29Th Tehran International Book Fair Page 2 |No

Page 1 |No. 4| May 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Mehr Vision|No.4|June 2016

29th Tehran International Book Fair Page 2 |No. 4| June 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

Contents

29th TIBF: ‘Stop Stalling, Start Reading!’ 3 Iran, Russia’s cultural ties go much deeper than you think 4 Multi-award winning photographer says how his book changed people’s minds about Iran 6

US curbed nuclear dealin 2005: Jack Straw 10 ‘Iran ordered to pay compensation to victims of Israeli false flag’ 12 Democracy US justification to commit crime in ME 13 Offshore tax havens ‘extensions of global banking system’ 15 China, Iran have sights firmly set on enhancement of cultural ties 19 Iran’s sustained prosperity must be built on non-oil economy 20 All US breaches of promise 22 Iran ‘a rising power’ in ME 23 Brussels attacks direct result of Western governments’ policies 27

Leader’s Nowruz message for Iranian New Year 30 Most visited cities during Nowruz 32 Mehr Vision Meshgin Shahr, a horn of plenty for tourism 33 Sand therapy on world’s tallestsand dunes in Kerman 34 Managing Director: Ali Asgari Abbasabad, Pearl of Mazandaran 35 Editorial Board: Paveh, legacy of Uramanat’s euphoria 36 Seyed Amir Hassan Dehghani, Tehran and its 2,000 tourist spots 37 Mohammad Ghaderi, Chinese Spring Festival, Iranian Nowruz: More in common than you think 38 HamidReza Gholamzadeh Women key to world peace 40 Editorial Coordinator: Women need to balance motherhood, employment 41 Marjohn Sheikhi Woman now more comfortable with pursuing musical careers 42

Contributors: Lachin Rezaian, Marjohn Sheikhi, Parnaz Talebi Iranian scientist’s breakthrough helps stop ‘ticking time bomb’ 45 Hossein Azari, Abdolhamid Mustafa Prize further introduces Muslim scientific contributions to world 47 Bayati, Hamid Reza Invisible materials soon to be tangible reality 48 Gholamzadeh, Samad Habibi Technology Art Director: Mahboubeh Azizi 34th Tehran’s Fajr International Film Festival a hit with local, foreign audience 51 Phone: +98-21-43051350 ‘Dawn’ brings vintage Soviet cinemato Iran’s silver screen 53 Email:[email protected] Icelandic film 'Rams' a hit with Iranian audience 54 Address: No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Film festivals bring to light senselessness of war 55 Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran Dossier World cinema would suffer great loss without Iranian cinema 57

Mehr Vision welcomes contributions by readers which can be sent via email. News in Vision 58 Cover Story Page 3 |No. 4| May 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

29th TIBF: ‘Stop Stalling, Start Reading!’ By: Marjohn Sheikhi

The 29th edition of Tehran International year’s TIBF with over 1200 titles from 50 long journey to a new location, Shahre Book Fair with the slogan “Tomorrow Is publishers, and its delegation consisted Aftab, a newly-constructed fairground Too Late to Read” ran from May 4 to 14, of 35 cultural figures including Alexey in southern Tehran. The organizers were 2016 at the Shahr-e Aftab International Varlamov, Viktor Yerofeev, Kanta Ibragi- concerned that publishers would not Exhibition Complex. mov, Farit Nagimov, Guzel Yakhina, Yele- turn up and publishers were concerned na Usachyova, Aliyona Karimova, Nazim that visitors would not turn up, but Publishers from over 60 countries Zeynalov, as well as Russian publishers, everyone was in for a big surprise as the including Russia, Germany, Italy, China, journalists and book distributors. 29th TIBF received millions of visitors Sweden, Lebanon, Denmark, Kazakh- Sergey Kaykin, Head of Russia’s Inter- during its 11-day run. stan, Belgium and Syria displayed their national Book Exhibitions and Fairs, was According to Abbas Salehi, the direc- works on 7,000 stalls and booths to the the organizer of “Books from Russia” tor of the 29th TIBF, one of the major Iranian booklovers in various fields of Russian National Stand in the 29th TIBF, concerns of the publishers and people humanities, arts, engineering, science, which showcased snippets of Russian of culture about the relocation of the medicine and reference. culture and science, education and fine fair venue was the possible decline in This year’s edition honored Russia arts, architecture and tourism through number of visitors and costumers; “for- as its special guest, a country whose the prism of book publishing industry. tunately, with the tremendous help from relations with Iran date back to the What marked a major difference the media, everyone was taken aback by 16th century, and which has stood firm in this year’s edition of the book fair the visit of millions of people to the fair,” alongside Iran in all areas of cooperation compared to last years was the change Salehi said, adding, “this enthusiastic from economic, political and security to of venue. Iranian book hunters had reception showed that the Iranian com- cultural, tourism and scientific. Iranians become accustomed to making a trip munity has a unique cultural habit which are well-informed about Russia, and the to Imam Khomeini Mosalla located in is the mark of a culture-friendly society.” Russian language courses in Iranian uni- north-central neighborhood of Tehran, 1518 general publishers, 559 aca- versities are vastly popular. Russian -lit but this year, they were to make a rather demic publishers, 145 educational, and » erature, especially the classical one, is loved and admired by a large population of Iranian bibliophiles. Almost everyone here has read or knows about ‘The Three Musketeers’, or ‘Crime and Pun- ishment’ or ‘Anna Karenina’, all of which among President Putin’s favorite titles. Tehran was the guest of honor for Moscow’s 2015 International Book Fair, and it was now time for Iran to return the favor. Seeing as how Russia’s contemporary literature had been neglected for the most part, overshadowed by the brilliant bulk of its classics, the 2016 TIBF served as a golden opportunity for Russia to introduce its most recent publications to the Iranian public. The Eurasian country participated in this Cover Story Page 4 |No. 4| June 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

