THE IRANIAN
TIMES
Friday, April 3, 1998
Farvardin 14, 1377
No. 449
Abu Saeed
Headlines
* Iran-U.S: L.A. protests against Iranian ambassador
* Sanctions: U.S. rebuffs Congressman on Iran
* Oil: Elf set for $600 mln Iran deal-paper
* Opposition: Law & Order?
* Googooshgate: Reply from author
* The Web: IranSearch.com
* Nostalgia: Sham' o Gol o Parvaaneh (masalan!)
* Quote: Wrestled at the airport
Index
| * Iran-U.S.:
LA Protest * Features: POW swap * News: Haj rally * Human Rights: Canada * Economy: Elf deal * Dollar: Unchanged * Sports: Piruzi out * Arts: Manuscripts * The Web: Iran Search * Academic: Kansas City panel |
THE WEB
* IranSearch.com: Your directory of Iranian web sites... well, that's the objective. For now it's almost empty. When you send them your web site, it will become what it should be.... Reza Farahani <davood@ix.netcom.com>
Any interesting web sites you would like to suggest?
Email us at Times@iranian.com
IRAN-U.S.
* Hundreds of immigrants protest appearance by Iranian ambassador, (Los Angeles Times) - Hundreds of Iranian immigrants gathered Thursday outside the Anaheim Marriott hotel to protest an appearance by Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, the most senior figure of the Islamic regime permitted to visit California since the hostage crisis of 1980. Hadi Nejad Hosseinian was invited to speak at a symposium of the World Affairs Council of Orange County. The forum addressed the possibility of resuming relations with Iran after almost 20 years of U.S. sanctions against the country, and Hosseinian's mere presence in Orange County enraged scores of Iranian residents. Some were forcibly evicted from the symposium. "The United States is the only country that stands for freedom and democracy. They cannot resume a dialogue with Iran. They cannot support a terrorist government," said Jeff Taj of Santa Monica, who left Iran in 1978. Taj was among the protesters who waved flags, held banners and chanted... full text
* U.S. rebuffs Congressman on Iran , (AP) - The State Department rejected a demand by a key Republican congressman that it decide within three weeks whether to impose sanctions against three foreign firms planning significant investments in Iran. ``All options available remain open, including the possibility of sanctions,'' spokesman James P. Rubin said Friday. ``I'm not going to speculate as to when our review will be complete, but it certainly wouldn't be based on some arbitrary deadline.''... full text
* U.S. customs upsets Iran wrestlers , (AP) - Some members of the Iranian wrestling delegation were unhappy Friday that immigration officials fingerprinted and photographed them when they arrived in the United States to participate in the World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling championships.``We were invited to this tournament and we were your guests,'' wrestler Mohammad Talaie said. ``It wasn't nice, this behavior. It was a big problem that immigration did this. It took more than two hours. The team was upset.''... full text
FEATURES
* Iraq, Iran say some 860 prisoners of war released, (Reuters) - Eight hundred Iraqi and 62 Iranian prisoners captured during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war were released and repatriated on Thursday, Iraqi newspapers said on Friday. They said the 800 Iraqis and 62 Iranians were set free at al-Munthiriya border point in an exchange supervised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)... full text
NEWS
* Iran says pilgrims to hold anti-U.S. rally at haj, (Reuters) - Iran's top officials at the Moslem haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia said on Friday pilgrims would stage a rally against the United States and Israel next week, Iranian television said. Senior cleric Mohammad Mohammadi Reyshahri said the rally, called ``disavowal of infidels,'' would be held ``with grandeur and peacefully'' near Mount Arafat, a gathering point of pilgrims outside Mecca, it said... full text
HUMAN RIGHTS
* Canada & Refugees: Refugee rights are human rights , (CHAIR) - "Not Just Numbers: A Canadian Framework For Future Immigration" (also known as "New Proposals") is the report with which Lucienne Robillard, federal Minister of Citizenship and Immigration launched her recent cross- country tour of "consultation." Both its critics and proponents believe that, if passed, "New Proposals" will fundamentally transform the way Canada assesses refugee and immigration cases.... full text
ECONOMY
* Elf set for $600 mln Iran deal-paper, (Reuters) - French energy group Elf Aquitaine is close to a deal worth $600 million in Iran, the Le Monde afternoon daily said on Friday. ``Technical discussions are completed, we have yet to finalise the commercial negotiations,'' the paper quoted Noel Bouchaud, Elf's deputy director for exploration and production, as saying during a press visit to Baku in Azerbaijan. ... full text
DOLLAR RATE
Unchanged
* To send money to Iran, the rate is 510-517 tomans per dollar, depending on how much you wish to send.
