Untitled - orsam

MIDDLE EAST BULLETIN
GÜNLÜK ORTADOĞU BÜLTENİ
29 NOVEMBER / KASIM 2010
CONTENTS / İÇİNDEKİLER
1. IRAQ / IRAK
2. IRAN / İRAN
3. ISRAEL - PALESTINE / İSRAİL – FİLİSTİN
4. EGYPT / MISIR
5. LEBANON / LÜBNAN
6. SYRIA / SURİYE
7. ARABIAN PENINSULA AND THE GULF OF BASRA / ARAP YARIMADASI VE BASRA
KÖRFEZİ
8. SOUTH ASIA / GÜNEY ASYA
PAKISTAN / PAKİSTAN
INDIA / HINDISTAN
AFGHANISTAN / AFGANISTAN
Sayfa 1

1. IRAQ / IRAK
Kurdish Parties Coalition is due to hold today a meeting led by Kurdistan leader Massoud
Barazani to discuss the government formation process and Kurds share of ministerial
portfolios.
Al Iraqiya List headed by Iyad Allawi convened on Friday to name a leader for the list
inside the Parliament.
Al Iraqiya meeting discussed the list bylaws and the progress of the negotiation
committee charged of ministerial distribution, the list MP Aliya Nassif told Alsumaria
News.(Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV)
Iraqi MP Yunadem Kunna representing Al Rafidain List told Alsumaria that Christian
parties in Iraq convened on Friday in Arbil to discuss danger looming over the Christian
component in the country. (Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV)
The Premier, Nouri al-Maliki, announced that “The next government formation will be
announced on the mid of next December.
He said in a press conference on Saturday “The next government formation will include
new ministries besides the current ministries,” stressing that “The new formation will
involve three Deputies for the Premier to assume the economic, energy and the services
tasks.”
“We are still adherent to the agreements related to the authorities of the National
Council for the Strategic Policies despite the fact that this Council has no constitutional
ground,” he assured.
Sayfa 2

“We will be obliged by any decision issued by this Council in case being accepted by the
parliamentary majority,” he concluded. (NINA)
The Speaker, Usama al-Nijiefi, will visit Basra province to be acquainted with situation in
the province on Saturday.
A source from Nijeifi’s office stated to the National Iraqi News Agency (NINA) “A number
of MPs will accompany Nijiefi,” noting that “The aim behind the visit is to be aware of the
issue of draining the Iranian creek water into Shat al-Arab.”
“Nijiefi will visit other provinces after visiting Basra province,” he added.
“The MPs who will accompany Nijiefi represent the Iraqiya Slate, the Kurdistani Alliance
and The National Coalition in addition to representatives of the Iraqi communities,” he
concluded. (NINA)
A member of the National Coalition (NC) stressed Sunday his bloc hopes the Kurdish
Blocs Coalition(KBC) can take over the foreign ministry, considering the Kurds' "serious"
conduct of the ministry during the previous cabinet.
Iraqi Parliament, Parlamani IraqThe KBC comprising 49 Kurdish deputies has reiterated it
demands some sovereign ministries, including preferably the foreign ministry which is
currently run by the Kurdish representative Hoshyar Zebari.
The re-elected Iraqi president, Jalal Talabani, who is also a Kurd, has also supported
Zebari to take over his post for the second term.
From the largest parliamentary bloc, the NC, Abdul-Mahdi Khafaji told AKnews Saturday
his bloc the NC admits Kurds have run the foreign ministry "dutifully and effectively". He
Sayfa 3

indicated the parties have reached an agreement concerning the allocation of the
ministry.
According to the media reports the elections' front runner bloc, al-Iraqiya led by the
former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi also demands the same ministry.
In case the foreign ministry was allotted to another party, al-Iraqiya will be assigned
another sovereign ministry instead, Khafaji said.
After eight months of delay when the major Iraqi blocs entered a strategic power-sharing
deal, the election of the Iraqi president and the parliament speaker took place Nov.11. It
is since Thursday that the president has assigned Nouri al-Maliki as the PM to form the
new cabinet in 30 days.
The deadline for cabinet formation should be "respected", Khafaji stressed, urging the
parties to comply with the arrangements in the deal so that the cabinet will be formed
before the deadline.
The Iraqi leaders are still to determine the mechanism for allocation the ministries and
the observers believe there is no agreement for he allocation of the ministries.
What is certain about the deal is a National Council for the Strategic Polices which is
promised to Allawi as a compromise for the PM post. Nevertheless, the authorities of the
council are as well as its structure still under debate. (AK News)
In the meeting between the Kurdistan Region's President Massoud Barzani's and the
negotiating team of the Kurdistan Blocs Coalition (KBC) Saturday the parries agreed on
froming three committees.
The KBC was formed after March elections as an umbrella for all the Kurdish parties
which ran for the elections independently and won together 57 seats. However, with the
withdrawal of the Gorran (Change) Movement, late October its seats dropped to 49.
Sayfa 4

Saturday's meeting was to deliberate on the Kurdish participation and its share in the
new Iraqi cabinet.
Najib Abdullah Balatayi, a participant in the meeting, told AKnews they decided to form a
committee from the representatives of all the allies in the KBC to prioritize the blocs
demands of ministries. The committee will also discuss on behalf of the KBC for the
points system which is essential in allocating the ministries.
The point system as well as the number of the ministries in the new cabinet is vague.
According to statements of lawmakers to AKnews, one point equals 2.24 or 2 seats and
the number of the ministries, which currently amounts to 38, fluctuates between 25 and
40 ministries, according to their speculations.
The second committee will supervise and coordinate the conduct of the bloc inside
parliament and its dealing with the other blocs, Balatayi added.
The KBC introduced a 19-points demands paper to the Iraqi sides as its terms for alliance.
None of the parties has so far officially endorsed the paper. However, the Kurdish side
was verbally assured their demands will be met.
The third committee, according to Balatayi, will follow up the commitment to such
demands. He reiterated should the blocs disavow their word; the KBC will withdraw from
the government.
Resolving disagreements with Baghdad over disputed areas and issues such the legality
of Kurdistan's oil and gas, Kurdistan budget, and the status of its Peshmarga (armed)
forces are among the Kurdish demands. Kurds further demand the allocation of senior
posts in the next government to Kurds.
Mahmoud Othman, another KBC deputy also told AKnews Sunday onward the bloc will
negotiate over the cabinet formation and its share.
Sayfa 5

Though Gorran was invited to attend Saturday's meeting, it declined the call, Othman
said.
In allotting the ministries not only the points which is the "main criterion" but also the
"ethnic balance, political accord and the number of the deputies to the parliament" are
considered, Othman noted.
Oil, foreign and finance ministries are among the key ministries demanded by more than
one bloc. According to the media reports the defense and interior ministries are
preferred to be run by neutral figures. (AK News)
A member in State of Law Coalition (SLC) headed by Maliki, the prime minister, said that
Maliki is able to form the government within the deadline given by the constitution. On
the other hand, Iraqiya lawmaker says that the decision of having the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs is almost resolved for the Iraqiya. gul-maliki
Ali Kurdi al Husseini told AKnews, that after selecting al Maliki as the Iraqi Prime Minister
by president Talabani, he will succeed in forming the government within the given
deadline.
He said that all the political blocs announced their participation in the new government,
and that the existence of a bloc refusing their participation is only "media hearsay".
Regarding the matter of Iraqiya demanding to have foreign Ministry, al Husseini said,
that the sovereign ministries are under the blocs' discussion, therefore, the Foreign
Ministry is most likely to go for Iraqiya or Kurdish Blocs' Coalition explaining that "there
should be a balance in everything".
Al Husseini confirmed that the National Coalition (NC) will have its right from the
ministerial shares; denying the media hearsays on the NC that clams it will have the "Lion
share" from the distribution.
Sayfa 6

Mohammed al Da'mi, Iraqiya member, confirmed that its List resolved 90% of having the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Al Da'mi said, "We aspire to have the services ministries that have direct connection with
the Iraqi citizen." expressing that if the Iraqiya did not have the Foreign Ministry, then it
will have another ministry.
He also said that his List should have at least ten or nine ministries, as it has won many
parliamentary seats; Hoping for Ayad Allawi to play an active role in the national
partnership government. (AK News)
The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, said on Saturday that he will announce the
formation of his government by mid-December at the latest, stressing that selecting the
ministers is his constitutional responsibility. Maliki
Speaking at a press conference in the Prime Ministerial headquarters, Maliki said that
the ministers would be selected from the candidates submitted by the different blocs
“according to their integrity and professionalism”, insisting that the final word would be
his.
“I will not let anyone pass a minister without my consent,” he said.
The Prime minister went on to express his wish to form an inclusive, partnership
government that represents all of the parliamentary factions, dismissing suggestions of
an al-Iraqiya boycott.
"We hope that all political blocs will participate in the next government and there are no
serious concerns about the non-participation of al-Iraqiya.”
Mr. Maliki said that there will be 39 ministries after the inclusion of the National
Reconciliation Ministry, and three deputy Prime Ministers: One responsible for the
economy, one for energy and another for the country’s services.
Sayfa 7

The PM assured the gathered reporters of his commitment to the agreements signed
between the political blocs before the reconvening of Parliament on Nov. 11, in which a
power-sharing deal was brokered to end the eight-month political deadlock over the
right to lead the government.
Earlier this week Mr. Maliki asked all parliamentary blocs to nominate their candidates
for the different ministries which will be allocated, in part, according to a point system
based on the number of seats each bloc attained in the March 7 elections.
A number of blocs have already staked claims on the key Finance and Oil Ministries,
indicating that the task of forming a cabinet that will satisfy the different factions on the
Iraqi political arena is going to be something of a challenge. (AK News)
A State of Law Coalition (SLC) member reported today that the bloc’s leader and Iraqi
Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki nominated on Friday the former Oil Minister and
Independents List leader, Hussain al Shahristani, as deputy PM. Hussein Shahristani
Haidar al-Yasiri told AKnews that Mr. Maliki appointed Shahristani on the strength of his
strong track record in both the Oil and Electricity ministries.
Yasiri said that Shahristani accepted the post on the condition that he is granted the
legislative power to monitor the performance of the oil and electricity ministries.
Talks between Maliki and the Independents List are ongoing concerning the extent of the
post’s authority, Yasiri explained, to “make it an important post in addressing the
country’s energy crisis.”
Dr Hussain al-Shahristani, 68, a Shia Muslim nuclear scientist, was imprisoned and
tortured at Abu Ghraib prison for 11 years under Saddam Hussein for alleged "religious
activities".
Sayfa 8

Dr. Shahristani further incurred the former dictator’s wrath by refusing to help build a
nuclear weapon for the country.
After a dramatic escape from prison in 1990, the former Oil minister fled to Kirkuk and
participated in the Kurdish uprising.
He was then smuggled into Iran on the back of a truck where he and his Canadian wife
Bernice settled in Tehran and established an Iraqi refugee aid foundation.
In the transitional government set up following the 2003 US-led invasion, Shahristani was
appointed deputy speaker of the Iraqi National Assembly.
He was twice considered for the post of Prime Minister before being appointed oil
minister in May 2006.
Following President Talabani’s official nomination of Nouri al-Maliki to the post of Prime
Minister on Thursday, the latter must form a government within the constitutionally
decreed 30 day period.
The political blocs are currently studying a consensus mechanism to ensure a fair
distribution of the sovereign and ministerial posts. (AK News)
An Iraqi Turkomen Legislature from al-Iraqiya Coalition has said that President Jalal
Talabani had promised to grant the Turkomen community the post of vice-president or
deputy prime minister in the new government.
“President Jalal Talabani, in a meeting with Turkomen Members of Parliament on
Sunday, has expressed support for our demands to get a leading state position in the
government, such as vice-president or deputy prime minister,” Arshad al-Salehy told
Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
Sayfa 9

Salehy quoted Talabani as saying: “a special law must be promulgated by the Iraqi
Parliament in this respect, and I shall support your (Turkomen) demands in the
parliament, and become the leading defender of Turkomen, to grant them a leading
state position, because they have suffered enough, and more than others.”
He said the Turkomen Legislatures, who met the President had been six, representing
the Turkomen Front, from al-Iraqiya Coalition, three from the National Alliance and the
other from “Iraqiyoun List.”
Turkomen, the third national community after the Arabs and Kurds, exist in Ninewa,
Kirkuk, Diala, Erbil and Baghdad, and the leading Turkomen political parties in Iraq are:
the Iraqi Turkomen Front, the Islamic Union of Iraq’s Turkomen, the Turkomen Justic
Party, the Turkomen Homeland Party, the Support Movement for Iraq’s Turkomen, the
Turkomen Islamic Movement, the Turkomen Eli Party and others. (Aswat Al Iraq)
The Legislature from the National Alliance, Ali al-Kurdi, has charged the current Iraqi
Parliament with having inherited the violations of the previous parliament, including
failure to hold MPs absent from the parliament sessions accountable.
“The current Parliament has inherited the violations of the previous parliament,
including failure to hold MPs absent from the parliament sessions accountable,” Kurdi
told Aswat al-Iraq news agency, calling on the new parliament speaker to “prove the
potential to practice the parliament’s internal system on all MPs, including the leaders of
political blocs.”
“The parliament’s current debates are not taking place in a competant and genuine form,
due to act that its committees had not been formed yet and the new internal system had
not been accomplished,” he noted, calling for the discussion of the MPs salaries and
other topics, upon the completion of the said committees.
Sayfa 10