342 children publishing houses helped promote the cultural atmosphere of the country by their participation in Tehran Book Fair. Iran, Russia’s cultural Another special feature of this year’s fair was the particular attention given to its international aspect. According to Salehi, the internation- ties go much deeper al section of the fair was more active this year than ever before, and foreign publishers had brought more titles with them to their stands. than you think First edition books had also made a good por- tion of the presented titles. “Almost every foreign publisher who attended this year’s fair was completely blown away by the number of visitors and the grand venue of the book fair,” Salehi said, adding “I hope the 30th TIBF will have an even better international aspect so that a window would open to Iran’s cultural diplomacy.” In the international section, each day was as- signed to a particular country or city, and given the high capacities of this section, many interesting and informative programs were put on display by international publishers. “For me, coming to Tehran Book Fair every year is like a cultural ritual,” said Sara, a 27-year old English literature graduate, as she hefted a heavy-looking plastic bag full of newly-purchased books. “This venue is much bigger, and may appear to feel less organized due to the fact that bookstands have been scattered around a massive ground. It takes me over half Interview by: Marjohn Sheikhi International Book Fair 2016 has an hour to travel from one pavilion to another, sought to remedy that. there are free bicycles and shuttle bus rides to Now in its 29th edition packed use of course, but I’d rather take the tradition- With the 29th Tehran Intl. Book with three decades of experi- al way.” She laughs as she walks away with her Fair just wrapped up, Mehr ence and reputation, Tehran heavy plastic bags. News conducted an interview International Book Fair had cho- Nima, a 23-year old student of psychology, with Sergey Kaykin, head of sen Russia as the guest of honor, said his biggest motivation for deciding to buy Russia’s International Book a country whose vast reservoir books at the fair instead of regular bookstores, Exhibitions and Fairs, who of rich literature has long fasci- was the discount coupons; “Sure, here we have represented Russia stand as the nated the Iranian readers with a wide range of titles to choose from and I can guest of honor of TIBF 2016. tales of human alienation, great almost find every book I need, but the 50 per suffering, and philosophical and cent discount makes purchasing books much Russian literature with its fre- psychological questions. more pleasurable.” His purchased books mostly quent themes of suffering and Iran-Russia relations date consisted of psychology textbooks, but among sadness has always been wide- back to the 16th century. Such them were also Oriana Fallaci’s ‘Letter to a Child read by the Iranian book lovers. historical ties intertwined with Never Born’, Italo Calvino’s ‘If on a Winter’s Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, a long-standing tradition of cul- Night a Traveler’, and Alberto Moravia’s ‘The Anton Chekhov and Alexander tural, political and social inter- Thing and Other Stories’. “I like Italian literate,” Pushkin are as familiar a name actions give both countries even he shrugs sheepishly. to the Iranian readers as Hafiz, more reason to step up cooper- As a matter of fact, Deputy Culture Min- Ferdowsi or more contemporary ation in as many fields as possi- ister of Italy also attended the 29th TIBF in in Persian novelists such as Sadegh ble. It may come as a pleasant the company of the Iranian Culture Minister Ali Hedayat or Simin Daneshvar. But surprise for us Iranians to know Jannati. The fair organized ‘Day of Italy’ on May perhaps, it will not be too off the 7 at the Hall of Nations and displayed a variety that Russian President Vladimir mark to say that Russian con- of cultural programs to the visitors interested in Putin, who is one of the most in- temporary literature has been Italian literature. Italy has been selected as the fluential people in the world, has guest of honor at the next Tehran International largely eclipsed and neglected in listed a book of poetry by Persian Book Fair| Iran’s intellectual circles. Tehran poet and mathematician Omar » Cover Story Page 5 |No. 4| May 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

Khayyam among his top nine favorite field. Furthermore, they had a list of ing house ‘Eksmo’ which is the leader books. Russia also published in 2008 foreign works translated by Iranians of Russian book market, offering the the first edition of ‘Khayyam and Putin’, as well. widest range of classical and modern a book containing Putin’s favorite quat- But Iran’s programs were not limit- fiction in the Russian language, to the rains written by Khayyam and some of ed to merely books, rather there was a smallest which is ‘Aleteia’, a publishing the Russian’s interviews with news net- number of special programs designed house in St. Petersburg. The highest works around the globe regarding his for visitors interested in Iranian cul- number of books were offered by five admiration for the Persian poet. ture. Some symbols of Iran were put on publishing houses. The books were “...the history of our countries [Iran display; but perhaps the most praised mainly in the fields of industry, aero- and Russia] and the interaction of our were lavished upon Iranian tradition- space and railway, and special lectures cultures goes much deeper and has al music that was performed during were given on those topics during much stronger roots than specialists the four-day event. Other interesting the fair. Another major part was ded- sometimes think. This is the guarantee programs included a traditional per- icated to Russian language textbooks that we will always find a way of solv- formance of Persian marionette, or for those university students who are ing any problems that arise, because ‘Kheimeh-Shab-Bazi, and ‘Naqqali’, an studying Russian language in Iran. An- we understand each other,” President epic narration inspired by Ferdowsi’s other part was related to children lit- Vladimir Putin had once said in an in- Shahnameh (Book of Kings). erature and contemporary literature. terview in 2007. During the fair last year, Iran and Sadly, Russia’s contemporary literature To find more about Russia’s pro- Russia signed an agreement on ex- have been widely neglected in Iran, so grams for the 29th TIBF, I had a short changing stands in one another’s ex- we made sure to include special pro- discussion with the General Director of hibitions. That is, every time there is grams for introducing it to Iranian read- Russia’s International Book Exhibitions an international exhibition in Moscow, ing public. and Fairs Sergey Kaykin, who believes Iran’s stand will be secured and in turn, that the presence of Russia in Tehran Russia can have a stand in Iran’s inter- uWhat do you think the current big- Book Fair can serve as a turning point national exhibitions, all without any gest challenge facing the publishing in the two countries’ relations and help costs. industry is in Russia? them better reach a common under- The number of active publishing standing on the cultural ground. uAnd what about Moscow’s special houses and bookstores in Russia has programs at Tehran’s Book Fair for in- declined in recent years and on other uRussia was chosen as the guest troducing Russian culture to Iranian hand, the people have become less in- of honor for the 29th Tehran visitors? vested in reading. International Book Fair. How did that We came to the festival with a full decision come about? schedule of programs running for uWhy the decline in interest, though? Officials of the two countries held ten days. We held several lectures What is to blame for that? several rounds of talks for nearly one on Russia’s contemporary literature, Well, that question is not very easy year until they arrived at the decision introducing a number of key authors to answer. I think people nowadays to further boost cultural ties between and books, as well several ‘round have less time for reading. Either Tehran and Moscow by giving the pub- tables’ for discussing the issue of that, or even when they do get some lishers more room to introduce their mutual translations, and the two free time, they have now more op- works, and allow the two nations a countries’ prospects of the book in- tions on how to spend it, such as go- chance to get better acquainted with dustry development. In order to have ing to the theater, the cinema or surf- each other’s culture. As a result of the a permanent program for introducing ing the internet. All these factors may negotiations, Iran attended the 2015 Russia to Iranian people, a center has lead to a decline in interest in reading Moscow’s International Book Fair as recently opened in Iran called ‘Vis- books. Although I think the decreas- the special guest and now it was our it Russia’ which gives useful infor- ing number of bookstores are more turn to bring snippets of Russian cul- mation about the country’s culture to blame. Last year, Russian govern- ture to this ancient land. and if visitors at the fair plan to visit ment implemented a plan in support Russia, they can coordinate their trip of promoting book reading and start- uSo what did you think of Iran’s with this cultural center. ed constructing bookstores in parts of presence at 2015 Moscow Book Fair? the country where it seemed to have Iran had a very interesting partic- uHow many publishers did Russia insufficient number of bookstores so ipation at the fair. It had a very or- bring to this year’s Tehran book fair, that people’s interest in books would ganized schedule with various inter- and on what areas are the presented be rekindled. esting cultural programs. They had books mainly focused? compiled a list of Iranian contempo- Russia participated in the fair with Sergey Kaykin is the Head of the rary writers and their literary works 50 publishers, all selected from the General Directorate of International for the specialists interested in this biggest and the best, from publish- Book Exhibitions and Fairs in Russia|

Cover Story Page 6 |No. 4| June 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Multi-award winning photographer says how his book changed people’s minds about Iran

Interview by: Marjohn Sheikhi

In an exclusive interview with Mehr News, Turkish-born Australian- Armenian artist and photographer Nuran Zorlu said his travelogue ‘Persia to Iran’ has changed the perception of Iran on lots of people’s minds.