* To send money out of Iran, the rate is 524 tomans per dollar.
Source: Sehaty Foreign Exchange, call in U.S.: 602-595-0777 or 500-288-8881. Preferntial rates for readers of The Iranian Times. Mention this code: BAJ 07
ARTS
* On display at the Freer Gallery, Washington, DC: "The Seven Thrones: A Princely Manuscript From Iran," through March 29; Open daily 10 to 5:30. Jefferson Drive and 12th Street SW. 202/357-2700 (TDD: 202/357-1729).
* Iranian films in Washington DC: A festival of some recent Iranian films is planned in Washington, DC, during March/April 1998. The films are shown at the 300-seat Meyer Auditorium of the Freer Gallery. Tickets are free and can be obtained (up to two per person) on a first-come-first-served basis one hour prior to the program. Films being shown: March 8/13: Leila (Dariush Mehrjui), March 20/22: Det Means Girl (Abolfazl Jalili), March 27/29: Gabbeh (Mohsen Makhmalbaf), April 3: Beyond Fire (Kianoush Ayyari), April 5: A True Story (Jalili), April 17: The Abadanis (Kiarostami), April 26: Taste of Cherries (Kiarostami).
* "Taste of Cherry" U.S. screen schedules from the official Zeitgeist Film site... click here...Thanks to Payman Arabshahi <payman@fermi.jpl.nasa.gov>
THE IRANIAN
Law & Order?
From arbitrary arrests to legal harassment
Interviews with prominent government critics and poltical activists in Iran: Ibrahim Yazdi, leader of the Freedom Movement of Iran (Nehzat-e Azaadi-ye Iran); Heshmatollah Tabarzadi, editor of the radical student newsletter Payam-e Daneshjou (Students' Message); and Habibollah Payman, leader of the disbanded Combatant Muslims Movement (Jonbesh-e Mosalmanan-e Mobaarez). All three were recently arrested and/or summoned to court for their criticism of the state and senior officials. The interviews were published in the Noruz 1377 (March 1998) issue of the news magazine, Payam-e Emrooz (Today's Message), in Iran (in Persian)... full text
NOSTALGIA
* Sham' o Gol o Parvaaneh (masalan!)
SPORTS
* Piruzi loses chance to go to Asian Cup final, (Reuters) - Titleholders Pohang Steelers of South Korea and Chinese club Dalian reached the final of the Asian club championshiop on Friday. Park Tae-ha's 45th minute goal gave Pohang a 1-0 victory over Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia while Dalian got a goal in each half of a 2-0 triumph over Piruzi of Iran ... full text
* U.S. customs upsets Iran wrestlers , (AP) - Some members of the Iranian wrestling delegation were unhappy Friday that immigration officials fingerprinted and photographed them when they arrived in the United States to participate in the World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling championships.``We were invited to this tournament and we were your guests,'' wrestler Mohammad Talaie said. ``It wasn't nice, this behavior. It was a big problem that immigration did this. It took more than two hours. The team was upset.''... full text
"Dream Team" IRAN -- World Cup tickets now available!
Sportestan Publishing
(USA)
ish@sportestan.com
Tel: 650-473-9792
SATIRE
Neesteem
* A poem from Gol Aqa for all hard working journalists :-) ... click here
Got something to make us smile?