The representative of the Supreme Shiite Religious Leader, Sayid Ali al-Sistani, in Karbala,
Sheikh Abdul-Mahdi al-Karbalae, demanded, in his Friday address, the accounting of
MPs, who have been receiving high salaries and “illusionary” allocations for their
protection guards, demanding the laying down of an internal system that practices
severe decisions against any MP, who does not attend the parliament meetings, similar
to any employee or student. (Aswat Al Iraq)
Kurds have to be partners in the gains after they contributed to settling the country’s
political crisis, Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barazani said on Saturday,
according to a statement in Arbil.
“An internal committee should be formed to determine the necessary posts for the
Kurdistan people provided that all agreements are signed prior to the formation of a new
government,” Barazani was quoted in a statement by the Iraqi Kurdistan Region
presidential cabinet as received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
Barazani’s remarks came during a meeting today (Nov. 27) with a negotiation delegation
from the Kurdistan Alliance bloc in the resort of Salaheddin in the Kurdish city of Arbil.
“The Kurds have played a role in brining an end to the country’s political stalemate and
accordingly they have to be partners in the gains,” he said. (Aswat Al Iraq)
Kürdistan Bölge Hükümeti Dışilişkiler Sorumlusu Felah Mustafa Arapça yayın yapan Şark
Elewsed gazetesine verdiği demeçte, İngiltere Hükümetinin Kürdistan Bölgesinde
başkonsolosluk açma kararını değerlendirdi.
KBH’nin Dışilişkiler Sorumlusu Felah Mustafa, Kürdistan Bölgesi olarak İngiltere Hükümeti
Dışişleri Bakanlığı yetkilileri ile yaptıkları birçok görüşmede İngiltere Hükümetinin
Kürdistan Bölgesinde Bağdat büyükelçiliğine bağlı olarak çalışan diplomatik temsilciliğini
Sayfa 11

konsolosluk düzeyine çıkarması talebinde bulunduklarını ve yapılan değerlendirmeler
neticesinde bu talebin kabul edildiğini ifade etti. İngiltere Hükümetinin, Dışişleri bakanlığı
vasıtasıyla Federal Irak Merkezi Hükümeti Dışişleri bakanlığına resmi olarak Kürdistan
Bölgesinde Konsolosluk açma talebini ilettiğini söyleyen Mustafa, bu konuda gerekli
prosedürün tamamlandığını ve Konsolosluğun açılması için pratik çalışmalara başlandığını
ifade etti.
Mustafa açıklamasının devamında, İngiltere’nin bu adımının aralarında tarihi ilişkiler
bulunan İngiliz ve Kürt halkı açısından çok önemli gelişmelere yol açacağını dile getirerek,
bu adımın ilk etapta halen bölgede iş yapan birçok İngiliz firmanın bürokratik ve yasal
işlemleri, Kürdistan’lıların İngiltere vizesi alması gibi birçok konuda büyük kolaylıklar
yaşanmasına sebebiyet vereceğini sözlerine ekldi. (Peyamner)
Federal Irak Devleti’nin çeşitli kentlerinde maruz kaldıkları şiddet ve terör saldırı
yüzünden Kürdistan bölgesine kaçan Hıristiyanları karşılamakla görevli komisyon bir
toplantı gerçekleştirdi.
Şiddet ve Terör saldırılarına maruz kalan Hristiyanlar Kürdistan’a sığındı. Kürdistan Bölge
Hükümeti (KBH) İçişleri Bakanı Kerim Şengali başkanlığında Hristiyalar için kurulan
konisyon bir toplantı düzenledi. Toplantıda, Kürdistan bölgesindeki Hewler, Süleymaniye
ve Dohuk kentlerine yerleşen Hıristiyanlara biran önce gerekli insani yardımların
yapılması yönünde karar alındığı açıklandı. Yapılan son istatistikler doğrultusunda şuana
kadar 507 Hıristiyan aile şiddetten kaçarak, Kürdistan’a geldi.
Kürdistan Bölgesi Başkanı Mesud Barzani daha önce yaptığı açıklamasında, şiddet ve
Terör saldırılarına maruz kalan Hristiyanların Kürdistan’a gelebileceği ve bu vesileyle
Hristiyan vatandaşlar için özel bir komisyonun kurulmasını istemişti. (Peyamner)
Sayfa 12

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, who was recently re-elected, believes that despite the
success of the initiative of Kurdistan Region President Masud Barzani in finalizing the
subject of the three leadership posts in Iraq based on a power-sharing agreement
reached by the leaders of the political blocs, the initiative of King Abdullah Bin-Abdulaziz,
the custodian of the two holy shrines, inviting those leaders to a meeting in Riyadh
remains important to achieve national reconciliation. In an interview with Asharq al-
Awsat upon his arrival in Paris after he was re-elected president of the republic to attend
the Socialist International conference, Talabani said that he was ready to go to Riyadh for
this purpose as he described the initiative as "a good initiative in the interest of the Iraqi
people". Talabani also spoke about recent developments and the next task of distributing
the government posts to the political blocs. In the interview, he said that he wrote a
letter of designation to Prime Minister-designate Nuri al-Maliki and that he will send the
letter after Id al-Adha. He revealed that it was agreed that no party members will occupy
the post of defense minister and the security ministries. Talabani also affirmed that the
Kurdistan Alliance, of which he is a member, still clings to the foreign ministry portfolio
and wants current Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari to remain in his post "since he is a
successful minister and established very good relations on the Arab, regional, and
international levels. We have to reward successful and qualified persons rather than to
unjustly sentence them to exclusion".
The text of the interview follows:
[Asharq Al Awsat] You are the Deputy Chairman of Socialist International. What was your
contribution? Did Iraq participate in the discussions that took place during the
conference?
[Talabani] Iraq's contribution was reflected in my speech on democratic development in
Iraq and the problems that Iraq faces. I spoke in detail on the democratic track and the
audience listened attentively to the speech. I think that one of the resolutions will be a
recommendation to support Iraq and its democratic course. I asked the socialist parties
Sayfa 13

participating in the conference to send delegations to Iraq to publish reports on Iraq and
support the Iraqi people's struggle for reconstruction, prosperity, and the eradication of
terrorism.
[Asharq Al Awsat] The crucial subject in Iraq these days is the formation of the
government and its future configuration to end the more than eight-month crisis. My
first question is: Has the misunderstanding between you and the Al-Iraqiya List - the
majority of its deputies walked out from the parliament session that elected the Iraqi
president - ended?
[Talabani] The misunderstanding is over; the brothers in Al-Iraqiya returned to the
parliament, including the speaker. A delegation of senior Al-Iraqiya leaders visited me to
offer their congratulations and affirmed to me that the misunderstanding is over and
that they are serious in participating in a genuine national partnership government.
[Asharq Al Awsat] Is there a misunderstanding between you on the interpretation of the
agreement that the major political entities signed according to which you were reelected
and will designate Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the prime minister whose term
has ended, to form the new government?
[Talabani] The problem was that Deputy Muhammad Tamim, one of the brothers from
the Al-Iraqiya List, proposed that the parliament should debate the annulment of the
Debathification process (of three deputies from the Al-Iraqiya). He was told that this
subject should be raised in parliament at another time, particularly since the three
leaders (Kurdistan President Masud Barzani, Prime Minister-designate Nuri al-Maliki, and
former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi) have signed an agreement to solve all these
problems. This needs time; it needs judicial action. Moreover, an amnesty should be
issued by the president of the republic and the prime minister. In fact, the speaker (who
is from Al-Iraqiya) agreed. After the deputies (53 deputies) who refused to accept this
logic walked out, they said that there was a misunderstanding.
[Asharq Al Awsat] Is this subject over?
Sayfa 14

[Talabani] Yes; a parliament session convened last Saturday and its decisions were issued
unanimously.
[Asharq Al Awsat] When will you officially designate Al-Maliki to form the government?
[Talabani] After the Id.
[Asharq Al Awsat] But the Id is over.
[Talabani] That's true; but we celebrate the Id for four days. I have written a letter of
designation to Al-Maliki. It will be issued after the Id and the prime minister-designate
will begin discussions on the formation of the government.
[Asharq Al Awsat] It took eight months until you agreed to distribute the responsibilities
to the various parties. Do we have to wait for another eight months for the government
to see the light?
[Talabani] (Laughing) We expect the government to see the light within one month, God
willing. In fact, we did not wait for eight months but for five months. The first three
months were spent on the court's ratification of the legislative elections and on other
legal measures. But the reason why it took so long is because we are determined to form
a national partnership government. We could have formed a majority government but
we insisted on a national unity government and the Kurdistan Alliance insisted that the
Al-Iraqiya List should be present in the government. That is the formation faltered. Now,
however, there is a consensus among the parties on a national unity government. What
remains is agreeing on the distribution of the ministerial portfolios.
[Asharq Al Awsat] Is there the beginning of an accord on this matter?
[Talabani] It is up to the prime minister and the various blocs that should propose the
names of qualified men (and women) to fill these posts. The prime minister has
requested the name of more than one candidate for each post in order to select the
most qualified.
Sayfa 15

[Asharq Al Awsat] Issues related to distribution are being discussed in advance as part of
an integrated basket. What is the true situation?
[Talabani] It is hard to place all this in one basket and in detail. The fact is that the prime
minister has been authorized to discuss the demands of each bloc and each bloc that
wishes to obtain important portfolios and positions. Thus, there is a need for time so
that the blocs would compromise on the ministerial positions.
[Asharq Al Awsat] Does the agreement between Allawi and Al-Maliki still stand although
Allawi himself said a few days ago that this agreement is "dead"?
[Talabani] The agreement was revived by the parliament.
[Asharq Al Awsat] But Allawi made this statement after the parliament's vote.
[Talabani] The parliament ratified the agreement unanimously, including the deputies of
the Al-Iraqiya, naturally. Allawi was absent. The agreement became a binding
parliamentary resolution and is no longer an agreement among the various sides.
However, if brother Allawi has some observations, he is the one to be asked.
[Asharq Al Awsat] But Allawi is saying that it is dead.
[Talabani] Let me ask you as a journalist and an observer: Does the parliament's
ratification of the agreement mean that it is dead? Allawi is responsible for what he says.
[Asharq Al Awsat] One of the difficulties facing the formation of the government is in the
distribution of the sovereign and the important portfolios.
[Talabani] We have an agreement in principle to distribute the defense ministry and the
security ministries among independents.
[Asharq Al Awsat] In other words totally from outside the parties and not even those
who are close to the parties?
Sayfa 16

[Talabani] We cannot say not even those that are close to the parties. But no party
member will fill the post of defense minister or interior minister. The remaining posts
will be distributed among the groups forming the government.
[Asharq Al Awsat] The other problem is that of the fate of the foreign minister. Sides
other than the Kurdish side aspire to fill this post. Do you insist on this portfolio and in
the person of Hoshyar Zebari?
[Talabani] Zebari has demonstrated exceptional efficiency in performing his mission. He
also has very good relations with the Arab countries to an extent that Colonel Gaddafi
proposed him as secretary general of the Arab League. We believe that brother Hoshyar
should be rewarded not penalized. Dismissing him from the ministry is a penalty and his
stay is a reward since he demonstrated that he is a successful minister.
[Asharq Al Awsat] I understand from your words that you insist on him and on the
ministry.
[Talabani] Yes, we believe that Zebari should remain in the foreign ministry since he is a
successful minister and established very good relations on the Arab, regional, and
international levels. We have to reward successful and qualified persons rather than to
unjustly sentence them to exclusion.
[Asharq Al Awsat] In other words, his remaining in office is a red line for you?
[Talabani] As president of a republic, I do not like lines of any color and I do not wish to
engage in such a discussion.
[Asharq Al Awsat] What I wanted to say is that it is a condition to which you cling.
[Talabani] Yes, we continue to cling to it to this moment.
[Asharq Al Awsat] I understood that the price for giving up the foreign ministry is the oil
ministry. Is that true?
Sayfa 17

[Talabani] These are rumors. The subject of changing the foreign minister was not
discussed with us; so, we have not asked for an alternative. At any rate, the subject
should be discussed among the Kurdish blocs. I am the president of the Iraqi republic. I
wear the Iraqi cloak and I act as president of the republic. The formation of the
government is up to the prime minister and the blocs.
[Asharq Al Awsat] But you shoulder responsibilities and one of these is facilitating the
formation of the government.
[Talabani] I have responsibilities related to achieving concordance and reunification of
the family. I do not have the responsibility of drawing colored lines.
[Asharq Al Awsat] One way to emerge from the crisis was to satisfy Allawi by forming the
national council for strategic policies. My question is: If real powers are given to this
council they will inevitably clash with the powers of the government, and if this council is
not given powers Allawi will turn it down. What is the solution?
[Talabani] Agreement was reached on the national council for strategic policies and on
its structure, rights, and powers. The Iraqi parliament approved all this unanimously.
[Asharq Al Awsat] Your Excellency the president: Who decides foreign policy? Is it the
council or the foreign minister or the prime minister?
[Talabani] The council will not be against the government; it will be part of the state
institutions. Its decisions will be made unanimously or by absolute majority (two-thirds)
and all the parties will be represented in it. The powers will not be given to the chairman
of the council but to the whole council, just as the constitutional powers are given to the
council of ministers rather than the prime minister. The council's decisions will be
binding.
[Asharq Al Awsat] They will be binding on the government as well?
Sayfa 18

