Iran Urges UNESCO Push to Protect Cultural Heritage in Syria, Iraq

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January 28, 2016

In a meeting with UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova in Paris on Thursday, President Rouhani reminded international organizations, UNESCO in particular, of their heavy responsibility to safeguard the cultural heritage in war-torn countries like Syria and Iraq.

“Unfortunately, cultural and archeological sites in our region are being destroyed by terrorists, and destruction of these monuments is destruction of the identity of religions, cultures and thoughts,” the president warned.

He also cautioned that terrorist groups destroy the historic monuments in order to separate the youth from their identity and recruit them afterwards.

The president further called on UNESCO to take a more active role in using “cultural capacities” to combat violence and terrorism, specifically to prevent destruction of cultural heritage by terrorist groups.

Pointing to Iran’s World Against Violence and Extremism (WAVE) initiative -put forth to the United Nations General Assembly in September 2013- President Rouhani underscored that culture is the basis for implementing the WAVE resolution and guaranteeing its success.

He then proposed that the UNESCO initiate programs and practical culture-based plans in different countries to let school children know about the dire consequences of violence and extremism.

For her part, Bokova slammed the destruction of cultural heritage in the Middle East as a humanitarian tragedy, saying the UNESCO has focused efforts on the youth, given the fact that terrorists are trying to seduce them into taking extremist measures.

The director-general also expressed appreciation for the breadth of UNESCO’s cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran, spanning education, culture and science, and underlined the necessity to leverage these areas to bring about transformative change.

At the end of the meeting, she presented President Rouhani with the certificates for Iran’s two newly-inscribed World Heritage sites, Susa and the Cultural Landscape of Maymand, as well as for two Memory of the World registers, Al-Masaalik Wa Al-Mamaalik and Kulliyyāt-i-Sa’di; which all stand as symbols of cultural dialogue.

She also congratulated President Rouhani for Iran’s election to UNESCO’s Executive Board, one of the Organization’s governing bodies.

Iran Urges Stronger Ties with Qatar

By

Emad Askarieh

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January 28, 2016

In a message on Thursday, Zarif congratulated Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, a member of Qatar’s royal family, for his new post as the foreign minister.

The top Iranian diplomat also highlighted the significance of enhanced ties between Tehran and Doha, and the need for closer consultations between the two countries on regional and international issues.

On Wednesday, Qatar’s emir issued a decree for a major reshuffle in the cabinet, combining some of the country’s 18 ministries, dropping some ministers and assigning others to different titles.

Khalid al-Attiyah, the outgoing foreign minister whose father was the founder of the Qatari armed forces, will become state minister for defense affairs.

The emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who took over in 2013 after his father stepped down, holds the post of defense minister.

Iran: Saudi wants to send ‘terrorists’ to Syria talks

By

Emad Askarieh

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January 28, 2016

The kingdom brought together a number of militant groups in Riyadh Wednesday to decide whether to attend UN peace talks due in Geneva on Friday. They failed to reach a final decision, postponing it until Thursday.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Thursday Saudi Arabia is trying to raise its influence at the Geneva talks by including “terrorists” in the opposition lists.

“Terrorists with a new mask should not sit down at a negotiating table with the representatives of the Syrian authorities,” he told a news conference during a visit to Moscow.

“This is the most important condition,” Amir-Abdollahian said, calling on Saudi Arabia to stop stoking tension in the Middle East.

“We believe that Saudi Arabia’s insistence on including recognizable terrorists … in one list or another, is certainly not a constructive action on its part,” he added.

Amir-Abdollahian and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Bogdanov said after a meeting on Wednesday that the two countries shared a common view on the settlement of the regional crises.

“Moscow and Tehran have common position on the regulation of the Middle East problems; we also have the same position on Syria,” Amir-Abdollahian told reporters after the meeting.

Bogdanov serves as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for the Middle East and Africa. Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Moscow on Wednesday for consultations with Russian officials on regional issues.

The senior diplomats stressed the need for finding a political solution to the conflict in Syria in keeping with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

Amir-Abdollahian said Tehran supports the efforts of UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura to ensure dialog with Syria.

A UN resolution, adopted on December 18, 2015, calls for a nationwide ceasefire in Syria and the formation of a “credible, inclusive and non-sectarian” government within six months and UN-supervised “free and fair elections” within 18 months.

The talks on a ceasefire in Syria were supposed to start on Monday, but they have been put off until Friday due to disagreements over who should sit at the negotiating table.

In their meeting, Amir-Abdollahian and Bogdanov also discussed the situation in Lebanon, Yemen, and the Persian Gulf region.

What CEOs of Total, Airbus, Renault and Peugeot told Rouhani?

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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January 28, 2016

Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, met with CEOs of major French companies as he arrived in Paris on Wednesday afternoon.

Welcoming Rouhani’s visit to Paris, Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, said France and Iran have had historical ties and today we should begin a new chapter in our cooperation and extend it to all levels.