Send it to Times@iranian.com
POETRY
* Fereydoun Moshiri on CD
Fereydoun Moshiri's poetry reading last October in Berkeley, California, is now available on CD. For more information and orders, contact Radio Havaye Tazeh at: 415-673-4726.
Listen to Moshiri's reading of "Kucheh"... here's the poem's text
* Contest
Omar Khayyam Poetry Society invites you to enter our poetry contest. Prizes: First place $100, Second $75, Third $50. Winners will be announced and printed in THE IRANIAN in June 1998.
Subject: Longing places, memories, love
Format: Poems must be in English and emailed to <matteof@msn.com>. Include your name, address and phone number.
Deadline: May 10, 1998
Entry fee: $5 for up to three poems. You may send cash or check payable to R. Macroberts. Send to 1045 Walnut Grove, Rochester Hills, MI 48306, USA.
QUESTION
Translating Iran experiences
If you are an Iranian who is 100% fluent in both Farsi and English, your help is needed. My mother is working on a book which details her life experiences from Iran to the United States and needs someone to make and accurate translation of her book to English upon completion. She is willing to pay someone a fair price for their services. If you are interested and can help, please email me at <Cia420@aol.com> or call me at home at 619 583-1750. Thank you very much.
Cia Tahmasebi
Cia420 <Cia420@aol.com>
LETTERS
* Note from author of "Googooshgate"
To those who found the "Googooshgate" article insulting, I invite them to read the article again. Nothing sexual happened in the fictional meeting between Googoosh and Clinton. We just assume something did or may have happpened because of current allegations against Clinton, Bradley's pointed questions and Googoosh's suggestive choice of words. The lesson here may be that we shouldn't be quick to jump to conclusions without looking closely at the facts.
To those who think Googoosh was portrayed as ignorant, I refer them to her last statement on Iran-U.S. relations. There's a general perception that Googoosh is, at best, just a good singer, who only thinks about her looks and fame. Her last comments in the article -- again -- are a sharp reminder that we should see beyond the surface.
The worst character in the article is neither Clinton, nor Googoosh, but Bradley. In this article he represents the present state of journalism where sensasionalism rules over common sense and social responsibility. Are Clinton's alleged infidelities more important than the economy, health care, education and foreign policy? Iraqi children are dieing like flies. So what. Sex sells.
And yes: Googoosh will sing again, sooner than you think. Oh, and I almost forgot: lighten up a bit.
* Sophomoric, simple-minded, tasteless, but good fun
Reading your quite obvious and, I am afraid to say, sophomoric attempt at an April Fools' joke ["Googooshgate"], had its amusing moments. But, WOW ! The responses to your piece are the real entertainment. If we are truly at home with ourselves and secure in our identity, what harm can there be in some simple (perhaps I should say simple-minded) spoofing.
Surely, we are not so fragile a people that we cannot afford to laugh at ourselves, as well as others. And how sad, that we would need to vilify the good people of The Iranian Times, for their generous attempt at amusing us. I can fault the writing and I can fault your poor taste, but I cannot fault your intent. Thank you. Please feel free to keep amusing me. There is no stronger medicine for life's ills, than a good chuckle. Yasmine Rafii <yart@seanet.com>
BOOKSTORE
Book of the week
Barnameh-ye enerji-ye atomi-ye iran, talash-ha va tanesh-haa
Foundation for Iranian Studies, 1997. Available from Iranbooks.
A history of Iran's Atomic Energy Program as told by Akbar Etemad, the
first head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, edited by Gholam Reza
Afkhami.
