Iran Press: Columnist praises Iran’s “constructive interaction” foreign policy
Siyasat-e Ruz, Tehran
9 Jul 06
Text of commentary by Ali Sharafpur entitled “Constructive interaction
and the nuclear case” by Iranian newspaper Siyasat-e Ruz on 9 July
After the ninth administration took the helm of foreign policy,
Iranian foreign policy experienced pleasant changes that were based on
authentic principles and ideals of the Islamic Revolution. Generally,
it can be concluded that Iranian foreign policy is moving from an
approach based on removing tensions to another based on constructive
interaction, i.e., a shift from a policy focused on trust-building
and detente to a dynamic and proactive policy based on constructive
interaction has occurred.
The doctrine of constructive interaction is based on the fact that
playing as a powerful actor on the international stage requires
adopting a proactive, dynamic, effective and partisan policy that in
turn must be based on a precise knowledge of political equations. Based
on this, the doctrine of constructive interaction is one step ahead
of the detente policy and an advanced phase of this policy.
There is no doubt that the Islamic Republic of Iran is the biggest
threat to illegitimate interests of America and the bullyism of this
imperialist state. These interests have accumulated in the Middle
East region and the Persian Gulf, as the geopolitical and strategic
point of the region. For the same reason, in the 27 years after the
glorious Islamic Revolution leaders of world imperialism have sought
to limit the role of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the region, have
ceaselessly tried to weaken it in all fields, and have employed all
political and economic measures to achieve this goal. The expansion
of the military presence of America in post-revolutionary years and
the military occupation of two neighbouring countries – Afghanistan
and Iraq – in recent years prove the comment that all these decisions
have been aimed at putting Iran in a state of siege and using military
invasion when required. Of course, it is obvious these measures have
led to diametrically opposite results and have plunged America into
serious problems and crises. Fortunately, as America faces serious
challenges in the region, Iran’s power and influence in the region
has strengthened so that former American Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright stated that ignoring the role of the region in Iraq was the
biggest mistake made by the American foreign policy.
Regarding the above facts and existing opportunities (the challenges
facing America in the region and Iran’s growing influence and position
in Iraq) and with respect to the constructive interaction policy,
we can mange the situation to put America face to face with numerous
and increasing crises in the region and on the other hand strengthen
and improve our position in the region.
In this connection, in order to neutralize America’s measures
especially concerning the settlement of the nuclear dispute which is
nowadays used by the West as a tool to control Iran it is inevitable to
adopt the policy of constructive interaction. So, as we have already
witnessed, political, military, security and specially economic
relations with countries in five regions as follows must be improved:
1 – South (Sheikhdoms of the Persian Gulf), 2 – East (Pakistan and
Afghanistan), 3 – Central Asia (China and Russia), 4 – The Caucasus
(Azerbaijan and Armenia) and 5 – Turkey and Iraq.
The final important fact is that Iran must not only pursue the policy
of constructive interaction in its relations with its neighbours but
towards other countries, preferentially the countries of the region
and then the countries located beyond the region, in order to get the
desired result. Developing relations with Latin American countries,
the African Union, and neighbours of Iraq that have presently gathered
in Tehran, and continuing recent contacts between Iranian officials
(Larijani and Mottaki) with their European and Asian counterparts can
be good instances for constructive interactions. These initiatives
at the present time can improve Iran’s position in the face of
extravagant demands of the West in the course of the nuclear dispute
and finally strengthen Iran’s position in regional and international
equations. Of course, it must be noted that bilateral interaction does
not mean making concessions and abandoning principles and ideals of
our foreign policy because this may lead to the isolation of Iran from
free countries and liberation movements that will not be in accordance
with our national interests and defined objectives of our country.

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev to Present a Program of CIS Reforming
ArmRadio.am
19.07.2006 16:53
President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev, who will be presiding
over the non-official summit of CIS states to be held July 21-22 in
Moscow, will present the program of CIS reforming, Foreign Minister
of Kazakhstan Kassymzhomart Tokaev told “Interfax” Agency.
“President Nursultan Nazarbaev has prepared a document on CIS reforming
to be presented at the summit,” said Tokaev in Riga, where he arrived
with the Kazakh delegation.

