Headlines

* Iran-U.S.: U.S. softens Iran travel warning
* Feature: Egg attack on Iranian minister
* War: 5,600 Iraqi pows to go home
* Montazeri: Khalkhali letter
* Poetry: June Craze
* Googooshgate: More reactions
* Satire: Civil Society?!
* Conference: CIRA in Portland
* Shajarian: "Del-e Majnoon"

THE WEB

* Chatroom: "The Iranian Web's Official Persian Chat Room... And pick a cool (sort of) image to represent you when you chat... Go to: http://www4.ncsu.edu/~amsaleh2/iran/chat/... Thanks to <sgs1@hotmail.com>

Any interesting web sites you would like to suggest?
Email us at Times@iranian.com

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IRAN-U.S.

* U.S. softens Iran travel warning , (AP) - Responding to the warm welcome American visitors have received lately, the State Department has softened its travel warning for Iran, recommending that Americans defer travel to that country rather than avoid it altogether.The new alert, issued Thursday, noted there have been some non-official exchanges between Iranians and Americans since President Mohammad Khatami's call for a ``dialogue of civilizations'' and an increase in private exchanges... full text

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FEATURES

* Egg thrown on Iranian minister, (BBC) - Iran's Culture Minister, Ataullah Mohajerani, found himself on the receiving end of an egg attack, as he addressed a Unesco conference on cultural development in Sweden. The attacker, apparently a delegate to the conference, pounced on to the stage while the minister was giving his speech, and hurled an egg at him... full text... video clip

* Iran says egg attacker Mojahedin member, (IRNA) - Swedish ambassador to iran mats marling was summoned to the foreign ministry on thursday in protest against attacking iranian minister of culture and the islamic guidance ataollah mohajerani in stockholm wednesday. addressing the cultural conference sponsored by the united nations educational, scientific and cultural organization (unesco), mohajerani was attacked by the members of the terrorist mujahedeen khalq organization (mko).

* Iran protests to Sweden over egg thrown at minister, (Reuters) - Iran protested to Sweden on Thursday over an incident in which a protester threw an egg at an Iranian minister during a visit to Stockholm, Tehran radio said. It said Sweden's ambassador to Tehran had been summoned to the Foreign Ministry to receive Iran's ``strong protest'' over the incident, which took place during a speech by Iran's culture minister at a conference on Wednesday... full text

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NEWS

* Iran says releasing nearly 5,600 Iraqi POWs, (Reuters) - Iran said on Thursday it was releasing nearly 5,592 prisoners captured in its 1980-88 war with Iraq in exchange for 380 Iranian POWs held by Baghdad. The exchange is among the largest in recent years... full text

* Crash kills 33 Iranian pilgrims, (AP) - A bus packed with Iranian pilgrims returning from Mecca collided with a fuel truck in southeastern Turkey today and burst into flames, killing 33 people, the Anatolia news agency said... full text

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HUMAN RIGHTS

* Khalkhali protests treatment of Montazeri, (BBC) - A former Iranian revolutionary judge, Ayatollah Sadeq Khalkhali, has protested against the the way the Iranian authorities are treating a senior cleric, Ayatollah Hussain Ali Montazeri. In a letter to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, Mr Khalkhali urged him to lift restrictions imposed on Ayatollah Montazeri to allow him to return to normal life and resume teaching... full text

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ECONOMY

* UK oil independent seeks joint venture opportunities in Iran, (IRNA) - [Britain's] Monument Oil and Gas is negotiating new venture opportunities in iran and is planning to open a office in tehran. its chairman, tony craven walker, said that the uk oil independent was optimistic it can expand its operations in the caspian region after starting to demonstrate the full potential of its first investment in turkmenistan... full text

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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

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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>

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THE IRANIAN

June Craze... a poem by Shadi Ziaie

Under the Sun... a poem by Shafi'ie Kadkani (in Persian)

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NOSTALGIA

* At the beach with Behrooz

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SPORTS

* Italy to build sports centers in Iran, (IRNA) - iran and italy here tuesday signed a physical education cooperation agreement whereby the national olympic committee of italy undertook to build 15 sports centers in the same number of provinces of iran over a period of four years. the agreement was signed for iran by chairman of iran national olympic committee mostafa hashemitaba and his italian counterpart mario pescante... full text

"Dream Team" IRAN -- World Cup tickets now available!

Sportestan Publishing (USA)
ish@sportestan.com
Tel: 650-473-9792

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SATIRE

Civil Society!?

* Civil society this, civil society that. Give me that stick ... click here

Got something to make us smile?
Send it to Times@iranian.com

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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.