[Talabani] Yes, on the government and the Iraqi state as a whole. This council does not
violate the constitution and does not negate the rights of the ministers or the council of
ministers as stipulated in the constitution.
[Asharq Al Awsat] Ultimately, the position of this council may be more important than
that of the government.
[Talabani] No; one of the important conditions agreed upon is that the council's powers
do not contradict the constitution. The Iraqi constitution drew up the powers of all the
sides and the law that will be issued (establishing the council) will not violate the
constitution.
[Asharq Al Awsat] King Abdullah Bin-Abdulaziz, the custodian of the two holy shrines,
called on all components of the Iraqi political spectrum to a meeting after the Id al-Adha.
Will this meeting be held and when? Have the present circumstances changed from what
they were when the invitation was made?
[Talabani] I welcomed the invitation when Prince Saud al-Faisal called me to inform me
about the invitation of the custodian of the two holy shrines. I expressed my readiness to
participate in the meeting. Later, the Saudi side informed us that it does not want the
invitation to contradict the initiative of brother Masud Barzani but that they welcome
this initiative. The fact is that this initiative succeeded and brought about national accord
in Iraq. If the brother Saudis call for a meeting I am the first to welcome it and to attend.
But it is up to the brothers in Saudi Arabia to decide whether they wish to proceed with
the initiative or whether they are content with the recent positive developments that
took place.
[Asharq Al Awsat] But, in your opinion, is there an Iraqi need in this regard?
[Talabani] The two issues of electing a president and appointing a prime minister have
been accomplished, and agreement has been reached on forming a national partnership
government and establishing the higher council for policies. Understanding has been
Sayfa 19

eached on solving all the problems; thus, the only problem that remains is agreeing on
the names of the ministers. But there is an important point related to national
reconciliation. If this process falters and if the Saudi brothers invite us to a meeting to
solve this problem, I personally endorse it and support it. As for the other sides, they
have to decide. I consider it a good initiative in the interest of the Iraqi people.
[Asharq Al Awsat] As president of the republic, you have responsibilities toward all the
components of the Iraqi people. One of these components, I mean Iraq's Christians, is
being subjected to an organized terrorist campaign. What else do you want to do
regarding this apart from issuing condemnation statements?
[Talabani] First of all, I wish to say that I strongly condemned the criminal assaults on the
brother Christians who are pure Iraqis that have lived in this country since the advent of
Christ. Under no circumstances should they be marginalized or evicted from the country.
The solution lies in providing them protection through government forces or through
forces of their own to help them form armed units to protect their homes and places of
worship.
[Asharq Al Awsat] Do I understand that this is a call to form militias?
[Talabani] No, not at all; in Kirkuk, units were formed to protect the churches and places
of worship. Secondly, the government should provide special protection to the churches.
Thirdly, the Christians can go to Kurdistan.
[Asharq Al Awsat] This would mean forced internal relocation.
[Talabani] No, not at all; it means moving to Kurdistan as they wait for the return of
security and stability so they can return to their homes instead of going abroad. I wish to
say that many Christians are originally from Kurdistan. They would be like returning to
their original homes. They will be in their homeland and the government of Kurdistan
and the central government will care about them and they would not be in need. Their
departure abroad empties Iraq of its citizens, particularly since the brother Christians
Sayfa 20

played a prominent role in Iraq's cultural and civilized renaissance. Their departure
would be a blow to culture and civilization in Iraq. Therefore, we should protect their
presence among us with all our financial, military, political, and media resources.
[Asharq Al Awsat] Did the Pope contact you in this regard?
[Talabani] No, he did not; however, he issued a statement and we welcome the
statement and want to exert our utmost to achieve what His Holiness requested.
[Asharq Al Awsat] How do you describe your relations with the neighboring countries?
[Talabani] Let us with Turkey with which we have strategic relations based on signed
agreements between us. The two sides are determined to uphold this relationship and it
is a good one. With Syria, we have agreed with President Bashar al-Assad during a
meeting in Sirte (Libya) to have a long-term strategic relationship on the political,
economic, commercial, oil, and other fields. President Al-Assad approved our proposals.
We do not have any problems with Syria any more. We have folded the old page and
opened a new page.
[Asharq Al Awsat] In other words, the old reports on security leaks and infiltrations
across the borders have ended?
[Talabani] These are details; the basis is that we have established strategic relations and
the two sides are headed in that direction.
[Asharq Al Awsat] And with Kuwait?
[Talabani] Our relationship is good with Kuwait and Jordan. With Kuwait, we agreed to
recognize the international borders of Kuwait. That was the primary problem between
us. The brothers in Kuwait also expressed readiness to cooperate with Iraq and to
establish strong and good relations.
[Asharq Al Awsat] But with Kuwait the problem that remains is Kuwait's request to keep
Iraq under Chapter VII.
Sayfa 21

[Talabani] I discussed the subject with the Kuwaiti prime minister when I was visiting
New York. He said: If Iraq sends a letter to the Security Council affirming your recognition
of the Kuwaiti-Iraqi borders, we too approve removing Iraq from under Chapter VII. I
answered Dr Muhammad al-Sabah: You write the letter and I am ready to sign it right
now. We are ready to give such guarantees. What remains is setting the time only. We
have appointed an ambassador to Kuwait and they have an ambassador in Baghdad. We
expect to have excellent relations with Kuwait. Finally, regarding our relations with Saudi
Arabia, we consider Saudi Arabia an important Arab country and we are determined to
have very good relations with it. During my recent visit to Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah
Bin-Abdulaziz graciously awarded me a medal and promised me that after the
government is formed, Saudi Arabia will exert its best efforts to help Iraq solve its
problems with the neighboring countries and will urge the Arab countries to cooperate
with Iraq. After the government is formed, we hope to visit Saudi Arabia and ask them to
help Iraq.
[Asharq Al Awsat] What remains is the relationship with Iran.
[Talabani] Our relations with Iran are normal but they are not a follower-leader
relationship. This is a point that I wish everyone would understand. We are proud of our
independence and the Shias in Iraq are proud of their independence. They believe that
Al-Najaf is independent and that the Shias of Iraq are the original Shias of the world and
that they are purebred Arabs. They believe that the differences with the Shias of Iran are
due to the concept of Welayet-e faqih, which is an official principle in Iran. However, the
wise religious authority in holy Al-Najaf rejects the Welayet-e faqih principle. Moreover,
we consider Al-Najaf to be the Vatican of the Shias of the world and that the holy places
are in Iraq: Karbala, Samarra', Al-Kadhimiyah, the sacred tombs of Imam Ali, Al-Hussein,
Kadhim, Abbas, and the two Al-Askaris are all in Iraq. Therefore, we consider Iraq to be
the original homeland of the Shias. What remains is the political aspect. Do we want the
relationship with Iran to be like it was under Saddam Hussein? No; we reject the policy of
hostility with Iran. We want a policy of good neighborliness, but so far we do not have
Sayfa 22

any agreements. For instance, we have signed a strategic alliance with Turkey but we do
not have such an agreement with Iran. Nevertheless, there is a clamor about Iranian
influence (in Iraq). Moreover, the Iranian Kurdish opposition is present in Iraq. If you
come to Al-Sulaymaniyah you can visit their headquarters: The Kurdish Democratic Party
of Iran, Komeleh [The Kurdistan Organization of the Communist Party of Iran], the
Iranian Communist Party, and others. The Iranians are not happy with this situation. We
want good relations of neighborliness and equality with Iran; we do not want relations of
submissive ness. We believe that our relations are between two equals. We have
problems with Iran but we want to solve them through negotiations and dialogue.
[Asharq Al Awsat] A number of Iraqi politicians have a different opinion about the
relationship with Iran. For instance, describing this relationship two days ago, Saleh al-
Mutlaq said that Tehran "sets the rules of the political game" in Baghdad. Are these
fantasies?
[Talabani] Yes, these are fantasies and an erroneous description of the nature of the
relationship with Tehran. The Al-Iraqiya and its opponents are exchanging accusations
but I do not believe that these accusations are correct. We have to be objective. We have
to look at the facts and describe them as they are. For instance, Iran opposed the
agreements that we signed with the United States (pertaining to the withdrawal of the
US forces) and urged the Iraqis to reject them. However, these agreements were ratified
in the Iraqi parliament. The prime minister appeared on television calling for their
ratification and they were ratified unanimously. Therefore, accusing Iraq of
submissiveness to Iran is an unjust charge. Furthermore, Iran believes and its
propaganda insists on calling the United States the Great Satan. But we consider the
United States as a friend and an ally. We want best relations with it and we have signed
agreements with it. Therefore, we are on a totally different course with Iran regarding
the United States. The question is: Are we in a relationship of submissiveness with Iran?
No, we reject submissiveness to any state.
Sayfa 23

[Asharq Al Awsat] We have recently noticed that terrorist operations have returned in
strength to Iraq. How do you explain this phenomenon? How do you view the stage
following the departure of the US forces from Iraq? Are you ready to shoulder the full
responsibility?
[Talabani] Regarding the terrorists, we have to distinguish between two things: Two
years ago, the terrorists were in control of large areas in Iraq and even the cities. At
present, all the Iraqi lands are under the control of Iraqi forces. The Americans have left
the cities. Of course, the terrorists have secret cells that are perpetrating terrorist
activities that do not show a strong presence in the field. They do not bases or regions
under their control. If we look at the map of Iraq we see that there is no terrorism in
Kurdistan or southern Iraq. The terrorists are concentrating on Baghdad and Mosul and
we hope to eradicate such activities. I believe that the departure of the Americans will
make our mission easier in two aspects: First, the Iraqis will feel that they need to defend
themselves by themselves and the sympathy with the opposition and the terrorists - that
claim that they are fighting the Americans who would have left Iraq - will drop. Second, I
wish to stress that the efficiency of the Iraqi forces in armament, training, and
qualifications is rising.
[Asharq Al Awsat] What will be the nature of the relationship with the United States after
the departure of its troops?
[Talabani] We lean toward having strategic relations with the United States on the
political, economic, security, military, commercial, and cultural levels. This is on top of
the cooperation with the United States - that includes training and arming - against
terrorism. We consider the United States is a big friendly power to Iraq. We believe that
the establishment of the best relations with it is in the interest of the Iraqi and American
peoples.
Sayfa 24

[Asharq Al Awsat] As you wait for the establishment of the armed land, sea, and air
forces of Iraq, do you want the security agreements to provide for US defense of Iraq's
sovereignty?
[Talabani] Yes, we seek to obtain this American as well as international commitment. We
want peace inside and outside. If we are subjected to an external aggression we will
resort to the Arab League, the Security Council, and the United Nations. We want to have
US commitments to defend Iraq if subjected to an attack. (Asharq Al Awsat)
2. IRAN / İRAN
İslami İran Cumhurbaşkanı Ahmedinejad, İran ile Türkmenistan arasında ortak demiryolu
projesinin büyük ve tarihi bir proje olduğunu ve gelecek yıl hizmete gireceğini açıkladı.
Cumhurbaşkanı Ahmedinejad, İran ve Türkmenistan arasında ikinci doğalgaz boru hattı
açılışında yaptığı konuşmada iki ülkenin ilişkilerini kardeşçe ve dostane değerlendirdi.
Türkmen lider Kurban Kulu Berdi Muhammedov'un da katıldığı törende Ahmedinejad, iki
millet ve devletin ilişkilerini kopmaz ve kardeşçe niteleyerek, Türkmen liderin tedbirleri
ile ilişkilerin daha da güçlendiğini vurguladı.
Ahmedinejad, iki ülke arasında bir başka önemli projenin ortak demiryolu inşaatı
olduğunu, bu projenin de gelecek yıl hizmete gireceğini kaydetti.
Ahmedinejad, projenin hizmete girmesi ile birlikte bölgenin ulaştırma alanında büyük
adımın atılmış olacağını vurguladı. (Fars News Agency / FNA)
Sayfa 25

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Sunday
underlined the strategic importance of a strong Navy force for Iran, specially under the
current world conditions.
"Given the current issues of the world and today's geopolitical conditions of the world,
we should strengthen ourselves on sea and in coast as far as we can," Ayatollah
Khamenei stressed, addressing senior Navy commanders here in Tehran today in a
ceremony to commemorate the National Navy Day.
The leader also stressed that increasing manpower, recruiting talented personnel and
taking innovations and initiatives into action are highly necessary for the future of the
country's naval forces.
"This important task will materialize through strong resolve, proper designing and up-todate
and constant management," the Leader noted.
Ayatollah Khamenei further praised the close cooperation between naval forces of the
Islamic Republic Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
During the meeting, Commander of Army's Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari briefed
the Leader on the combat capabilities and the forces' deterrent power.
The Iranian Army Navy and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy have tight
cooperation in controlling the country's waterways and protecting Iran's interests inside
territorial waters and in the high seas.
Iran's naval power has even been acknowledged by foes. In a Sep. 11, 2008 report, the
Washington Institute for the Near East Policy also said that in the two decades since the
Iraqi imposed war on Iran, the Islamic Republic has excelled in naval capabilities and is
able to wage unique asymmetric warfare against larger naval forces.
Sayfa 26

According to the report, Iran's Navy has been transformed into a highly motivated, wellequipped,
and well-financed force and is effectively in control of the world's oil lifeline,
the Strait of Hormuz.
The study says that if Washington takes military action against the Islamic Republic, the
scale of Iran's response would likely be proportional to the scale of the damage inflicted
on Iranian assets.
The Islamic Republic's top military officials have repeatedly warned that in case of an
attack by either the US or Israel, the country would target 32 American bases in the
Middle East and close the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
An estimated 40 percent of the world's oil supply passes through the waterway.
A recent study by a fellow at Harvard's Olin Institute for Strategic Studies, Caitlin
Talmadge, warned that Iran could use mines as well as missiles to block the strait, and
that "it could take many weeks, even months, to restore the full flow of commerce, and
more time still for the oil markets to be convinced that stability had returned". (FNA)
Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow on Sunday stressed that the
new gas pipeline between Iran and Turkmenistan will be a resourceful move for the two
neighboring countries.
"The inauguration of the new pipeline with further boost expansion of Iran-Turkmenistan
ties in the field of exports and imports," Berdimuhamedow said, addressing a ceremony
to inaugurate the second phase of a pipeline which will transfer gas supplies from the
Central Asian state to Iran.
"Implementation of this project came in line with the interests of the people of the two
friendly and neighboring states of Iran and Turkmenistan," the Turkmen president went
on saying.
Sayfa 27

Berdimuhamedow made the remarks in a ceremony in Northeastern Iran, where he and
his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated a $1.2bln gas pipeline
project in Iran's border city of Sarakhs.
Ahmadinejad's Advisor Mojtaba Samareh Hashemi, Iranian Oil Minister Seyed Massoud
Mir-Kazzemi, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki also attended the ceremony.
The first phase of the 1024km gas pipeline had come on stream in January 2010.
The pipeline which passes through Dauletabad, Sarakhs and Khangiran regions will
facilitate the hike in Turkmenistan's gas exports to Iran up to 20 bln cubic meters
annually.
The new 48-inch diameter pipeline has the capacity to transfer 18 million cubic meters of
gas per day.
The pipeline is the second gas line to transfer supplies from Turkmenistan to Iran.
Korpeje-Kurt Kui pipeline is the other gas pipeline already used for transferring Turkmen
gas to Iran. (FNA)
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on Sunday praised Iran's cooperation in the
implementation of development projects in his country, and stressed that Tehran's
efforts in Tajikistan would serve the interests of not only Dushanbe, but the entire
regional states.
Rahmon appreciated Iran for constructing the 'Sangtoudeh 2' power plant project in his
country, and said the developmental project should be viewed as "a symbol of the good
ties and intimate cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Tajikistan and
plays a crucial role in the expansion of relations between Iran and Tajikistan as well as
Afghanistan and Pakistan".
Sayfa 28

