WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 16 Pages Price 20,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13260 Wednesday NOVEMBER 21, 2018 Aban 30, 1397 Rabi’ Al awwal 13, 1440 Europe’s inaction Dozens killed Iran, Venezuela Fajr visual arts festival to save JCPOA in a blast in Afghan share the spoils modifies policy to unjustified 2 capital Kabul 3 in friendly 15 boost diversity 16 ICOPMAS 2018 to host 36 countries in late Nov. Threat of war ECONOMY TEHRAN — Repre- national event, Mohammadreza Allahyar, desksentatives from 36 coun- the deputy head of PMO for engineering tries will participate in Iran’s 13rd Biennial and development of infrastructure, said International Conference on Coasts, Ports the conference will provide the ground and Marine Structures (ICOPMAS 2018) for strengthening ties between Iranian which will be held at Olympic Hotel in Tehran and foreign companies, IRIB reported. and famine from November 26 to 28. The official also announced that an In a press conference held at the place exhibition of maritime structures and of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization technology will be held on the sidelines (PMO) on Tuesday on details of the inter- of the conference. 4 on Iran: False ‘Sales of nanotech products to hit $175m’ TECHNOLOGY TERHAN — It is products were exported to 50 countries deskpredicted that 30 over the Iranian calendar years 1394 to imagination billion rials (about $175 million) of 1396 (2015-2017). See page 7 nanotechnology products will be sold by He made the remarks at the Nano- the end of the current Iranian calendar technology Economy Forum, which was year 1397 (March 20, 2019), an official held on November 19 and 20 in Tehran. with Iran Nanotechnology Innovation “The forum provided an opportunity Council announced on Tuesday, IRNA that the firms announce their technologi- reported. cal demands to academics and innovative Reza Asadifar said that nanotechnology companies,” he said. 10 Assad sends first public message to Jordanian King Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad sent is ready to overcome all difficulties. his first public message to Jordanian Zawaida described the meeting of the King Abdullah II and to the Jordanian parliamentary delegation with the Syrian people, stressing that Jordan and Syria President as smooth and light. are one people. He stressed that Assad was understand- Ahmad Jalalian MP (Member of Parliament) Awad Al ing and responsive in all that which serves Zawaida said in a statement that the Syrian both countries, and that all the demands President called for strengthening bilateral made by the delegation were catered to IRNA/ ties to what they used to be, and that Syria by the Syrian side. 13 EDITORIAL ‘Transatlantic differences justify European efforts to become more autonomous’ PERSPECTIVE Mohammad Ghaderi Following is the full text of the interview: M.A.Saki Tehran Times editor-in-chief EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Deputy editor-in-chief The idea of forming a joint European army @ghaderi62 By Javad Heirannia is not a new idea, but in recent days, with the TEHRAN — Marc Finaud, the former French comments of Emmanuel Macron and Angela Foreign Ministry spokesman, says that “the Merkel and the reaction of Trump has taken a FATF member reasons why France and Germany saw an new dimension. What are the reasons for the Pompeo and Bolton interest in developing further EU strategic progress of this project by countries such as countries, the very autonomy were related to the apparent re- France and Germany? want to torture duced American interest in transatlantic A: Indeed this idea dates back to the Cold War center of money solidarity, and the prospect of the United and the failed attempt of the European Commu- Iranian nation laundering Kingdom leaving the EU, because the UK nity of Defense in 1952 that paved the way for was one of the two leadings military powers the establishment of the European Union and .S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and in Europe but always opposed any progress been made easier with Brexit.” the integration of West Germany in NATO. Over his special representative for Iran Brian hile Iranian Foreign Minister Hook have claimed that humanitarian Mohammad Javad Zarif asks towards a ‘European army’.” Senior member of Geneva Centre for Se- the years, the European Union did develop its U supplies such as food and medicine are exempt for joining FATF (The Financial The former Senior Resident Fellow at the Unit- curity Policy also says that “transatlantic own common and security policy that included W ed Nations Institute for Disarmament Research differences indeed weaken the Alliance and joint military capacities and coordination that from sanctions against Iran. Action Task Force on Money Laundering), (UNIDIR) adds “establishing a ‘real European justify European efforts to become more au- were distinct from NATO’s and are part of the If it were so, there must not have been it is obvious that the member countries shortage of medicine in Iran and some people army’ can only be a long-term goal, even if it has tonomous.” 