revolution. Castro, Narenda Modi, Angela Merkel, the broken places.” It said Zarif helped end the Iran-Iraq Bob Corker, Rula Ghani, Muhammadu Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms War, free American hostages in Leba- Buhari, Alexis Tsipras, Vladimir Putin, non and broker a new Afghan govern- Obiageli Ezekwesili, Elizabeth Warren, ment after the Taliban’s defeat. Haider Al-Abadi, Joko Widodo, King “Now, as foreign minister, he’s Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Xi Jin- the pivot in nuclear diplomacy. For 18 ping, Jeb Bush, Tom Frieden, Saman- LEARN ENGLISH months, the world’s six major powers tha Power, Kim Jong Un, Abubakar have courted him as they have no oth- Shekau, Benjamin Netanyahu, Hillary Working for an Impossible er foreign official. The goal is to for- Clinton, Martin Dempsey, Beji Caid Es- Boss malize the blueprint of a nuclear deal sebsi, Adam Silver, Lu Wei, Marine Le by June 30,” it said. Pen, Barack Obama, Mitch McConnell, Mr. Mann: Why are all these people milling around doing “Educated at two American univer- and Joanne Liu. no work? Laura! You’re in charge when I’m out of the of- fice and you’re incompetent! Laura: Mr. Mann, we need to talk in private. Let’s go into your office. Iranian shepherd with over 14,000 followers on Instagram Mr. Mann: What is this about? TEHRAN — Sala- qualified veterinarian now. Moham- interest in buying his cows. It is possi- Laura: Mr. Mann, I’ve tried to do my job the best I can, Social Desk rpolad might be a mad has been in Tehran twice, but he ble, according to Mohammad, to make but I won’t tolerate your verbal abuse any longer. familiar name to Isntagarm users. The likes his life in village much better. money through Instagram, if someone Mr. Mann: Verbal abuse?! I’m just telling it like it is. It’s name belongs to a popular profile, a Mohammad has sweated so hard to gives it a try. my…it’s my…management style. This is business. If you young Iranian shepherd Mohammad- make it possible for his senior brother He names his profile Salarpolad af- can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Ghasem Torabi who lives in a far-off to go to university. In return, when the ter his two strong and hard working Laura: If I thought this was about my performance, I village in Golestan Province, in the elder brother finished with his Ph.D, he shepherd dogs, Salar and Polad, to would certainly take any constructive criticism, but this northeast of Iran, the Persian service bought Mohammad a cell phone with show his love and respect for them af- is really about your inappropriate behavior. of Mehr news agency reported. his very first paycheck. He then helped ter they both died. Mr. Mann: What inappropriate behavior? You’re ques- The profile has over 14,000 follow- him to open a profile on Instagram and Mohammad is surprised to see tioning my behavior? ers all over the world, perhaps because shared his photos with the world. many people interested in his rural life Laura: Yes, I’ve held my tongue long enough. Every day, of the simple and genuine peasant life- Mohammad wakes up about three despite its everyday difficulties and you come back to the office tipsy from lunch, and you go off style Mohammad has tried to illustrate o’clock in the morning everyday and challenges; his reputation goes so far on me in front of the other employees. That undermines my by his photos. works on the farm till late in the even- that Iran’s TV state and some newspa- authority and puts me in an impossible position. Mohammad, who is 28 years old ing. At nights, when he arrives home pers have covered his story as well. Mr. Mann: I’m your boss and you have no right to now, is married and has a one-and- after a very long and tough day, he up- What makes Mohammad different question the way I run this house…I mean, department. a-half-year old girl. He has got his di- loads the photos he has taken during lage where he lives, but also across from others in his condition may lie in his Laura: With all due respect, this is no way to run a department. Iran. People who have come to know Mr. Mann: And how dare you suggest that I’m drunk? ploma in dairy industry and has learnt the day on Instagram. attitude; he believes that people should the know-how about his farm. He says Mohammad has made a name for him through his profile go to see him be helpful and useful in their life; other- You don’t know who you’re dealing with. at times, and business men have taken Laura: Oh, yes I do. You’re my ex- boss. I’ve had laughingly that he is a professional and himself not only in Gaz-e Sharghi Vil- wise, they are wasting their time. enough. I quit! (Source: eslpod.com) Words & Phrases Her marriage and his impossible: an impossible person behaves very badly or Why today’s marriages are so difficult to sustain is extremely difficult to deal with. milling around: If a group of people mill around, they Romantic fantasies of a soul mate, a lifelong lover, and ment of the attributes of full adulthood, economic in- One of feminism’s most powerful effects was to lay move around with no particular purpose or in no particu- a best friend forever aside, marriage is first and fore- dependence and a well-paying career. bare inequities within marriage. lar direction, sometimes while waiting for someone. most an interpersonal relationship - though one more For many, the wedding ceremony itself is profoundly What