"Sangtoudeh 2 is the logical continuation of the progressive trend of Iran's constructive
measures and initiatives in Tajikistan and a live and clear instance of the age-old tradition
of cooperation and friendship between the two Tajik and Iranian nations," he continued.
He said the two states have always sought to reinvigorate their beneficial ties in all the
various social and economic grounds each year, and "construction of Sangtoudeh 2
power plant can be viewed as an instance of Iran's partnership in the implementation
and construction of vital infrastructures for Tajikistan".
According to the Tajik president, Sangtoudeh 2 power plant construction project is
already 90% complete and will soon come into operation.
Rahmon reminded that once the power plant comes online, it would play a remarkable
role in power supply and development of national economy for Tajikistan.
Iran had earlier constructed the Sangtoudeh 1 with the production capacity of 220mw in
Tajikistan.
Iran has sought hard to expand relations and cooperation with the Central Asia in the last
two decades, specially since President Ahmadinejad took office in 2005. (FNA)
The European parliament's statement in support of the anti-Iran terrorist Mojahedin-e
Khalq Organization (MKO) corroborated Iran's disclosures of the West-sponsored
terrorism in the region, Iran's High Council of Human Rights said in a statement on
Sunday.
In his last week disclosures of the western countries' key role in post-election frenzies in
Tehran and their support for terrorist attacks on the Islamic Republic, Secretary-General
of Iran's High Council of Human Rights Mohammad Javad Larijani stated that the US and
its major European allies have proved as the main supporters of armed opposition
Sayfa 29

against the Islamic Republic, including the MKO and the notorious Jundollah terrorist
group, the statement reminded.
Larijani in his remarks had said that the EU and the US are misusing the human rights to
attain their goals in Iran and the region, mentioning that while western statesmen object
to the human rights conditions in Iran, their parliamentarians in Britain, France and
Germany have regular meetings with the most devilish and notorious terrorists in the
region, who have killed hundreds and thousands of innocent people in their numerous
terrorist operations, specially against Iran.
"How can the EU leaders label themselves as human rights supporters while they do not
spare any effort to extend arms, financial and political backup and support to the most
notorious anti-Iranian terrorists," Larijani had asked, according to the statement.
The statement further reminded that a few days after Larijani's last week remarks, the
European Parliament issued a declaration on Thursday, urging the removal of the MKO
and Jundollah from Washington's list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The European
Union took the MKO off its blacklist in 2009.
Also efforts in the House of Representatives to press the Obama Administration to
remove the group from the United States list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations have
accelerated in the past week.
However, the anti-Iran terrorist group, the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO),
remained in the US list of terrorist groups and organizations despite intense efforts by
Zionist lobbies and a number of the Congressmen to delist the group.
The US State Department announced in its recent annual report on terrorism that no
change has been made in the MKO's status.
The MKO insists that the US should delist it as a terrorist organization, a demand which
has been rejected so far by Washington.
Sayfa 30

An appeals court in the US had earlier ruled that the State Department should review the
terror status of the MKO.
The MKO had filed a petition against the US blacklisting in 2008.
The Bush administration, however, rejected the request in its final days in 2009, after
examining the material submitted by the group and the US intelligence community,
including classified information.
In July 2010, a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals in Washington said in a 22-
page decision that the US government failed to give the group a fair chance to rebut
unclassified information that claimed the group supported terrorist activities.
The government was obligated under a 1996 antiterrorism law and 2004 revisions to give
the group the chance to rebut unclassified information, the appeals court said, adding
that the group was "permitted access to the unclassified portion of the record only after
the decision was final."
In a statement, the State Department said it would study the decision, but added that
the US government continues to view the group as a terrorist organization.
The MKO, whose main stronghold is in Iraq, is blacklisted by much of the international
community.
Before an overture by the EU, the MKO was on the European Union's list of terrorist
organizations subject to an EU-wide assets freeze. Yet, the MKO puppet leader, Maryam
Rajavi, who has residency in France, regularly visited Brussels and despite the ban
enjoyed full freedom in Europe.
The MKO is behind a slew of assassinations and bombings inside Iran, a number of EU
parliamentarians said in a recent letter in which they slammed a British court decision to
remove the MKO from the British terror list. The EU officials also added that the group
Sayfa 31

has no public support within Iran because of their role in helping Saddam Hussein in the
Iraqi imposed war on Iran (1980-1988).
Many of the MKO members abandoned the terrorist organization while most of those
still remaining in the camp are said to be willing to quit but are under pressure and
torture not to do so.
A May 2005 Human Rights Watch report accused the MKO of running prison camps in
Iraq and committing human rights violations.
According to the Human Rights Watch report, the outlawed group puts defectors under
torture and jail terms.
The group, founded in the 1960s, blended elements of Islamism and Stalinism and
participated in the overthrow of the US-backed Shah of Iran in 1979. Ahead of the
revolution, the MKO conducted attacks and assassinations against both Iranian and
Western targets.
Leaders of the group have been fighting to shed its terrorist tag after a series of bloody
anti-Western attacks in the 1970s, and nearly 30 years of violent struggle against the
Islamic Republic of Iran.
In recent months, high-ranking MKO members have been lobbying governments around
the world in the hope of acknowledgement as a legitimate opposition group.
The UK initiative, however, prompted the European Union to establish relations with the
exiled organization now based in Paris. The European Court of First Instance threw its
weight behind the MKO in December and annulled its previous decision to freeze its
funds.
The group started assassination of the citizens and officials after the revolution in a bid
to take control of the newly established Islamic Republic. It killed several of Iran's new
leaders in the early years after the revolution, including the then President, Mohammad
Sayfa 32

Ali Rajayee, Prime Minister, Mohammad Javad Bahonar and the Judiciary Chief,
Mohammad Hossein Beheshti who were killed in bomb attacks by MKO members in
1981.
The group fled to Iraq in 1986, where it was protected by Saddam Hussein and where it
helped the Iraqi dictator suppress Shiite and Kurd uprisings in the country.
The terrorist group joined Saddam's army during the Iraqi imposed war on Iran (1980-
1988) and helped Saddam and killed thousands of Iranian civilians and soldiers during
the US-backed Iraqi imposed war on Iran.
Since the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, the group, which now adheres to a pro-free-market
philosophy, has been strongly backed by neo-conservatives in the United States, who
also argue for the MKO to be taken off the US terror list.
The MKO has been in Iraq's Diyala province since the 1980s.
The European Parliament's recent statement also called on the US to delist another
notorious armed opposition group, the anti-Iran Jundollah, from its list of Foreign
Terrorist Organizations.
The Jundollah group has claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist attacks in Iran. The
group has carried out mass murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, acts of sabotage and
bombings. They have targeted civilians and government officials as well as all ranks of
Iran's military.
In one of the worst cases, the group killed 22 citizens and abducted 7 more in Tasouki
region on a road linking the Southeastern city of Zahedan to another provincial town.
In 2007, Jundollah kidnapped 30 people in the Southeastern Sistan and Balouchestan
province. They were freed during a Pakistani police operation after abductors took them
to the country.
Sayfa 33

Jundollah claimed responsibility the same year for an attack on an Islamic Revolution
Guards Corps (IRGC) bus in which 11 IRGC personnel were killed.
In its latest crime in October, the Pakistan-based terrorist Jundollah group, closely
affiliated with the notorious al-Qaeda organization, claimed responsibility for a deadly
attack in the Sistan and Balouchestan province which killed 42 people among them a
group of senior military commanders, including Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic
Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force Brigadier General Nourali Shoushtari.
(FNA)
Vice-Chancellor of Imam Hossein University General Nasser Shaabani stressed on Sunday
that enemies of Iran cannot sow sectarian strife among the Iranian nation through plots,
conspiracies and assassinations.
"Enemies should never assume that they can create a rift between the Shiites and Sunnis
by assassinating and martyring authorities, commanders and innocent peoples since
their blood will pave the way for stronger unity between the people and the statesmen,"
Shaabani said, addressing Basij (volunteer) forces in Iran's Southeastern city of Zahedan,
the provincial capital city of Sistan and Balouchestan.
Meantime, Shaabani stressed Iran's military and intelligence power and might, saying
that apprehension of Abdolmalek Rigi, the ringleader of the notorious Jundollah terrorist
group, signified Iran's military an intelligence clout and power.
"It (Rigi's arrest) proved that threats and sanctions against Iran and Islam are futile," he
stated.
Iran announced in late February that it had arrested Abdolmalek Rigi after intensive and
long term intelligence and security operations.
Sayfa 34

Rigi said after his arrest that he was traveling to Bishkek to meet a high-ranking US
official at a nearby military base.
He stated that they were going to discuss new terrorist attacks on Iranian territory.
In June, Iran announced that it has carried out the court ruling for the capital punishment
of Abdolmalek Rigi, the ringleader of the Jundollah terrorist group.
Abdolmalek was charged with militancy against the Islamic Republic, corruption and 79
cases of criminal acts and was sentenced to death through execution according to the
Islamic laws.
The Jundollah group has claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist attacks in Iran. The
group has carried out mass murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, acts of sabotage and
bombings. They have targeted civilians and government officials as well as all ranks of
Iran's military.
In one of the worst cases, his group killed 22 citizens and abducted 7 more in Tasouki
region on a road linking the southeastern city of Zahedan to another provincial town.
In 2007, Jundollah kidnapped 30 people in the Southeastern Sistan and Balouchestan
province. They were freed during a Pakistani police operation after abductors took them
to the country.
Jundollah claimed responsibility the same year for an attack on an Islamic Revolution
Guards Corps (IRGC) bus in which 11 IRGC personnel were killed.
In its latest crime in October, the Pakistan-based terrorist Jundollah group, closely
affiliated with the notorious al-Qaeda organization, claimed responsibility for a deadly
attack in the Sistan and Balouchestan province which killed 42 people among them a
group of senior military commanders, including Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic
Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force Brigadier General Nourali Shoushtari.
(FNA)
Sayfa 35

Iraqi Minister of Youth and Sports Jasim Mohammad Jafar on Sunday stressed Iran's
influential role on the international scenes, and said that Iraq will be better of using
Iran's experiences in different fields.
"Iraq wishes to cooperate with Iran and we believe that we can see better days by using
Iran's experiences," the Iraqi minister said at a meeting with President of Imam Khomeini
Relief and Aid Committee Hossein Anvari here in Tehran today.
"Iran is a powerful country in the Middle-East and in the world and has left important
effects on international affairs and Iraq wants to use these experiences for its progress,"
Jafar noted.
He also called on Imam Khomeini Relief and Aid Committee to support Iraq in the
settlement, employment and education of Iraq's younger generation.
Iran and Iraq have enjoyed growing ties ever since the overthrow of the former Iraqi
dictator, Saddam Hussein, during the 2003 US invasion of the Muslim country.
Both sides are working on a series of plans to take wide strides in the expansion of their
ties, in economic fields in particular. (FNA)
İran'ın Kuzey Donanması Komutanı Amiral Seyyid Mahmut Musevi, yeni inşa edilmekte
olan kruvazörün Cemaran kruvazöründen daha modern olduğunu vurguladı.
İran'ın kuzeyinde bulunan Şehit Temcidi Tersanesi'nde yeni bir kruvazör inşaatına
başlandığını belirten Amiral Musevi, çalışmaların belirlenen zamanlamaya göre
ilerlediğini kaydetti.
Kruvazörün gövde inşaatının tamamlandığını belirten Amiral Musevi, şu anda gemiye ileri
teknoloji teçhizatın montaj çalışmalarına geçildiğini belirtti.
Sayfa 36

Amiral Musevi, kruvazörün inşaatında tamamen yerli imkanlara ve teknolojiye dayanmayı
hedeflediklerini vurguladı.
Amiral Musevi ayrıca inşa edilmekte olan yeni kruvazörün Cemaran kruvazöründen daha
modern olduğunu sözlerine ekledi. (FNA)
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said Iran
should expand its military presence in the sea.
In light of current events and the geopolitics of the modern world, Iran should
strengthen its position in the sea and on the coast, Ayatollah Khamenei said in a meeting
with the Navy commander, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, and other senior Navy
officials on Sunday.
It is essential for the future of the Navy that it increase the number of its personnel and
identify and discover new talents, the Leader stated.
And these objectives can be achieved through effective management, he added.
He also expressed appreciation for the cooperation between the Navy and the Islamic
Revolution Guards Corps Naval Force. (Mehr News Agency / MNA)
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary General Ekmaledin Ehsan Oglu
will travel to Tehran on Monday/ today for talks with the Iranian foreign minister and
some other officials.
Regional and international issues, developments in the Muslim world, particularly those
related to Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Lebanon will feature in talks between Oglu
and Iranian officials. (MNA)
Sayfa 37

Bülent Arınç, bağımsız ve özgür bir medyanın olduğu toplumlarda darbenin
olamayacağını söyledi
Türkiye Devlet Bakanı ve Başbakan Yardımcısı Bülent Arınç, bağımsız ve özgür bir
medyanın olduğu toplumlarda faili meçhuller, işkenceler, karanlık odalarda toplum
mühendisliği, darbeler yapılamayacağını ve düşünülemeyeceğini belirterek,
''Gazetecilikte malzeme haberdir. Bu haber bizi memnun etse de etmese de mutlaka
verilmelidir ama yorumlar ne kadar serbestse haber de o kadar objektif, tarafsız, yansız
ve çıplak olmalıdır'' dedi.
Türkiye Başbakan Yardımcısı Arınç, yaptığı konuşmada, haber ajanslarının sorunlarını en
üst düzeyde ele alıp, geleceğe dönük projelerin gözden geçirilmesini sağlayan bu tür
toplantıların yararlı olacağını düşündüğünü belirterek, birliktelikleri sağlayanlara teşekkür
etti. (MNA)
İran İslam Cumhuriyeti Cumhurbaşkanı birinci yardımcısı Mohammadreza Rahimi,
Tahran’ın Beyrut ile bölgesel, uluslararası ve ekonomik alanlarda ilişkilerin gelişmesi için
azimli olduğunu söyledi.
Rahimi, Lübnan başkanı Saad Hariri ile Tahran’da yaptığı görüşmede, tüm kapasiteleri
kullanarak iki ülke menfaatları doğrultusunda önemli adımlar atılması gerektiğini
belirterek, İran’ın Lübnan ile ilişkilerini geliştirmede her hangi bir sınırlaması olmadığını
ifade etti.
İki ülkenin politika alanda ilişkilerinin üst düzeyde olduğunu belirten Rahimi, diğer
alanlarda da ilişkilerin gelişmesini istedi.
Hariri de bu görüşmede, Tahran ve Beyrut’un tarihi ilişkilerine değinerek iki ülkenin
politik ve ekonomik ilişkilerinde daha fazla gelişme istedi. (IRNA)
Sayfa 38

