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Wheat Purchase

Exceeds 4.8m Tons

Iran Snatches 6 Medals

In Islamic Games0 4 1 1

License Holder: (IRNA) www.irna.irNumber4611Wednesday September 25, 2013Mehr3, 1392Zilqada19, 1434Price 2,000 Rials12 Pageswww.iran-daily.com

Political Desk

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif heldhis first meeting with his British counterpartWilliam Hague since President Hassan Rou-

hani was elected.Zarif and Hague discussed Irans nuclear energyprogram as well as regional developments, includingthe situation in Syria and Afghanistan, BBC reported.

During the talks, Zarif censured the illegal sanc-tions imposed on Iran, saying that the US-led bansmerely target the Iranian nation.

He also described his earlier negotiations with EUforeign policy chief Catherine Ashton as construc-tive, expressing hope that the upcoming meeting be-tween Iran and the group of world powers involved innuclear negotiations with Iran (the US, UK, France,China, Russia and Germany) would be a step forwardin resolving the Western dispute over the Iranian nu-clear energy program.

The two top diplomats also stressed the need forthe improvement of Tehran-London ties on a step-by-step basis.

The UK shut down its Tehran embassy in 2011after it was stormed in a protest over British sanc-tions.

EU FMs WelcomeZarif Stance

WarmlyBilateral Ties, Nuclear Issue,

Syria Crisis Discussed

Obama: DiplomaticPath Must Be

Tested With IranCompiled by Davood Baqeri

US President Barack Obama said in a speech at UNGeneral Assembly on Tuesday that the diplomaticpath must be tested with Iran.

Since I took office, I have made it clear in letters tothe Supreme Leader in Iran and more recently to President(Hassan) Rouhani that America prefers to resolve our con-cerns over Irans nuclear program peacefully We are not

seeking regime change, and we respect the right of the Ira-nian people to access peaceful nuclear energy. Instead, weinsist that the Iranian government meet its responsibilitiesunder the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and UN Secu-rity Council resolutions, he said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Leader has issued a fatwaagainst the development of nuclear weapons, and PresidentRouhani has just recently reiterated that the Islamic Repub-lic will never develop a nuclear weapon, he added.

These statements made by our respective governmentsshould offer the basis for a meaningful agreement. Weshould be able to achieve a resolution that respects the rightsof the Iranian people, while giving the world confidence thatthe Iranian program is peaceful. To succeed, conciliatorywords will have to be matched by actions that are transpar-ent and verifiable. After all, it is the Iranian governmentschoices that have led to the comprehensive sanctions thatare currently in place. This isnt simply an issue betweenAmerica and Iran the world has seen Iran evade its respon-sibilities in the past, and has an abiding interest in makingsure that Iran meets its obligations in the future.

By Farzaneh Shokri

President Hassan Rouhani will convey the Iranian na-tions message of peace during his visit to New York toattend the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly,said the Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

The president arrived in New York City for the an-

nual General Assembly meeting on Monday. Rouhani isscheduled to deliver a speech to the Assembly on Sep-tember 24.

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah denied onMonday that his group had received chemical weap-ons from Syria.

Last month, members of the so-called Syrian Na-tional Coalition opposition group accused PresidentBashar Al-Assad of transferring chemical weapons tothe Lebanese group to avoid inspection after agreeingto put them under international control, Reuters re-ported.

This accusation is truly laughable, Nasrallah saidin a televised speech.

We understand the dimensions and background ofthese accusations, and these have dangerous conse-quences for Lebanon.

We decisively and conclusively deny these accusa-tions which have absolutely no basis in truth.

Syria has agreed to give up its chemical weaponsunder a plan agreed by the United States and Russiaafter Western powers blamed Syrian government fora chemical attack that killed hundreds of people in aDamascus suburb last month, the allegation that theSyrian government has strongly denied.

Rouhani to Relay

Iran MessageOf Peace

Hezbollah DeniesReceiving Chemical

Weapons From Syria

P

resident Hassan Rouhani has arrived in New York to at-tend the 68th annual session of the UN General Assem-bly and deliver a speech before the world leaders.

According to the schedule during this trip I have threespeeches. The first one will be at the United Nations GeneralAssembly. The second speech will be at the UN DisarmamentConference and the last one is the meeting of the foreign minis-ters of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), he told reportersupon arrival at the John F. Kennedy International Airport onMonday afternoon local time.

He added that he plans to expound on Irans position oninternational issues during his stay in New York. The Iranianpresident further noted that he is determined to defend therights of the Iranian nation, Press TV reported.

The UN General Assembly opened on Tuesday with an

speech by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.Rouhani also attended the opening session of the UN Gen-

eral Assembly late on September 24 make his speech.

Iran Daily will publish the full text of the presidents speechon Thursday.

On September 25, Rouhani is due to address the special ses-sion of the Nuclear Disarmament Conference as the currentchairman of the NAM.

He will also address foreign ministers of the NAM, which isan international organization with 120 member states. Nearlytwo-thirds of the countries of the UN are also NAM members.

In addition, the Iranian president is expected to meet andhold talks with world leaders, American scholars, US Muslimleaders, and a group of Iranian expatriates on the sidelines ofthe General Assembly meeting.

Rouhani Attends UNAssembly Meeting

Sports Desk

Coach Amir Qalenoei has targeted an away goal when Iran cham-pion Esteqlal meet South Korean counterpart FC Seoul in the firstleg of their 2013 Asian Football Confederation Champions Leaguesemifinal at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Wednesday.

Esteqlal travelled to Seoul directly from Thailand after eliminat-ing Buriram United 3-1 on aggregate following a 2-1 win in the sec-ond leg of their quarterfinal tie last Wednesday.

And with the second leg of the semifinal taking place in Te-hran next week, Qalenoei is targeting more away goals as Es-teqlal look to add to the Asian Club Championship titles won in1970 and 1991.

In Nigeria, stolen crude oil flows out of the Niger Delta at breath-taking rates, landing in markets around the world.

A new study by London-based think tank Chatham House saidit is not just the Nigerian authorities that are to blame.

At a Niger Delta market, Anna Arube sells black-market gaso-line from jerrycans for about 80 cents a liter. She pays the policeabout $3 a month not to get arrested. Even so, Arube said, the jobis not without its dangers, All Africa wrote.

They should be careful over this business that we are doingbecause there is risk, do you understand? said Arube.

The biggest risk is the flammable nature of her product, butthere is very little risk of authorities clamping down.

Until 2009, militants in the Niger Delta battled the govern-ment and oil companies, saying they were fighting for the peo-ples right to the oil on their land.

Since then, the region has quieted, but oil theft and kidnappingare rampant.

Endemic ProblemA new Chatham House report said 100,000 barrels of oil are sto-

len daily from the Niger Delta, about 5 percent of the two millionplus barrels per day output. Some analysts put the total amount ofstolen oil much higher, at 400,000 barrels a day. Foreign RelationsCouncil Senior Fellow John Campbell, a former US ambassadorto Nigeria, said the problem is endemic.

Esteqlal Targeting AwayGoals Against FC Seoul

Oil Theft inNigeria Rampant

nst

Iranian researchers from Babol Universityof Technology have produced antibacterialand biofouling-resistant polymericmembranes by using nanotechnology.

Turkish environmentalists will usethe experiences of their Iraniancounterparts for preserving endangeredwetlands in their homeland.

Iranians Produce Biofouling-Resistant Membranes

Iran to Help Turkey SaveWetlands

0807

2 9 1210 Sites Located

For New

Nuclear Plants

Iraq Violence

Claims 25 Lives

Serbian Award

For Iranian

Cartoonist

05

03

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As Hassan Rouhani, thepresident of the Islamic re-public of Iran, prepares todeliver a speech on Tuesdayto the UN general assembly,advocating constructive en-gagement with the world,I reflect on my own experi-

ence as president of this great country, and myattempts to promote dialogue among nations,instead of hostility.

At my suggestion, 2001 was named the UNYear of Dialogue Among Civilizations. Butdespite reaching a global audience, the mes-sage of dialogue barely penetrated the mostintractable political dilemmas, either at home

or abroad.More than at any other time in history, events

in the Middle East and north Africa have takenon global significance, and there is a great shiftin the importance of this region. This transfor-mation, which began with Irans 1979 IslamicRevolution a surprise to many in the interna-tional community intensified with the end ofthe cold war.

Today the Middle East has become a centrefor new political, social and ideological forcesas well as a site of collaboration and conflictwith powers beyond the region. Almost all theproblems facing the Middle East and northAfrica today have international implications.Irans nuclear issue is but one of these, andcertainly not the biggest; but in addressing theMiddle Easts other problems, much dependson the manner in which this one is resolved.

In order to be successful, any dialogue mustuse the language of politics and diplomacy.President Rouhanis platform of prudence andhope is a practical translation of the idea ofdialogue among nations into the realm of poli-tics. And this is more necessary than ever at atime when a range of overlapping political cri-ses are threatening global catastrophe.

With the initiative of Rouhani, who enjoyswidespread support from almost all segmentsof Iranian society, I hope this country willsucceed in steering a path towards global dia-logue.