‘Persia to Iran’, a travelogue by Aus- tralian artist and photographer Nuran Zorlu, introducing Iran’s many treas- ures including UNESCO heritage sites to people outside of the country, was published in 2015 by the Iranian Cultur- al Center in Australia with a print run of 2,000 copies. The book gives a breathtaking account of Iran’s world heritage sites as photographed and documented by you got into travel photography. menia, and with my heritage, we had a master photographer and educator, Having a big fund in geography and few common things to discuss. Then in Nuran Zorlu, who set upon a 20-day sociology, it made me explore different another exhibition in New South Wales journey to Iran to take shots of the cultures; therefore, I started taking my Art Gallery, which is a very important country’s multi-religious history, includ- camera when I travelled and conse- place for art, I talked about my Irani- ing Islamic mosques, Christian churches quently I found myself in the travel pho- an experience through a 1-hour Pow- and ancient empires. tography to document what I see in cul- er Point presentation, and showed the ‘Persia to Iran’ has been registered tures, in history and in the current time. presentation to the ambassador and in the National Library of Australia and Mr. Aboutalebi at the time. Eventually currently sits in the shelf of Australian uWhere did the idea of writing ‘Persia when I went to meet Mr. Aboutalebi for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. to Iran’ come from? asking for a tour of Iran, he suggested Mr. Zorlu is visiting Iran and made an The idea of the book ‘Persia to Iran’ that I should write a book with my pho- appearance at the 29th Tehran Interna- started to take shape in my mind after I tos and narrative. I had never thought tional Book Fair currently underway in went to meet Iran’s cultural attaché in about it before, and a year later, I pub- Tehran. We conducted an in interview Australia. It should be noted that I am lished the book after 10 months of or- with him on the phone on Wednesday an exhibiting photographer and not an ganizing the pieces and putting the bits while he was in the historical city of author. Two or three years ago, I went of information together. I am proud to Shiraz, sitting right before Persepolis to Iran’s embassy to ask for advice on say that the Iranian embassy sponsored Apadana, where the king received trib- whether I could take a tour to Iran. The the book which I am very grateful for utes from all the nations in the Achae- newly-appointed cultural attaché was them. menid Empire. He was planning to fly introduced to me by the ambassador to Mashahd next, and from there to I had met in the past during an exhi- uThe travelogue ‘Persia to Iran’ is Golestan to visit Gonbad-e Kavus as the bition I had in 2011 in Sydney as part not just a journey through locations, most imposing ancient monument in of a big festival where Iran was among but also through time. Can you tell us the city. ‘I love Iran,’ he said, ‘I like to my featured works. I invited the Irani- about the process and how you went visit every corner of your country.’ an ambassador of the time to my ex- about shooting the ancient sites? The following is Mehr News Agency’s hibition which he kindly accepted and As I said, I am a great fan of sociology interview with the multi-award winning eventually he introduced me to Mr. especially two of its disciplines includ- photographer on his views on travel Mohsen Aboutalebi, then the cultural ing demography and organizations like photography and how ‘Persia to Iran’ attaché in Iran’s embassy in Canberra. religious structures; I also like ethics came to be. We developed a very good relation, be- and esthetics. And when I combined Mr. Zorlu, please tell us about how cause he served the embassy last in Ar- four of the fields together, I suddenly » Cover Story Page 7 |No. 4| May 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY started to find a love of history and I uHow long did your journey take? out of their way to help me. started documenting ancient sites. I was in Iran for 20 days and spent 18 days taking the photos for my book. uIranian people are known for their uYou’ve been to Maku, Urmia, Is- I traveled quite far to take all those hospitability. fahan, Tehran…; Out of all the shots photos. Yeah, I can definitely second that you’ve taken of these places, which one. one is your most favorite? uDo you have any interesting memo- It’s like you’re asking me which one ry of your interactions with the locals uWhat is your advice for people who is my most favorite child (laughs.) It’s during your journey to Iran? want to get into travel photography? very hard to choose one because when Yes, I actually have many interest- Perseverance is the key in travel pho- I put it together, everywhere gives me a ing memories of Iran. Iranian people tography, but travel photography by it- different feeling. In Isfahan I was quite are probably one of the warmest and self means nothing if you just concern taken by how beautiful and old it was. friendliest people I’ve met. Many peo- yourself with taking photos of beautiful Shiraz is like the soul of Persian identity ple are there to help me and if I tell places, beautiful locations and beauti- and Tehran is the capital but the thing them, ‘I’m sorry I’ve been taking your ful people when they fail to accomplish is that the ancient city of Yazd is where time,’ they usually say, ‘don’t mention anything of substance. What I do with I came to be most comfortable with. So it, it’s our duty to help our guests.’ One my photography is to discover the his- if I have to choose one city as my most particular memory I have of Kerman torical and cultural elements in it. Pho- favorite, it would be Yazd. that I’m probably never going to for- tography is a language and travel pho- get. I was meant to go to Mahan (35km tography is another aspect of it. You uSo can you tell us about the steps south of the city of Kerman) which is have to find something you love and that went into shooting those sites? actually home to a beautiful pilgrimage admire, and you have to study it close- I just came here as a tourist with a shrine of the Sufi saint Shah Nur-ed-Din ly before you can start taking photos of camera and I organized my trips. Having Nematollah Vali. I needed to catch a it. As I told you, photography should be an Armenian background, I am familiar taxi to go there; But it was Friday and treated as a kind of language with the with lots of people around here. And I lots of places were closed, and nothing intention to communicate meanings. made so many friends in Iran. I organ- was working in its full capacity as it was Just how authors use language to write, ized my trip in order to go to Urmia first a weekend; so I asked this man with a photographers take photos to express and then around Iran. little daughter, 8 or 9 years old, same as an idea, but if you don’t say something my daughter was as that time, for help. with your photos, they don’t mean an- uWhat was your most challenging Then I started speaking with very little ything. shot? Farsi I knew because he didn’t know The biggest challenge in taking pho- any English, and at the end I just dis- uI understand that you have been tographs of historical sites is the pres- covered the taxi stand was half an hour born in an Armenian family in Turkey ence of too many tourists. In my pho- walk away from where I was. But 5 min- and now live in Australia. How does tos, I’d like to exclude people because I utes later his entire family turned up your background influence your work want to give them a sense of timeless- and just picked me up and brought me and the way you see the world through ness. Because when you have people to the taxi stand. The experience filled the camera? in the photo, their presence gives off me with such a good feeling because I My background is Armenian and I some reality of time, but I’d like to show was just a stranger and they were nev- belong to one of the ancient cultures in the photos without time. er going to see me again, but they went the history of the world. I’m actually sit- » Cover Story Page 8 |No. 4| June 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY ting in front of Persepolis right now as I am talking to you, at the ceremonial hall entry, and as you know, on the southern staircase there are carved designed showing images of representatives of different countries holding gifts. Each section of this stairway is dedicated to one of the nations, and I have count- ed 18 different nations, and Armenian people was one of them. I think given my background, I am much more interested in history than an ordinary person might be, and I try to bring that keen interest in history into the shots I take. uHow has your previous knowledge of Iran changed after you took on this ‘pilgrimage’ to get a first-hand experience of this historical, culturally-rich country? uWhat kind of image did you in- well as the sheer diversity of books and My philosophy is to expect nothing. tend to present of Iran? Did you want the different titles. I am aware that not So I have a minimal expectation when to make the photographs as close to every book is allowed to be displayed in I come to witness or experience some- reality as possible or perhaps with a the Fair, but the amount of variety I saw thing new. I cannot read from the books touch of epic and grandeur? was amazing. or see it from the photographs or films Bit of both, actually. As a travel because they all have a bit of angle. photographer, I didn’t come to Iran uCan anyone buy your book ‘Persia to But my view of Iran has always been with any particular expectations. I Iran’ in the fair, and is it available? How on the nicest side, because I have al- put in my book whatever I experi- about it in original English version? ways been familiar with Iranian people enced, nothing fabricated, nothing It’s not available in Iran yet, but I am back in Australia. Like Iran, Australia is a made more epic than what it actually talking to a few agencies to help with multi-cultural nation, where lots of dif- was. With my images, I just leave the translation of the book into Persian. I ferent ethnicities live together. It hap- decision to people. But I can tell you do not predict what would happen to pens that one of my best friend is ac- this one that after the book, the per- the final outcome, but I would be very tually Iranian, therefore I enter Iranian ception of Iran has changed on lots pleased to find a publisher to publish homes quite regularly. My connection of people’s minds, especially in my the book actually. The book is not ac- to Iran is not an ordinary one. I have close surrounding. I’m going to take a cessed yet in English either, but I am always known that Iranian people are tourist group here tomorrow and next taking some measures to market it else- very hospitable, and when I came here year, I’m planning to bring other pho- where other than Australia where the and saw how people are eager to help tographers with me to Iran. book is available to the public. you without knowing you or expecting anything from you, I found that com- uYou have been to the 29th Tehran Nuran Zorlu is a multi award- pletely out of this world. I don’t think International Book Fair. What do you winning photographer with a Master any other culture I have encountered think of it? of Photography from AIPP. His so far is as friendly and hospitable as I have to admit the fair is by far one of photographs have been selected as a Iranians. And about the historical el- the biggest of its kind I have seen, and I finalist in prestigious awards such as ements I found that whatever is left have been told by the director of the fair ‘Head On’ and Sydney Morning Herald’s in this ancient culture is being nice- that there are over 2,000 bookstands! it ‘Shoot the Chef’, and published in many ly-protected by the country’s cultural is really, really huge! I actually find put- international magazines including heritage department. I have this vast ting an organization together like that Vogue, Marie Claire, and Harper interest in heritage programs and like is very difficult. I didn’t have a chance Bazar. He takes tours and conducts to preserve the cultures. I believe that to see all of the stands of course, I was photography workshops in Australia every culture needs to live on its own only in the Main Hall. I found interesting and Eastern Turkey. His photographic and not according to what other peo- translations of the classics there. And work of historically significant sites in ple dictate to them, and I found that in there were some western titles there as Iran, that especially relate to UNESCO Iran that aspect is actually very unique. well that I was not expecting to see. The heritage protection program, have It’s a very beautiful place to be in that presence of some of the classics on the been featured at the Art Gallery of NSW regard. bookstands really mesmerized me, as and in Istanbul|