İran İslam Cumhuriyeti Savunma Bakanı Ahmed Vahidi, ülkesinin Lübnan ordusuna
yardım etmeye hazır olduğunu belirtti.
Tahran'da bulunan Lübnan Başbakanı Saad Hariri'yle görüşen Vahidi, "Daha önce de
birçok kez yineledik, bugün de açıklıyoruz: Lübnan ordusunun yanındayız ve işbirliğine
hazırız" dedi.
Vahidi, Lübnan ordusunun İsrail'e karşı koymasından gurur duyduklarını dile getirerek,
Lübnan ordusunun, Lübnan ulusunun haklarını savunabileceğini gördüklerini belirtti.
Hariri de açıklamasında, ziyaretinin iki ülke arasında savunma alanında işbirliğinin
geliştirilmesine katkıda bulunmasını ümit ettiğini kaydederek, Lübnan'ın birliği, güvenliği
ve istikrarının iç ve bölgesel meseleleri çözüme kavuşturmak için çok önemli bir rol
oynadığını söyledi. (IRNA)
Turkish political analyst Izzettin Sumer says the presence of extra-regional powers has
undermined the stability of the Persian Gulf region.
“The external powers that have come from ten thousand kilometers away from the
Persian Gulf… can be considered the first threat for this region,” Sumer said in an
interview with the Tehran Times conducted on November 23 on the sidelines of the 20th
international conference on the Persian Gulf in Bandar Abbas, in the southern province
of Hormozgan.
The 20th international conference on the Persian Gulf, entitled Comprehensive
Cooperation in the Persian Gulf: Mechanisms for Development and Regional Stability,
was held on the shores of the Persian Gulf from November 22 to 23.
Sumer presented an article entitled “The role of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference as a stabilizing actor in the Persian Gulf” and gave a presentation on his
article at one of the four expert panels held at the conference.
Sayfa 39

Sumer is a research assistant at the International Relations Department of the Biga
Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences of Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University,
which is located in western Turkey.
Following is the text of the interview with Mr. Sumer:
Q: What are the main factors that destabilize the Persian Gulf region?
A: There are many factors that can be considered the risk factors in the Persian Gulf. As
the first, I can say the external powers that have come from ten thousand kilometers
away from the Persian Gulf and try to bring democracy to this region. This can be
considered the first threat for this region. And the second factor can be the Iranian and
Arab problems. Although they are both Muslim nations, but as we know, there are some
deep and historical problems between Iran and Arab countries. So if we want to create
stability in the Persian Gulf region, first of all we have to deal with external powers, and
then Muslim countries must sit and start to talk about their problems without letting
third parties come to the region and talk about their problems. If they cannot do it and
they cannot talk about their problems, they cannot solve their problems, they can’t make
a secure region in the Persian Gulf, and somebody else from ten thousand kilometers
away may come and try to solve their problems in terms of their profits.
Q: So you are opposed to the presence of extra-regional powers in the Persian Gulf
region?
A: Exactly. As you know, my proposal for the conference is related to the OIC. The OIC is
a very important international organization for the Muslim world. It has more than 55
Muslim and non-Muslim countries that have big Muslim populations like India. If Iran and
Turkey can create a security, stability, and peace council under the umbrella of the OIC, it
will be a unique solution for Persian Gulf security. There is no such council/initiative in
the Persian Gulf for security. Under the umbrella of the OIC, there is a cultural section, an
economic section, and even a tourism section. But stability and security is not one of the
subjects that the OIC is concerned about. It is really interesting but it is a reality. When
Sayfa 40

we look at the problem and the risks in the Persian Gulf, it is necessary for all the
countries, not just for Turkey and for Iran. And another point that I would like to talk
about is that such an initiative would be beneficial for the Western countries as well.
Because if the Persian Gulf region would be a peaceful and stable region, it would mean
that energy sources and energy corridors would be safe for these powers. And we all
know how energy is important for the United States and other Western countries. So
that means if Turkey and Iran could create such an organizational council in the Persian
Gulf, it would be so beneficial for all the world in terms of the energy corridor and energy
security.
Q: What role can the Iranian government play in enhancing security in the region? Is
holding expert meetings, like the conference on the Persian Gulf, an effective measure
for dealing with the security issues facing the region?
A: You know it is just some theoretical presentation here, and it definitely takes some
time to transfer this theoretical presentation to the decision-making process. But I think
it is a unique opportunity for politicians and decision-makers because they can benefit
from the ideas and proposals which scholars present in this conference, and they might
find new solutions for the problems that arise in the Persian Gulf. On Iran’s role in the
security of the region, I think the most important subject for Iran is that Iran has to
explain itself very well to, first of all, the Arab countries. Turkey does not have too much
of a problem understanding Iran, particularly Iran’s nuclear program. People in Turkey
say Israel, the U.S., and Russia have nuclear power… but they (criticize) this country. And
(Turkish) people support Iran’s efforts in its nuclear program. It doesn’t mean they
support Iran manufacturing an atomic bomb. They support its scientific research. We
believe that Iran’s nuclear program is run for scientific purposes.
Talking about Arab countries, this is a very important issue for Iran, because when we
talk about the Islamic community in the world, it is not just the Persians and the Turks,
there are many other nations and groups, many of which are Arab countries. Saudi
Sayfa 41

Arabia and Egypt are powerful countries in the Muslim world. When you look at the
relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and Egypt and Iran, you may see some
problems and some misunderstandings. What Iran has to do is explain itself very well to
the Sunni nations in the Persian Gulf. If it cannot do that and fails in this effort, it has no
chance to be a regional power in the Persian Gulf. Yes, it has a huge missile capacity, big
population, is a big country, but if you cannot talk with your neighbors, what are you
going to do in the region? It is not a job that must be done only by Iran and Turkey. As I
said, we need cooperation in the region. And I think the best address for this cooperation
is the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
Q: Are Turkish officials and citizens concerned about Iran’s military capabilities or its
civilian nuclear program?
A: The politicians say that we definitely won’t accept an Iranian nuclear program with
military aims. Because of the good relationship between the AKP (Justice and
Development Party) in Turkey and Iran’s government, they see each other very
frequently, but at the end of the day, Turkey and Iran are still rivals in the region. One of
them is the center of the Sunni world due to the heritage from the Ottoman Empire, and
the other one is a Shia center. At the end of the day, they are rivals in the region. This is
the idea of politicians. Back to the people’s ideas, they definitely support Iran’s nuclear
program for some reasons. They say, “If Israel has nuclear weapons and nobody says
anything about this program and they do whatever they want, so what is the problem
with Iran?” Or America has come from ten thousand kilometers away from the region,
they have killed more than one million people in Iraq and nobody can say any word to
the American people. So who cares about Iran? So, the man in the street supports Iran’s
nuclear program in Turkey. (Tehran News)
3. ISRAEL - PALESTINE / İSRAİL – FİLİSTİN
Sayfa 42

Israel tried to coordinate the Gaza war with the Palestinian Authority, classified
diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks said on Sunday, adding that both the PA and
Egypt refused to take control of the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave.
The whistle-blowing website obtained some 250,000 diplomatic cables between the U.S.
and its allies, which Washington had urged the site not to publish.
In a June 2009 meeting between Defense Minister Ehud Barak and a U.S. congressional
delegation, Barak claimed that the Israeli government "had consulted with Egypt and
Fatah prior to Operation Cast Lead, asking if they were willing to assume control of Gaza
once Israel defeated Hamas."
"Not surprisingly," Barak said in the meeting, Israel "received negative answers from
both."
While similar reports of such attempts to link the PA and Egypt to Israel's war with
Hamas had already surfaced in the past, the cable released by WikiLeaks on Sunday
represents the first documented proof of such a move.
In the document, Barak also expressed his feeling that "the Palestinian Authority is weak
and lacks self-confidence, and that Gen. Dayton's training helps bolster confidence."
The meeting which the cable documents took place just days before U.S. President
Barack Obama's Cairo speech, and a few weeks after Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu's first visit to the United States, a visit which revealed the deep differences
between Obama and himself.
The cable also refers to what Barak describes as the debate within the Israeli cabinet in
regards to a "development of a response to President Obama's upcoming speech in
Cairo." (Hareetz)
Sayfa 43

The United States broke an Israeli code and tapped the secure phone line in the Israeli
Embassy in Washington without Jerusalem's knowledge.
That revelation about Israeli-American relations did not come from WikiLeaks, but rather
from former ambassador to Washington Itamar Rabinovich, in a radio interview
yesterday.
Rabinovich did not say exactly when the code was broken and when Israel found out
about it, but it was understood from his remarks that the tap started after his 1993-1996
tenure in the U.S. capital and was discovered only years later.
The former envoy said that every staffer at the Israeli Embassy in Washington is warned
about possible leaks of conversations held in the building and on ordinary phone lines,
but also on the secure phone line.
After the Americans broke the code, Israel's deepest policy secrets were apparently
exposed.
"Every 'juicy' telegram was in danger of being leaked," Rabinovich told Army Radio's Razi
Barkai. "We sent very few of them. Sometimes I came to Israel to deliver reports orally.
The Americans were certainly tapping the regular phone lines, and it became clear that
in later years they were also listening to the secure line."
Wiretapping, code-breaking and intercepting of messages is the province of the National
Security Agency. It is no secret that despite intelligence cooperation and an
understanding between the two countries that they will not spy on each other, both
Israel and the United States have been involved in such actions.
For example, Israel has had involvements with agents like Jonathan Pollard, and stolen
sensitive information and technological secrets for its security industries.
Sayfa 44

As far as is known, American spies have not been caught by Israel's intelligence services,
although there have been instances when U.S. intelligence operatives contacted Israeli
citizens and explored the possibility of recruiting them.
The Americans have also used their military attaches to gather information.
Israel believes that over the years, U.S. intelligence services have been listening - or at
least attempting to listen - to conversations between key people in Israel and staff at its
missions around the world.
For that reason, diplomats going abroad are instructed by the Shin Bet security service to
treat every conversation as if it is being tapped and to make sure not to reveal secret
information.
However, the assumption was still that the secure phone line could not being tapped.
(Hareetz)
There is no need to delve too deeply to assess the wondrous intentions of the Israeli
government, which yesterday resolved to build "a detention facility for infiltrators" in the
Negev. Indeed, the intentions are there for all to see, since the government declares
them boastfully and unabashedly.
According to its own explanation, the government wants the refugees' experience in our
country to be a bad one. In fact, so bad that they will not even dream of coming here
anymore, and that the shelter over their heads which they crave will be sought
elsewhere.
One gets the impression that the ministers who supported the decision did not bother to
glance at the updated map of human suffering. Had they done so, they would see that
the vast majority of refugees have come to us from cannibalism-ridden countries like
Sudan and Eritrea.
Sayfa 45

These people do not have many alternative routes of escape. It was not by choice that
they came here and will continue to do so. Rather, it was due to an existential necessity -
a situation over which they had no control and which could not be deterred. It isn't the
force of attraction that compelled them to grab onto us, but the force of repulsion: The
fear of death pushed them away.
Thus, Netanyahu and company will not be able to stop them in their tracks. They'll just
succeed in making these people's lives more miserable. Malice of the heart - and a
particularly inadequate brain - gave birth to this decision. Nobody can threaten people
sentenced to death with a "detention center."
The refugees know that Israel is not a haven for them, but neither is it the hell from
which they've fled for their lives. At the very least, Israel does not shoot "the infiltrators,"
which is to its credit. That is a disgraceful task which it leaves to its neighbor, Egypt, while
playing the role of deaf and blind. Israel doesn't see those who are shot and killed on its
border, it doesn't hear the screams of terror let out by those tortured, robbed and raped.
And already there have been instances recently in which soldiers have refused orders to
launch a "hot pursuit" - namely, to chase men, women and children back over the border
and to their deaths - simply because they did not have the stomach for it.
Physicians for Human Rights yesterday issued a statement which described the decision
as "the mark of Cain." But the mark was given to Cain not to imprison him, but to save
him. (Hareetz)
A 2009 American government cable released Sunday by the WikiLeaks website quotes
Defense Minister Ehud Barak as telling visiting American officials that a strike on Iran's
nuclear facilities was viable until the end of 2010, but after that "any military solution
would result in unacceptable collateral damage."
Sayfa 46

The whistle-blowing website obtained some 250,000 diplomatic cables between the U.S.
and its allies, which Washington had urged the site not to publish. But by Sunday evening
Israel time, major news organizations around the world had released a significant
amount of documents touching on subjects ranging from Iran's nuclear aspirations, to
espionage at the United Nations and even the behavior of the British monarchy.
The June 2009 cable also quotes Barak as describing the Iranian leadership as "chess, not
backgammon players," with a U.S. diplomat quoting the defense minister as saying
Tehran would "attempt to avoid any hook to hang accusations on, and look to Pakistan
and North Korea as models to emulate in terms of acquiring nuclear weapons while
defying the international community."
Meanwhile, another cable shows that a 2009 claim by Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu that Iran was months away from achieving military nuclear capability was
dismissed by the Americans as a ploy.
According to German weekly Der Spiegel, which also received advance information from
WIkiLeaks, a State Department official says in a classified cable that Netanyahu informed
the United States of Iran's nuclear advancement in November 2009, but that the prime
minister's estimate was likely unfounded and intended to pressure Washington into
action against the Islamic Republic.
Many of the classified communiques seem to reveal the inner workings of American and
international diplomacy, and are likely to cause major embarrassment to the United
States. American embassies in more than a dozen nations have informed their host
countries that secret cables relating to them could be among those exposed.
The Guardian also quotes documents that show officials in Jordan and Bahrain “openly
calling for Iran's nuclear program to be stopped by any means, including military.” The
British daily also says leaders in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt called Iran "evil," and an
"existential threat" which "is going to take us to war."
Sayfa 47

Another cable published by The Guardian, from later in 2009, cites a meeting of the U.S.-
Israel Joint Political Military Group, in which members of Israel's Mossad spy agency said
Iran was using repeated attempts to resolve the nuclear issue through diplomacy to "play
for time" and evade sanctions, "while pursuing its strategic objective to obtain a military
nuclear capability."
The cable also quotes Mossad representatives as believing that Iran wanted "to become
a regional hegemon, and is dictating its agenda by using Hamas and Hezbollah as force
multipliers."
Regarding what he considered Iran's true nuclear capabilities, a 2007 cable quoted
outgoing Mossad chief Meir Dagan as stating that Tehran was attempting to convey a
"false presentation that they have mastered the uranium enrichment process."
"The reality is," Dagan said, "that they are not there yet, and they are paying a heavy
political price [sanctions] for something they have yet to achieve."
In Dagan's view, the 2007 cable stated, there wasn't an "ideological conflict within the
Iranian leadership (all wish to see the destruction of Israel), but there is a growing divide
on tactics with some supporting a retaliatory position against the West and others
favoring new policies of moderation."
Netanyahu had earlier Sunday downplayed any possible damage the documents could
have on Israel's security, saying he did not feel Israel would be the focal point of the
leaked cables.
"Israel is not the center of international attention," Netanyahu said, adding that
Jerusalem had not "been updated by the Americans about specific sensitive materials to
be disclosed regarding Israel. (Hareetz)
Sayfa 48