West Must Not Turn Its

Back on DiplomacyBy former president Mohammad Khatami

Opinion

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President Vows to efend Iran RightsPresident Vows to Defend Iran Rights

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EU FMs WelcomeZarif Stance Warmly

10 Sites Located for

New Nuclear PlantsHead of Irans Nuclear Safety Center Naser Rastkhah said onMonday that more than ten sites have been located for the con-struction of new nuclear power plants in the country.

Geological studies have been conducted in various regions ofthe country for the construction of new atomic power plants. Anumber of potential sites have been identified for the launch ofnew nuclear power plants in the country, and preliminary surveyshave been carried out in order to select the construction site ofthese plants, Rastkhah told reporters on the sidelines of the cer-emony to mark Irans official taking over of the first unit of theBushehr nuclear power plant from Russia, Press TV reported.

He also described the selection of sites as one of the most sig-nificant subjects concerning the construction of atomic powerplants, adding that disregard for this issue and other miscalcula-tions led to an irreversible disaster in the aftermath of the earth-quake and tsunami that struck Japans Fukushima Daiichi nuclearpower plant on March 11, 2011.

The first unit of the Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plantwas handed over to Iranian experts on Monday during a ceremo-ny which was attended by Iranian and Russian officials.

The Bushehr nuclear plant is the worlds safest, the head ofthe Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Sale-

hi said during the ceremony.He reassured Irans neighbors over the safety of the plant andsaid Tehran is ready to answer any questions in this regard. Bush-ehr nuclear power plant became officially operational in Septem-ber 2011, generating electricity at 40 percent of its capacity.

The 1,000-megawatt plant, which is operating under the fullsupervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),reached its maximum power generation capacity in August 2012.Iran and Russia have assured the international community thatthe plant is fully compliant with high-level safety standards andthe IAEA safeguards.

The United States, Israel, and some of their allies have repeat-edly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nu-clear energy program. Iran rejects the allegations.

MP: Turkey PositionOn Iran RealisticA senior lawmaker said on Monday that recent statements byTurkish President Abdullah Gul about Irans key role in Syria

shows Ankaras realistic view of Tehran.The Turkish presidents remarks about the Geneva 2 meeting

[on Syria] were real and without Irans presence the session willbear no result, Chairman of the Majlis National Security andForeign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said, Press TVreported.

Addressing reporters in New York on Sunday, the Turkishpresident said it would be unrealistic to hold any discussionabout the ongoing crisis in Syria without the presence of Iran.

Frankly, its unrealistic to talk about Syria without Iran. Therehas yet to be a common understanding with Iran, but you cannotexclude it, Gul stated.

The legislator reiterated that Turkey, as a friend country toIran, can act successfully to resolve the ongoing crisis in Syria byadopting a proper stance.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011. Avery large number of the militants operating inside Syria are re-portedly foreign nationals.

In a recent statement, the United Nations High Commissionerfor Refugees said the number of Syrian refugees, who have fledthe countrys 29-month-long conflict, reached two million.

The UN refugee agency further said some 4.2 million peoplehave also been displaced inside Syria since the beginning of theconflict in the Arab country.

On May 7, Russia and the US agreed in the Russian capital

Moscow to convene an international conference on Syria, whichwill serve as a follow-up to an earlier Geneva meeting held inJune 2012.

The Syrian government has already announced that it is readyto take part in the peace conference without any preconditions inan effort to help end over two years of deadly turmoil in the coun-try.

Obama: Diplomatic Path...From Page 1

Obama said that he had directed Secretary of State JohnKerry to pursue a diplomatic effort along with other nations toresolve disputes over Irans nuclear program.

We are encouraged that President Rouhani receivedfrom the Iranian people a mandate to pursue a more moder-ate course. Given President Rouhanis stated commitment toreach an agreement, I am directing John Kerry to pursue thiseffort with the Iranian government, in close coordination withthe European Union, the United Kingdom, France, Germany,Russia and China. The roadblocks may prove to be too great,but I firmly believe the diplomatic path must be tested. Forwhile the status quo will only deepen Irans isolation, Iransgenuine commitment to go down a different path will be goodfor the region and the world, and will help the Iranian peoplemeet their extraordinary potential in commerce and culture;in science and education.

We are also determined to resolve a conflict that goes backeven further than our differences with Iran: the conflict be-tween Palestinians and Israelis.

02National

From Page 1Hague welcomed recent statements from Iran

aimed at easing concerns about its uranium en-richment work.

Last week President Hassan Rouhani said hewas ready to restart stalled talks on the issue afterstating that his country would never seek to buildnuclear weapons.

Open to Better RelationsHague said those statements should be matched

by concrete steps by Iran to address the interna-tional communitys concerns about Irans inten-tions.

He added, The United Kingdom does not seeka confrontational relationship with Iran and isopen to better relations.

The United Kingdom welcomes President

Rouhani and Foreign Minister Zarifs recent state-ments about Irans wish to improve its relationswith the outside world.

Hague stated that he and Zarif have now askedour officials to do further work on improving bi-lateral ties.

Relations between Iran and Britain hit an all-time low in November 2011, when the two coun-tries shut down their diplomatic missions as aresult of Britains key role in the imposition of anew set of western sanctions against Iran and itsrepeated meddling in Irans domestic affairs.

Iran recalled all the staff and closed its embassyin London after Britain recalled its diplomaticmission in Tehran due to massive protests at theBritish embassy by students who demanded tiesbe severed with London.

Hague said that as well as Irans nuclear pro-gram, his discussions with Zarif took in the con-flict in Syria, human rights and bilateral relationsbetween the two countries.

He said, We talked about the need for peace inSyria, where Iran could play a constructive role,including by supporting the Geneva frameworkfor a negotiation between (President Bashar) As-

sad and the opposition.And while welcoming recent announcements

on the release of some political prisoners, I raisedour concerns about human rights in Iran.

The Iranian minister further warned against thedanger of chemical weapons falling into the handsof extremist Takfiri groups operating in Syria,which has been the scene of deadly unrest sinceMarch 2011.

MoU With ItalyIn a Monday meeting in New York, Zarif and

his Italian counterpart Emma Bonino signed amemorandum of understanding (MoU) to helpimprove the situation in war-torn Afghanistan.

The two sides expressed determination to ex-pand bilateral cooperation on regional and inter-national issues, particularly the situation in Af-ghanistan.

Under the MoU, Tehran and Rome agreed tofight drug trafficking and cooperate in recon-structing Afghanistans devastated infrastructure.

The United States and its allies invaded Af-ghanistan in October 2001 as part of Washingtonsso-called war on terror. The offensive removed theTaliban from power, but insecurity remains acrossthe country.

During the meeting on Monday, Zarif and Bon-ino further stressed the need for the expansion ofTehran-Rome relations in all areas.

The two diplomats also discussed the latest de-velopments in Middle Eastern countries, includ-ing Syria and Iraq.

In separate meetings on Monday, Zarif also dis-cussed bilateral ties and other regional issues withAustralian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and theforeign minister of Switzerland, Didier Burkha-lter, Turkish foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu .

The Iranian diplomat also met with EU foreignpolicy chief Catherine Ashton and the foreignministers of the Netherlands, Australia, Britain,Switzerland, Japan, Turkey, Oman, Slovakia,Croatia, Georgia and Bulgaria.

During the meeting with Dutch Foreign Min-ister Frans Timmermans, Zarif said Iran and theNetherlands enjoy deep historical relations.

In political, economic and cultural areas, thereare many grounds [for cooperation] that we cannegotiate, Zarif told the Dutch minister.

Timmermans, for his part, praised Irans glori-ous history, culture and civilization, stressing that

the Netherlands is interested in the continuation ofpolitical negotiations between the two countries.

The two ministers also exchanged views on dif-ferent regional and international issues includingthe situation in Syria and Afghanistan as well asthe condition of minorities in Europe.

In another meeting, Zarif and Slovak ForeignMinister Miroslav Lajcak held talks on the differ-ent grounds for further Tehran-Bratislava coop-eration, calling for the expansion of bilateral rela-tions between the two countries in all spheres.

The Iranian foreign minister also held a sepa-rate meeting with his Croatian counterpart VesnaPusic.

The two described Tehran-Zagreb ties as closeand significant and called for the further expan-sion of relations between their countries.

During the talks, Zarif underlined Irans signifi-cant role in ending the crisis in Bosnia during theBalkan wars in 1990s.

They also exchanged views on the latest devel-opments in the Middle East and the situation inAfghanistan.

Purposeful Nuclear Talks

In a meeting with Ashton, the Iranian foreignminister said Tehran is ready to conduct purpose-ful negotiations within a specific timeframe to re-solve the impasse over the Iranian nuclear energyprogram.

He said the nuclear energy issue can be resolvedif the current realities of the Islamic Republic aretaken into consideration.

Zarif added that the timeframe of the nuclearnegotiations should be determined based on a re-alistic perspective.

The top Iranian diplomat pointed to the deepmistrust between the [negotiating] sides, andstressed the existence of political will to resolvethe nuclear issue.

Confidence-building and allaying concerns arethe first main step in that regard, he added.

Zarif, however, emphasized that the legal rightof the Iranian nation to peaceful nuclear technol-ogy and uranium enrichment cannot be denied.

Following the meeting, Ashton praised the talkswith Zarif as good and constructive.

Ashton added that Zarif will join the foreignministers of China, France, Germany, and Russiaand the US secretary of state as well the UK for-eign secretary in a meeting, expected to be heldon Thursday, to discuss Irans nuclear energy pro-gram.