“Iran is a great country with bright future and today major French companies are determined to begin widespread cooperation with the country”, said Fabius.

France’s Economy Minister, Emmanuel Macron, in his meeting with members of Iranian delegation accompanying President Rouhani said Paris has mobilized major French companies to resume economic ties with Tehran.

While stressing needs for securing investment, he said 10 years ago cooperation with Iran was among 10 top insurance coverage of French government and at the moment, we are interested to use every investment channel to revive the economic ties between the two countries.

All the representatives of French businesses in economic infrastructure, aviation, airport, and railways and energy sectors are ready to participate in Iranian market, said the French economy Minister.

In the meeting attended by top executives of Total, Airbus, Orange, Sanofi, Peugeot Citroen and Thales, Pierre Gattaz, head of France’s employers’ group MEDEF welcomed Iranian President’s visit to France and said all French business leaders hope to enhance their relationship with their Iranian counterparts in post sanction era.

During the meeting, some of French executives in brief statements, expressed interest and willingness to involve in making investment and taking part in development of Iran’s all economic sectors.

Vice Chairman of MEDEF International, Yves Thibault DE SILGUY, told Rouhani this institution is poised to resume cooperation with Iran and extend it further.

Head of Total told Rouhani the French oil giant has been present in Iran for years and the lifting of sanctions paves the way for Total to resume its activities in Iranian energy sector.

Airbus Chief Executive, Fabrice Bregier, who was part of the French delegation, said Airbus eyes to supply Iranian aviation needs and is ready to equip Iran’s airlines as well as offer training and maintenance services.

Renault representative recalling his firm cooperation with Iran in the past, said Iran is one of the few countries in the world with national automobile industry and has a strategic place in Renault’s plans. He continued by saying: we never breached our commitments toward Iran and we are interested in boosting our cooperation with all Iranian automakers.

Also head of French Suez Company which operate in environment field expressed his hope to return to Iran and added we could have cooperation in supply and efficient use of water reserves as well as desalination in Iran.

Emphasizing on telecommunication cooperation record of Orange with Iran, Head of French telecoms firm told Iranian President: we always seek to expand our ties with Tehran and we have no limit to interact with Iranian counterparts and transfer of technology.

Welcoming Iranian President’s visit to his country, Alstom Chief said the French multinational company is one of top global companies in train coaches manufacturing and railway construction and is ready to invest and transfer its technologies to Iran.

Meanwhile, head of Sagem expressed his company’s interest in maritime and port terminal cooperation with Iran.

Senior Iranian, Russian diplomats discuss Syria crisis

By

Emad Askarieh

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January 28, 2016

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Bogdanov said after a meeting in Moscow Wednesday that the two countries shared a common view on the settlement of the regional crises.

“Moscow and Tehran have common position on the regulation of the Middle East problems; we also have the same position on Syria,” Amir-Abdollahian told reporters after the meeting.

Bogdanov serves as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for the Middle East and Africa.

The senior diplomats stressed the need for finding a political solution to the conflict in Syria in keeping with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

Amir-Abdollahian said Tehran supports the efforts of UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura to ensure dialog with Syria.

A UN resolution, adopted on December 18, 2015, calls for a nationwide ceasefire in Syria and the formation of a “credible, inclusive and non-sectarian” government within six months and UN-supervised “free and fair elections” within 18 months.

The talks on a ceasefire in Syria were supposed to start on Monday, but they have been put off until Friday due to disagreements over who should sit at the negotiating table.

Some opposition groups met in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday without reaching a final decision on whether they would attend the Geneva talks. The so-called High Negotiations Committee has postponed a decision until Thursday.

A Syrian government delegation, however, will attend the talks.

Syria has been gripped by a foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The conflict has reportedly claimed the lives of over 260,000 people and displaced nearly half of the country’s pre-war population of about 23 million within or without its borders.

In their meeting, Amir-Abdollahian and Bogdanov also discussed the situation in Lebanon, Yemen, and the Persian Gulf region.

The Iranian diplomat arrived in Moscow on Wednesday for consultations with Russian officials on regional issues.

Islamic Novice Raises Ostriches

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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January 28, 2016

According to Fars News Agency, Seyyed Hadi Alavi, a young scholar from Bandar-e Gaz who is active in both clerical and commercial interests, believes that one can use any space for job creation.

Although the business hasn’t been running for long, he has created a small hatchery on his rooftop, purchasing an incubator and a few ostrich eggs, and he already has 20 ostrich chicks.

Seyyed Hadi Alavi talked about his reasons for entering this field, saying, “With the idea of a Resistive Economy in mind, I chose ostrich cultivation after lengthy research, mainly because it has a higher efficiency and it’s more environmentally adaptable than cow, sheep or other bird and animal farming.

The young scholar added, “I started this project without any governmental support and with less than $10,000, which was spent on buying the incubator, ostrich eggs, a plot of land and other tools. Hopefully it will become operational by Nowrouz (the Persian New Year in March).”

