Headlines

* World Cup: The road to victory!
* Businessman of the Year: Mory Ejabat
* U.S.-Iran: Small gestures
* Iraq: Iran's pilgrims make quiet return
* The Web: Iranzamini.com
* Photo: Death to dood

IRANIAN OF THE YEAR

Mory Ejabat of Ascend

Businessman of the Year

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THE WEB

* Iranzamini.com: If you went to Iranzamin High School in Tehran, this is the site you should vist. If you are into beautiful, fun, interestiung web sites, this is the site you should definitely visit. http://www.iranzamini.com

Thanks to Bruce Bahmani <b@ankaboot.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. makes small gestures to Iran , (AP) - The Clinton administration has made several small gestures toward Iran and eased off its customary anti-Tehran rhetoric as part of an effort to improve relations, officials said Thursday. State Department spokesman James P. Rubin said the administration recently gave permission to Iran's top diplomat at the United Nations to travel to Los Angeles to give a speech. Another official said such overtures were quite rare. In addition, the administration granted a visa to the director of women's affairs in Iran so she could deliver a speech in Washington... full text

* U.S. eases travel by some Iranian officials, (Reuters) - The United States, cautiously trying to improve relations with its long-time nemesis Iran, has eased up slightly on travel by Iranian officials, the State Department said on Thursday. Spokesman James Rubin said that in an unusual move, the Iranian permanent representative at the United Nations, normally confined to New York City, had been permitted to travel to Los Angeles to address a private meeting... full text

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HAJ

* Iranian interior minister on rare visit to Saudi Arabia, (Reuters) - Iran's Interior Minister Abdollah Nouri is due to meet Saudi officials on the first visit by an Iranian interior minister to the kingdom since Iran's Islamic revolution in 1979, Saudi newspapers said on Thursday. They said Nouri, who arrived in the Moslem holy city of Medina on Wednesday, will meet Saudi officials, including Interior Minister Prince Nayef, early next week and will also perform the haj pilgrimage... full text

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FEATURES

* Iran's pilgrims make quiet return to Iraqi holy cities, (AFP) - Ten years after the end of the Iran-Iraq war, Iranian pilgrims are returning to Iraq in such large numbers that hotels in this Shiite Moslem holy city have started putting up signs in Persian. "Please leave your valuables at reception," a Persian-language sign urges guests at the entrance to the Zamzam, the smartest hotel in Najaf, 160 kilometres (100 miles) south of the capital... full text

* Slowly, Iran and U.S. show signs of a thawing relationship, (The New York Times) - After five years of demonizing Iran, the Clinton administration is searching for small gestures of reconciliation and is responding, however slowly, to the leadership of President Mohammad Khatami of Iran. The gestures are designed to bolster the standing of Khatami and even move him and the rest of Iran's leadership to accept direct talks with the United States, according to senior government officials.The administration is heartened by steps Khatami has taken to impose the rule of law in Iran, his assertion in private to the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat that Iran will not oppose a Middle East peace settlement acceptable to the Palestinians, and Iran's recent crackdown on Iraqi oil smuggling, senior administration officials said... full text

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NEWS

* Family killed in New Year bus crash, (Reuters) - Eight members of one family burned to death when their car collided head-on with a bus during Iranian new year holidays, the official IRNA news agency said on Thursday. All eight occupants of the car died in flames before rescue workers arrived at the scene on a road to Kashan, south of Tehran. The bus also caught fire, but passengers managed to escape unhurt, the agency said. IRNA said the accident occurred this week. Many Iranians travel during new year holidays which started on Saturday.

* 2.5 tonnes of opium seized in past few days, (Reuters) - More than 2.5 tonnes of opium have been seized by Iranian authorities in the northeastern province of Khorasan in the last few days, the official Iranian news agency IRNA reported on Thursday. It said 1,157 kg (2,550 lb) of opium and 40 kg (88 lb) of hashish were seized following armed clashes with smugglers on Wednesday. ``A large amount of munitions were also seized from the smugglers who fled away in the dark,'' it quoted a law enforcement official as saying... full text

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COMMUNITY

* Do something: Each year, the BRICK Award in the U.S. honors ten outstanding leaders under the age of 30 who use their talents to take action that measurably strengthens their local communities. Each of the ten winners is awarded a grant to support his/her community work: the national grand prize winner receives a grant of $100,000 and the nine other winners each receive a grant of $10,000. Applications are due May 1, 1998. For more information: see Do Something's website at http://www.dosomething.org or call 212-523-1175 or email brick@dosomething.org

Thanks to Sussan Tahmasebi < stahmase@acog.org>

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ECONOMY

* OPEC must be on best behavior at oil pact baptism, (Reuters) - OPEC producers will seek to smooth over policy differences that could strangle a price rescue pact at birth when they meet to approve an oil output cut next week, OPEC delegates said Thursday. The fractious cartel must be on its best behavior at talks in Vienna on Monday as it ushers in a historic accord to shrink a disastrous glut of crude, they said... full text

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DOLLAR RATE

Unchanged at 502

* To send money to Iran, the rate is 502-510 tomans per dollar, depending on how much you wish to send.