makes marriage today so problematic is that in charge: being the person who has control of or is re- intimate, intense, and prolonged than any other. symbolic, signifying ties with tradition. Yet while senti- every facet of the relationship must be consciously ne- sponsible for someone or something. Like any other sociological relationship, it entails is- ment often disguises this fact, for many, marriage, even gotiated and renegotiated. incompetent: not having the ability to do something as it sues of power, control, and hierarchy that conflict with today, is considered an imperative, for psychological, At its best, marriage challenges adults to grow, ma- should be done. popular fantasies of endless love and companionship. economic, and social reasons. ture, overcome narcissism, and take responsibility for verbal abuse: the excessive use of language to under- Real life marriages are anything but idylls. Marriages Even though cohabitation is increasingly accepted others. But an older style of marriage, in which women mine someone’s dignity and security through insults or are inevitably fraught. They are infused with complicat- and widely practiced, marriages tend to be stabler and and men settle into secure, well-defined roles, is no humiliation, in a sudden or repeated manner. ed power, emotional, and psychological dynamics that to offer more advantages in terms of finances, legal longer possible. management style: an overall method of leadership used make marital unions so difficult for outsiders to assess. rights, and support in child rearing. Historically, marriage’s success hinged on women’s by a manager. Unlike the other intimate relationships adults are Sociology reminds us that marriage, like any other willingness to subordinate their selood and desires part of - between parents and children or siblings - mar- can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen: basically , if social relationship, is not just an idiosyncratic bond be- for self-fulfillment to the good of her husband and riage is, of course, the most psychologically intricate, you can’t stand the stress , leave the situation. tween two people, but is deeply enmeshed in role and children. This was a dynamic that exacted a terrible complicated by sex, money, and constant bargaining. constructive criticism: criticism or advice that is useful gender expectations defined by the broader culture. psychological toll upon many women. In today’s more More than ever, it is not just about performing one’s Even today, men’s identity remains tied bread winning. and intended to help or improve something, often with egalitarian and individualistic society, the cost of such wifely or husbandly or parental responsibilities, but It’s not accidental that marriages tend to gravi- an offer of possible solutions. subordination is obvious and virtually impossible to sus- meeting one’s partner’s communication, emotional tate toward a more “traditional” gender division of tain. inappropriate: unsuitable, not right. support, stimulation, and growth. labor after children are born. Husbands are still more A thriving and lasting marriage, in short, requires not hold my tongue: stay quite even when you want to say Far more voluntary than in the past, marriage no likely than wives to find their primary source of mean- simply an abstract desire to remain married; it demands something, not to speak. longer carries assumptions of permanence. Every mar- ing in their career. that the partners feel that the relationship continually tipsy: slightly drunk. riage is contingent, its quality and value continuously Similarly, the assumption that women are primar- contributes to their well-being and sense of fulfillment. go off on: to suddenly become very angry and start assessed. ily responsible for childcare, housework, organizing Needless to say, this is an extraordinarily difficult shouting or behaving violently. Adults marry for many reasons. It is, of course, the household activities, and managing relations with rela- standard to meet. As a result, it is essential to constant- undermine: to make someone less confident, less power- culture’s most visible ritual of commitment. It also le- tives and family friends persists. These assumptions ly look at one’s marriage with open eyes. Only then can ful, or less likely to succeed, or to make something weak- gitimizes children. For some, marriage is a rite of pas- are so deeply embedded in individual psyches that they its power, emotional, and psychological issues be dealt er, often gradually. sage, the gateway into full adulthood. For others, it is a appear natural. with head-on. with all due respect: this phrase always precedes a polite capstone experience, celebrating the couple’s achieve- No longer, however, are such assumptions invisible. (Source: Psychology Today) disagreement with what a person has said or brings up a controversial point. how dare you: I am very surprised and shocked by what you are doing; used to express anger about something Sustainable development, human rights someone has done. and freedoms hinge on anti-corruption strategies Pulling up the weeds of corruption would allow human Addressing deficiencies in anti-corruption and com- tralia’s representative, whose Government served as rights and freedoms to blossom and, in turn, develop pliance regimes was rooted in the aims of the Acad- the president of the “Group of 20”, or