Iran is falsely accused by the United States, theIsraeli regime and some of their allies of pursu-ing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energyprogram.

Tehran categorically rejects the allegation.

War on Narcotics

Drug combat squads have seized more than 240 tons of narcotics in thefirst half of the current Iranian year (started March 21), Deputy PoliceChief Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Radan said on Tuesday.

From Page 1The opportunity to diplomatically resolve differ-

ences between Iran and the west, including the im-passe over the nuclear issue, presented itself manyyears ago during my presidency. That opportunitywas missed, for reasons that are now public knowl-edge.

To understand why, one only needs read the mem-oirs of Jack Straw, then British foreign secretary, orMohamed ElBaradei, then secretary general of theInternational Atomic Energy Agency or indeed thememoirs of Rouhani, who was then the chief negotia-tor of the Iranian nuclear delegation.

More than a decade ago, although agreement ap-peared possible, diplomacy failed. After 9/11, the USinitiated costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, withIraq invaded on the false pretext that it was devel-oping weapons of mass destruction. It is no surprisethat, in this political atmosphere, diplomacy with Iranended in failure.

Israel, too, sabotaged the chance for the west to

reach an agreement with Iran, by injecting skepticismand doubt at the time. On the eve of Rouhanis speechat the UN, Israel has again begun a campaign to dis-credit him because it fears the end of tension betweenIran and the west.

Those who are trapped by bitter experience makeevery effort to disrupt the progress of diplomacyonce again. These people fail to realize a simple pointabout the relationship between domestic and foreignpolicy.

President Rouhanis government was elected by asociety seeking positive change, at a time when Iranand the wider region was desperately in need of pru-dence and hope.

This vote was not limited to a specific politicalcamp; as well as many reformers, many politicalprisoners and a significant body of conservatives hada share in Rouhanis victory. For the first time there isan opportunity to create a national consensus aboveand beyond partisan factionalism one that may ad-dress the political predicaments of the country, withan emphasis on dialogue and mutual understandingglobally.

Explicit public support from the supreme leader ofthe Islamic republic provides Rouhani and his col-

leagues with the necessary authority for a diplomaticresolution of a number of foreign policy issues withthe west, not just the nuclear issue. A peace-seekingIran can contribute as a willing partner not only tosolving its own differences with the global powers,but also to overcoming some of the regions chronicpolitical disputes.

But it requires a degree of courage and optimismfrom the west to listen to the voices of the Iranianpeople who have been painfully targeted by unjustsanctions, which have threatened the very fabric ofcivil society and democratic infrastructures.

Failure now to create an atmosphere of trust andmeaningful dialogue will only boost extremist forceson all sides. The consequences of such a failure willbe not only regional, but global. For a better world for the Iranian people and the next generation acrossthe globe I earnestly hope that Rouhani will receivea warm and meaningful response at the United Na-tions.

Iran today is different from the Iran of years ago,and the consequences of the Islamic Revolution arestill playing out. Our positive and negative experi-ences of the past 16 years have added another dimen-sion to the reforms that Rouhani is conducting at both

domestic and international levels; they have enrichedthe Islamic republics democratic capacities and add-ed, I very much hope, to the experience of the inter-national community.

The Iranian peoples vote for Rouhani and hisagenda for change has provided an unrivalled andpossibly unrepeatable opportunity for Iran, the westand all local and regional powers.

With a foreign policy based on dialogue and di-plomacy at the heart of the Middle East, we can im-agine a better world for the east and the west in-cluding the diplomatic resolution of Irans nuclearissue, which is utterly feasible if there is goodwilland fairness.

West Must Not Turn ItsBack on Diplomacy

Opinion

Iran Daily felicitates Saudi

Arabia on its National Day.

Sept. 25, 2013

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03National

Mohammad Ali Rajabi

Marziyeh Afkham

Rouhani to RelayIran Message of Peace

From Page 1Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham

said at her weekly press conference that the messageof the Iranian nation, to be relayed by President Rou-hani, is one of peace based on constructive interactionwith other countries.

On September 25, President Rouhani is due toaddress the special session of the Nuclear Disarma-ment Conference as the current chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

The president will also address the foreign minis-ters of the NAM member states, that constitute nearlytwo-thirds of the countries of the UN.

Afkham added that during his speeches, Rouhaniwill elaborate on the stances of the Islamic Repub-lic on the recent developments in the region and theworld as well as the important incidents that have af-

fected security, peace and peaceful coexistence at theinternational level.

Germany ElectionsReferring to the victory of German Chancellor

Angela Merkels party in federal elections, Afkhanexpressed hope that both Iran and Germany can takerealistic measures to have constructive interaction.

The outcome is seen as a remarkable personalvictory for the chancellor, who steered her ChristianDemocrats (Christian Democratic Union) to their bestresult in more than 20 years, winning 311 seats in the630-seat parliament.

FMs UN meetingsCommenting on the meeting between Foreign

Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and British For-eign Secretary William Hague in New York, Afkhamsaid it was constructive and provided an opportunityfor the two officials to discuss bilateral, regional andinternational issues. The meeting, arranged at the re-quest of the British Foreign Office, was held at theUN headquarters in New York City on Monday.

In this meeting, the bilateral relations and resump-tion of ties were reviewed and the two top diplomats

agreed to study the different dimensions and the wayof doing so through meetings to be held between theirdeputies on the sidelines of the UN General Assem-bly meeting, Afkham said.

Afkham said that the Iranian and British foreignministers have also discussed the Syrian crisis, andadded, International topics and the Syrian issue wereraised at this meeting, and given Irans special andinfluential status in regional issues, Zarif explainedIrans views about the Syrian issue.

On November 27, 2011, a large majority of IranianMPs voted to downgrade diplomatic ties with Britain.

It was a response to Britains sanctions on the Cen-tral Bank of Iran, over an alleged non-civilian side toIrans nuclear energy program.

The move followed a demonstration in Tehran out-side the British embassy during which the UK flagwas pulled down.

After the incident, condemned in Iran, Britain with-drew its diplomatic staff from the country on Novem-ber 30 and asked Irans diplomatic delegation in Lon-don to leave within 48 hours.

Referring to the upcoming talks between Zarif andthe foreign ministers of China, France, Germany, andRussia, and the US secretary of state as well as the UKforeign secretary on September 26, Afkham said thatthe meeting, scheduled for Thursday, will mark thebeginning of a new period in the nuclear negotiations.

Possibility of Rouhani-Obama MeetingResponding to a question on whether Iran would

welcome a potential meeting between Rouhani andhis American counterpart Barack Obama on the side-

lines of the UN General Assembly session in NewYork, Afkham said Iran is not after a meeting per se,but has frameworks for the pursuit of its interest.

This meeting should take place on an appropriateoccasion, the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said,adding, however, that in Irans view, no such occasionhas arisen yet. The comment comes amid media spec-ulations that President Rouhani and President Obamamay meet on the sidelines of the annual UN meeting,which would be the first such meeting since Irans Is-lamic Revolution of 1979.

On September 19, White House spokesman JayCarney talked about the possibility of a meeting be-tween Obama and Rouhani in New York.

In an interview with the American channel NBC,the president did not rule out the possibility.

Iran-IAEA TalksCommenting on the new round of talks between

Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) over the countrys nuclear energy program,which is scheduled to be held in Vienna on September27, Afkham said the Islamic Republic is after posi-tive interaction with the Agency.

We merely seek to exercise our rights based onthe Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT); we want jointcooperation with the International Atomic EnergyAgency, said the diplomat.

Earlier this month, IAEA Chief Yukiya Amano saidthe UN nuclear supervisory body favors constructivecooperation with new Iranian government in view ofresolving the Tehrans nuclear issue.

Amano said that the IAEA remains committed toworking constructively with Iran, under the countrysnew government, to resolve outstanding issues bydiplomatic means.

He called on Tehran to allay concerns about the na-ture of its nuclear energy program.

He also asked Iranian authorities to provide accessto the Parchin military site outside the Iranian capital.

Crisis in Syria

Afkham touched upon Rouhanis recent announce-ment, published in an op-ed in the Washington Poston September 19, that Tehran is ready to broker talksbetween the Syrian government and its oppositioncoalition.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, prior to this [opinionpiece] had always stressed [the necessity for] adoptinga diplomatic approach and using a political solution tosettle the crisis in Syria, and Mr. Rouhanis article wasbased on this framework, she said.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest sinceMarch 2011. According to the United Nations, morethan 100,000 people have been killed due to the for-eign-sponsored violence.

Turkish AllegationsThe spokeswoman further rejected a Turkish daily

report alleging that Tehran has promised the worldpowers to prevent Syrian President Bashar Al-Assadsnomination in the 2014 election in exchange for theremoval of the sanctions by the West.

The report is completely unfounded, Afkhamsaid. Her remarks came after the Turkish Zamannewspaper claimed that Iranian President HassanRouhani has vowed to prevent President Assads can-didacy in 2014 presidential election in Syria quid proquo the US and other western states relief of embar-gos against Tehran. Commenting on the future rela-tions between Tehran, Riyadh and Cairo, the Iranianofficial stated that the Islamic Republic has alwaysstressed the need for convergence and cooperationamong Middle Eastern countries in line with the inter-ests of the region.