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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>

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LETTERS

* Cheap and humiliating

Dear sir, the so-called April Fools article on Googoosh ["Googooshgate"] was very cheap and humiliating. Even Aliens don't write such horrible stuff on us. Googoosh is an "Ultra Super Star" and in this commercial world of MTVs and amongst thousands of faces and voices exposed by the ruling countries, She stands at the peak of music and arts and shines in the world brighter than any other star.

You should be ashamed of what you have put on in your web magazine. Can't you hear the great music that Googoosh has created. Of course not.

Remember this is not a time to joke with our great values. This is the time to realize, recognize, introduce and expose our good values. In this you have a great responsibility on your shoulders. Never belittle yourself and your nation. Your's sincerely, 13 Farvardin 8478 Aryan/Zoroastrian. Baktash Khamsehpour <baghta@hotmail.com>

* Funny

Just a little note saying that we really enjoy the Iranian Times. "Googooshgate" was especially funny. Thank you. Regards, Parviz Tanavoli <heech@axionet.com>

* Creative

Your "Googooshgate" April Fool's was really unique and creative. Well done! Goli Ameri <ameri@pop.mindspring.com>

* Something useful

I read the interview with Googoosh ["Googooshgate"]. And I have somthing to say. We all know that Googoosh was a good singer and she didn't sing for 20 years and she will never sing again. Certainly not for President Clinton.

So plaese stop with all that crap you write and write somthing usefull. This interview is nothing but a joke about Googoosh and using her to make publicity for President Clinton. However I didn't consider that as publicity. Please if you want that we read your pages and if you want to make us happy , don't write such things again. Because is obvious that it is all a lie. By the way, Googoosh speaks perfectly English. Nima Hosseinpour <hnima@minf.vub.ac.be>

* Vulgar

I really don't know what the purpose of this meaningless mocking of the Persian Musical Queen ["Googooshgate"] is all about. I have to admit, I am very disappointed ain The Iranian Times. I never expected such disrespect of a much loved and respected Iranian pride and joy such as Googoosh.

Well, this kind of gives me and idea of what The Iranian Times is all about, supporting such filthy publications as this. I appreciate jokes and comic endeavors involving different artists but I have to say that whoever came up with this has no kind of respect for the Iranian culture or its people and I am ashamed of having these kinds of perversions in my culture.

The Iranian Times should know better not to degrade its own people in this fashion. If any other members of the Iranian community were to read this vulgar display of humorless filth, you would be surely confronted with much hostility by the Iranian community. Furthermore, my perspective of the The IranianTimes has changed greatly. I once saw it as a serious bond between our people worldwide, but now, it sounds more like some trashy article about a celebrity in a Playboy Magazine.

I would like a response or at least some kind of explanation as to why a prestigious member of the Iranian Media such as The IranianTimes would even consider including this degrading cest of vile pestilence in its menu. I am greatly ashamed and I pray to god that this was nothing but a clerical mistake which I seriously doubt that it was. A baffled member of the Iranian Community, Fullad <FULAAD@aol.com>

* Quite a laugh

This interview ["Googooshgate"] gave me quite a laugh. Maryam Ovissi <movissi@mfa.org>

* Need laughter

The moment I saw it ["Googooshgate"], I knew it. It was too easy, but thanx anyway. We need some laughter in this serious world. K. Hadjari <k.hadjari@swipnet.se>

* Amazed

Good joke, very, very, very good ["Googooshgate"]. Amazing...... I am amazed... very good. I'm still amazed..... :-) Mark Farahani <naderfrn@ix.netcom.com>

* Heartbreaker

If you knew that Googoosh still remains in our hearts, you would not have fooled her ["Googooshgate"]. I would not consider you guys as journalists. Stop sending me mails. Mehdi Mohajeran <mehdi.mohajeran@banyan.siemens.at>

* Great taste

This is my comment about the piece you Brilliant Minds put togther for us ["Googooshgate"]. It was very very original and done in a great taste. Whoever invisioned it should become a screenwriter for James Cameron and rewrite the DAMN "Titanic".

Keep up the good work. And for those who didn't like the piece, I say one thing, just chill and be a good sport about it! And please get a life. It was funny as HELL.... Thanks, again. After programming for past 15 hours, I needed a good laugh like this. Kavon Shamloo <76532.1155@compuserve.com>

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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

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ACADEMIC

* 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

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PHOTO OF THE DAY

Performer

* Iranian woman performer. Late 19th century?... full image

Got any interesting photos?
Send them to Times@iranian.com

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MUSIC

* Mohammad Reza Shajarian, "Del-e Majnoon"

(Get RealAudio)

Greatest pop CDs ON SALE!

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QUOTE UNQUOTE

Heavens no

Nothing fails like a prayer.

Bumper sticker on a car
Mountain View, California

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