G20, in 2014. That into steady economic growth, delegates heard on Tues- emy, which had already empowered professionals year, the Group had endorsed a new anti-corruption WORD OF THE DAY day as the thirteenth United Nations Congress on Crime from some 125 countries. A cornerstone of its work was action plan containing a set of action-oriented deliv- \HAT-TRICK\ Prevention and Criminal Justice concluded its high-level aimed at advancing the goals of the United Nations erables and had adopted the G20 High-Level Principles hat trick segment and held a plenary debate on successes and Convention against Corruption, the first global legally on Beneficial Ownership Transparency, committing challenges in implementing policies and strategies to binding international anti-corruption instrument, which countries to ensuring the transparency of legal entities DEFINITION (noun) promote the rule of law along with sustainable devel- entered into force in 2005 and provided guidance on in order to prevent illicit activities such as terrorism or opment. prevention, asset recovery and a host of related issues. money-laundering. Since the Congress opened in Doha on 12 April, al- Indeed, some States had used the Convention During the morning segment, speakers raised a 1 : the retiring of three batsmen with three consecu- most 100 ministers, Government officials and repre- against Corruption as a guide. A representative of the number of issues, among them the question of the tive balls by a bowler in cricket sentatives of civil society and international and regional Specialized Meeting of Prosecutors of the Southern death penalty, with some calling for its abolition. Nor- 2 : the scoring of three goals in one game by a single organizations weighed in. Today, speakers elaborated Common Market (MERCOSUR) pointed to Brazil’s way’s representative said his country was strongly op- player on ways to combat a cascade of criminal activities that adoption of new anti-corruption legislation, which was posed to the death penalty and had limitations in its 3 : a series of three victories, successes, or related ac- were threatening the social and economic well-being in line with one of the Convention’s principles. For his national law as to how far the country could cooperate complishments of communities around the world. Many of those ob- group, combatting all forms of corruption was very in the area of justice with countries practicing capital stacles to the success of the broader global develop- topical, he said, adding that anti-corruption would be punishment. “This irreversible form of punishment is EXAMPLES ment agenda stemmed from corruption, some said. the focus of a meeting of MERCOSUR’s attorney gener- both cruel and inhuman, and violates the right to life,” “Scoring a celestial hat trick, the space shuttle Discov- “All the universal goals run the risk of being severely als in June. Some speakers highlighted other forthcom- he said, adding that there was no convincing evidence ery placed its third satellite in orbit Saturday.” undermined by corruption,” said Martin Kreutner, ing gatherings, with the Deputy Minister of the Interior supporting the claim that executions deterred or pre- Dean and Executive Secretary of the International Anti- of the Russian Federation announcing that St. Peters- vented crime. Instead, research had overwhelmingly “Eleven seconds into the third period, hundreds of Corruption Academy. “Corruption is the antithesis vis-à- burg would host in November the Convention’s sixth demonstrated that there was no scientific ground for hats were thrown onto the ice after Flyers center Brayden vis human rights, the venom vis-à-vis the rule of law, the session of States Parties. claiming that the death penalty had a greater deterrent Schenn apparently scored the first hat trick of his career.” poison for prosperity and development and the reverse Rooting out corruption required a global effort effect than long prison sentences. (Source: merriam-webster.com) of equity and equality.” based on effective international cooperation, said Aus- (Source: UNIC) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y http://www.tehrantimes.com/international APRIL 18, 2015 WORLD IN FOCUS 11

Contd. from P. 1 At a conference in Madrid on Tues- Elsewhere in his remarks, Zarif day Iran’s foreign minister laid out a highlighted the necessity of dialogue Zarif renews call for quick four-point Yemen peace plan. Zarif among the conflicting sides in Yemen. proposed a ceasefire, humanitarian JUMP The UN secretary general thanked end to Saudi attack on Yemen assistance, an intra-Yemeni dialogue, Iran for efforts to end crisis in Yemen and a broad-based government to end Why I’m urging black and peacefully. the conflict. Asian Brits to vote Ban also said medicine and food “This issue should be resolved by should be sent to Yemen immediately. the Yemenis... Iran and Saudi Arabia Contd. from P. 6 FM says ‘foreign interference in need to talk but we cannot talk to de- Yemen must stop’ termine the future of Yemen,” he said In the U.S., these sights are no longer a surprise to Zarif has also said the conflict in at the conference. me. I see army generals, captains of industry and poli- Yemen must be resolved internally, Eu- In a speech to a security conference ticians of all colors and creeds on American television. ronews reported on Friday. in Moscow on Thursday the Iranian And, of