Tehran Raps Raid on

Russian Syria EmbassyIran has condemned the recent terrorist attack against the Rus-sian embassy in the Syrian capital, Damascus.

Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hos-sein Amir-Abdollahian on Monday slammed the attack byextremist and terrorist groups against the Russian embassy,Mehr News Agency reported.

Three people working at the embassy were wounded whena mortar shell struck the compound of the diplomatic missionon September 22.

Militants have targeted the Russian embassy several timessince the beginning of the unrest in Syria more than two yearsago.

Earlier this month, Russias embassy in Damascus was alsohit by a mortar shell. No casualties were reported.

On June 4, one civilian died and several others were injurednear the embassy building in Damascus by shellfire from mili-tants operating inside Syria.

Amir-Abdollahian praised Russias attempts in resolvingthe Syrian crisis and said Moscows role is based on a focuson political and democratic solution.

The official censured the countries that advocate militaryintervention in Syria. He said the support those countries pro-

vide for terrorist and Takfiri groups constitutes a serious dan-ger for the whole region and the world.Turmoil has gripped Syria since March 2011, and tens of

thousands of people, including large numbers of Syrian secu-rity forces, have been killed in the unrest.

The Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestratedfrom outside the country, and there are reports that a very largenumber of the militants are foreign nationals.

Damascus blames western countries and some of their re-gional allies including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey ofarming the opposition and fueling the crisis in the country, asreports indicate that a large number of insurgents fighting theSyrian government are foreign nationals.

Several international human rights organizations have ac-cused the foreign-sponsored insurgents of committing warcrimes.

Iran has repeatedly expressed opposition to any foreign in-tervention in Syrias internal affairs, stressing that inclusivedialog and national reconciliation as well as free elections arekey to settlement of the unrest in the Arab country.

In a recent statement, the United Nations High Commis-sioner for Refugees said the number of Syrian refugees, whohave fled the countrys 29-month-long conflict, reached twomillion.

The UN refugee agency further said some 4.2 million peo-

ple have also been displaced inside Syria since the beginningof the conflict in the Arab country.

Diplomats Abduction in YemenAmir-Abdollahian also called on Yemen to redouble efforts

to secure the release of abducted Iranian diplomat Nour Ah-mad Nikbakht.

Nikbakht , an administrative staff member of the IranianEmbassy in Sanaa, was on his way to work from his homein the citys diplomatic quarter on July 21 when unidentifiedgunmen blocked the road, forced him out of his vehicle andabducted him.

Amir-Abdollahian said Monday that the reports indicatethat the diplomat is in good health, adding that joint efforts byIran and Yemen are under way to secure his release.

He thanked the Yemeni governments effective efforts butcalled on the countrys officials to increase efforts to immedi-ately solve the issue of the abduction.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has already summoned theYemeni charg daffaires twice to express Tehrans grave con-cern over the fate of the diplomat and to remind Sanaa that itis responsible for Nikbakhts safety.

In late August, Iran also dispatched a delegation to the Arabcountry to pursue the case of the diplomat after the YemeniForeign Ministry announced on August 14 that it had no clues

as to the whereabouts of the abducted Iranian diplomat.On July 21, Irans former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi

slammed the inhumane abduction of the Iranian diplomat inSanaa, urging the Yemeni government to take serious meas-ures to secure his release.

Speaker: SyrianSituation ChangingPositivelyMajlis Speaker Ali Larijani said that situation in Syria is chang-ing in a positive way due to the constant resistance of the Syr-ian people and its government against enemies and their terroristagents.

In a phone conversation with his Syrian counterpart Mo-hammad Jihad al-Laham on Monday, Larijani hailed resist-ance of the people and government of Syria against viciousplots and inhuman moves of the terrorist groups inside thecountry, IRNA reported.

The people of Syria will be the final winner of the resist-ance, Larijani stressed, voicing Tehrans opposition to anymilitary or bullying solution to the Syrian crisis. Only diplo-matic solutions can put an end to the ongoing crisis in Syria.

The Syrian speaker, for his turn, briefed Larijani on latestdevelopments in his country, appreciating Tehrans supportfor Damascus in regional and international scenes.

The top Syrian parliamentarian also hoped for finding apeaceful solution to the crisis.

Ceremony Held

To Honor Nelson Mandela

Iran held a ceremony to honor former South African Presi-dent Nelson Mandela as the man of peace, equality andfreedom.

Foreign ambassadors and high-ranking Iranian officials,including Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and AfricanAffairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, attended the event,dubbed as Commemoration Ceremony of Nelson Man-dela, the Man of Peace and Freedom, on Monday, PressTV reported.

The commemoration was organized by Tehran Munici-palitys Culture and Ar ts Organization and held in Ar as-baran Cultural Center.

Mandela is South Africas anti-apartheid icon who ledthe country to democracy in 1994.

South African Ambassador to Tehran Archie Whiteheadsaid Mandela is an individual who took up the strugglefor the liberation of his own people as a result of realizingthe evil that went on around him and who then began toarticulate the position of the African people in terms of theminimum demands for democracy.

The African hero became South Africas first Black pres-ident in the countrys first multi-racial elections in 1994.He is called Africas elder statesman and is revered acrossthe world for his role in ending apartheid in his homeland.

The former South African president has received more

than 250 awards over four decades, including the 1993 No-bel Peace Prize. In recent years, Mandelas health problemshave worried his supporters.

Mandela was taken to hospital on June 8 for lung infec-tion. His lung troubles date back to the 27 years he spent inprison.

On September 1, Mandela was reportedly dischargedfrom hospital and returned home, where he was expected toreceive intensive care.

Tunisia Urges Iran Help

On Syria Unrest

Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki has called on Iran tohelp find a political solution to the crisis in Syria.

We have to stop this; this is the main problem: find andreach a political solution. I hope Iran now with President[Hassan] Rouhani would help, Marzouki said on the side-lines of the annual United Nations General Assembly meetingon Monday, Reuters reported.

We have to put the pressure on our friends all over theworld, but the nightmare of the Syrian people must stop,Marzouki added.

The Tunisian presidents call comes as Rouhani said ear-lier in September that Iran is ready to facilitate talks be-tween the Syrian government and the foreign-backed op-position.

I announce my governments readiness to help facilitatedialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition,the Iranian president wrote in an op-ed in the Washington Poston September 19.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011.According to the United Nations, more than 100,000 people

have been killed and a total of 7.8 million of others displaceddue to the violence.

In a recent statement, the United Nations High Commis-sioner for Refugees said the number of the Syrian refugeeswho have fled the countrys 29-month-long conflict hasreached two million.

Felicitation

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif extended a message to hisSaudi counterpart Saud Al-Faisal felicitating him on the Arab KingdomsNational Day, which falls on September 23.

Sept. 25, 2013

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04Domestic Economy

Translated by Farzam Vanaki

Since the beginning of the harvestseason (mid-July), the governmenthas purchased 4.8 million tons of

wheat from farmers.Announcing this, Mohsen Daraei, the

spokesman of Bank Sepahs GuaranteedWheat Purchase Plan, put the value ofpurchased wheat at 38 trillion rials, ofwhich 36 trillion rials have been paid tothe farmers, IRNA reported.

Daraei hoped the remaining 2 trillionrials will be paid in the next two days.

As we are getting close to the end ofthe harvest season, wheat harvest hasdeclined in some provinces. However,guaranteed wheat purchase is expected

to exceed 5 million tons in the currentIranian year (started March 21), hesaid.

Daraei said figures show the privatesector has purchased over 3 million tonsof wheat.

Since we are at the beginning of thewheat cultivation season for the next year,officials in tropical provinces should pre-pare the grounds in this respect, he said.

He put the next years wheat price at10,500 rials-10,800 rials, which is 2,500rials higher than that of last year.

Daraei noted that if we have favora-ble climatic conditions next year, wheatproduction will grow and imports willdecline.

Last year, the government purchased2.46 million tons of wheat.

Esmaeil Esfandiarpour, manager of theWheat Plan of Agricultural Jihad Minis-

try, said this year, supporting wheat grow-ers and increasing production will be pri-oritized.

Referring to the Cabinets ratificationregarding wheat price before the start ofthe cultivation season, he said this willplay a significant role in outlining plans

for wheat production.The official also said this year, the min-

istry plans to support the production ofother crops.

On the Wheat Plan, he said, We havenot begun the plans implementation yet,but will gradually do it.

Esfandiarpour said that by implement-ing the plan, Iran aims to achieve self-sufficiency in wheat production.

Certainly, by determining a reasona-ble price for wheat purchase, the govern-ment can boost the crops productivity,he said.

Wheat PurchaseExceeds 4.8m Tons

Bourse, CBI to Sign

Cooperation Deal

Domestic Economy Desk

A new chapter will open in the countrys capital market,said the head of Securities and Exchange Organizationof Iran.

Ali Salehabadi added, We will soon witness coop-eration for promoting the countrys financial system bysigning a joint memorandum of understanding with theCentral Bank of Iran (CBI).

Salehabadi also said some of the fieldsof cooperation include clarifying the fateof suspended banks, revising the Depos-it Guarantee Fund plan, accounting themoney withdrawn from bank accounts andissuing Islamic Treasury bonds, IRIB re-ported.