Politics Politics Page 10 |No. 4| June 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY US curbed nuclear deal in 2005: Jack Straw

Interview by Hamid Reza Gholamzadeh speak for British government – it is very frustrating for the UK as well. Both of us In an exclusive interview with Mehr have interests in Iran, and are doing what News Agency, former UK Foreign we can to seek resolution to this. Secretary Jack Straw talked about a host I‘m very concerned about it and many of issues including JCPOA, ISIL, Yemen people come to me who are involved or and of course Brexit. want to be involved in trade with Iran and they are also concerned. The Kazakhstan’s capital city of Astana was hosting the 13th Eurasian Media Fo- uDuring Saadabad negotiations back like them is an infidel and it is not only rum on April 20-22 where many world in your time, you and other European about Christians, it is about Shias as well. figures attended as speakers. Former officials didn’t recognize Iran’s right They celebrate violence and suppression British FM Jack Straw was also among to have centrifuges, while Iran was of women. I don’t see enough challenge, speakers and on the sidelines of the fully committed to NPT and Additional intellectual and theological challenge, event, sat with Hamid Reza Gholamza- Protocol; why? And don’t you think that against this. Another issue, is lack of deh of Mehr News Agency’s English edi- if you had accepted it, the deal might what we would call in Europe a refor- tion to respond to a number fo questions have reached years earlier? mation within Sunni Islam. I think there in an exclusive interview. Here is what he All of us accepted Iran’s right to a civil are differences between Shiism and had to share: nuclear program. I personally accepted Sunnism which are striking in all sorts of Iran’s right to run some centrifuges for ways. I’m very stroked by sorts of paral- uNYTimes published a report recently low enrichment program. We gained the lels between what we had in Europe and saying that Europeans are dissatisfied interim agreement in October 2003 that there was in Iran. The fact that in 16th with US regulations – sanctions on Iran’s was agreed in Tehran, and we had two century, in Iran and also in England, the missile program as well as visa waiver more agreements in Paris and Brussels. leaders break away from a supernational rule – and as MEP Marijetje Schaake has But we were very close to final agree- authority over their religion, and started put it “Europe is being taken hostage ment; and when I saw Dr. Zarif at the to develop religious practice and the- by American policy; We negotiated the beginning of 2014, on a Parliamentary ology to fit in their national culture and nuclear deal together, but now the U.S. delegation, he acknowledged that what identity. So the Safavid in Iran did that is obstructing its execution.” You believe stopped the deal in 2005 was not about and Henry VIII in England. The second that US administration is pro-JCPOA centrifuges; it was our inability to get thing is because there is an authority and it is Congress which is curbing it… agreement from the Americans for con- structure in Church of England, and also do you really think that Obama and cessions like aircraft spare parts, etc. in Shiism, the Ayatollah. The theology of his team have done enough to push the church requires them to move with the deal forward or US is taking JCPOA uYou have talked of the role Wahhabism the time, to keep with science and to for hostage to put pressure on Iran’s missile has played in forming extremism and example encourage literature and books program? terrorist groups such as ISIL; can you like this. Look at the vibrancy of intellec- I am completely clear that administra- elaborate on that? tual life, but also in Iran filmmakers and tion of President Obama fully supports Wahhabism was a homegrown move- people like that can go to workshops or BARJAM (JCPOA) and wants to see it ment within Sunni Islam to I quote ‘pu- so. I know it is a bit of generalization, but implemented; so president Obama and rify Islam’ and you see that in other reli- there is a shortage of such intellectual Secretary Kerry invested huge amount gions. I said it is a perversion even from figure in some Sunni countries. of political capital in the BARJAM. As you Wahhabism, but it seems to me that to know, President Obama even had to face deal with this virus that has infected the uUK is one of main sources of arms sale down in direct opposition in Congress mindset of these men, you need to take to Saudis who reportedly are supporting from BiBi Netanyahu. So currently they military action to eliminate them, but ISIL with their weapons and you said strongly in favor of the deal. The problem you still have to deal with the problem in that ‘there are supports from elements has arisen between this US administra- their mind, and to challenge them theo- in Saudi Arabia for ISIL in Syria.’ Do you tion during the last 9 months of its life of logically; I mean in a very direct way, be- think that London’s selling of weapons presidency and the Congress are hard for cause what they claim is that the more to Riyadh can be justified if they are election. Democrat president got Repub- extreme you are in terms of day to day supporting terrorists? lican Congress, that is important and it is behavior, the closer you are, they say, to I’m quite sure no arms that we have very frustrating. In my view – and I don’t’ the Almighty and everyone not believing sold Saudis have gone to ISIL. The system » Politics Page 11 |No. 4| May 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY that we have in the United Kingdom for in Yemen. which areas do you see more potentials export licenses for arms is very very tight. for cooperation? I cannot comment on particular sales as uSo do such things matter in UK export Signing of BARJAM, there has been a I haven’t seen the licenses. But I can tell licenses for arms sale that you said? big change in approach of government you from my period in government in five You asked me questions about licens- overall, and government has now said years I was in charge of granting license ing for arms; I don’t know quite certainly they want to open and improve relations to these exports, we looked at the appli- that none of arms we sold Saudis have with Iran and I’m delighted about that. I cations very carefully, and turned down gone to ISIL; I don’t know sitting here want to see reopening and flowering of some, and they are all reported to a com- this morning about the situation of Saudi the relationship; I believe there should mittee in House of Commons. forces or UAE forces’ use of those arms in be beginning of political and cultural Yemen. I think it is being considered to a cooperation. In terms of business, the uPresident Obama just visited your parliamentary committee in England. prime minister very wisely appointed country, paying probably his farewell I think there is a general problem Lord Norman Lamont as UK trade repre- visit as president to UK; it seems Brexit about a lack of information and under- sentative. That’s very important because is main topic in the meeting; what’s standing about Yemen. One example Lord Lamont, like me, has been a long your take on this trip? What outcomes is that Houthis who believe in seven standing supporter of Iran and spoke do you expect? Imams, are considered as Shias who be- out for Iran when it was unpopular to do I think what he said was very helpful. lieve in 12 Imams. so. Now we are gradually increasing our And I think it will assist the campaign diplomatic representation in Tehran. In against Brexit. Let’s say I’m strongly in uYour idea about leadership of Mr. terms of trade, Britain is very good in oil favor of Britain remaining inside the EU Jeremy Corbyn in Labour Party? and gas, and also in manufacturing and as I see very little advantages in leaving As you know, he and I were togeth- obviously in services of all kinds like in- and very big disadvantages and it in- er on parliamentary delegation to