course, the president himself. High-achiev- “We should have an inter-Yem- Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan said ing black people have become “normalized”. Such eni dialogue, intra-Yemeni dia- Saudi Arabia, by attacking Yemen, has achievement has only been made possible through pol- logue, dialogue among Yemenis,” prepared the ground for its “disinte- itics – whether through protest such as the civil rights he noted. gration” and failures which cannot be movement, or through government programs such as In an exclusive interview, Zarif dis- compensated. affirmative action. Likewise, in the UK our only legit- couraged foreign involvement in the the dialogue,” Zarif responded. “This the future of Yemen, nor should they Dehqan also predicted that Sau- imate way of changing anything remains political en- ongoing battle between Saudi-backed is not a negotiation between the Yem- engage in negotiations. What they di Arabia is repeating the mistake of gagement – making sure our leaders know that if they forces loyal to Yemen’s President Hadi enis and foreigners, nor is it a negotia- need to do is facilitate the dialogue Saddam Hussein by attacking its neigh- want to get elected they have to take an interest in the and Shia Houthi rebels. tion between foreign powers. Foreign among various Yemeni groups. And bors. “A destiny like Saddam Hussein issues that matter to us. “Others should not participate in powers should not set conditions for that is what we are prepared to do.” will await” the Saudis, he stated. So if you are from the minority community, make sure to register by the deadline this Monday, 20 April – so that come 7 May you are able to make your voice heard. Without your participation on election day, our Russia, China, Iran: In sync children will be facing the same problems our parents Contd. from P. 1 The simultaneous rolling out of the which may – or may not – be finished tension to Xinjiang. did, with little prospect of any significant change in the S-300s and S-400s to Iran and China by 2018. TAP will supply gas to the EU Xi does Tehran years ahead. Tehran expects to receive the S-300 (Source: The Guardian) by the end of the year. are yet one more graphic example of via Turkey, but it’s still unclear how The icing in this vast energy cake is Moscow’s official line has always the strategic partnership involving the much gas potential suppliers – Azer- how both Russia and China are deep- been that the arms embargo on Iran three Eurasian nations that actively baijan or Iran – are able to commit. ly committed to integrating Iran into must be lifted as soon as a final nucle- contest the hyperpower’s hegemony. TAP coming online does not mean their Eurasian vision. Iran may final- ar deal is clinched. The Obama admin- They are certainly in sync. Gazprom’s exports to the EU must be ly be admitted as a full member of Whatever happened to istration insists that sanctions must be In parallel, discreetly, Moscow has cut down. In fact, what Russian and the Shanghai Cooperation Organiza- removed gradually. Tehran, from Su- already started, in practice, a $20 bil- Iranian officials have been discussing tion (SCO) at the upcoming summer Obama’s pivot to Asia? preme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei on lion oil-for-goods swap with Tehran – for a while now is how profitable ex- summit in Russia. That implies a full- down, is adamant that sanctions must exchanging grain, equipment and con- porting to the EU may be for both na- fledged security/commercial/political Contd. from P. 6 be lifted “on the day of the deal”. struction materials for up to 500,000 tions. Besides, Russia has still another partnership involving Russia, China, Most of the attention of the pivot has been focused The Supreme Leader had added a barrels of Iranian crude a day. Accord- key ‘Pipelineistan’ card to play – Turk- Iran and most Central Asian ’stans’. on deterring China. This is a necessary and important conciliatory note though, remarking ing to Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei ish Stream, which will channel Russian Iran is already a founding member component of maintaining peace and stability. That’s that, “if the other side avoids its am- of the Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure why the United States has wisely and properly enhanced biguity in the [nuclear] talks, it’ll be Beijing, meanwhile, has also been on the offensive. Investment Bank (AIIB); that means its security cooperation with Japan, Australia, the Philip- an experience showing it’s possible to financing for an array of New Silk pines and other countries. negotiate with them on other issues.” As a top energy supplier – of both oil and gas - Iran Road-related projects bound to bene- But an excellent new academic volume, “The Next That remains a galaxy-sized “if”. is a matter of Chinese national security. So even fit the Iranian economy. AIIB funding Great War?: The Roots of World War I and the Risk of Meanwhile, and in sync, the direc- with sanctions after sanctions, the U.S. government will certainly merge with loans and U.S.