One of the pieces of news that has influenced Middle East these days is the recent interview of Abdolhalim Khadam who was the second important person in Syria for three decades. This interview and its immediate effect which was announcing that Asad
Read More »Blog Layout
IRIB and Ahmadinejad
Last night TV had a report on the visit of Mr Ahmadinejad to Hormozgan province. Although such coordination and wide coverage of the news of the president’s trips by IRIB is unprecedented, it is a good act to keep people informed of the performance of their government. This is what …
Read More »Report on the Sitting at Institute for Interreligious Dialogue in Tehran
Since January 19th to 21th, simultaneous with Eid-e-Ghadir, the second tripartite sitting of Institute for Interreligious Dialogue, Anglican Church of England and Lutheran Church of Germany was held in Tehran. We (my wife, my good friends at the institute and me) were the host and therefore we were busy from …
Read More »The New Situation of Iraq
With its election, Iraq has entered a new atmosphere for which it should be congratulated. In my trip to Emirate, I came across an official board from Iraq in the lobby of the hotel who had come there to extend their condolence on behalf of Iraq.
Read More »Insult to Religious Sanctities and the Future of the World
The issue of insult to the holy prophet of Mohammad (pbuh) in some western newspapers has had a widespread effect in the world. There are some points to be mentioned here:Â 1. There is no doubt that one of the most serious elements that can create widespread unity in the …
Read More »Olmert softens tone on Russia-Hamas talks
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (Reuters) — Russia’s plans to talk to Palestinian election winner Hamas drew a low-key response on Sunday from Israeli interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, according to remarks attributed to him by a government official. “I think the Russian position is mistaken, as I have stated.
Read More »Solana in Mideast to limit fallout of cartoons
EUROPEAN UNION foreign policy chief Javier Solana embarks on a Mideast charm offensive Monday to calm protests over controversial Prophet Mohammad cartoons, and to limit the diplomatic fallout from the row.
Read More »UK investigates video of soldier abuse
LONDON (Reuters) — A British newspaper released a video on Sunday apparently showing British soldiers savagely beating Iraqi teenagers in 2004, prompting Prime Minister Tony Blair to promise a full investigation.
Read More »Shiites tap Jaafari for PM
BAGHDAD (AP) — Shiite lawmakers Sunday tapped incumbent Ibrahim Jaafari to be Iraq’s new prime minister, endorsing the physician and longtime exile for a second term by a single vote — thanks in large part to support by a radical anti-US faction.
Read More »Washington quietly backs Iran reformers
WASHINGTON — Akbar Ganji has a term for the dangers of challenging Iran’s Islamic government: “Playing with death.” Ganji is perhaps Iran’s best known political prisoner. A veteran of hunger strikes and long bouts of solitary confinement, Ganji has been imprisoned since 2001 after writing that regime allies were responsible …
Read More »