Middle Orient

First vice president : Iran ready to cooperate with SCO

TEHRAN – First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref said on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to extend an all-out cooperation with Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Speaking to reporters, he said the Islamic Republic of Iran can serve as a bridge between SCO members and the Persian Gulf …

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President-elect : Presidential election in Iran changed regional, international equations

TEHRAN – Iran’s President-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here Wednesday that the 9th presidential elections in Iran changed regional and international equations in favor of the Iranian nation. In a meeting with the members of Policy Making Council of Friday Prayer leaders here on Wednesday, Ahmadinejad said the elections boosted Iran’s …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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, …

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