-China Conflict,” co-edited by Richard Rosecrance tor-general of Russia’s top weapons other assistance for infrastructure de- and Steven Miller, highlights that, in addition to de- exporting company Rosoborobex- was always forced to renew waivers for China, as velopment related to the Chinese-es- terrence, the United States also needs to work hard port, Anatoly Isaykin, confirmed China Beijing kept importing energy from Iran at will. tablished Silk Road Fund. at cooperation — at integrating China into the global has just bought S-400 missile defense And last but not least, the China-Iran system. systems from Russia. Beijing is the first strategic partnership will be discussed On this front, Washington gets poor marks so far. in a long list of foreign buyers – as the Ryabkov, “this is not banned or limited gas to Turkey and Greece. in detail as Chinese President Xi Jin- China is now the world’s second-largest economy — the Russian defense industry is obliged to under the current sanctions regime.” And yes, Gazprom is getting ready ping visits Tehran next month. largest measured by purchasing-power parity. And yet, give priority on the S-400s to the Rus- Ryabkov only stated the obvious; to be a key provider to two essen- It’s easy to remember how Iran was its voting share in the International Monetary Fund is sian Defense Ministry “It takes two to tango. We are ready to tial markets at the same time. Here’s relentlessly derided as “isolated” by equivalent to that of the Netherlands and Belgium com- Each S-400 is capable of launching provide our services and I am sure they what Gazprom’s CEO Alexei Miller the exceptionalist crowd only a few bined. Congress — mostly because of Republican opposi- up to 72 missiles, engaging up to 36 will be pretty advantageous compared told Rossiya-24: “The resource base months ago. Yet the fact is it was nev- tion — refuses to pass legislation that would change this, targets simultaneously, and shield ter- to other countries…We never gave up of Western Siberia is a resource that is er isolated – but painstakingly building even though it would not reduce America’s voting share ritory from air strikes, strategic, cruise, on Iran in a difficult situation...” used for delivering gas for exports to blocks towards Eurasian integration. in the IMF. tactical and operating tactical ballistic Tehran responded in sync, via the Europe. In other words, at this point European firms are of course itch- The Obama administration’s opposition to the missiles, and medium-range ballistic Chairman for the Committee for For- we are on the cutting edge when ac- ing to unleash an avalanche of invest- Asian infrastructure bank was, quite simply, dumb. missiles. It’s been operational since eign Policy and National Security of tual competitiveness will begin for our ment in the Iranian market post-sanc- The bank is one more way to fund infrastructure 2007, replacing the S-300 systems now the Islamic Consultative Assembly of energy resources between two me- tions, and most of all the energy giants projects in Asia — where the need for more mon- sold to Iran. Iran, Alaeddin Boroujerdi; Iran is ready ga-markets: Asian and European.” badly yearn to lessen EU’s dependency ey for such projects is immense. If China can’t set The crucial issue is that the S-300s to expand cooperation with Russia in SWIFT business on Gazprom. But they’ll be facing for- up a regional bank to fund bridges, what influence will render Iran’s air defenses virtually all spheres at the highest level. Cru- Beijing, meanwhile, has also been on midable competition, as it was up to is it legitimately allowed to have? Of course, having secure against anything the Pentagon cially, “this is also the opinion of our the offensive. As a top energy supplier – Moscow and Beijing to identify, a long chosen to oppose the bank, the administration then may throw at them, except fifth-gener- supreme religious leader Ayatollah Ali of both oil and gas - Iran is a matter of time ago, which way the wind was ended up with the worst of all worlds — being de- ation stealth fighters. And these – the Khamenei about development of rela- Chinese national security. So even with blowing; the inevitable (re)emergence feated in its ill-chosen fight. S-300 and S-400 - are not even Russian tions with Russia.” sanctions after sanctions, the U.S. gov- of Iran as a key Eurasian power. China has a strategy for now: economic development state-of-art; that would be the S-500 The usual suspects, as usual, ernment was always forced to renew Pepe Escobar is the roving corre- within the international system and a steadily enlarging system, which I’ve referred to here, are clinging to any argument that waivers for China, as Beijing kept import- spondent for Asia Times/Hong Kong, an sphere of influence in the region. In an interview this capable of definitely sealing Russian – “proves” Russia-Iran cooperation is ing energy from Iran at will. analyst for RT and TomDispatch, and a week with the Financial Times’s Lionel Barber, Chinese and any other - territory from anything doomed. For instance, “rehabilitated” Iran is an absolutely key node of the frequent contributor to websites and Premier Li Keqiang sounded remarkably conciliatory and the Pentagon may come up with. Iran will doom Russia’s energy indus- Chinese-led New Silk Road(s) – be it as radio shows ranging from the US to East cooperative. Yet his government is reclaiming land and Strategically in sync try because of the “serious impact” part of the land route or as part of the Asia. building an airstrip on the disputed Spratly Islands, creat- on the oil market from Iran’s increased Maritime Silk Road, which will touch ing what the Pentagon has