Iran vestment, legal services and so on. That’s creases generally the risks to the future in January 2014; he is a nice man, very why it is very important to us to get the of the UK in all sorts of way. So it was very interested in world affairs, I didn’t actu- Americans out of the way and have the helpful I can say, and I noted there are ally support him; I supported a different Americans clear these obstacles out of some politicians on the other side who candidate, Yvette Cooper, for leadership the way. complained about Mr. Obama’s right to who I thought was better qualified. Now, I’m a member to British-Iran Chamber offer his opinions; yet these people like he is leader and everyone in Labour par- of Commerce which is led by Norman Boris Johnson every day are telling other ty is concentrated on winning upcoming Lamont; and there is a great British Irani- people what to do! Just as we are entit- elections of Scotland, London mayor and an diaspora, particularly in London; and iled to comment on events and policies municipalities elsewhere. We have Sadiq they had a tough time during the period in the United States, and we do all the Khan who is Labour candidate for mayor of sanctions. I don’t have any formal role time, they are also entitled to comment of London, who if elected, will be the first in relations, but people come to me for on us. I hope very much that we will win; Muslim mayor of London. And further advice. it looks so, but there is still two months we have referendum on Brexit. So, Mr. to go. Corbyn was elected democratically and Jack Straw served as UK foreign we all get on with it. secretary in Tony Blair’s cabinet and was uFor more than a year now, Saudis one of three European FMs conducting have been invading Yemen, killing uHow do you see the relations between first rounds of nuclear talks between women and children and destroying Iran and UK after the nuclear deal? In Iran and the EU3| their infrastructures… without making any success even if we assume that they are fighting for a good reason. Why Europeans and particularly UK are still silent on the issue?! This silent war shows relativism of news reporting across the world. It is a difficult country to get into, precisely because it is one of the poorest countries in the world and the region. Western states don’t have much of stake in it. That becomes sort of reinforced as people don’t know a great deal about it. Everybody I speak to believes that it has been a disas- ter and there has to be a political settle- ment. Of course there are people in GCC who do support this action against Yem- en, but there are also people who have serious reservations about the situation Politics Page 12 |No. 4| June 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY American analyst: ‘Iran ordered to pay compensation to victims of Israeli false flag’ of illegally frozen Iranian assets, and Zarif Interview by: Marjohn Sheikhi is entirely right,” says Lendman. “To me, it shows negotiating with America is a American political analyst and social waste of time. It routinely breaches what activist Stephen Lendman, in response to it agrees to and when a new president the recent Supreme Court ruling against succeeds Obama, the nuclear deal could Iran, says while ‘Israeli high crimes be rescinded - an illegal act if it happens, go unpunished, Iran is ordered to pay but who’ll hold America accountable?” compensation to its victims.’ On Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Swiss ambassador to “Unjustifiable US hostility toward Iran Tehran to protest over the ruling. In the persists,” says American author and radio meeting that followed, Mohammad Ke- host Stephen Lendman, in response to shavarz-zadeh, General Director for the a recently issued order by US Supreme Americas at the Iranian Foreign Minis- Court against Iran on the transfer of try, deemed the ruling a blatant viola- about $2bn of frozen Iranian assets to the survivors nearly $2 billion in compensation of mutual contract obligations such families of victims of the 1983 bombing in tion - including victims of other attacks as the 1955 treaty between the two Beirut; a ruling which, as FM Zarif would wrongfully linked to Iran. countries, as well as US international say, “cannot stand in any serious civilized America’s Supreme Court is stacked legal commitments on the judicial im- court of law.” with conservatives and neoconservatives munity and inviolability of the assets Lendman believes that last year’s - not a civil libertarian Brennan, Douglas and properties of the Islamic Repub- nuclear deal between Iran and the 5+1 or Thurgood Marshall permitted to sit on lic of Iran. He further called the ruling group of countries, with the US at the the court today. ‘contrary to accepted practices of inter- forefront, has in fact changed nothing in Writing for a 6 - 2 majority, Justice national law’ which guarantees govern- Washington’s desire to replace Iranian Ruth Bader Ginsburg supported fla- ments’ judicial immunity. sovereignty with “puppet governance it grant injustice, saying ‘the victims of But Lendman believes that summon- controls.” Iran-sponsored terrorist attacks will be ing the Swiss envoy will not change any- “Regime change remains firm biparti- permitted to (sue for compensation) thing; “The only chance for change is from san policy,” he adds. against (its) assets.’ the grassroots in America, revolutionary Lendman offers a brief account of Israeli high crimes go unpunished. Iran change against a vile system harming so what really had happened in the 1983 is ordered to pay compensation to its vic- many to benefit so few,” he added. bombing of Marine barracks in Beirut and tims. Injustice is served.” “I don’t see any spirit in my country to how things proceeded from there: “In Oc- Lendman also believes that the US do anything positive. The level of public tober 1983, during Israel’s first Lebanon Supreme Court ruling against Iran is “en- indifference and ignorance are appall- war, slaughtering thousands, including at tirely political, ignoring clear facts, and ing,” he lamented. the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps, the showing hostility toward Iran continues.” Beirut Barracks were attacked, killing 241 This isn’t the first time the Ameri- Stephen Lendman received a BA from US marines. can courts have held Iran responsible Harvard University and an MBA from Iran, Syria and Hezbollah were wrong- for attacks that have nothing to do the Wharton School at the University of fully blamed for a Mossad false flag. Israel with the country, namely the ruling by Pennsylvania. Supporting progressive wanted anti-Arab sentiment stoked to en- a New York City judge that Iran should causes and organizations, he began list US support for its regional aggression. pay more than $10.5 billion in damag- writing in summer 2005 on a broad range In September 2007, US District Judge es to the families of those killed in the of issues. Topics regularly addressed Royce Lamberth ordered Iran to pay over September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, include war and peace; social, economic $2.6 billion to 1,000 family members and based on the fact that Iran had ‘failed’ and political equity; and justice for long- a handful of survivors. to defend claims that it aided the Sep- suffering peoples globally - notably, In 2012, Congress passed legislation, tember 11 hijackers in a court hearing victims of America’s imperial wars, granting victims of the attack the right that actually never existed. ‘The height Occupied Palestinians and Haitians. In to be compensated from frozen Iranian of absurdity’, Foreign Minister Zarif has early 2007, he began hosting his own funds. called it, while adding the Supreme radio program. Currently he hosts the On April 20, the Supreme Court ruled Court ruling is ‘highway robbery’. Progressive Radio News Hour on the Tehran must pay families of victims and “The ruling authorized the grand theft Progressive Radio Network| Politics Page 13 |No. 4| May 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