Meanwhile, Seyyed Ali Husseini, thedeputy head of Bourse Organization, said base metalshave received 32 trillion rials as finance during March21-Aug. 22, 2013.

Close to one-third of bourse transactions were con-ducted online during March 21-Aug. 22, 2013.

Husseini also told the Persian daily Hamshahri that 71trillion rials of stocks were traded digitally in this period,which accounted for 30 percent of the entire lot.

Some 210 trillion rials of the transactions were con-ducted in the bourse in the past five months, he said.Husseini noted that the significant growth in online

transactions indicates that shareholders are willing totrade online.

We seek to conduct a huge portion of bourse trans-actions online. We predict that it will materialize withinfive years, he said.

16,600 Quick-Yield Enterprises

In Lorestan

Domestic Economy Desk

Some 16,600 quick-yield enterprises are operating inLorestan province, said the deputy head of Cooperatives,Labor and Social Welfare Ministry.

Hamed Veise Karami said 6.61 trillion rials in facilitieshave been allocated to these enterprises since the begin-ning of the year to March 2006.

He noted that quick-yield enterprisesgenerated 25,387 jobs in the province,which ranked first in the last Iranian year

(ended March 20, 2013) in terms of allo-cating facilities to production coopera-tives.

Karami said the facilities were procuredthrough the resources of Tose Taavon Bank (Coopera-tives Development Bank).

He noted that 155 billion rials in facilities were allo-cated to 91 cooperative units of the province last year.

Interest-free loans worth 630 billion rials have beenallocated to household jobs in the years to March 2012and 2013, he said.

Karami also said 97 billion rials in self-employmentloans were extended to applicants last year.

Farmers Receive Loans

Translated by Katayoon Dashti

Close to 35 trillion rials worth of loans have been earmarkedfor autumn cultivation, said the managing director of BankKeshavarzi.

Mohammad Talebi added that Agricultural Jihad Ministryhas launched plans to increase the area under cultivation,IRNA reported.

He said negotiations have been held with officials for se-curing the fertilizers required by farmers.

In view of the rise in production costs and fertilizer pric-es, we seek to ease the procurement of fertilizer by openingletters of credit for petrochemical companies, he said, not-ing that this will reduce the costs.

Talebi said the National DevelopmentFund (NDF) allocated facilities worth 25.7trillion rials during 2011 and Bank Kesha-varzi added 21 trillion rials to it, noting thatthese loans were paid to 90,000 projects.

A 7-trillion-rial deal was signed withNDF in the last Iranian year (ended March20, 2013), he said.

In addition, negotiations have been held with NDF to re-ceive 20 trillion rials in the current year.

Davar Mahikar, a member of the Board of Trustees ofBank Keshavarzi, said the bank paid 5.9 trillion rials worthof facilities for purchasing agricultural machineries lastyear.

Mahikar explained that the farmers purchased 45,186farming machineries such as tractors and combines, PoolNews reported.

Poultry and livestock industries received Bank Kesha-varzis loans to optimize fuel consumption, he said, stress-ing that they currently use modern methods.

On the role of investment in agriculture sector, Mahikarsaid based on latest research, economic growth is 0.13 per-cent for every 1-percent rise in value-added of agriculturesector while gross domestic product growth is 0.15 percentfor every 1-percent investment in the sector.

In addition, production grew by 0.8 percent in other sec-tors for every 1-percent rise in agricultural investment.

Ilam ExportsIlam province exported $416 million worth of goods to Iraq throughMehran border in the first 6 months of the current Iranian year (startedMarch 21).

Sept. 25, 2013

Iran has made plans for the construction ofeight small- and medium-sized gas conden-sate refineries in Asalouyeh, which housesthe giant offshore South Pars Gas Fieldalong the Persian Gulf coastline.

The refineries will help convert nearly500,000 b/d of gas condensate to productsof high economic value.

Hojjatollah Fereidouni, director of eco-nomic development and investment at-traction in Pars Special Energy EconomicZone, also told Shana news agency thatfive financiers have been authorized by theOil Ministrys Directorate of ConsolidatedPlanning.

Three more potential investors are in theprocess of getting the permit.

Fereidouni said the refineries will have acapacity of 10,000 to 150,000 b/d.

With the construction of these eight re-fineries, byproducts such as diesel, gaso-

line, naphtha and tar will be produced indifferent grades of 40, 50, 60 and 70, hesaid.

After getting the environmental impactassessment (EIA) permit by financiers, thecontract for the construction of these refin-eries will be signed. These permits have tobe taken into account in the design of therefineries.

Fereidouni said a large number of finan-ciers had volunteered to construct gas con-densate refineries and eight of them wereselected.

In case the private sector is willing toinvest in this project or the petrochemicalsector, it can submit its documents to theDepartment for Economic Developmentand Investment Attraction in Pars SpecialEconomic Energy Zone, he said.

Fereidouni noted that mini refineries areinstrumental in converting gas condensatesto oil products.

With the construction of these refin-eries, the necessary feedstock will besupplied by South Pars Gas Field fordomestic purposes and products such asgasoline, diesel and naphtha will be ex-ported, which will earn hu ge revenues forthe country.

It is forecast that nearly 500,000 b/d ofcondensates would be delivered to gas con-densate refineries through a pipeline, hesaid.

Iran Building8 Mini Refineries

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Russia opened a cross-border freight railroad with NorthKorea as part of the Trans-Asian Railroad Project aimedat accelerating trade by connecting Asia and Europe, inthe event the two conflicting Koreas unite to form a train

network on the peninsula.Our common objective is for this link and port to be a

pilot scheme for the restoration of a single transport systemin North and South Korea that would link the peninsula tocountries that gravitate to this region, to Europe via Russia,the head of state-run Russian Railroads, Vladimir Yakunin,said at the opening ceremony, RT reported.

The 54-kilometer route linking the North Korean portcity of Rajin with the Russian border town of Khasanwas inaugurated by top executives of both countriesstate train operators.

Yakunun said the railroad project should ease political

tension between the rival Koreas, which have not techni-cally achieved a peace agreement following the 1950-53war that divided the countries.

We always work for peace and we hope that this

project will not only promote peace on the Korean Pe-ninsula, but help friendly and peaceful relations betweenour countries, he said.

North Korean Railroads Minister Chon Kil-su notedthe project

will promote the joint economic and transport develop-ment of the two countries and welfare of their peoples.

The freight railroad will transport coal and import goodsfrom South Korea and Asian states, said Yakunin.

The terminal at Rajin is expected to handle four mil-lion tons of coal a year, including shipments for OAOMechel--one of Russias leading mining and metallurgi-

cal companies.The project was implemented in accordance with ar-

rangements made by Russian President Vladimir Putinand North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in 2000. The re-

construction of the section started in 2009.A total of 18 bridges and three tunnels measuring over

4.5 kilometers have been constructed or rebuilt.The route is part of a larger project of the United Na-

tions Economic and Social Commission for Asia and thePacific, dubbed the Iron Silk Road.

It aims to connect Russias Trans-Siberian Railroad toSouth Korea via the North, creating an integrated freightrailroad network and cutting transportation costs to Europe.

Cargo shipment from Asia to Europe is expected totake 14 days--significantly shorter than sea freight ship-ping that takes 45 days.

Singapore will require many companies operating in thecity-state to consider Singaporeans for skilled job vacan-cies before turning to candidates from abroad, bowing topublic pressure over a surge in foreigners over the pastdecade.

The measures might mean more hassle and paper-work for companies, and it might even lower the long-term economic growth rate, said Michael Wan, an econ-omist with Credit Suisse in Singapore, Reuters wrote.

But I dont think this will necessarily lower Singa-pores attractiveness to companies because there areother factors that they take into account--such as taxincentives, political stability and access to the ASEANregion.

Starting next August, firms with more than 25 employ-ees must advertise a vacancy for professional or manage-rial jobs paying less than S$12,000 ($9,600) a month ona new jobs bank administered by the Singapore Work-force Development Agency for at least 14 days, the Min-

istry of Manpower said in a statement.Only after that period can the company apply for an

employment pass to bring in a foreign national.Singapore will also raise the qualifying salaries for

employment pass holders to at least S$3,300 a month, up

from the current S$3,000, starting in January 2014, re-ducing the competition for entry-level jobs that typicallyrequire tertiary education.

Singapore, a global financial center and the Asian basefor many banks and multinationals, is one of the worldsmost open economies.

Foreigners account for about 40 percent of the islands5.3 million population and take up many senior- andmid-level positions as well as most of the low-payingjobs that locals shun.

The Association of Banks in Singapore, which rep-resents financial institutions operating in the city-state,said banks will need to adjust their hiring processes tocomply with the new rules.

We need to assess the impact these rules will have, aspokesman for the association added.

Singapore, Asias main center for private banking aswell as commodities trading, has seen a sharp increase inforeigners over the past decade.

Russia, North Korea Open Rail Link

Singapore Tightens Rules for Hiring Foreigners

05Economy

Sept. 25, 2013

Iranians Can Participate

In OFID Projects

Economy Desk

The Board of Directors of the OPEC Fund for InternationalDevelopment (OFID) approved seven financial facilities forconducting infrastructural and development projects in poorand developing nations during its 144th session in Vienna.

Two of them worth $9.3 million pertain to complemen-tary loans to secure the financial resources of transportationprojects in Ivory Coast and Burundi.