called “facts on the water,” European firms are supply and competition with gas ex- the port of Chabahar. And the Chi- The EU – and especially according to the New York Times. porter Gazprom. na-Iran partnership does not span only Washington has a strong hand. It remains the of course itching to Ryabkov dismissed it by going close ties on energy and trade/com- the U.S. – are betting on dominant rule-setting power in a way that really has unleash an avalanche straight to the point; “I am not confi- merce; it also includes advanced Chi- Iran’s “rehabilitation” never existed in history. It is militarily in a league dent as yet that the Iranian side would nese defense technology, and Chinese of its own. It has more than 50 treaty allies. China of investment in the be ready to carry out supplies of natural input in Iran’s ballistic missile program. as an economic/political has North Korea. But some of this can cause its own Iranian market post- gas from its fields quickly and in large China created a parallel SWIFT sys- bonanza; the first real problems. Rosecrance points out that allies can be sanctions, and most of quantities to Europe. This requires infra- tem to pay Iran for energy; Tehran, benefit would be Tehran both a blessing and a complication. It was the many structure that is difficult to build.” after the nuclear deal, will be free to smaller allies doing foolish things that dragged all the energy giants This infrastructure upgrade is cost- access these funds in yuan. Iranian en- becoming a supplier to the major powers into World War I. The declining badly yearn to lessen ly and will take years; it may happen, ergy executives have already been to yet another troublesome Habsburg Empire’s recklessness might well be the but with help from – once again - the Beijing to discuss Chinese investment most important cause of that war. Could a Japan EU’s dependency on Russians and the Chinese. Russia will in the Iranian energy industry. Sinopec ‘Pipelineistan’ gambit, that is slowly sliding downward (and has a dysfunc- Gazprom. But they’ll be back in play in full force in Iran’s and CNPC will be instrumental in de- the Trans-Anatolian tional, hostile relationship with China) play a similar be facing formidable energy sector, as Gazprom, its oil arm, veloping projects in the South Pars gas (TAP) gas pipeline, which role in the future? Rosecrance simply cautions that Gazprom Neft, and Lukoil had to put fields – the largest in the world - and the United States keep in mind that its interests are competition, as it was up on hold many projects because of in the monster Yadavaran and North may – or may not – be never identical with those of its allies. to Moscow and Beijing sanctions. Rosatom, for its part, will be Azadegan oil fields. finished by 2018. TAP will The Obama administration needs to start believ- able to clinch further contracts at the For Iran, all this will happen in par- ing in its own grand strategy. Let the Iraqis and Sau- to identify, a long time Bushehr nuclear power plant. allel with European energy giants in- supply gas to the EU dis feud, let Yemen continue in its five-decade-long ago, which way the The EU – and especially the U.S. – vesting in liquefied natural gas (LNG) via Turkey, but it’s still civil war, let Iran waste resources in Syria. Washing- wind was blowing; the are betting on Iran’s “rehabilitation” development and technology. unclear how much gas ton should focus its energies, attention and efforts as an economic/political bonanza; the Investing in multiple fronts, China on Asia. inevitable (re)emergence first real benefit would be Tehran be- will also be instrumental in its push to potential suppliers – (Source: The Washington Post) of Iran as a key Eurasian coming a supplier to yet another trou- finally help complete the much-trou- Azerbaijan or Iran – are blesome ‘Pipelineistan’ gambit, the bled Iran-Pakistan (IP) pipeline, which power. Trans-Anatolian (TAP) gas pipeline, in the future may even include an ex- able to commit. Iraqi PM urges end Here’s a bold plan, Ed Miliband – it worked for Roosevelt to Saudi war on Yemen Contd. from P. 7 ago this week – more might have come of it. haps than any argument about instruments of policy Contd. from P. 1 Roosevelt listed the rights he had in mind: the right We do not pose social justice in these individual could ever be. The Iraqi premier’s comments came amid the pros- to a useful and remunerative job; to earn enough to rights terms today. Instead we are stuck in a more To pose social justice in terms of individual eco- pect of refurbished mutual ties between Baghdad and provide for one’s needs; to produce and trade prod- traditional collectivist and statist approach that large nomic rights that only the government can ensure, Riyadh. Diplomatic relations between the two were ucts without unfair competition; to have a decent numbers of voters understandably do not believe in but which are nevertheless not provided by the man severed in 1990, but restored in 2004 after the fall of home; to good health and adequate medical care; to any more. Yet economic rights, built up in a variety in Downing Street, fits the nature of an era in which former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. protection from the fears of old age and unemploy- of ways – supported in the courts, but driven by gov- many think as consumers rather than producers. It Saudi Arabia announced in January it was sending ment; and to a good education. It is a simple but com- ernment – would be a powerful and patriotic organ- puts values above policy pledges. And it makes a a delegation to Iraq ahead of opening an embassy in pelling list. It is in some ways of its time and not ours. izing idea for a leader or party that made it work. fresh and much needed argument for politics and Baghdad where its last mission closed nearly 25 years Yet it speaks across the decades, and if Roosevelt had The answer to the “what do you stand for?” ques- government. It might help Hillary Clinton persuade a ago. lived to govern again in peacetime – he died 70 years tion would immediately be clear too, clearer per- lot of Americans too. (Source: The Guardian) (Source: Press TV) b