Israeli Troops Enter Southern Lebanon
PanARMENIAN.Net
19.07.2006 13:35 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As the sound of explosions echoed over the port city
of Tyre and with Israeli helicopters and unmanned drones in the skies
above, Israel launched a limited cross-border operation into southern
Lebanon early Wednesday. An Israel Defense Forces spokesman told
CNN the ground troops are on a mission to destroy specific Hezbollah
outposts. The spokesman, speaking from Jerusalem, declined to say how
many Israeli troops were involved in the operation. He also declined
to say how far Israeli troops had gotten into southern Lebanon but
said they were close to the border. An Israeli diplomat said his
country has no intention of staying in Lebanon.
“What we’re doing is part of trying to make Hezbollah incapable of
shelling our cities and our villages and to kill our citizens,” said
Dan Gillerman, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations. The IDF said a
“small group” of Israeli troops has been traveling across the border
near the border fence for a number of days. Their goal is to pinpoint,
or identify, Hezbollah infrastructure, including mines and tunnels.
Israel launched an extensive bombing campaign against Hezbollah
after the Shiite Muslim militia abducted two Israeli soldiers in
a cross-border raid into northern Israel. Lebanon’s government
has demanded a cease-fire, but Israel insisted it would keep up
the attacks until its kidnapped soldiers are freed. The fighting
has killed at least 25 people, including 13 civilians, in northern
Israel. Lebanese Internal Security Forces said Wednesday that 202
people had been killed, including 11 soldiers, and 488 wounded since
the start of hostilities on July 12, reported CNN.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SERGE SARGSYAN TO BE OFFERED POST OF CHAIR OF COUCIL OF REPUBLICAN PARTY
Lragir.am
19 July 06
Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan, who is already a Republican, will
be offered the post of chair of the Council of the Republican Party,
announced Razmik Zohrabyan, Deputy Leader of the Republican Party
July 19.
“Changes in the bylaws are required to appoint Serge Sargsyan to
this post because the post of the chair of the political party has
been abolished,” said Razmik Zohrabyan. He mentioned that the defense
minister cannot become leader of the political party. Zohrabyan said
after the election 2007 Serge Sargsyan will decide on his nomination
for presidency. “Considering this, occupying the post of the leader
of the party is not expedient for Serge Sargsyan,” he said.
The Council of the Republican Party discussed and approved Serge
Sargsyan’s membership bid on July 18.

Chairman of the Human Rights Association of Turkey supports Hrant Dink
ArmRadio.am
19.07.2006 11:57
Representative of the Turkish “Peace Initiative” organization engaged
in human rights protection Sanar Yurdatapan suggested his support for
the editor-in-chief of the Istanbul based “Agos” newspaper Hrant Dink,
who was recently sentenced to six months of conditional imprisonment
for offending Turkish national identity.
According to the Turkish “New Anatolian” periodical, speaking at the
20th session of the Human Rights Union, Yurdatapan declared that his
organization considers that Article 301 of the Criminal Code should
be eliminated. Chairman of the Human Rights Association Yusuf Alatas
also suggested his support to Hrant Dink.

Georgia’s commodity turnover with EU member states increasing
ArmRadio.am
19.07.2006 12:43
Georgia’s commodity turnover with EU member states is
increasing. Department of Statistics of the Georgian Ministry of
Economic Development told ” Kavkazpress” that in 2005 the community
turnover increased with 14.8 percent. The share of the trade with EU
sates comprises 24.9 percent of the total.

WHY THEY REMEMBER SCHOOLS AND HEALTH CARE WHEN THEY SAY CORRUPTION
Lragir.am
19 July 06
Agmak NGO (National Center for Monitoring of Liberalization) monitored
four directions of activities of the City Hall of Yerevan on a grant
provided by the state budget of Armenia. Agmak monitored auction
of land, the one window principle, education and the quality of
medicaid. The results of the monitoring were summed up on July 19.
The results are not reassuring.
The monitoring of three schools in each community in Yerevan showed
that the school councils do not work properly. Though in accordance
with the law a school council elects a director, there is a school in
Yerevan where the director changed the members of the school council.
Generally, as the chair of Agmak Lusineh Margaryan said, “in fact,
elections of school councils are not held at all”. With regard to
raising money at schools on one occasion or another 36.8 percent
said this phenomenon is growing dangerously. “60 percent think the
school is corrupt.” 60 percent think in senior school attendance is
unsatisfactory because schools fail to guarantee the level required
for universities. Only 4-5 percent pointed to the lack of adequate
control as the cause of low attendance.
The major complaint from medicaid is “if you do not pay, they are
not conscientious and are rude”. 11.7 percent said medicaid does not
work and in polyclinics they demand that people pay. 41 percent always
or regularly pay doctors in polyclinics, 36.5 percent announced that
they pay to get normal medical service, 31.8 percent pay because they
are made to pay and only 19 percent pay because they want to pay.
57.4 percent of our citizens know about the one window principle in
the City Hall, 30 percent are satisfied. As 6 percent said they pay
doctors because it is a custom, 46.9 percent prefer direct meeting
with officials to the one window principle. 75 percent say after the
introduction of the one window principle the activities of the City
Hall declined or did not change.
Agmak monitored 40 decisions on sale and rent of land in 2005 and in
the first quarter of 2006. 40 decisions decided the fate of 360 plots
of land. 69 plots were sold for the same price. “It is true that
neighboring plots of land can be sold for a similar price but not
for the same price,” says Lusine Margaryan, the chair of Agmak. In
most cases the price of auction was lower than the market price by
25 percent. “It means immense sums did not go to the state budget.”
Agmak announced the results of the monitoring for the public. Now it
is not clear if the relevant bodies will use these results. Meanwhile
Agmak reports that the City Hall has a lot of work to do.