2007 Lisbon Treaty. 7 of this organization are already actively should not have been worriedly going from engaged in money laundering, Mehr news one pharmacy to another to find medicine agency reported. for their patients, especially those suffering The foreign minister claimed that Gaza expects new developments, Netanyahu’s possible adventure from malicious diseases such as cancer. large amounts of money are laundered By Farzad Farhadi Israel. Hamas and Hezbollah have become more Additionally, some other Zionist authorities It is clear that such remarks are non- in Iran, but according to official sources TEHRAN — Following the short war between courageous, because they believe that we are have, too, spoken of defeat against Hamas. sensical and deceitful. 90 percent of European banks and Can- Israel defense forces (IDF) and Palestinian re- afraid of confronting them. The Israeli ship is What remains to be seen is that after the recent While the Trump administration ada are systematically engaged in money sistance group, the question is what is awaiting not going the right way.” grand victory of Palestinian resistance group has imposed financial sanctions on Iran laundering. Gaza particularly after the defeat of the Zionists. Tsizka Fogel, an Israeli general and the for- and failure of Israeli security operation when and threatened to punish banks that do He further claimed that the opponents Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett and mer commander of the southern Israeli army Hamas fired 500 rockets to Israeli settlements, business with the country, the channels of joining FATF are against financial Jewish Home leader, speaking at the Knesset in told Moario, “The Middle East is witnessing new what the future holds for the Gazans. Will there for transferring money, even for buying transparency and benefit from money Al-Quds recently, has slammed Netanyahu say- enemies like Hezbollah in the north and Hamas be another conflict as Netanyahu is going to medicine, are being blocked. laundering profits which amounts to ing, “Israel has stopped winning and Netanyahu in the south of Israel. Some 50 years ago, in June bring back glory to its worn down military “When you want to transfer money, billions and joining FATF would prevent won’t quit government. Israel is facing a security 1967, Israel fought with three Arab states, and among the Zionists? the bank does not ask whether it goes for such transactions. confidence crisis not political crisis. There are defeated them all, but today, we cannot win the A senior Hamas official doesn’t see the likeli- food or other items – that is why sanctions It seems that the term “financial enemies, but not an enemy that worries me. The battle against Hamas. Israel’s security condition hood of that and in an interview with Raialyoum always hit food and medicine,” Foreign transparency” has turned into a pretext source of the crisis is not its external enemies, today is an insult to the October 1973 war, be- newspaper said, “A military attack and retaliation Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told The for FATF defenders to silence critics and but is the bad internal situation. Israel has not cause it seems that politicians do not care about against the Gaza Strip is very unlikely because Guardian on Monday. justify their claims. won as that was the case in the Second Lebanon the future of Israel and are engaged in political Israeli military commanders have realized that The people in Iran are not convinced The important question here is “is FATF War (33-day war against Lebanon) in 2006, and games, and even Benjamin Netanyahu’s delivers another war will take a heavy toll on them, be it why sanctions have been returned. In fact, a reliable organization in combating money it was frustration, disunity and lack of spirit for an unacceptable illusion story to us. emotionally, financially or human life. 7 they are surprised. They say we signed a laundering and do its members have total pact (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of financial transparency?” Action) with the U.S. and other countries By looking at the background of to end the sanctions. They ask what has FATF member countries, it is revealed Mine-resistant happened that we are again facing short- that money laundering is still closely age of medicine and other commodities. interwoven with their financial and armored vehicle They say if the Trump administration is banking systems and this international not happy with Iranian officials why it organization has failed to prevent money creates problems for us. laundering. unveiled They are even questioning the compe- Money laundering statistics tence and efficiency of the United Nations, TEHRAN – A mine-resistant armored military in FATF member countries asking if the UN is not able to deter the vehicle dubbed Toufan (storm) was unveiled Money laundering happens when mon- return of sanctions then what its use is! on Tuesday and delivered to the IRGC Ground ey resulted from illegal activities enter These cold-hearted sanctions are af- Forces.