duplicity intended to create the appearance of something that in fact does not exist. Having said this, the recent decision handed down by the US Supreme Court declaring Iran ‘guilty’ of involvement in the 1983 bombing of a US Marine barracks in Lebanon, resulting in the appropriation of $2 billion of seized Ira- nian funds is/should be instructive to everyone. What it represents is the US Supreme Court--again, which the world is told is an ‘independent’ branch of the US Government--being used for political purposes. It should be noted that no criminal trial was held in determin- ing Iran’s ‘guilt’ in this terrible affair, but rather that a summary judgment from the presiding judge in was/is the entire basis upon which Iran has been found ‘guilty’. The obvious question that must be asked and answered is why no criminal trial was convened, if indeed all the Democracy US justification evidence was there of Iran’s participation in this event.

to commit crime in ME uSome Iranian officials have called US recent court ruling as an ‘international Interview by Lachin Rezaian In an interview to Mehr News, Amer- banditry’, how do you evaluate this? ican political analyst Mark Glenn an- ‘International banditry’ is indeed swered the questions on the issue: a good word to use. Here in America, An American writer, journalist and when one wants to convey the idea that political analyst said the US abuses uDoes the recent US court ruling the court system and the appearance ‘Democracy promotion in Middle East’ question the credibility of the US of law are utilized in adjudicating a cer- as a pretext for all types of murder and justice system? Why US did an act tain pre-determined outcome, the term mayhem it has perpetrated against the which can have a considerable impact ‘Kangaroo court’ is used. In this case, it people of Iraq, Libya, Syria, etc. on its nuclear deal with Iran, reached must be remembered, again, that it was after years of talks, amid the days of nearly 20 years before a civil complaint- Regarding the recent ruling by the JCPOA implementation? -not a criminal complaint--was brought United States Supreme Court sentenc- Here in America, the illusion exists against the Islamic Republic of Iran for ing Iran to pay nearly $2 billion to Amer- that somehow there is ‘separation of this act, was heard in a small US Dis- ican victims of terrorist attacks, Iranian powers’ between the Legislative (Con- trict Court where other cases involving officials and media condemned the act gress), the Executive (White House) and relatively minor legal controversies are calling it a mockery of international law the Judiciary, which is made up by the held, and that a summary judgment was and a new threat to any improvement Court System. This ‘separation’, which issued from the bench rather than a jury with relation to the implementation of we are told is there to insure ‘balance’ issuing its verdict. JCPOA. of power so that private interests are It is also important to remember the Iran has warned the ruling increases not able to wield undue influence for date when the first civil complaint was the distrust between Tehran and Wash- reasons that are specific only to them, issued--Oct. 3, 2001, a mere 3 weeks af- ington, proving the true face of the US, is, as intimated earlier, merely an illu- ter the terrorist attacks of 9/11, when which is called unreliable. sion. Much like the phrase ‘bringing De- anti-Islamic hatred was running at a fe- Mark Glenn believes the move repre- mocracy to the Middle East,’ which the vered pitch in America, and in the after- sents that despite all the resources that United States uses as justification for all math of then-President George W. Bush have been committed towards creating types of murder and mayhem she has issuing his infamous speech in Congress the illusion that United States has some- perpetrated against the people of Iraq, declaring a ‘crusade’ against Islamic ter- how had a change of heart with regards Libya, Syria, etc, ‘separation of powers’ rorism, wherein he named Iran as part to the Islamic Republic of Iran, nothing is a form of linguistic black magic and of the ‘Axis of Evil’. of the sort has taken place. deliberate deployment of deception and It is safe to conclude therefore that » Politics Page 14 |No. 4| June 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY pro-Israel/anti-Iran forces obviously and Zionist imperialism that received a trovsky, who described in his book ‘By sought to capitalize on the tragic events mortal blow when the people of Iran Way of Deception--The Making and Un- of 9/11 and the anti-Islamic fury that kicked out the American puppet Pahl- making of a Mossad Officer’, how Israel had gripped America by throwing to- avi and established the IRI that exists knew the bombing was about to occur, gether a civil case against Iran where- today close to 4 decades later. but deliberately refused to warn the in the Islamic Republic was declared Americans, to wit-- ‘guilty’ of the murder of over 200 US uWhat is the best reaction on behalf “In the summer of 1983, this same Marines, a verdict that then could be of Iran towards the issue? Are there informant told the Mossad about a large waved in the faces of Americans who any ways to have that money back? Mercedes truck that was being fitted knew nothing about the events in Bei- In my opinion, the first thing that Ira- by the Shi’ite Muslims with spaces that rut in 1983 nor the ‘banditry’ that had nians need to do in dealing with this re- could hold bombs. Now, the Mossad just taken place in the US District Court, cent abrogation of justice is to recognize knew that because of its size, there were and in a very sly and deceptive manner, it for what it is--again, prime efface evi- only a few logical targets, one of which the murder of 3,000 Americans on 9/11 dence that the United States cannot be must be the US compound. The ques- would be paired up with the murder of trusted, despite whatever theatrics are tion then (within Mossad) was whether over 200 US Servicemen in 1983. employed in creating the mirage that or not to warn the Americans to be on a warming of relations has begun be- particular alert for a truck matching the uIs the move in violation of the US tween the 2 countries. From there, Iran description. Admony, in refusing to give obligations according to the Joint should take her case internationally, but the Americans specific information on Comprehensive plan of Action (JCPOA)? not necessarily to the UN or to the ICC, the truck, said, ‘No, we’re not there to Whether it is legally and technically a as both are tentacles of American/West- protect Americans.’ At the same time, violation of the JCPOA is immaterial to ern/Zionist imperialism, and therefore however, all Israeli installations were the fact that what it represents is prime the chances of getting justice are slim to given the specific details and warned efface evidence that despite all the re- none, to say nothing of the detrimental to watch for a truck matching the de- sources that have been committed to- effect that would result from having ei- scription of the Mercedes. At 6:20 a.m. on October 23, 1983, a large Mercedes truck approached the Beirut airport, passing well within sight of Israeli sen- tries in their nearby base and turning left into the parking lot. A US Marine guard reported with alarm that the truck was gathering speed, but before he could do anything, the truck roared toward the entrance of the four-story reinforced concrete Aviation Safe- ty Building, used as headquarters for the Eighth Marine Battalion, crashing through a wrought-iron gate and ex- ploding with such a terrific force that the building was instantly reduced to rubble...The loss of 241 US Marines, most of them still sleeping in their cots at the time of the suicide mis- sion, was the highest single-day death wards creating the illusion that United ther body reaffirm the previous decision toll for the Americans since 246 died States has somehow had a change of handed down by the US Supreme Court. throughout Vietnam at the start of the heart with regards to the Islamic Repub- Rather, Iran and her governing bodies Tet offensive on January 13, 1968. The lic of Iran, that nothing of the sort has should use this in showing the hypocri- general attitude at Mossad about the taken place. The US is just as committed sy of the US and the West and to use it Americans was: “As far as the Yanks go, to subduing Iran, to subverting her sov- in building political support both within we are not here to protect them. They ereignty and of making her like any oth- Iran and in the region, given that the US can do their own watching. They wanted er vassal state as she was when she en- is desperately trying to divide not only to stick their nose into this thing, so let gineered the overthrow of Mohammed that nation but as well the entire Islamic them pay the price.” Mossadegh in 1953. The Iranian Revolu- world. tion of 1979 remains a thorn in the eye And finally, in underscoring just how Mark Glenn is an American author and of the United States and Israel and thus much more to this story there is than journalist in Idaho who has co-founded both are determined to wipe that 1979 what has been revealed publicly, I think Crescent and Cross Solidarity Movement. Revolution off the map as a means of it is important to consider the testimony He regularly writes on different topics on salving the wounded ego of American of a former Mossad agent, Victor Os- The Ugly Truth|