Alavi mentioned, “The price for a one-day old ostrich is about $50, a one month old is between $70 and $85, and the nutritional expenses to raise an ostrich to adulthood (which takes one year) is about $110. At this stage, the price of an ostrich, depending on its weight, starts from about $440. If you sell all its derivatives such as its meat, oil, skin, eyes, and so on, then you can surely make more profit.”

He explained about ostrich characteristics and said: “Ostriches are environmentally adaptable animals. Their meat is the only meat which contains no cholesterol and also it has less fat, a suitable combination of amino acids and a high percentage of saturated and unsaturated amino acids. It is highly recommended for people who are suffering from heart disease and high blood pressure or those who are on a diet.”

Alavi commented on the lack of support from some authorities for the younger generation’s economic activities, saying, “To develop my business I have bought a piece of land, but then I faced some problems regarding obtaining an ostrich farming license, and with providing electricity for my farm. I have permission for this activity, but the authorities of the Ministry of Agriculture wouldn’t give me a license for ostrich farming, with the excuse that there’s no ostrich farm in Golestan Province. Also, on order to rig up electricity to my land, the electric company has asked for about $2700, which is a big obstacle for my very limited capital.”

He continued, “At the moment three of my family and I are working to get this project to realization, but as the business develops, there will surely be more people involved, both directly and indirectly. The government should provide special support for young people who have a real intention to create more jobs and economic growth, whether by reducing their expenses or providing incentives.”

3-Year-Old Tanbur Player Performs at Kermanshah Province Fajr Music Festival

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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January 28, 2016

Today, on January 26^th, Roshana will be exactly 3 years old. She is already an accomplished Tanbur player. She sometimes sings along when she plays, but is never out of tune, as she can follow the music very well.

Seyyed Payman Haqiqi, Roshana’s father, said in an interview with an ISNA (Iranian Students News Agency) journalist in Kermanshah,“ Roshana became familiar with the sound of the Tanbur( a Persian long necked string musical instrument) at home right from early days. This led her to pick it up and begin to play, from the age of 2. Her mother and I always encouraged her, and thankfully she was also a talented learner. In a short time, she learnt how to play it.”

Masters Hessamedin Seraj and Hazhir Mehrafrouz are her favorite singers, and she has souvenir photos with both of them. Now, she is preparing for her first public performance – the opening of Kermanshah Fajr Music Festival.

Roshana Sadat Haqiqi was born into a music-loving family on 25^th January 2013, and, as her father claims, from her early days she would fall asleep to the sound of the Tanbur. From this passion, she began playing the Tanbur at the young age of 2.

Before she was born, her father made her a little Tanbur, and today, Roshana uses the very same instrument to practice, sitting next to her father.

ISIS Destroys Iraq’s Oldest Christian Monastery

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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January 28, 2016

According to Iraqi Alsumaria TV channel, the Elijah’s monastery in Mosul was a symbol of the presence of Christianity in Iraq, with an antiquity of over 1,400 years. It fell into the hands of the terrorist group ISIS after they invaded the city of Mosul. Earlier satellite images showed the destruction of some parts of this ancient Christian monastery in Iraq. Its demolition has created a tide of nervousness in Iraq.

Over the past few weeks, witnesses from Mosul had stated that the ISIS terror group had rigged all the churches in Nineveh province with bombs, in fear of an Iraqi Army attack. They had been using these churches as prison and torture chambers.

The ISIS terror group invaded northwestern part of Iraq last summer. Since then, they have committed multiple atrocities across the region.

ISIS Destroys Iraq’s Oldest Christian Monastery

Saudi-led attacks on Yemeni civilians violate humanitarian law: UN

By

Emad Askarieh

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January 28, 2016

The UN experts have called on the UN Security Council to ‘investigate reports of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law in Yemen by all parties and to identify the perpetrators of such violations,” AFP reported on Tuesday.

The report added that Saudi warplanes had carried out 120 sorties, involving documented airstrikes on refugee camps, weddings, buses, medical facilities, residential areas, mosques, markets, factories, food warehouses, schools and airports.

‘Many attacks involved multiple air strikes on multiple civilian objects,” the report further said, adding that ‘civilians are disproportionately affected” by the unabated aerial aggression. It also denounced Riyadh’s crippling blockade on Yemen, which constitutes ‘the prohibited use of starvation as a method of warfare.”

Some 8,300 people have been killed and over 16,000 others injured since the strikes began. The Saudi war has also taken a heavy toll on Yemen’s infrastructure.

Yemenis have been carrying out retaliatory attacks on the Saudi forces deployed in the country as well as targets inside Saudi Arabia.

Fadjr Theater Festival Underway in Tehran

By

Emad Askarieh

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January 28, 2016

The 34th edition of Fadjr International Theater Festival kicked off in the Iranian capital on January 21, and will go on until February 1. Street theater is one of the main categories of the festival, whose contestants compete in Tehran’s City Theater Complex.