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NEWS Cannes 2015 picks Iran’s Iranian artworks to go on sale at Bonhams “Nahid” for Un Certain Regard TEHRAN — Works of art created by Art Desk over 20 celebrated Iranian artists TEHRAN — Iranian social will go on sale at Bonhams auction house in London Art Desk on April 20, 2015. drama, “Nahid” by Iranian A collection of filmmaker Aida Panahandeh has been selected valuable works by for the Un Certain Regard section of the 68th artists from Iran, Iraq, Cannes International Film Festival (May 13-24), Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, the organizers have announced on the festival Palestine and Tunisia will website. go under the hammer Nahid, the main character of the story has at A Century of Iraqi failed in her first marriage and is unable to express Art and Modern and her love for the second time due to the social Contemporary Middle conditions. Eastern Art auction, A production of Iran’s Documentary and Bonhams has announced Experimental Film Center (DEFC), the film is on its website. produced by Bijan Emkanian and stars Sareh One of the sale’s Bayat, Pejman Bazeghi and Purya Rahimi Sam. highlights is Sohrab Other movies of the Un Certain include “Fly Sepehri with two Away Solo” by Neeraj Ghaywan (India), “The untitled works offered Treasure” by Corneliu Porumboiu (Romania), Actress “Absolute Certainty” by Mohammad “Rams” by Grimar Hakonarson (Iceland) and “The Sareh Ehsaii with the estimated price Bayat in a of $52,000 to 74,000. Shameless” by Oh Seung-euk (South Korea). Ingrid Bergman’s daughter Isabella Rossellini is scene from Another prominent highlight is the artwork named “Nahid” “Alef” by Iranian artist Farhad Moshiri offered with presiding over the jury in the Un Certain Regard. an estimated price of $74,000 to 100,000. Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Fremaux Haute) will be the opening film on May 13. “Standing Tall” (Emmanuelle Bercot), “Mad Max: “Absolute Certainty”, a calligraphic painting by finally unveiled the line-up for this year’s event on Other movies at the competition section Fury Road” (George Miller), “Irrational Man” Mohammad Ehsaii, is another praiseworthy artwork Thursday. include “Dheepan” (Jacques Audiard), “A Simple (Woody Allen), “Inside Out” (Pete Docter and to be offered at $120,000 to 180,000. Hossein He unveiled 42 films, out of which 16 will be Man” (Stéphane Brizé), “Marguerite and Julien” Ronaldo Del Carmen) and “The Little Prince” Zendehrudi’s great offering will also be on sale. competing for the Palme d’Or, and which he said (Valérie Donzelli), “The Tale of Tales” (Matteo (Mark Osborne). Akram Shukri, Jewad Selim and Ismael Fattah from represents “about 90 percent” of the selection Garrone), “Carol” (Todd Haynes) and “The The 68th edition of the festival, presided by Iraq, and Ahmed Moustafa from Egypt are among that will be completed early next week. Assassin” (HOU Hsiao Hsien). Joel and Ethan Coen, will pay tribute to Ingrid the notable artists participating in the auction. Emmanuelle Bercot’s Standing Tall (La Tete In the Out Of Competition, the movies are Bergman, who would have turned 100 this year. Iranian Regional Music Festival kicks off in Shiraz NEWS IN BRIEF TEHRAN — A The three-day festival will be ethnic and religious sections primarily Fars, Sistan-Baluchestan, South Art Desk Culture Culture ministers of the festival of Iranian attended by over 150 artists from aims at an exploration rather than a Khorasan, Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, Islamic countries will meet regional music offering visitors an across the country, Fars Office competition, Moridi said. Bushehr, Hormozgan and Lorestan, ministers at the 9th conference of the opportunity to experience a wide of Culture and Islamic Guidance The vocalists, musicians and Moridi added. of Islamic Islamic Educational, Scientific range of Persian folk songs will Director Behzad Moridi told the ensembles invited to the event The festival has been cosponsored countries and Cultural Organization open today at the Hafez Hall in Persian service of ISNA on Thursday. are from the provinces of Gilan, by the Fars Province Governor’s to meet in (ISESCO), which will be held Shiraz. The event divided into national, Kordestan, West and East Azarbaijan, Office in Shiraz. in Muscat in November. Muscat Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati By Hossein Esmaeili/Mehr Beijing Film expressed hope that the PICTURE OF THE DAY Iranian delegation would seize the opportunity to Festival aims present Persian culture, history and civilization to the other Muslim nations. for higher