IDF troops shot and injured four Palestinians while they were searching for building
materials near Gaza's border with Israel, AFP reported on Sunday citing medical sources.
Among those shot near the town of Beit Hanun, was a 15-year-old boy, said a Gaza
emergency services spokesman.
The Israeli soldiers aimed their fire towards a group of people "approaching the border
fence" after they ignored warning shots, reported AFP.
"The troops fired towards their lower bodies and identified hitting one of them," a
spokesman said.
Earlier Sunday, a Kassam rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel.
The rocket exploded in an open area in the Sha'ar Hanegev regional council, near the
Gaza border.
No injuries or damage were reported.
According to an IDF count, Palestinians have launched more than 190 rockets or mortar
rounds at Israel from Gaza since the start of this year, AFP reported. (Jerusalem Post)
Israeli officials accused Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of looking for
excuses not to negotiate, after Abbas said Thursday he would only return to negotiations
if Israel declared a complete settlement freeze for a defined period, during which the
border issue would be resolved.
Abbas reportedly made those comments during a meeting of the Fatah Revolutionary
Council in Ramallah.
One Israeli official said Abbas was “making sure he is high up on the tree. It is a pity he is
entrenching himself in his preconditions, and we don’t understand the logic. It is almost
as if he is searching for excuses not to negotiate.”
Sayfa 49

One of the issues reportedly holding up Washington’s letter to Jerusalem regarding US
commitments in exchange for an additional 90-day settlement freeze is whether borders
will be the focus of the first three months of negotiations.
The Palestinians want the border issue to be the focus of the start of the talks, arguing
that once the borders were set it would be clear where Israel could and could not build.
But Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s position is that border issues cannot be
divorced from other core issues such as security arrangements and Israel’s demands that
the Palestinians recognize Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people – something
that would be tantamount to their accepting that the descendents of Palestinian
refugees would not be allowed to return to Israel.
Netanyahu is also apparently unwilling to pledge to wrap up an agreement on borders
during the time of a settlement freeze. And the US, for its part, is reportedly unwilling to
commit in writing that this would be the last settlement freeze it would request,
apparently wanting to keep open the option of another freeze if the border issue is not
wrapped up during one 90- day freeze.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak, meanwhile, said at a meeting with the Pensioners Union
on Thursday in Tel Aviv that to move the negotiations forward, it may be necessary to
change the composition of the coalition and bring in Kadima.
“There is a certain contradiction between the structure of the government and the
chances of deepening the negotiations,” he said.
“We *the Labor Party+ joined the government so it would go in that direction, and we are
going that way but still not reaching the destination. If it turns out that this government
in its current configuration can’t move forward in a diplomatic process, it will be
necessary to weigh expanding it and creating a national unity government,” he said.
Former prime minister Ehud Olmert, meanwhile, took Netanyahu to task Thursday for
not agreeing to a US demand to extend the settlement freeze.
Sayfa 50

Speaking to foreign correspondents, he said he wouldn’t have agreed to a settlement
freeze in the first place, and that it was more important to focus on larger issues like final
borders, the fate of Palestinian refugees and the status of Jerusalem. But he said he
would not turn down a request from Israel’s closest ally and endanger ties.
“If someone says that he agrees to 10 months of freezing and the president of the
mightiest nation on earth and friendliest nation to Israel comes to you and says, ‘Please
give me two *more+ months, only two months,’ I mean, what could happen in two
months?” he said. “I would say, ‘President, why two? Why not three? Take three!”
Olmert suggested that both Netanyahu and the Obama administration were wasting
valuable time on a marginal issue.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, said the PA Information Ministry’s recent denial of the link
between the Jewish people and the Western Wall, reported earlier this week in The
Jerusalem Post, “calls into serious question *the PA’s+ intentions of reaching a peace
agreement, the foundations of which are coexistence and mutual recognition.”
Branding the Palestinian “study” on the matter “reprehensible and scandalous,”
Netanyahu said that “this is not the only instance in which Palestinians are trying to
distort historical facts in order to deny the deep and historic link between the Jewish
people and its homeland.”
He called on the PA leadership to disavow and condemn the document. (Jerusalem Post)
Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar said the US was “wasting our time” with efforts to forge a
peace deal and that “resistance” was the most effective way for Palestinians to get Israel
to withdraw from the West Bank, in an interview published Thursday.
“If there is a real resistance against Israel, then Israel will leave,” Zahar, who co-founded
Hamas 23 years ago and remains one of its two top figures in Gaza, said in an interview
Sayfa 51

in his Gaza home. Israel pulled out its soldiers and dismantled Jewish settlements in Gaza
in 2005 “not because of goodwill,” he said.
The US has been trying to coax Israel and leaders of the Palestinian Authority back to
peace talks since they stalled when a 10-month partial freeze on West Bank settlement
building expired on Sept. 26. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian
Authority President Mahmoud Abbas agreed in early September to try to reach an
agreement on the framework for a comprehensive peace accord within a year.
The Obama administration is “just wasting our time and giving some hints that
something can be achieved by this process,” Zahar said.
Zahar and exiled Hamas leaders based in Damascus have been meeting with Abbas’s
representatives on and off for the last three years in Egyptian-mediated talks aimed at
healing the internal rift and bringing Gaza and the West Bank together again under one
government.
Zahar said he is “hoping” that the talks succeed “but I have a big doubt.”
“If you are going to put cats in the corner, they have the right to attack you and if they
have the ability to blind you, they are going to do it because this is self-defense,” Zahar
said. (Jerusalem Post)
Russia offered Israel $1 billion for advanced drone (automatic aircraft) technologies, and
in addition offered to cancel the deal to supply Iran with S-300 missiles, according to an
official cable published Sunday via WikiLeaks.
Documents released after much hype say Mossad chief wanted to enlist Iranian
opposition groups to revolt against government, while Arab leaders, including Mubarak,
asked US to stop nuclear program with military strike
Sayfa 52

The cable was sent by US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International
Security Ellen Tauscher after meeting Director of Policy and Political-Military Affairs at
the Defense Ministry Amos Gilad.
The American diplomatic documents leaked to the website Wikileaks and published in
France's Le Monde suggest that Russia's attitudes to Iran were "mysterious," as written
in a memo from November 2009. The cable was sent one year before the Kremlin
announced it would cancel its deal to supply Iran with the missiles.
The Israelis are very concerned about the need to act more forcefully to get Russia to
join diplomatic efforts against Iran, the document says. In a number of cables from
December 2009, Israelis expressed their fears on this issue to the US government.
Behind the scenes, there was extensive correspondence on this issue, and on December
1, 2009 Tauscher sent a cable to the secretary of state, saying that Gilad had said
Moscow has asked Israel for advanced drones in exchange for canceling the S-300 deal.
Gilad said the Russians are aware they are behind in these technologies, and that they
are ready to pay $1 billion in return for Israeli technologies.
Gilad, the document says, emphasized that Israel would not supply Russia with its most
advanced technologies because it would quickly end up in China's hands.
On the same day, Foreign Ministry Director-General Yossi Gal met Tauscher, and said the
time had come to impose sanctions which would paralyze Iran. He compared sanctions
to an urgent medical prescription for antibiotics, which must be taken every day
otherwise it would have no effect. (Yedioth Ahranot)
German President Christian Wulff began his morning on Sunday with a first official visit
to Israel since taking office. He was welcomed with an official ceremony held at the
Presidential residence in Jerusalem, where he met with President Shimon Peres, who
later accompanied him on a tour of the Holocaust museum Yad Vashem.
Sayfa 53

According to information obtained by Der Spiegel magazine, six terrorists are planning to
carry out attack on historic Reichstag building in February or March; two already arrived
in Berlin
Wulff entered his new position only a few months ago, and his visit to Israel is his first
official visit outside of the European Union.
He said he requested that his first visit outside of Europe be to Israel, in order to express
how the relationship between Germany and Israel is dear to his heart.
He added that Germany sees itself as responsible to ensure the existence and safety of
Israel, a sense of responsibility he feels must be passed on from generation to
generation. He explained that this is the reason he had requested to allow teens to join
him on his visit.
Peres thanked his guest for the visit, saying that it shows Israel where his intentions lay.
He continued saying how important Israel's relationship with Germany is, adding that
German leaders and the majority of the German people remember the past and feel that
there should always be a unique bond between the countries. Peres said that both
countries have a responsibility to educate children to remember the past and to also
take responsibility for the future.
Regarding political issues, Wulff said he agrees with Peres that the best way to ensure
Israel's security in the long run is through a just peace process in the area, based on a
two-states principal with secured and defined borders.
Wulff promised to discuss the issue with the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation
Organization Abu Mazen, during his visit to Bethlehem this week following his stay in
Israel.
Wulff and Peres went on to visit Yad Vashem, accompanied by Yad Vashem Directorate
Chairman Avner Shalev and Wulff's 17 year old daughter, Annalena. The German
Sayfa 54

president participated in a memorial ceremony for the Holocaust victims, signed the
guest book and placed a flower by the name engraving of his German hometown.
At the end of the ceremony Wulff read aloud what he had written in the guest book,
saying that the "inconceivable crimes of the Holocaust force Germany and the Germans
to act in order to ensure Israel's existence." (Yedioth Ahranot)
A bill being formulated in Turkey stipulates that Israelis will no longer be able to buy land
in the country, though they will be able to continue renting apartments, the Turkish
Milliyet reported Sunday.
Does Israel think it can enter Lebanon with most modern aircraft and tanks to kill women
and children, use cluster bombs to kill kids in Gaza, and expect us to remain silent?' asks
Turkish prime minister on visit to Beirut
But if the bill passes, citizens of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Syria will be allowed to continue
to purchase land whenever they so choose.
The report says that the office of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered
his housing and infrastructure ministry to ease conditions on land purchase in order to
make it more accessible to foreigners, thus attracting foreign investments.
But while all of the world's citizens will be able to purchase land by presenting a
passport, only those with an Israeli or Greek passport will be barred from having the
pleasure.
And, in another step towards Iran and its allies, the bill limits the amount of land
available for purchase to all citizens except those with Iranian, Syrian, or Saudi passports,
who will be able to buy as much as they can afford.
The Milliyet report says the bill has been in the works for quite some time, and that it is
expected to pass through parliament in a quickened process.
Sayfa 55

An Israeli woman of Turkish background, who is affiliated with official sources in the
country, told Ynet that many Israelis have purchased land there in the past, before
relations between the two states had begun to deteriorate.
"Many Israelis appealed to the Turkish embassy in Israel in order to buy land in the
country, to establish Israeli tourism sites," she said.
"Before relations between the countries cooled, Israelis were told they could purchase
land on the condition that they were not close to military bases or intended for
agricultural use." (Yedioth Ahranot)
4. EGYPT / MISIR
Clashes erupted today between supporters of the Wafd candidate competing for Shubra
district's professional’s seat, Ramy Lakah, and his National Democratic Party opponent
Fady al-Habashy.
Three of al-Habashy’s supporters were left injured.
Al-Habashy’s supporters blocked the road in front of the polling station--held at Al-Attar
Secondary School for Girls--where they, wielding "white weapons," clashed with Lakah’s
supporters.
Yehia Hafez, the independent candidate vying for the same seat, accused Lakah, al-
Habashy as well as Reda Wahdan, the NDP candidate running for the worker’s seat, of
buying votes.
Briberies reached LE200 per vote at some polling stations. (Al Masry Al Youm)
Sayfa 56

Scattered violence and low voter turnout have marked the first few hours of today’s
parliamentary poll, amid common irregularities.
The son of an independent candidate in the Mattariya district in Cairo died today after he
was stabbed on Saturday several times while trying to hang up a leaflet supporting his
father. Amr Sayyed Abu Amr, the victim, is the first casualty of elections day.
Clashes erupted in a polling station in Arish, North Sinai, where two were reportedly
injured. The clashes took place between supporters of the two ruling National
Democratic Party (NDP) candidates who were contesting the district’s seat.
Clashes also occurred between supporters of a Wafd Party candidate and police forces in
Kom Ombo constituency, Aswan. The candidate's supporters claimed they were denied
access to the polling station and beaten by rival NDP candidate supporters.
Heavy security was spread around the upper Egyptian city of Nagaa Hammadi, in Qena,
where violent sectarian clashes left six Copts and one Muslim dead earlier this year.
The police resorted to using tear gas to separate voters and protestors in Samanoud
district, Gharbiya, amid a heavy presence of thugs, sources witnessed.
A member of Wafd Party candidate Rami Lakkah's campaign team in Shubra reported a
deliberate attempt to prevent voters from entering polling stations. Lakkah threatened
to withdraw from the race if voters were not allowed to enter polling stations.
Representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood who had obtained official powers of
attorney to follow the electoral process from within polling stations were nevertheless
denied access, Al-Masry Al-Youm reporters witnessed in Cairo’s Nasr City district, Giza’s
Dokki district, and others.
“200 delegates were prevented by plainclothes police from accessing 30 polling stations
in Dokki and Agouza,” Mohamed Saeed, the Brotherhood spokesperson for the area, told
Al-Masry Al-Youm.
Sayfa 57

Sobhi Saleh, Muslim Brotherhood candidate in Alexandria, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that
police were preventing his representatives from entering polling stations as well.
Pictures of NDP candidates and slogans in support of the candidates were seen hung
around fences of polling stations in Dokki, Agouza and Nasr City, while opposition or
independent candidates’ posters were noticeably absent.
Voter turn out was still low during the first hours of elections day, according to
witnesses.
“I haven’t missed elections since 1981 because I have a sense of responsibility toward
this country. The biggest problem is that
people complain and when it comes to action, they don’t do anything,” said Mohamed
Samir, an engineer, in Giza.
Voters complained about the difficulty of the process in certain districts.
“The voters lists are badly organized. It’s very hard to find names. I had to go to one
polling station in the morning and didn’t find my name. Then I went to another one. It
took me an hour to cast my vote,” added Samir.
“If we had real democracy, police shouldn’t be inside the polling station," said Mohamed
Hassan, a 27-year-old lawyer from Giza.
Samia Hussein, a housewife with four children from the Mit Oqba neighborhood in Giza,
told Al-Masry Al-Youm that she will be voting or the NDP candidates.
“I vote for them because of our condition. Whenever we need anything they help us. Mr.
Sayyed Gohar and Ms. Amal Othman sent us gifts in Ramadan and paid for our children’s
private lessons,” she said.
Ahmed Shawqi, a member of the High Elections Commission, said that so far voter
turnout at polling stations has been average.
Sayfa 58