Politics Page 15 |No. 4| May 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Prominent scholar Chossudovsky: Offshore tax havens ‘extensions of global banking system’ Interview by Parnaz Talebi prominent scholar has said release then millions and millions of people have of Panama Papers reveals the sheer accounts in there; so we are not talking vastness of the mechanisms by which about something which is peripheral, and global banks and institutions provide if we want to examine the broader issues for their customers to hide corrupt of tax evasion and money laundering and money. dirty money, we have to point at the main offenders which are the large banking Professor Michel Chossudovsky gave institutions when they open up shop in an interview to correspondent of Mehr the Cayman Islands they may change the News English Service, who asked him name of the institution, they may have a about recent release of a long list of polit- partner there, but they are very visible in ical as well as celebrity personalities who those financial markets, very visible in- had allegedly been involved in money deed, and they encourage the customers laundering attempts. to open up accounts in what they call pri- Mr. Chossudovsky believed that the vate banking and private banking is often number of such offshore havens was offshore banking and in this environment not limited to Panama and exceeded 50 money moves from one offshore haven centers scattered around the world. He to another and it is particularly of use for also believed that the process by which to evade taxation by having a subsidiary evasion of taxes but evasion of taxes by illicit money is laundered was proposed in tax haven and it is a practice which has wealthy individuals certainly politicians, by big banks and financial institutions for become routine; Britain has the Channel but largely corporation evade taxes by us- their clients which suggest them profits of Islands, the Isle of Man, which are tax ha- ing offshore havens and they do it with- evading taxes and other questions other- vens for insurance companies; it has the in the context of an exciting legal fabric wise asked in a healthy banking system: British Virgin Islands, it has the Cayman which they themselves influence, and He begin with a general view of the Islands, it has Panama, when not looking then you have the criminal syndicates, the Panama Papers; “I think that if we want to at an isolated event, they are more than entities, the mafia cartels both in London understand the Panama Papers we have 50 offshore havens spread around the and America, Europe, of course United to start looking at structure of offshore world but largely in Switzerland, Luxem- States, Japan and China, they also have banking, which is essentially an extension bourg, Channel Islands, the Caribbean accounts in these offshore locations and of the Anglo-American banking system. and essentially these are extensions of what do they do, they launder money, and All major Wall Street and London banks the Anglo-American banking system so they bring in dirty money which are the including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman we should be looking at the relationship proceeds of drug trade, they deposit it in Sachs, all the European banks, Deutsche to large banks, to central banks and so on a bank accounts , no questions asked, and Bank, they all have branches in these off- and the issue which is raised by Panama then they will invest in real estate, let’s say shore havens whether it’s in Caribbean or Papers from my stand point that has not real estate of Florida, then you have the Switzerland, etc. Essentially, to discuss the constituted stunning of offshore -bank whole mechanism of money laundering. issue of who has an account in there, is ing, it simply constitutes a list of individ- a non sequitur, is irrelevant. We have to uals who have accounts in these offshore uI understand that as far as we point to the fact that who controls these banks and then using that information as have such mechanisms like offshore offshore institutions on the major finan- a means to smear or to destroy the rep- banking there are still chances for such cial institutions that we know of and what utation of particular individuals, wheth- corruptions like money laundering, they are involved in, they are involved in er it’s the prime minister of Iceland or tax evasions and like, right? So, money laundering, extensively money whether it is directed against politicians is it something to be dealt with laundering which means the laundering of in the Russian Federation and so and so internationally or in national level, I the proceeds of organized crime particu- forth, the avenues for depositing funds in mean international laws should be larly the drug trade, the trade of weap- offshore banks are so extensive that even changed to meet these problem or ons, and so on so forth; of course it is an if you look into usual let’s say financial national laws should consider this? offshore haven to evade taxation and this magazines or online, they will say why Well I think that at the heart of this is is something which is so wide-spread and don’t you open an offshore bank account the Western banking system and it’s im- it’s also built in to the legal structures of in the Cayman Islands and we will issue portant to have both national and inter- Western countries in neighbors Large cor- you an ATM card and with the ATM card national laws which control or eliminate porations primarily not only individuals you will be able to access your account, these entities, because in effect what » Politics Page 16 |No. 4| June 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY these entities do is that they protect ern watch organizations, even the media, industry in Thailand comes from proceeds fraudulent activities as well as organized there will always points to a certain num- from the opium trade in northern Thai- crime, but the problem is that the banks ber of countries, Columbia, Mexico, Rus- land and then is reinvested in legitimate which making billions of dollars through sia, and so on but nobody mentions the undertakings. As I mentioned, much of these money laundering operations and US mafia, the British mafia, the French the real estate boom in southern Florida is can I mention because there have been mafia. They talk about the Italian ma- ultimately tied in to the recycling of drug many cases of banks like City Group, have fia, etc. but in effect the main source of money through laundering process so it being involved in drug money we have corruption comes from the core of the becomes clean, it goes to the Bahamas or known it for years. And when it happens financial establishment to processes of the Cayman Islands, then it comes to Flor- when there is lawsuit they used to blame co-optation when they invest in develop- ida and with that money they buy hotels, it on the employee. But in effect, we are ing country, they will give bribes to the or invest in real state. And of course, the talking about many large sums of money officials, but yet the coverage in the finan- most notorious example is Las Vegas which accruing, the narcotics strain of money cial media will largely focus on the peo- is a multi-billion-dollar casino complex sometimes is estimated to amount to ple receive the corruption money, rather which initially started out as an organized 200 billion dollars a year. That launder- than the people who give the corruption crime and today it’s owned by respectable ing process is the transformation let’s say money. So we have such double stand- corporations, so there’s been a transition of narco-dollars, drug money into clean ards: you can’t have corruption without where criminal syndicates, in a sense, be- money, which then can be invested in people at very high level who are willing come legal syndicates, and they no longer other things like the hotels and so on. The to pay money in favors. The process of po- have to indulge in the kinds of scenarios problem is that the big banks are complic- litical co-optation, the process of regime that we had in the 1930s in Chicago. it in this process because they may see the change, all, even the founding of NGOs, process, they also received the proceeds we find that many NGOs which are sup- uWhich countries in your view have of Third World leaders’ depositing mon- posed to be very progressive, focusing on been more successful in preventing and ey from different illicit sources. I should the oppositions to a particular govern- fighting corruption? mention that the international financial ment or to a particular policy or agenda, It’s a very difficult question to answer. institutions, IMF and World Bank, are also they are founded by Wall Street, by major We’d have to examine very