And the remaining five pertain to infrastructural projectsworth $588 million in China, Dominica, Tanzania, Ugandaand Togo.

It is possible for all contracting companies to take part intenders held for OFID projects. Therefore, it is a good oppor-tunity for Iranian contractors and suppliers of facilities andequipments to export their technical engineering services forinfrastructural projects in various nations.

Iranian engineering counseling companies can competewith foreign companies for rendering counseling services tothe renovation projects of Ugandas hospital and power distri-bution network in the rural regions of Togo.

Interested companies can refer to www.OIETAI.ir/fa/opec/plan for further information.OFID is a multilateral development finance institution es-

tablished in 1976 by the member countries of the Organizationof the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Its objectiveis to reinforce financial cooperation between OPEC membercountries and other developing countries, by providing finan-cial support to the latter for their socioeconomic development.

Mazandaran Juice Exports Grow

Economy Desk

Mazandaran fruit juice and concentrate exports grew by 136percent during March 21-Aug. 22, 2013, said the caretaker ofMazandaran Industries, Mines and Trade Department.

Morteza Hashempour also told ISNA thatthe value of fruit juice and concentrate ex-ports surpassed $4 million during the period.

This is while the figure stood at $1.7 mil-lion during the same period of last year.

Mazandaran fruit juice and concentrate isexported to Armenia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan,Persian Gulf littoral states as well as Turkey, Iraq and Leba-

non.On the high potentials of the province in producing crops

and processing products, he said extension of bank facilitiesto fruit juice production companies will boost exports.

Mazandaran province is in northern Iran. Located on thesouthern coast of Caspian Sea, it is bordered by the Golestan,Semnan, Tehran, Alborz, Qazvin and Gilan provinces. Sari isthe largest and the capital city of the province.

Kyrgyz Legal Protection

For Iranian Entrepreneurs

Bishkek pledged on Monday to provide legal protection forIrans economic activities and investments in Kyrgyzstan.

The agreement was reached between Iranian Ambassador toKyrgyzstan Ali Najafi and Kyrgyz Prosecutor General Aida Saly-anova in a meeting in Bishkek, FNA wrote.

During the meeting, Najafi pointed to the considerable activi-ties and investments of Iranian businessmen in Kyrgyzstan, andstressed the need for facilitating their activities through legal pro-tections.

The Kyrgyz prosecutor general, for her part, pointed to the

presence and activities of more than 100 Iranian companies inKyrgyzstan and said these companies play an important role inthe development of Kyrgyz economy.

Salyanova pointed to her last years visit to Iran and voicedher countrys readiness for exchanging delegations in a bid to getmore familiarized with each others laws and regulations.

Hong Kongs GDP UpHong Kongs overall gross domestic product rose 3.3 percent over a yearearlier in real terms in the second quarter of 2013, accelerating from the2.9-percent increase in the first quarter.

From Page 1The heart of the matter is oil theft

is deeply engrained now in the fabricof the Niger Delta and I would sug-gest in Nigerian life generally, saidCampbell.

The report said military and govern-ment officials, militants, oil executives,crime rings and communities all profitfrom oil theft.

The report adds oil theft in Nigeriaimpacts economies around the world asbig-time thieves launder money in for-

eign countries and stolen oil disrupts themarkets. Foreign buyers, it said, should atleast be researching the issue to see whatthey can do about regulating stolen oil intheir own countries.

The report also suggests legalmeans, like lawsuits and tracking reg-ulation, to stem the flow of stolen oil.But the report also warns many pos-sible actions the international com-munity could take, like sanctions orregulating oil sales, could worsen thesituation.

Intl Intervention UnrealisticCampbell said at this time international

intervention is highly unlikely.It is unrealistic because for the inter-

national community to be involved toa greater degree in countering oil theftthats going to require a very close part-nership with the Nigerian government.That is going to require a substantialpolitical will on the part of the Nigeriangovernment, said Campbell.

The Nigerian government, he said,has other things to do and the military is

stretched thin.The Nigerian government right now

is consumed with a jihadist revolt in thenorth called Boko Haram. It also worriesabout ongoing ethnic and religious con-flict in the Middle Belt. You end up withquestions about capacity, said Campbell.

Nigerian politicians, he added, arealso focused on the 2015 elections, andany disruption in the flow of oil money,both illegal and legal, would impact cam-paigns, making it an issue many peopledo not want to touch.

Oil Theft in Nigeria Rampant

A new report said 100,000 barrels of oil are stolen daily from the Niger Delta, about 5 percent of the two million plus barrels per day output.

Turkish Lira

Euro

British Pound

Australian Dollar

Japanese 100 Yen

Chinese Yuan

UAE Dirham

Kuwait Dinar

Iraqi Dinar

Saudi Riyal

0.5036

1.3494

1.6027

0.9414

1.0120

0.1634

0.2722

3.5310

0.00086

0.2666

Major Currencies

Major Commodities

Currency CurrencyTo USD To USD

Crude oil

Gold

Copper

Silver

Platinum

Wheat

$103.53

$1326.50

$7295.00

$21.78

$1426.00

$656.50

N ews in Brief

Indonesia will boost bilateral swap agreements to almost $40 billion by signingdeals with China and South Korea and increasing an existing agreement with Japan,as Southeast Asias biggest economy battles a slumping currency.

The country may sign an agreement with China next month when PresidentXiJinping visits Indonesia, Industry Minister Hidayat told reporters in Jakarta aftermeeting with the central bank.

It may extend a bilateral swap agreement with China, Bambang Brodjonegoro,the head of fiscal policy at the finance ministry, said earlier this month, Bloombergwrote.

Indonesias rupiah fell to the weakest level since April 2009, extending a slump

thats made it the worst-performing emerging-market currency this year, as a recordcurrent-account deficit and the prospect of reduced US stimulus spurred outflows.

The government will also unveil an easing of investment rules in a few weeks,Finance Minister Chatib Basri said separately.

The rupiah slid 0.7 percent to 11,528 per dollar as of 12:19 p.m. in Jakarta, afterreaching 11,586 earlier, prices from local banks show.

Indonesia extended a $12 billion swap line with Japan last month as policymak-ers tried to bolster a rupiah that has fallen more than 16 percent this year, the worstperformance among 24 emerging-market currencies tracked by Bloomberg.

India also reached an agreement with Japan this month to more than triple its bi-lateral currency-swap line as it seeks to buoy the rupee.

Panama signed a free trade agreement with Colombia, making a step forward to join thePacific Alliance.

The agreement was signed by Panamas Minister of Trade and Industry Ricardo Qui-jano and Colombias Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism Sergio Diaz Granados,Xinhua reported.

Diaz Granados said the free trade agreement, the negotiation process of which waslaunched in 2009, represented an important achievement as the two nations have an an-nual trade of $2.8 billion.

The agreement will provide clear rules for their trade exchanges and help improvethe business environment, Diaz Granados said.

The minister added that the agreement paves the way for Panama to become a fullmember of the Pacific Alliance, a Latin American mechanism for economic and freetrade integration grouping Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

In the coming weeks, Colombia will present the agreement to the Congress for rati-fication, said the minister.

The signing of the free trade pact between the two neighbor countries was also hailedby the Panamanian side as an important achievement.

Quijano said the agreement will allow a deeper economic integration between the twocountries, and it represented a major step for Panama to become a full member of thePacific Alliance. Panama is now in negotiations with Mexico in a bid to reach anotherfree trade agreement, according to Quijano.

Indonesia to Boost Bilateral Swap Deals Panama, Colombia Sign Free Trade Pact

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06Iranica

War Photo ExhibitionA photo exhibition titled The Immortals of History, which recallsemotional moments of the Iran-Iraq war at Tehrans Eyvan Gallery, wrapsup today.

ranian RecipeIranian Recipe

Herbal Pilaf

IngredientsRice, 425 gramsButter, 50 gramsSunflower oil, 4 tablespoonsMixed dill, coriander, parsley and

mint, 100 grams (chopped)Lemon juice, 1 tablespoonSalt to taste

DirectionWash the rice well and rinse it in a sieve until the water runs

clear. Cover it with water and leave it to soak for two hours. Washand rinse again.

Bring a saucepan of water up to a boil, then pour the rice andsalt in it. Cook the rice for about 6 minutes, until its just begin-ning to soften. Drain and rinse in lukewarm water.

Heat the butter and oil in a heavy saucepan until foaming, thenadd half of the drained rice. Cover this with half the herbs, thenthe rest of the rice and finish with the rest of the herbs, seasoningas you go along.

Turn the heat down and make three steam holes in the rice with

the handle of a wooden spoon.Wrap the lid of the pan in a tea towel and put the covered lid

onto the saucepan (the tea towel stops condensation from fallingback into the rice).

Let the rice cook for a further 20-25 minutes and make sure theheat is on very low. Empty the rice into a bowl, dislodging thecrispy bits at the bottom.

Break these up and add to the rest of the rice. If you like it rich,serve with extra melted butter and a squeeze of lemon on top. Per-sians put saffron in the butter before pouring it over.

Health Benefits of ParsleyParsley is a Mediterranean herb that lends a sprinkling of color

to your plate. But lets not think of it as just a garnish. After all,parsley has been around for more than 2,000 years and boaststime-tested benefits that you should know about.