Azerbaijan appreciates attention to Karabakh problem-spokesman
ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
July 18, 2006 Tuesday
By Sevindzh Abdullayeva, Viktor Shulman
Official Baku appreciates attention of the world community to
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as reflected in a statement
by G8 leaders at the summit in St. Petersburg, Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry spokesman Tair Tagizade said.
“This is a positive fact. We always called and we call on the world
community and its leaders to activate actions to resolve the Karabakh
problem,” he told ITAR-TASS on Tuesday.
At the same time, the call by the G8 leaders on the parties in the
conflict “to prepare their people for peace, and not for war” causes
“some cautiousness” of Azerbaijan, Tagizade added.
He said he doubted “ethics of putting forward equal demands to both
sides, one of which, namely Azerbaijan, is a victim of aggression”.
“Azerbaijan preserves commitment to a peaceful settlement of the
conflict,” Tagizade said.
He stated that the activity of the Minsk Group on Nagorno-Karabakh,
whose co-chairmen are G8 countries Russia, France and the US, “is
a necessary component of successful progress of the peace talks”
between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
“At the same time, we cannot afford holding talks for the sake of
talks. If diplomatic efforts do not yield results, our country has the
sovereign right to restore its territorial integrity,” Tagizade said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Georgian Parliament Adopted Resolution on Withdrawal of All Russian Peacekeepers from Georgia
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.07.2006 17:04 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Georgian Parliament today adopted a Resolution
on withdrawal of all Russian peacekeeping forces from Georgia
by 144 votes for. According to Georgian Speaker Nino Burjanadze,
it is a historical document and in compliance with it the Georgian
Government is charged to launch procedures necessary for withdrawal
of all Russian peacekeeping forces from the country. The Resolution
notes the Government is charged “to launch procedures necessary for
stopping peacekeeping operations in Abkhazia and former autonomous
district of South Ossetia, immediately start work to change the
peacekeeping format, activate works on proper informing of the
population of Abkhazia and former autonomous district of South
Ossetia, to restore confidence maximally, establishment of standards
of peaceful, democratic life on the territory of Georgia.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

War in Lebanon: Hot Line Opened
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.07.2006 18:15 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At a conference at the Armenian Government today the
question of assisting evacuation of Armenian citizens and Armenians
from Lebanon was discussed. In the words of Armenian PM Andranik
Margaryan, the situation in the region is very serious. Many Armenians
live there, including Armenian citizens, and state support is necessary
in that situation. Armenian Deputy FM Gegham Gharibjanyan briefed the
participants of the session with latest developments in the region,
emphasizing that twenty-four-hour duty at Armenian Embassies in Lebanon
and Syria, as well as Consulate General in Aleppo has been organized
since Monday. Two diplomats are additionally sent there to deal with
evacuation of Armenian citizens and other issues. He also reported
that 160 Armenian citizens have already arrived in Yerevan through
Syria, while the 120-thousand Armenian community of Lebanon involves
1200 Armenian citizens: the numbers need to be checked. Gharibjanyan
also noted that residence permit for 3 months will be provided free
of charge to all those wishing to move to Armenia. There are many
people on the Syrian border, thus Armenian MFA officers are charged
to solve all problems operatively. In his turn Chief of the General
Board of the Civil Aviation of Armenia Artem Movsisyan provided the
table of flights to Syria, which can be increased if necessary. He
said that as Yerevan-Beirut flight is not available, the number of
air flights to Syria can be increased.
Besides, according to Gharibjanyan, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (GMT+4) a hot
line is available: (37410) 58-60-17. The Armenian PM ordered to make an
agreement with Armavia Air Company to organize flights to Syria, which
will be partially funded by the Armenian Government if necessary. An
instruction is given to provide medical and psychological assistance to
those arriving, reports the Press Service of the Armenian Government.