See feature in THE IRANIAN. Click
here
THE IRANIAN Bookstore
ACADEMIC
* On Saturday April 4th (tomorrow), a panel will be held in Kansas City on Iranian immigrants to the U.S. The event is organized by Radio Saba (Wind of Love) and is free of charge. All those who want to know more about Iranians as well as Iranian families, individuals and especially the Second Generation Iranian-Americans are encouraged to participate. Topic: From Purgatory to Paradise?--Iranians in U.S. First speaker: Dr. MohammadAli Chaichian, Professor of Sociology at Mount Mercy College (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) on 'The First Generation Iranian Immigrants to the U.S.' Second speaker: Dr. Akbar Mahdi, Professor of Sociology at Ohio Wesleyan University (Columbus, Ohio) on 'The Second Generation Americans with an Iranian heritage'. Discussant: Amir-Mosaddegh Katouzian Faculty of Sociology, Johnson County Comm. College (Overland Park, KS) Producer, Saba. Time: 2:00p.m. Saturday April 4th. Place: 233 GEB Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd. Overland Park, Kansas (near College & Quivira). More information: e-mail: katouzia@johnco.cc.ks.us phone: (913-)648-6344
* Iran and the Region: Past, Present and Future Relations with Its Neighbors April 24-25, 1998 Portland, Oregon, USA The Center for Iranian Research and Analysis (CIRA) will hold its 16th annual conference in association with Portland State UniversityÕs Middle East Center. In addition to proposals related to the conference theme, paper abstracts and panel proposals on all social, political, historical, economic, literary and artistic issues related to Iran, the Middle East and Central Asia are welcome. Please submit an abstract (300-400 words), paper title, name and complete address (including e-mail address, if available) no later than January 12, 1998. Send abstracts and requests for additional information to: Dr. Nader Entessar, CIRA Executive Director, Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL 36608, USA; phone (1-334)380-3051; fax (1-334)460-2184; e-mail <entessar@azalea.shc.edu>; website <http://www-adm.pdx.edu/user/mesc/cira/>.
* I would like to inform you of a talk on the "Emergence of NGOs in Iran and their Contribuitons to Iranian Civil Society." This talk will be given by Baquer Namazi at the Middle East Institute located at 1761 N Street, Washington, DC 20036 on Monday, April 6, 1998, from Noon-1:30 p.m. Mr. Namazi has worked with NGOs through the Middle East and Africa as UNICEF's representative to Somalia, Egypt and Kenya. As senior advisor to the Population Council regional office in Cairo, he initiated and NGO consultation in Iran which was supported by the UN and other international NGOs working in Iran. Mr. Namazi perviously served as deputy executive director for regionalization in the Plan and Budget Organization of the Iranian Goverernment. He also served as undersecretary to various ministries. His last post before leaving Iran was as Governor General of Khuzestan. Mr. Namazi currently serves as a consultant to UNICEF, Population Counsil, UNDP, Ford Foundation and various other international organizations. Atousa Raissyan <atousa@ttimail.com>
ENTERTAINMENT
Poetry & Music, San Francisco
April 4, 1998 Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco -- XDOT 25 Productions Concert Series:
* Hafez Modirzadeh on soprano, alto sax, ney, karna * Habib Khan on sitar * Yussi on accoustic guitar * Alan Koushan on santour * Tim Witter on tabla & Percussion * Michael Lewis on tabla * Koorosh Angali on keyboard, poetry reciting * Indian classical vocalist Shafqat Ali Khan * And dance performance by Shahrzad * Tickets $15 & $20 * Get your tickets by telephone. Call 800-710-8600
PHOTO OF THE DAY
Hairdresser
* Hair salon in a very posh neighborhood of Tehran... not!... full image
Got any interesting photos?
Send them to Times@iranian.com
MUSIC
* Mohammad Reza Shajarian, "Chant acoompanied by santour"
(Get RealAudio)
Greatest pop CDs ON SALE!
QUOTE UNQUOTE
Wrestled at the airport
When the American team came to Iran we treated them well. They [U.S. customs offcials at Oklahoma airport] treated us like criminals. When the Americans come the next time we will again treat them well and not revenge them for what happened to us.
Mahmood Allahverdia
Iranian TV producer traveling with Iranian wrestlers to Oklahoma
"U.S.
Customs Upsets Iran Wrestlers"
Asscoated Press
April 3, 1998
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