specifically the complicit, because for some countries, foundations. Now the question is what policies and so on. I would say the cer- take the case of Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, the dynamics behind it is. If we look at the tain countries which are a little bit aloof Mexico, the proceeds of the drug mon- politicians in the US or in any other coun- of these procedures, such as Scandinavi- ey is also used to repay the countries’ tries the level of corruption is more or less an countries, but it’s very difficult to give external debt. This is well documented, normal, and there is honesty in politics an answer to that. The problem is we’re and what the IMF will do is say we have anymore! And under those circumstanc- no longer dealing with national entities. to respect confidentiality, no questions es politicians can be purchased in various The structures of trade and finance are asked to allow for this money to ultimate- ways and then coopted, and the cooptation integrated to such an extent that they ly reach the creditors of these countries comes precisely from multibillion dollar also integrate the patterns of corruption, and there is very big debate on that, so conglomerates coming from of banks, de- money laundering and offshore banking. that in effect, the Panama papers are re- fense establishments, from the companies The areas of corruption are such that it ally giving us information which is trivial producing weapons. It also comes from really now forecloses the possibility of in nature, because they are giving a list of the big pharmaceutical companies which democracy, because if politicians can be individuals having accounts in an offshore coopt the politicians and so on. purchased by criminal syndicates or by location, while they avoid to discuss the When we discuss the issue of offshore corporations to act on their behalf rath- facts, that these offshore locations are used banking, we have to understand that er than on behalf of the population, then by the major financial institutions of west- that is really part of the banking struc- we are no longer within the realm of in- ern countries but also of Japan, China, and ture which claims legality but which in dependent governments acting on behalf so on to loan vast amounts of money and practice is very much integrated by crim- of people, rather we are in the realm of also to capture the global criminal economy. inal elements, implying the laundering governments which are acting on behalf But I should also mention that the dividing of dirty money. Dirty money can actually of their corporate sponsors. And I think line between what is criminal and what is get cleaned and we are no longer within the United States is pretty much moving legal is very difficult to establish. Because the stereotype of organized crime as pre- in that direction; there is very little inde- now the criminals invest in legal activities. sented in Hollywood movies, the Italian pendent policy-making, it is largely policy or Irish mafia. The criminal syndicates are on behalf of defense contractors, mak- uProfessor you have a good history in effect sometimes instruments of global ing weapons, big oil companies, the big about money laundering, money capitalism. So in effect what we have is a banks, the big pharmaceutical companies, corruptions and dirty money in some globalization of crime and criminalization and so on. So in effect, through lobbying countries, I want to ask you which of economic activities. And the lines be- process, these politicians are co-opted. countries do you think are the best and tween organized crime and organized That is also the part of a broader issue, the worst in fighting corruption and capital are not easy to establish because let’s say, of offshore banking, because the such dirty money? many families from criminal syndicates process of co-optation implying money Well this is a very important question, that are now legitimate businesses. I’ll pay-offs, invariably will use the avenues of because if you read the reports of west- give you an example: Much of the textile offshore locations to hide this undeclared » Politics Page 17 |No. 4| May 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY wealth. One of the more latent examples involved in regulating the banking system Panama Papers. is the Prime Minister of Malaysia who had while they have not regulated the banking Well, a number of foundations which a deposit of $600m in his bank courtesy system in a way that which would avoid are behind the Panama Papers is a con- of Saudi Arabia, which was supposed to the process of laundering dirty money. sortium of journalists, they receive mon- be a gift to PM Najib Razak, which raised ey from Ford Foundation (with known a big controversy in Malaysia, but that is uThank you very much professor, it links to CIA), and they have support from Prime Minister Najib Razak which raised was great. If there is anything you want Rockefeller Foundations, and from oth- a big controversy in Malaysia. But I think to add, I’m open to it. er foundations. When Wall Street funds we have to look at the fact these pay offs I just want to mention that I worked critical journalism it is not to support an to politicians are something which are in on this issue quite a number of years back analysis of Wall Street role in offshore essence routine while on the other hand and I’m just saying that it is more of a po- banking, Wall Street and City of London I think what is revealing is that Panama litical-economic issue and I think we need are the main architects of offshore bank- papers do not actually target personalities to look at the data. Another important ing, tax havens, and money laundering. in the United States; interestingly enough, thing is the role of the intelligence be- The consortium of journalists is found by they target individuals in different coun- cause the US intelligence has been linked foundations which are linked precisely tries like Iceland, Russia and so on, but up with drug trade. In other word, if you to Wall Street. And what they want is to people in the US like politicians who have look at Afghanistan which now produc- divert attentions from the fact that ulti- accounts in offshore locations are simply es more than 90 per cent of the world’s mately they are the people who are re- not mentioned. Most wealthy people in heroin, which is estimated to amount to sponsible for these tax havens. Big banks the US as well as politicians will have ac- 200 billion a year; that trade initially start- and institutions fund the consortium of counts overseas. Some may have regis- ed with the CIA back in the late 1970s as journalists to focus what they want which tered for tax purposes while others not it financed the so-called Soviet-Afghan is to smear politicians for particular rea- and this is something which is so wide- war and it allowed for the recruitment of sons, and given the prevalent dynamics spread and as it was mentioned in the Al-Qaeda Mujahedeen which was a CIA of co-optation and corruption – which Panama Papers, they reveal something project and it used the proceeds of drugs characterizes the world today – we can like 11 million names of individuals. But to finance it. Now today, this multibillion see that this is something which has been out all of those 11 million, they chose only dollar industry is protected by the US mili- selective in its impacts and purpose. Now, a handful for political purposes rather tary and the US intelligence, the narcotics I should mention something from my own than actually pointing at the architects of goes out, the opium goes out, sold, and writing on this, exactly three years ago, it these tax heavens. The architects are the is transformed into heroin and sold in was April 5, 2013 the same consortium major British and American banks as well western markets. It is also backed by the of journalists released some names, and as Canadian banks. They are all in the trop- banks, because otherwise you still have they chose exactly the same day for their ical Caribbean tax heavens. People who to launder money. I think it is interesting second release and it has very little to do go there can see with their own eyes and to point out that since the surge in opium with an understanding of these offshore in fact the banks in the head offices and in production in Afghanistan, there has been banking institutions, it is not only the Pan- various branches will encourage clients to a dramatic surge in cases of addiction to ama, there is 50 of them; I am not sure, open accounts in offshore locations. And heroin in the US, and in fact there is a perhaps the figures may change, the Cay- they will advertise that as I have records certain causality. Heroin has always exist- man Island was set to be on