“Looking at the period leading up to the elections and including what we have seen
today, it’s worse than 2005,” said Tom Malinowski, the head of the Human Rights Watch
Washington bureau who is in Cairo observing the elections.
Malinowski was standing outside of a polling station in the Dokki/Agouza district, which
had been forcibly closed.
“Why would they close it? When you have no international observers and no domestic
observers outside and no judicial monitors inside polling stations, and they are all ruling
party voters inside, that has the effect of rigging the election in this polling station at
least,” said Malinowski.
In an initial observation on the progress so far, Ahmad Fawzy, director of the Egyptian
Association for the Enhancement of Political Participation said, “Turnout is lower than
expected. People didn’t vote because the electoral process lacks judicial supervision and
candidates didn’t spend money directly on them.”
He added that most candidates’ expenditure had been directed toward bribing those in
charge of polling stations.
A witness told Al-Masry Al-Youm that he saw yesterday at night a truck-full of filled ballot
boxes being taken into a polling station in Heliopolis. (Al Masry Al Youm)
Egyptians await the outcome of a parliamentary run-off meant to end weeks of
instability, but reports of violence and accusations of voter intimidation and rigged
results have created an atmosphere of tension and fear.
Muslim Brotherhood candidates, have proved to be the biggest threat in a tight race that
has triggered conflict amid simmering tension between MB supporters and NDP
advocates
Sayfa 59

The latest tally has revealed that 9 citizens were killed and tens injured, during the
course of the day mainly at the hands of baton and knife wielded thugs while tear gas
bombs were used by security forces to disperse supporters stationed outside stations
counting the results. Family members of MB candidate Saad Husseini were among the
victims rushed to hospital after assaults outside the stations.
Although few expected the elections to be fair,so many irregularities have been reported
it is difficult to know where to start. A common complaint of the Election Day included
citizens being blocked from voting and other irregularities by independent monitors
included police intimidation, ballot stuffing, and bribery. Independent monitors wielding
government accreditation said police officials barred them from entering the polling
stations. In some constituencies trucks of police stood ready in opposition strongholds.
And in some areas plainclothes police and representatives of NDP ruling party
restricted the voters who could come inside and Violations effecting online monitoring
included the Muslim Brotherhood’s online portal being blocked by three of the major
internet providers in Egypt .
As counting began, groups of the NDP supporters and thugs gathered outside many
polling stations however party representatives had been prevented from going to some
poll counting stations and attempts were made to disperse crowds of MB and other
political opposition away from others.
Since the start of the vote, MB candidates stress they have witnessed systematic
blocking and irregularities, without doubt this plus the accustomed rigging will affect the
credibility of the vote.
A successful although unlikely poll given the events of the day would have paved the way
for reforms According to Analysts the aging regime of President Hosni Mubarak has
cracked down even harder than usual during the run up to the polls against political
opposition mainly from the MB group in an effort to tighten the party's grip on power
Sayfa 60

ahead of the presidential bid in 2011 and the succession process that awaits when the
82-year-old President no longer holds office. (İkhwanweb.com)
5. LEBANON / LÜBNAN
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah yesterday addressed Special
Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare, while Prime Minister Saad Hariri
held talks with Iranian officials in Tehran.
Nasrallah said that any evidence based on the telecommunications sector is valueless.
Speaking during a graduation ceremony, Nasrallah said Tuesday's press conference on
Israeli telecom attacks have shown that the telecom sector is dominated and controlled
by Israel. He added that the results of this infiltration are eavesdropping, getting access
to messages and getting subscribers’ data.
“*Israel+ can clone any *cellular’s+ SIM card and is thus able to make any phone call or
send any message. The data will show that a certain person used the cellular phone
when *in fact+ an Israeli did.”
“Anyone who has something to discuss *pertaining to this issue+ should see the
discovered [parallel cellular phone lines] which also permit eavesdropping. Many people
were accused of collaborating, and it turned out later they were not collaborators.”
The Hezbollah chief also said that the STL is the weakest court when it comes to the legal
aspects, adding that he supports the Syrian-Saudi efforts to resolve Lebanon’s crisis.
Nasrallah warned those who speak of a solution after the issuance of the STL indictment
that it might be too late. “*We fear+ we will have lost the initiative after *the indictment
is issued+,” he said.
Sayfa 61

Nasrallah has repeatedly said that the tribunal probing the 2005 assassination of former
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri is an “Israeli project” that will indict members of his party.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Saad Hariri met with Iran’s top leaders, including President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, to discuss bilateral relations
and current affairs.
The PM also met with Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi, who said that Tehran was
prepared to help the Lebanese army.
"We have stated on several occasions, and we say it again today, that we stand alongside
the Lebanese army and are prepared to cooperate" with it, Vahidi said.
The PM arrived in Iran on Saturday for an official visit. He is scheduled to meet with
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday. (Now Lebanon)
Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader MP Walid Jumblatt’s relationship with Prime
Minister Saad Hariri “will not be affected by the warning stances that Jumblatt is taking
regarding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) and its indictment,” Ad-Diyar newspaper
reported on Monday.
Jumblatt continues to desire good relations with Hariri, but he fears that the indictment
is “a trap to drag Lebanon into a game of international and regional interests that it
cannot bear,” the paper quoted an anonymous source close to Jumblatt as saying.
“Some foreign forces want to use the STL and its indictment, perhaps to reach strife in
the country,” Jumblatt said on Sunday.
Tension is high in Lebanon amid unconfirmed reports that the STL will soon issue an
indictment in its investigation of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination.
It is rumored that the indictment will name Hezbollah members.
Sayfa 62

In a speech on November 11, Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said
that his party will "cut off the hand" of anyone who tries to arrest any of its members in
the case.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported last Sunday that the STL has
telecommunications evidence strongly linking Hezbollah to the Rafik Hariri assassination.
(Now Lebanon)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met Sunday evening with Prime Minister Saad
Hariri and discussed the latest regional developments as well as bilateral relations and
means to improve them, according to a statement issued by the PM’s press office.
Earlier on Sunday, Hariri discussed bilateral relations with Iranian Foreign Minister
Manouchehr Mottaki and also met with Iran's Supreme National Security Council Chief
(SNSC) Saeed Jalili.
The PM will meet with Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday
morning, the statement added.
The statement also reported that Ahmadinejad held a dinner in honor of Hariri and the
accompanying delegation – who arrived in Iran on Saturday for a three-day official visit.
(Now Lebanon)
6. SYRIA / SURİYE
President Bashar al-Assad discussed Saturday with Chairman of Saudi Shura Council Dr.
Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Sheikh the Syrian-Saudi relations and keenness
of the two countries' leaderships to cement and develop them to positively reflect on the
two brotherly peoples and the Arab causes in general.
Sayfa 63

The meeting dealt with the agenda of the 5th conference of the Asian Parliamentary
Assembly (APA) scheduled in Damascus tomorrow and the need for the conference to
come out with resolutions that cope with the situation in the region, especially with
regard to the Palestinian cause.
President al-Assad and the Chairman of Saudi Shura Council also reviewed the latest
developments in the Arab and regional arenas.
President al-Assad asked Dr. Abdullah Al-Sheikh to convey his greetings to the Custodian
of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and congratulate him on the
success of the surgery he has recently underwent.
Speaker of the People's Assembly Mahmoud al-Abrash and the Saudi Ambassador in
Damascus attended the meeting.
In a statement to SANA following the meeting, Al-Sheikh stressed the special relationship
between the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of
Saudi Arabia and President al-Assad, underscoring their common keenness on pushing
the bilateral relations forward in all fields to serve the interests of their peoples.
He added that the meeting dealt with the Arab situation, highlighting President al-
Assad's pan-Arab vision and his awareness of the situation of the Arab and Islamic
nations and the concerns of the region.
He pointed out to President al-Assad's stress on the importance of addressing this
situation to live up to the level of the Arab peoples' aspirations, and the need for the
constitutional institutions to adopt measures during such meetings and forums to serve
the Arab issues and the Arab citizens' interests.
Al-Sheikh noted that stress was placed on the role of the Arab parliamentary councils in
coming out with unified views about the issues to be discussed by tomorrow's
Conference, pointing out that the Palestinian cause is a priority on the Conference's
agenda. (SANA)
Sayfa 64

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil of India said forming the Syrian-Indian Business
Council will add momentum to trade and economic cooperation between the two
countries.
President Devisingh Patil was speaking at the launching of the Syrian-Indian Business
Council on Sunday, which aims at boosting bilateral relations through benefiting from the
investment opportunities available in both countries.
She added that the Council will help handle obstacles facing free trade flow between the
two countries, referring to Syria's importance as a meeting point for trade men from the
east and west.
She indicated to the contribution of Indian companies to Syria's economic development
program in many fields, most importantly in the field of oil and electricity exploration
and production, using phosphate resources in Syria and helping upgrade the iron factory
in Hama.
The Indian President pointed out to the Center of Excellence for Information Technology,
under construction now, which she said will enhance the growth of information
technology sector in Syria.
She said the agreement signed between the Syrian and Indian Federations of Chambers
of Commerce and Industry will expand the business sector and economic cooperation
between the two countries.
Minister of Trade and Economy Lamia Assi invited Indian businessmen to make
investments in Syria according to the agreements signed which established the legal
structure for investment in the two countries.
Assi said that foreign direct investment in Syria grew in 2009 by eight times since 2003
and the gross domestic product increased by 6% between 2005 and 2009.
Sayfa 65

Head of the Indian side to the Council VRS Natarajan said the meetings of the Indian
businessmen with their Syrian counterparts helped them get acquainted with the
investment opportunities available in Syria in he fields of infrastructure, technology and
small and medium-sized companies.
A memo of understanding was signed between the two sides, which provides for laying
the bases of the Council's works and exploring wider cooperation prospects between
Syria and India.
The memo also provides for cooperation in economic, services, cultural and social fields,
in addition to benefiting from the Indian expertise and establishing joint partnerships.
Following the meeting, a number of Syrian and Indian businessmen stressed the
importance of launching the Syrian-Indian Business Council to introduce the investment
environment in the two countries.
Chairman of Indian IPI Engineering Company SBS Bakshi told SANA that launching the
Syrian-Indian Business Council in the presence of Indian President Devisingh Patil
indicates the Indian businessmen's interest in the investment opportunities iavailable in
Syria.
For his part, Vijay Rai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of 'Solo Energy' Company
expressed his company's interest in enhancing cooperation with Syrian businessmen and
companies in the field of energy, adding that the Council will help establish joint
investment projects, especially in the abundance of resources in Syria.
Bassam Ghraoui, Member of Syrian-Indian Business Council pointed out to the diversity
of fields which cooperation could include, particularly in the fields of pharmaceutical
industries, IT, education and training.
Member of Syrian-Indian Business Council Radwan Moussalli considered that
establishing the Council is one of the important results achieved due to the distinguished
relation between Syria and India. (SANA)
Sayfa 66

7. ARABIAN PENINSULA AND THE GULF OF BASRA / ARAP YARIMADASI VE BASRA
KÖRFEZİ
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz urged the United States to attack Iran to destroy its
nuclear program, according to US documents leaked by WikiLeaks and published Sunday
by daily newspapers.
According to a leaked US cable, published by The New York Times, the king made the call
during an April 2008 meeting with US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and US General
David Petraeus.
"He told you to 'cut off the head of the snake'," Saudi Arabia's ambassador to
Washington, Adel al-Jubeir, told the US embassy in Riyadh two days after the high-level
talks, according to the State Department memo.
"The king, foreign minister, Prince Muqrin, and Prince Nayif all agreed that the Kingdom
needs to cooperate with the US on resisting and rolling back Iranian influence and
subversion in Iraq," the memo said.
"The King was particularly adamant on this point, and it was echoed by the senior princes
as well. Jubeir recalled the king's frequent exhortations to the US to attack Iran and so
put an end to its nuclear weapons program."
But the memo goes on to say other Saudi officials were more cautious about the need
for military action, with Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal and intelligence chief
Prince Muqrin bin Abd al-Aziz pushing for sanctions.
"The Foreign Minister, on the other hand, called instead for much more severe US and
international sanctions on Iran, including a travel ban and further restrictions on bank
lending," the memo said.
Sayfa 67

"Prince Muqrin echoed these views, emphasizing that some sanctions could be
implemented without UN approval. The Foreign Minister also stated that the use of
military pressure against Iran should not be ruled out."
The leaked memo could prove embarrassing to Saudi Arabia, which, while known to be
nervous of Iran's alleged nuclear weapons ambitions, has not publicly called for Western
military action against its powerful neighbor.
Reacting to the leaks, a Saudi government advisor who asked not to be identified told
AFP: "The whole thing is very negative. It's not good for confidence-building." (Lebanon
Now)
A Bahraini court on Thursday postponed the trial of alleged members of a terror network
to December 9.
The postponement is the second one ruled by the court since 23 Bahrainis were put on
trial on charges of forming and belonging to an illegal network seeking to undermine
Bahrain's security and stability.
A massive security cordon was imposed around the court in Manama to ensure there
would be no acts of violence by relatives of supporters of the defendants. (Gulf News)
Queen Elizabeth II left Oman after a four-day visit, during which she attended a number
of horse racing events at the Al Adiyat race track in A'Seeb.
The British Queen was seen off by Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed at the Royal Airport in Seeb.
Members of the Royal Family, ministers and senior officials were also present.
Sayfa 68

The Queen was accompanied by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and an official
delegation that included the foreign secretary, William Hague and the British
ambassador to Oman, Dr Noel Guckian.
During her visit, the Queen and Sultan Qaboos discussed a host of regional and
international issues, including ways to boost bilateral relations.
She also signed two agreements, including a decision to do away with the need for visas,
for those holding diplomatic or special passports from either country. Both leaders also
agreed to establish a joint working group.
On Saturday evening, Queen Elizabeth wore a golden-buttoned turquoise military-style
jacket with a matching hat as she watched a Royal Cavalry display that included 29 pure
Arabian horses towing one carriage.
Sultan Qaboos gave the Queen two gifts, including a glittering 21-carat gold engraved
vase and a Faberge-style egg that revealed, when the top was removed, a tiny carousel
of horses that spun around to a musical tune.
The Queen and the Omani leader also viewed a collection of paintings from the Tate,
currently on loan to Oman. These included works by Thomas Gainsborough, George
Stubbs, John Constable, J.M.W Turner, John Everett Millais and John Singer Sargent.
The British monarch last came to Oman in 1979 when she sailed on board the royal yacht
Britannia. (Gulf News)
Common grounds between Oman and Britain have strengthened the relationship
between the two countries, according to British Foreign Secretary, William Hague.
"Both countries (Oman and UK) have looked for the foreign world to build good relations
with their neighbours," he said in an interview to government-owned Oman News
Agency (ONA), on Saturday.
Sayfa 69