* To send money out of Iran, the rate is 514 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

By Bruce Bahmani

No more hollow Asian Cup victories, I mean who is in the Asian Cup anyway? Brazil? Germany? Italy? France? Holland? Hell, even Cameroon ain't in the Asian Cup. How can a man truly measure himself unless he goes up against the best of men?

We come from a land of kings and conquests, pahlevan's and daleers, dammit! It is in our most basic of instincts to push, pull, stretch, strain, bet, wrestle, dance, drink, pass excruciatingly tough University of Tehran entrance exams, and live our lives in a constant state of intense competition. This is our credo.

Even the revolution was a competition of sorts, if you think about it. Just another guy pissed off at another guy for riding around in a cooler car!... full text

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NOSTALGIA

* "Chopper" dasteh boland

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SPORTS

* Road to victory: Some interesting predictions about the outcome of World Cup '98! By Bruce Bahmani... 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

* Iranian of the Year ... 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.

* 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

Iran during World War II

I am an American documentary film maker. For the past six years we have been collecting stories and film about the "Bridge to Victory" supply route that crossed Iran from the Persian Gulf to the Caspian during WWII. We have lots of interviews and material from the military perspective but need more about how the "occupation" of Iran affected the people (in the vein of "Savashun" by Daneshavar). Anyone with ideas is welcome to contact me at: INTERNECT@msn.com or PO Box 404, Rockville, MD, 20848-0404, USA. Thanks.

Rob Burgener
Producer/Director

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LETTERS

Darn close

Last time I was in Iran, in 1994, as I was walking near rice paddies of Mazandaran, I asked a local man who was standing by his house for directions. After giving me the directions, he insisted on inviting me and my friend inside for tea and dinner. We had to come up with some excuse quickly as he kept insisting. Iranians are not as mehman navaz as Hamid Taghavi suggests/exaggerates ["Iranian hospitality attack"], but are darn close. Pasha <pasha@tiac.net>

No fiction

I read your article titled the"Bridge to Victory", as often is the case, you guys are just great. I grew up in Khuzestan and I traveled between Abadan and Andimeshk a lot throughout out my childhood and I kept hearing a little (incomplete) pieces of history from my elders that really did not connect. I could not tell which parts were fiction and which parts were true. I am happy to say that 95% of all the stories that my uncles and father had told me were confirmed by your article. Ali Karimipour <akarimipour@cirdocs.org>

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LOST & FOUND

Mojtaba Zaifnejad

I am trying to find my old friend, Mojtaba Zaifnejad, who moved to the U.S. more than 15 years ago. If you have any information, please email Siavash Taghizadeh at <taghizadeh@ddf.dk>

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BOOKSTORE

Book of the week

Borrowed Ware : Medieval Persian Epigrams
Dick Davis / Hardcover / Published 1997
See feature in THE IRANIAN. Click here

THE IRANIAN Bookstore

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ACADEMIC

* Davis on Sufism and Sufi poetry: The Department of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University Presents: Lecture by Professor Dick Davis, professor of Judaic and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures at Ohio State University, titled "SUFISM AND SUFI POETRY". Date/time: Thursday, April 2, 1998 at 8:00 pm. Address: The Woodrow WIlson School, Bowl 5.

* Symposium on Iran, in Houston: The James III Baker Institute of Rice University, Houston, Texas, is organizing a symposium on Iran, April 2, 1998. The speakers include Congressman Lee Hamilton, Hooshang Amirahmadi of Rutgers University, and Bruce Ridel, Special Advisor to President Clinton.

ENTERTAINMENT

Shahrzad dances in Palo Alto

Shahrzad Dance Company in San Francisco's Bay Area presents: Noruz 1377 Dance Concert! Dances primarily from Iran, with a surprise dance from Darvag Theater Group! Where? Albany High School. When? Saturday March 28 at 8:00 PM Sharp! (Doors open at 7:30). Tickets? $15 Adult/$10 kids and students. Reservations? (510) 724-2224 Numbered seating so reserve tickets early!

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PHOTO OF THE DAY

Death to dood

* You don't want to mess around with these kids ... full image

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

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MUSIC

Sandy, "Eshq-e Bandar"

(Get RealAudio)

Greatest pop CDs ON SALE!

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QUOTE UNQUOTE

Am I seeing things? Better call the eye doctor

American intelligence reports indicate that there is even some evidence that Iran has begun to reduce its support for activities that the United States defines as terrorist, senior officials said.

Elaine Sciolino
Correspondent
The New York Times
"Slowly, Iran and U.S. Show Signs of a Thawing Relationship"
March 26, 1998

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