Middle Orient News

President urges expansion of ties with Baltic states

TEHRAN – President Mohammad Khatami here Wednesday highlighted the importance of bolstering all-out relations with Baltic states particularly Bosnia and Herzegovina. In a meeting with Iran’s newly-appointed Ambassador to Bosnia, Mohammad Reza Morshedzadeh, Khatami stressed expansion of cultural, economic and political ties with Bosnia and Herzegovina and materialization of bilateral …

Read More »

Luxembourg foreign minister: EU interested in continuing dialogue with Iran

TEHRAN – Iran’s ambassador to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg,’,Ali Ahani, met Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn.Tuesday and reviewed Iran-EU relations during Luxenbourg EU presidency which ended on 30 June. It was noted by the two sides that during the six-1 month period EU-Iran relationship” made positive strides,; Iranian …

Read More »

Iran to attend SCO conference as observer

TEHRAN – First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref arrived in Kazakhstan capita], Astana, on Monday evening to attend the international conference of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The SCO summit was to be held on Tuesday, Iran, India and Pakistan are to attend as observers, IRNA reported; The observer status for the …

Read More »

President in message to conference: Culture, art rare phenomena elevating human mind

TEHRAN – President Mohammad Khatami in a message to the international conference on scripts here Monday pointed to culture and arts as rare phenomena which not only varnish the human soul and body, but elevate man’s mind and thought. The president’s message was fully read at the conference held in …

Read More »

Rice begins talks to rescue truce before Gaza pullout

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AP) — US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday began hastily arranged talks aimed at rescuing a shaky Israeli-Palestinian truce, to ensure calm when Israel pulls out of the Gaza Strip next month. Rice began talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom in Jerusalem Thursday evening, shortly …

Read More »

4 blasts hit London transport system

LONDON (AFP) — London faced a second apparent terrorist attack in a fortnight on Thursday as bombers targeted three subway trains and a bus, a precise mirror image of events on July 7 when at least 56 people died. This time the three blasts reported by witnesses were far less …

Read More »

2 Algerian diplomats seized in Iraq

BAGHDAD (AP) — Gunmen on Thursday seized two Algerian diplomats — including the country’s top envoy — in the latest attacks aimed at undermining support among Muslim and Arab nations for the US-backed Iraqi government. Meanwhile, efforts to finish the new constitution by an August 15 deadline suffered a setback …

Read More »

Security Council debates barrier

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) — The UN Security Council opened a debate Thursday on Middle East tensions ahead of the planned Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, with Israel and the Palestinians clashing over Israel’s West Bank separation barrier. As Israel indicated that the Gaza pullout, due to begin in mid-August, …

Read More »

Gov’t apologises after scuffles mar Rice talks

EL FASHER (AFP) — US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice demanded and received an apology from Sudan Thursday after officials and press accompanying her were “manhandled” by security staff at President Omar Bashir’s residence. “They had no right to manhandle my staff and the press,” Rice told reporters after the …

Read More »

Radar finds water for refugees

A NEW TECHNIQUE using satellite radar images may hold the key to providing the water needs of 200,000 Sudanese living in sweltering heat in camps along the Chadian border. Alain Gachet, a geologist who spent most of his working life exploring for oil and mining companies, has developed a system …

Read More »