Iranian filmmaker profile “Jonsouda” Faramarz Vakili’s “Jonsouda”, to compete at a joint production of Iran and BEIJING (Reuters) — The fifth Beijing Thailand, will go on screen International Film Festival kicked off on Fajr Intl. Film Thursday with a new European chief Festival at the 33rd Fajr International Film Festival, which will be adviser and a crop of heavyweight held from April 25 to May 2 in judges, who organizers hope will boost Tehran. the event’s profile. The movie, set on one of At the opening ceremony in the the islands of Thailand Sea, Chinese capital, action movie star Arnold tells the story of a young Schwarzenegger, scheduled to make Thai woman, Jonsouda, who a speech, walked the red carpet and lives with her little daughter. greeted fans to loud cheers. Jonsouda is in search of her The week-long event received a missing husband who has boost earlier this year when organizers gone on a trip a few months appointed Marco Mueller, who before. previously headed the Venice and Rome Film Festivals, as chief adviser. Seyhun Over 80 artworks by A fluent Mandarin speaker, Mueller prominent artists are on sale also produced the Academy Award- Gallery’s at Tehran’s Seyhun Gallery’s winning Bosnian film “No Man’s online auction online auction. Land”, which won the “Best Foreign offers works Ahmad Esfandiari, Sadeq Language Film” category at the 2002 Oscars. by prominent Tiraan, Manuchehr Niazi, Arman Estepanian, Golnaz French director Luc Besson will artists Qadiri and Farideh Lashaii are lead a jury that also includes Russian among artists whose works director Fedor Bondarchuk, Hong are on sale until April 26. Tehran’s Iranshahr Hall hosts the play “The Fifth Oppressed” by director Reza Saberi. Kong director Peter Chan and U.S. The artworks have screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen. been chosen by a board of selection for the auction. Surprise Hungarian combo creates world of shifting rhythm BUDAPEST (Reuters) — It sounds like Amadinda, founded a decade later, gypsy fiddles and double bass, plus the practically a love fest of diverse cultures. the musical equivalent of Hungarian is renowned for its interpretations of ever-surprising “utogardon” that looks Amadinda would play an African or goulash: take the gypsy fiddles of a John Cage, Steve Reich and Gyorgy like a small cello and is beaten with Polynesian-inspired piece that, more Director Peter Jackson leading folk band, blend them with Ligeti. drum sticks. often than not, worked up to tempos unveils WWI exhibition in the drums, bells and xylophones of the They had never played together If there was any doubt a group like so fast their drumsticks became a blur country’s top percussion ensemble, until this week when, after what Amadinda, which produced a six-CD set of white. Muzsikas would follow with New Zealand then stir and season to taste. Muzsikas co-founder Daniel Hamar of Cage’s percussion works, could mesh something deceptively gentle, like a No one knew quite what to expect and Amadinda’s Zoltan Racz said was with a group specializing in folk tunes warm bath, but which soon turned into WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Taking a break from from the first joint concert of folk group years of admiring each other’s work that have been around for hundreds of a whirlpool of shifting rhythms. filmmaking, Peter Jackson has created a museum exhibition Muzsikas and globe-trotting rhythm from a distance, they brought the two years, it was quickly dispelled. The evening began and ended he hopes will broaden people’s perception of World War I from specialists Amadinda, but Thursday ensembles, plus a pair of traditional The common ground is rhythm with Amadinda’s Aurel Hollo hunched monochrome to color. night’s outing at the Budapest Palace Hungarian folk dancers, together as -- the complex patterns of the music around a temple bell, which sprang into The first stage of the Great War Exhibition he unveiled of Culture turned out to be a spicy part of the Budapest Spring Festival. from Africa, Bali, Tahiti and elsewhere musical life to emit an ethereal buzzing Friday in Wellington features large color images depicting life musical treat. The stage was crammed with the that Amadinda has worked into its sound at the touch of a brush he swept in the trenches and on the battlefields. The color was added to Both groups have international fruits of Amadinda’s travels - from a repertoire, but also the ever-shifting around its rim. real black-and-white photographs by artists at Jackson’s visual- reputations, with Muzsikas, formed Fang wood xylophone from Gabon and beat of the tunes that Muzsikas plays, The sound faded slowly into silence effects studio, Weta Digital. in the 1970s, famed for its versions of a Magogodo gourd from Malawi to a the same ones that inspired composers after all the musicians, including Jackson said he banned black and-white in the museum traditional Carpathian folk music, for Buddhist temple bell from Japan that Bela Bartok and Zoltan Kodaly a century Hollo, had left the stage at the end of because the photography of the era means people tend to which it won the prestigious WOMAD produced a haunting drone. ago. a concert which at least some would perceive the war in monochrome. world music award in 2008. Added to the mix were Muzsikas’s This concert turned out to be have wanted to go on all night.