Parsley is rich in many vital vitamins, including vitamins C,B12, K and A. This means parsley keeps your immune systemstrong, tones your bones and heals the nervous system, too.

It helps flush out excess fluid from the body, thus supportingkidney function. However, the herb contains oxalates, which cancause problems for those with existing kidney and gall bladderproblems.

Regular use of parsley can help control your blood pressure.The folic acid in this herb is like a tonic for your heart.

Parsley essential oil, when massaged into the scalp, may re-duce hair loss.

Use parsley daily and youll feel relief from joint pain. Thatsbecause the herb has anti-inflammatory properties.

Parsley tea relaxes stiff muscles and encourages digestion. Studies indicate that parsley, especially its essential oil, may

have a role in inhibiting cancerous tumors. In fact, scientists havebilled it a chemo protective food.

Translated by Katayoon Dashti

Some 15 billion rials worth of credits were allocat-

ed to Ilam carpet-weavers in the last Iranian year(ended March 20, 2013), said the head of Ilam In-dustries, Mines and Trade Department.

Ali Mahdavi added that over 67 percent of the afore-said credits have been paid to the weavers, Shata Newsreported.

Currently, there are 7,500 looms across this westernprovince, he said.

Last year, 2,000 weavers were entitled to social secu-rity insurance coverage, while 9,000 weavers enjoy in-surance services.

Embossed KilimEmbossed kilim is one of the indigenous products of

Ilam weavers. Some 4,000 square meters of embossedkilim are woven across the province.

With 10,000 skilled weavers, Ilam is well known forits carpets, rugs and kilims, IRNA wrote.

The world of Ilam weavers is very mysterious, full ofcultural attractions and strange fables.

You can find traces of this culture when you enter theirworkshop, hear their chants and see the woven designson their frame looms and the quick movements of theirhands.

One of the poems sung by Ilami weavers says: O

weaver girls, knot your secret wish on the woven hairs ofChehelgis Pari and wait for your lover near the spring.

Chehelgis Pari is famous to inhabitants of Zagrosmountain range.

Old people, who tell sad or happy-ending stories,transfer their experiences and moral lessons to theyounger generations.

Shahzanan is a story-teller who has been weaving car-pets for the past 50 years. She has trained many weav-ers in her small workshop where many young weaverswork.

I learned carpet weaving at the age of nine from mymother. The carpet designs and colors have become myworld.

Although Shahzanan suffers from cataract, she still

weaves carpets. She cant imagine the world without thekilim warp and woof.

According to her, the destiny of a weaver is written inher woven items.

There are many secrets in the warp and woof of eve-ry carpet. The weavers know this common secret, she

said.A blue bead called Dadoo hangs on every loom. Ac-

cording to the weavers, it removes the evil eye.

After the kilims first knot is tied, the bead is hung anda fowl is sacrificed.Weavers believe that Chehelgis Pari protects the car-

pet and helps them.Dadoo pays a short visit to all kilims and helps weav-

ers to complete the rug soon, Shahzanan said.Some weavers produce rugs to purchase dowry

(home appliances brought by the bride) and they getmarried before finishing the rug.

Ilam province is a tribal region and its handicrafts, es-pecially the embossed kilim, is famous nationwide.

The most important handicrafts of the province in-clude giveh, wickerwork, coarse carpet, silk products,rug, felt carpet and wooden products.

Like the other provinces of the country, Ilam has itsown special souvenirs like local chewing gum (the gumof Persian turpentine tree), sweets and candy.

GivehGiveh is a type of traditional Iranian shoe that is very

comfortable and suits Iranian climates. In rural andmountainous areas of Ilam, the use of giveh, which is asoft, comfortable and durable, is widespread.

It has an old history in Ilam culture and is consideredone of the most valuable handicrafts of Iran.

Giveh is made up of two parts: the sole and the upperpart. The sole is usually rubber or leather, and the upperpart is woven with thread.

Before the arrival of rubber industry, Ilam weaverswould use a kind of wild-bull leather and wool or cottonthread to make giveh.

Most rich people would also wear them. With the ar-rival of rubber products, lower class people use this ma-terial in the sole of giveh.

The city of Ilam is a major hub of giveh that are pro-duced in workshops and homes.

Iranica Desk

The renewal of the agreement between Iran andthe Oriental Institute of Chicago University willprepare the grounds for the return of Achaeme-nid tablets to Iran.

Announcing this, Mohammad Beheshti, anadvisor of Irans Cultural Herit-age, Handicrafts and Tourism Or-ganization (ICHHTO), said thescientific and research agreementwas signed before the merger ofCultural Heritage Organizationwith Iran Tour and Touring Or-ganization.

He added that the measure wastaken to boost cooperation be-tween ICHHTO and the OrientalInstitute.

Documentation and translationof tablets as well as developmentof scientific and research coopera-tion between the two sides wereamong the main subjects of theagreement, he said.

Beheshti noted that the renewal of the agree-ment, which has been disregarded in the past,will have a positive impact on the process of re-turning the tablets.

He noted that the Oriental Institute is will-ing to return the valuable heritage to Iran andresume cooperation with the country.

Ahmad Mohit Tabatabaei, the deputy head ofthe International Council of Museums (ICOM),said the return of tablets will help preserve thereputation of the Oriental Institute.

The Achaemenid tablets comprise an impor-tant part of human history and civilization, hesaid.

Achaemenid tablets were taken on loan by

the Oriental Institute for further studies dur-ing the rule of the former monarchical regime.Some of these tablets have been returned to Iranwhile the more important ones still remain withthe institute.

The artifacts bear a cuneiform script that ex-

plains administrative details of Achaemenid

Empire and date from about 500 BC. They areamong a group of tens of thousands of tabletsand fragments loaned to the institute in 1937 forresearch.

A group of 179 complete tablets was returnedin 1948 and another group of more than 37,000tablet fragments was returned in 1951.

Abdolmajid Arfei, a researcher and transla-tor of ancient languages, said in May that thePersian and English translations of 647 Achae-menid clay tablets will be published in a bookby the end of the current Iranian year (startedMarch 21).

Arfei noted that he had earlier published an-other book that includes the translations of claytablets that are in Iran.

Ilam Carpet and Kilim

u okuSudokuSudoku was inspired by the table devised by Iranian mathematicianAl-Kharazmi. Fill 99 grid with digits so that each column, each rowand each of the nine 33 sub-grids that compose the grid, contains all

of the digits from 1 to 9.

No. 492Call for Renewing Archeological DealWith Chicago University

Light of Truth

By Molana

O love, you brought forth a jugFilled with the ache that my heart clogsI wont drink this wine, this drug!Drink but for my hearts sake!

From this drink, pour me a cupWisely his praises I brought upBittersweet, pleasing to supLike the praises my heart would make.

From the wheel of fortune and fateStepped forth a soul so greatI ran forth to demonstrateThe rewards my heart had at stake.

O divine secret, of thee I askYou for crowds do not unmask.Praised and thanked me for my taskFor my hearts sake, thus he spoke.

I was pleased that my beloveds faceTowards my home its path would traceAnd opened up with much graceThe veil covers my heart break.

If love for blood may thirst

Brave warriors are curstMountains spontaneously burstIn such place my heart hurts.

O thou bringer of curePleasure and pain you endureOnly in you I am secure thatThou my heartache. can cure

Every fruit if only triesMy hearts ache can realizeMelancholic face, bloodshot eyesStreams from the hearts bloody lake.

King of the world put away tearsThe pride of Tabriz appearsLight of truth, Shams, now nearsThy light my heart will wake and take.

Sept. 25, 2013

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07Society

S. Africa Rhino PoachingPoachers have killed a record 688 rhinos in South Africa so far this year, morethan the entire number slaughtered in 2012, according to figures issued onWorld Rhino Day (Sept. 22).

Sept. 25, 2013

Pension for Women Breadwinners

After 10 Yrs.Society Desk

Women breadwinners above 55 years, who have paid in-surance premium for 10 years, can get pension, based on anew ratification by Irans Parliament to improve the liveli-hood of these people.

Announcing this, Salman Husseini, the deputy head ofZanjans State Welfare Organization, said women bread-winners are sole providers who usually face many chal-lenges, Poolnews reported.

State Welfare Organization is making efforts to reducetheir difficulties and provide them with a better life, hesaid.

Women breadwinners can benefit fromthe facilities offered by State Welfare Or-ganization, including insurance coverage,which is offered to women above 55 yearsof age.

Women breadwinners above 55 yearswho have just begun to pay insurance pre-

mium can receive pension till the end of their life, only if

they pay insurance premium for 10 years, he said.Husseini noted that women unable to pay the premiumcan seek the help of State Welfare Organization for makingthe payment.

State Welfare Organization has agreed to pay 45 percentof the premium for needy women, he said, adding thatIrans Subsidies Organization will also pay 55 percent ofthe premium.

Husseini noted that the plan to pay insurance premiumfor women breadwinners is aimed at strengthening thefoundation of families and preventing financial problems.

Improving womens status in society and supportingequal rights for them have been on the agenda of all organi-zations, which defends the right of women in Iran, he said,adding that women deserve to have a comfortable life as anelderly or when they are unable to work.

Pointing to the insurance of housewives, Husseini saidlow-educated and unemployed housewives between 18-50years can also opt to receive housewife insurance.

Husseini said 990 women breadwinners are receivingpensions in Zanjan province.

Nations Must Better Report

Female Labor Data

Christine Lagarde said the International Monetary Fund(IMF) will push countries to publish more data on femaleparticipation in the labor market to draw attention to poli-cies that could boost growth from Italy to Egypt.

Getting more women to join the labor force is a topic La-garde, the IMF managing director, says she raises in everymeeting with government officials.

Some countries dont provide statistics on the numberof women accessing the labor market or working part-timeand the fund can use its yearly appraisal of countries econ-omies to weigh in, she said, Businessweek reported.

We will actually encourage countries to report on gen-der issues, Lagarde said in a telephone interview, whileadding that the fund cannot make it compulsory.

Focusing on the other half of humanitydoes not hurt growth and economic devel-opment, quite to the contrary.

The global female labor force participa-tion has stalled around 50 percent for twodecades, reflecting a lack of progress to-ward gender equality in markets also char-acterized by lower wages and limited access

to senior positions for women, according to a report by thefunds staff released today.

That shows in the US, about 60 percent of the increasein employment for women from 2009 to 2012 were in jobsthat pay less than $10.10 an hour, compared with 20 per-cent for men, according to a study by the National WomensLaw Center using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Women Boost Growth

Getting more women to participate in the workforcewould boost growth in both developed and developingeconomies, according to the fund, at a time when worldexpansion remains sluggish amid a slowdown in emergingmarkets.

The report lists measures that range from tax credits forlow-wage earners to better access to affordable childcarefor countries to adopt.

While the IMFs influence is strongest in countries itlends to, Lagarde said it wont systematically attach gendermeasures to the money.

If and where we see inappropriate principles or discrim-inatory issues, we can always raise those as part of our dis-cussions with policymakers in the context of programs, but Iwould not say that its one of the lead key items, she said.

Lagarde said she brought up female participation at arecent conference in Italy and at the Group of 20 nationsmeeting in Russia.

Lagarde has said she once walked away from a job inter-view at a law firm in Paris after being told she would neverbecome a partner because of her gender.

Now at the head of a male-dominated institution, she isexperiencing challenges making the management ranksmore balanced at the IMF.

ension for Women B

Women

Translated by Atefeh Rezvan-Nia

Turkish environmentalists willuse the experiences of theirIranian counterparts for pre-

serving endangered wetlands in theirhomeland.

Announcing this, Mohsen Solei-mani, the head of the national projectcalled Preservation of Wetlands inIran, said Iran has achieved great suc-cesses in preserving wetlands duringthe past few years, IRNA reported.

Iran was able to revive its wetlandsand lagoons in the past few years, hesaid, adding that Iranian environmen-

talists are ready to exchange experi-ences with Turkish counterparts tohelp them preserve their wetlands.

Turkey is home to thousands ofhectares of wetlands, but has lostmany of its lagoons and wetlands dueto mismanagement.

Soleimani noted that the Turkishenvironmentalists called for expan-sion of ties with Iranian counterpartsafter they became familiar with thecountrys successes in the manage-ment of environment.

Iran has participated in a numberof international environmental exhi-bitions in the past couple of years to

display Irans environmental achieve-ments, he said, adding that in a recentenvironmental exhibition, which tookplace in Turkey, Turkish environmen-talists expressed interest in promotingenvironmental ties with Iran.

The official explained that Turkeyhas a number of wetlands, some ofwhich are on the verge of drying upunless immediate actions are taken.

Burdur Wetland is one of Turkeyswetlands, which is at grave risk ofcomplete drying up, Soleimani said,adding that the wetland needs emer-gency assistance for its revival.

The international conference on

saving the worlds wetlands was heldin Burdur in Turkey between Sept.16-18 with the participation of repre-sentatives from France, Greece, Tur-key, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Jordan,Iraq, Kenya and Iran.

The impact of the drying up ofwetlands on humans, the effect ofdam-building policies on drying upwetlands, wetlands water supply andeffective ways of saving wetlandswere discussed at the conference, hesaid.

Soleimani said Irans new publica-tions regarding environment and eco-system were displayed at the event.

Iran to Help TurkeySave Wetlands

Miankaleh Wetland, Mazandaran province

Society Desk

New HIV infections among adults and children wereestimated at 2.3 million in 2012, a 33-percent reductionsince 2001.

These infections among children have been reduced to260, 000 in 2012, a reduction of 52 percent since 2001.

AIDS-related deaths have also dropped by 30 percentsince the peak in 2005 as access to antiretroviral treat-ment expands, a press release issued by Tehrans UN In-formation Center said on Monday.

By the end of 2012, 9.7 million people in low- andmiddle-income countries were accessing antiretroviraltherapy, an increase of nearly 20 percent in just one year.

In 2011, UN member-states agreed to a 2015 target ofreaching 15 million people with HIV treatment. How-ever, as countries scaled up their treatment coverage andas new evidence emerged showing the HIV preventionbenefits of antiretroviral therapy, the World Health Or-ganization set new HIV treatment guidelines, expand-ing the total number of people estimated to be in need of

treatment by more than 10 million.

Vision and Commitment

Not only can we meet the 2015 target of 15 millionpeople on HIV treatment--we must also go beyond andhave the vision and commitment to ensure no one is leftbehind, said Michel Sidibe, executive director of UN-AIDS, in Geneva on Monday.

Significant results have also been achieved towardmeeting the needs of tuberculosis (TB) patients livingwith HIV, as TB-related deaths among people living withHIV have declined by 36 percent since 2004.

Despite a flattening in donor funding for HIV, whichhas remained around the same as 2008 levels, domesticspending on HIV has increased, accounting for 53 per-cent of global HIV resources in 2012. The total global re-sources available for HIV in 2012 was estimated at S18.9billion, $3 billion to $5 billion short of the $22 billion to24 billion estimated to be needed annually by 2015.

As well as outlining new global HIV estimates, the2013 UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic re-views progress on ten specific targets that were set by

United Nations member-states in the 2011 UN PoliticalDeclaration on HIV and AIDS.

The report finds that progress has been slow in ensuringthe respect of human rights, securing access to HIV servicesfor people most at risk of HIV infection, particularly peoplewho use drugs, and in preventing violence against womenand girls--a key factor in vulnerability to HIV.

Concerted Efforts

Gender inequality, punitive laws and discriminatoryactions are continuing to hamper national responses toHIV and concerted efforts are needed to address thesepersistent obstacles to scale-up of HIV services for peo-ple most in need.

According to the 2013 UNAIDS Report on the globalAIDS epidemic, in 2012, an estimated:

* 35.3 million [32.2 million--38.8 million] people glo-bally were living with HIV

* 2.3 million [1.9 million--2.7 million] people becamenewly infected with HIV

* 1.6 million [1.4 million--1.9 million] people diedfrom AIDS-related illnesses.

HIV Infections Declining

Scientists are more certain than ever that greenhouse gases from human activitiesare heating the planet, the head of the UNs climate panel says.

Rajendra Pachauri made the statement in an interview with BBC News.The panel is due to deliver its latest report on the state of climate later this week

in Stockholm, Sweden.Its last report was criticized after an

error on glaciers unveiled other flaws,but Prof. Pachauri said procedures hadbeen reformed and strengthened.

He also dismissed suggestions of aslowdown in global warming.

Theres definitely an increase inour belief that climate change is tak-ing place and that human beings areresponsible, he told me.

I dont think there is a slowdown(in the rate of temperature increase). Iwould like to draw your attention to the World Meteorological Organization, whichclearly stated on the basis of observations that the first decade of this century hasbeen the warmest in recorded history.

And I think the rest will be brought out by the report itself when its released.Prof. Pachauris insistence that warming has not slowed hints at a focus of debate

this week in Stockholm:Global temperatures have not been increasing as fast as scientists predicted and

several governments insist that this puzzle is properly addressed in the final sum-mary.

The draft says a doubling of carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphereabove pre-industrial levels (expected by mid-century) is likely to result in a tem-perature rise globally of between 1.5 and 4.5 degrees Celsius.

Neurological diseases are a huge burden on sufferers, their families and societies,and responsible for 12 in every 100 deaths, President of the 2013 World Congress ofNeurologists Eduard Auff said at the events opening press conference in Vienna.

Between 4.5 and 11 percent of the total disease burden of humanity is due toneurological diseases, said Auff whoalso heads the Department of Neurol-ogy at the Medical University of Vienna,Xinhua reported.

Werner Poewe, the head of Neurologi-cal Clinic at the Medical University ofInnsbruck, said about 30 percent of alldiseases were diseases of the brain. Hesaid in 2010, 35.6 million people world-wide suffered from dementia, which isexpected to rise to 100 million people by2030.

The number of sufferers of other neu-rological diseases such as Parkinsonsdisease is also expected to rise consider-ably over the same time-frame.

Poewe said a problem with neurologi-cal diseases is that the diagnoses are often made too late, often not before the onsetof symptoms. By this time, the disease can already be at an advanced stage, makingan early intervention to delay onset and progression difficult.

A project to use ultrasound brain scans on the three million people in Austria ofages over 50 could result in some 750,000 showing suspect signs of disease andmake earlier interventions more effective.

The congress, which began on Monday, brings together aro