Hague added that the other the common ground between both countries was that both
have rich marine history.
He stressed that both the countries have realised that there was a need for building
strong friendships and alliances with the rest of the world.
"Both countries are also known for their strategic location," the British Foreign Secretary
pointed out.
"While, the Sultanate overlooks the Indian Ocean the UK overlooks the Atlantic Ocean,"
he added.
As for the developments witnessed by Oman since the Queen Elizabeth visit to the
Sultanate 31 years ago, the British Foreign Secretary said that the Sultanate has
witnessed major developments and growth during this period. "I myself have seen this
positive development during my recurrent visits to the country in the last 10 years."
He also pointed out to the constant development witnessed in the education sector in
Oman, which, he feels, provides Omanis with many opportunities for growth and
development.
He affirmed that with such great development made, the British government has the
desire for stronger relations in economic, trade and education fields in the coming
period. He also hailed the achievements made by the Sultanate in its march towards
progress and development.
As for the agreement which was signed on Saturday between the Sultanate and the UK,
he pointed out that the agreement is a step forward as it will make access to UK for
holders of diplomatic and special passports process easy and fast. The agreement will
also help the governments in both countries to cooperate more closely.
He affirmed that the main reason behind Britain's strict visa requirements is that many
people manipulated the visa arrangements in the past. He added that the British
Sayfa 70

government reviews the visa regulations from time to time and it will try to soften the
UK entry visa requirements for citizens of the friendly countries. (Gulf News)
Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will meet on December 6-7 in Abu Dhabi,
where the prestigious bloc was created 30 years ago, as security threats surround the
region — Iran to the east, Iraq to the north and Yemen to the south.
The "militarisation and nuclearisation" of Iran threaten to spark a fourth Gulf war that
will engulf the region and may drag in Turkey, analysts warn ahead of the GCC Summit.
"The drivers for a Gulf war are apparent. All diplomatic steps taken by US President
Barack Obama appear to be failing, meaning there is an increased likelihood of a military
confrontation that may not only include punitive strikes on Iran but also a war in the
Levant that could drag in Turkey," said Dr Theodore Karasik, Director of Research and
Development at the institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis (Inegma).
Preparing for action
Dr Karasik warned the kind of military hardware deployed in the region indicates that the
US is preparing for action. "The United States has been bolstering air defence and
ballistic missiles by deploying more Patriot missiles and Aegis-equipped destroyers.
"It has increased the number of minesweepers, deployed another carrier group, and is
sending another one to the edge of the Indian Ocean, all in order to reach striking
distance of Iran.
"Hardline Iranian leaders in turn are keeping up preparations for a possible war with
[the] United States. These leaders seem to have been affected by the results of the
Hezbollah-Israeli June 2006 war and have subsequently become confident of emerging
victorious from a showdown with the US.
Sayfa 71

"The tactics of holding regular military exercises, arresting various anti-regime activists
and/or sailors, and harassing US warships prove that some Iranian leaders [especially
within Iran's Revoultionary Guards Corps (IRGC)] are not afraid of the US and were willing
to up the stakes and risk sparking a military confrontation and a war.
"Finally, Israeli leaders have made it clear that they will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear
weapons. The political situation in Israel, coupled with the Israeli policy against Gaza
activists, would make it tempting to many leaders there to take unilateral action and
drag the US into a war [willingly or unwillingly].
"Also Israel wants to regain its deterrent posture after it was shattered in the last war
against Hezbollah."
Dr Karasik suggested that the consequences of this crescendo towards conflict and its
aftermath must be examined in detail to minimise the potentially catastrophic impact on
GCC economies and political stability.
Dr Karasik said the "disastrous" Iraq war is spreading regional sectarian strife and
methods of warfare throughout the region.
"Bahrain is becoming a political laboratory for Shiite-Sunni relations where the Sunnis
themselves are divided between Salafists and those who call themselves Secularists," he
said.
At the highest level of state competition, Saudi Arabia's monarchy cele-brates Arab
tribalism and rests on an uneasy alliance with the religious establishment, while
Khomeini's concept of vilayet-e-faqih [guardianship of the jurisprudents] in today's Iran is
anti-monarchical, anti-tribal, notionally populist, and accords unequivocal primacy to the
clerical class.
The spillover of this competition affects Lebanon and Syria, specifically highlighting who
is Sunni and who is Shiite, particularly the Arab Shiite represented by Hezbollah.
Significantly, people are identifying each other as Sunni or Shiite, not as a Muslims. The
Sayfa 72

sectarian consequences for the region in the aftermath of the 2003 Iraq War thus merit
serious consideration.
Dr Karasik argues at the same time that it is not clear whether the civil war unleashed by
the US invasion is over.
"At present, the prevailing opinion seems to be that Iraqis are "tired" of violence and
now prefer a democratic process, no matter how flawed or skewed.
However, voices from Saudi Arabia increasingly appear dissatisfied with the
consolidation of the Iraqi state and fearful of Iranian encroachment, potentially implying
a heightened Saudi-Iranian rivalry within Iraq and potentially an all-out proxy war
brewing in the wake of the withdrawal of US forces over the course of 2011.
On Al Qaida on the Arabian Peninsula, Dr Karasik said the Salafist-Jihadist discourse
represented by Al Qaida Arabian Peninsula calls for attacks on energy infrastructure and
violence against civilians, Muslim and non-Muslim.
"The recent attacks on cargo carriers as an economic target is also a case in point. In
addition, Al Qaida on the Arabian Peninsula doctrine calls for attacks on Gulf nations'
cyberspace that can have an impact on governance and economics. Although cyberterrorism
is an attractive option for terrorists, who value its anonymity and its media
appeal, the increasing e-governance by the GCC makes any such potential and actual
attack highly significant. Overall, such attacks can be low in sophistication but can have a
high impact via psychological effects and loss of commerce and revenue.
Dr Karasik said that the continued and growing reality of "threats from within" on the
physical, economic and electronic infrastructure of the Gulf states must be analysed from
the perspective of efforts to directly address threats through security and legal
approaches as well as economic and political integration and reconciliation efforts which
have taken diverse forms across the region.
Sayfa 73

Dr Abdul Khaleq Abdullah, Professor of Political Science at Emirates University said the
militarisation and the nuclearisation of Iran's domestic and foreign policy is bound to
increase regional tensions.
"The GCC states need to beef up their military capabilities in anticipation of a possible
military confrontation between Iran and the United States. This worst-case scenario of a
fourth Gulf war cannot be easily ruled out if the current tight UN economic sanctions fail
to stop Iran's nuclear ambitions."
Dr Abdullah added that from a GCC perspective, security challenges are abundantly clear
and come from all directions.
"To the north there is the politically unstable and volatile Iraq. Fragile Yemen to the
south is a potential strategic liability as it heads into a failed-state status. The difficult
Iran to the east is becoming more difficult to understand and predict."
Dr Abdullah argued there is also the US, which despite the close relationship is "no
longer as reliable as it used to be".
While he describes the US as an indispensable partner, Dr Abdullah said that trust in
Washington is eroding fast and it is probably at its lowest because of its mishandling of
Gulf security. Its miserable performance in Iraq and Afghanistan and its confusing
behaviour towards Iran are not convincing.
"A militarily weak Iraq sitting next to politically emboldened Iran, is not a reassuring
regional security formula," said Dr Abdullah, holding Washington "fully responsible for
creating this new regional malaise".
Dr Abdullah stressed that GCC states are "fully determined to match Iran step by step
and go all the way to the very end, including developing their own nuclear options."
Dr Abdullah said that he believes if Iran eventually chooses to develop its nuclear
capabilities, the GCC states, either collectively or individually, will go nuclear too.
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"They [the GCC states] are not going to stand idle and accept as fait accompli the
emergence of Iran as a nuclear power which drastically alters the current delicate
balance of power in favour of Tehran. This is fiercely resisted not just by Saudi Arabia and
the smaller GCC states but even by Iraq."
Dr Karasik could not agree more. "If Iran goes nuclear, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey
will quickly follow. The question is which umbrella will the remaining GCC states fall
under?" he said.
However, Dr Abdul Rahim Al Shahin, Associate Professor of Political Science at the
Emirates University, sees the worst-case scenario of a fourth Gulf War is "very unlikely".
On what should the US and its allies do to contain these threats, Dr Al Shahin says only
creating a moderate self-government in Iran, Iraq and other states in the region will bring
lasting peace and nonproliferation, which will take time. (Gulf News)
Officials, security analysts and researchers commended the efforts of Saudi security
forces and their recent foiling of major attacks targeting government, security officials
and journalists.
The Saudi Interior Ministry announced on Friday that during the past eight months its
security forces have arrested 149 people of different nationalities, mostly Saudis, who
belong to 19 cells linked to Al Qaida.
It also noted that it has confiscated 2.24 million Saudi riyals collected by the group with
an aim of spreading its ideology.
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah said
the foiling of these attacks indicates the competence and capability of Saudi security
forces in its determination to uproot terrorism.
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In press statements, Al Attiyah underscored the GCC state's firm stance which condemn
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
He underlined the importance of intensifying regional and international cooperation to
eliminate terrorism.
Spokesman of the Saudi Interior Ministry Major General Mansour Al Turki said that some
of the arrested suspects entered the Kingdom on the pretext of performing Haj or Umrah
and then went to secret locations for training.
Speaking at a press conference in Riyadh on Friday, Al Turki said that documents and
weapons meant to be used for carrying out plots were seized.
He added that Interpol was asked to help in the arrest of those connected with plots and
residing outside Saudi Arabia.
The spokesman disclosed that investigations are under way to trace the source of
funding those militants.
Al Turki noted that the arrested group was not planning to attack oil facilities, but
planned to attack government, civil and military buildings as well as assassinate security
men, officials, journalists and foreigners.
Eisa Al Gaith, a Saudi judge, said the foiling of these attacks reflects the success of
security forces in protecting the country. He noted that Prince Mohammad Bin Nayef
Centre for Counselling and Care has proven its ability in correcting deviant ideologies.
(Gulf News)
Saudi Arabia arrested 149 people from 19 cells linked to Al Qaida over the past eight
months and foiled attacks against government and security officials as well as journalists,
the Interior Ministry said on Friday. It said in a statement it had confiscated 2.24 million
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iyals ($597,237) from Al Qaida when it tried to collect money and spread its ideology
during Haj and Umra in Saudi Arabia. (Gulf News)
8. SOUTH ASIA / GÜNEY ASYA
PAKISTAN / PAKİSTAN
Pakistan is offering a reward of about $120,000 for information about Taliban militants
linked to attacks or planned attacks in the country.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik announced the reward Saturday saying the government
would be willing to resettle informants and their families in Pakistan or possibly abroad if
they feared retaliation.
The Associated Press of Pakistan quotes Malik as saying the government has "broken the
back" of the Taliban which he said is "breathing" its last breath. He said the militant
group is "desperate" as it carries out "terrorist activities" in mosques, shrines and other
public places.
He commented a day after Pakistani authorities announced the arrests of two suspected
suicide bombers accused of planning to attack a mosque and government buildings in
Islamabad. A senior police official said both men were linked to the Pakistani Taliban.
Malik said many of the Taliban militants are linked to the banned Sunni Muslim Laskhare-Jhangvi.
Authorities believe the group has played a role in violence that includes the
2002 kidnapping and murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl. Malik said some Taliban
militants are also linked to the extremist Sunni Muslim group Sipah-e-Sahaba.
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Pakistani authorities believe Taliban-linked militants are responsible for attacks that have
killed several thousand people in the country.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters. (VOA News)
US diplomatic cables released on Sunday show that since 2007 the United States has
been engaged in a secret effort to remove highly enriched uranium from a Pakistani
research reactor. According to the documents released by a whistle-blowing website
called Wiki-Leaks, the US administration authorised this effort because American officials
feared the material could be diverted for use in an illicit nuclear device.
One cable quotes Saudi King Abdullah as saying that President Asif Ali Zardari was “the
greatest obstacle” to Pakistan’s progress. “When the head is rotten,” he said, “it affects
the whole body”.
In May 2009, US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson reported to the State Department that
Pakistan was refusing to schedule a visit by American technical experts because, as a
Pakistani official said, “if the local media got word of the fuel removal they certainly
would portray it as the United States taking Pakistan’s nuclear weapons”.
Cables sent by the US Embassy in Islamabad to the State Department also talk of “grave
fears in Washington and London over the security of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons
programme” amid the country’s growing instability.
They depict the Obama administration struggling to sort out which Pakistanis are
trustworthy partners against Al Qaeda, and “assessing whether a lurking rickshaw driver
in Lahore was awaiting fares or conducting surveillance of the road to the American
Consulate”.
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WikiLeaks, a site devoted to leaking government documents, apparently received
hundreds of thousands of US diplomatic cables from an anti-war activist who got access
to the secret files due to a glitch in the computer system.
The US government, however, warned WikiLeaks not to release the documents.
On Saturday, State Department’s Legal Adviser Harold Hongju Koh sent a letter to
WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange, warning him that the release of approximately 250,000
secret documents would have “grave consequences” and place at risk the lives of
journalists, human rights activists and soldiers. Mr Assange had earlier asked the State
Department for information on any individuals who may be “at significant risk of harm”
by the disclosure. Earlier on Sunday, WikiLeaks released a Twitter message, saying: “We
are currently under a mass distributed denial of service attack” but said that some of the
world’s major newspapers — such as El Pais, Le Monde, Speigel, The Guardian and The
New York Times — will publish many US embassy cables, even if WikiLeaks went down.
And by Sunday afternoon (Washington time), all these news outlets published their
versions of the leak, ignoring stern warning they too had received from the State
Department.
They reported that more than 250,000 US embassy cables released by WikiLeaks “reveal
previously secret information on American intelligence gathering, and political and
military strategy”.
The release “catapulted the United States into a worldwide diplomatic crisis”, noted the
Guardian. Many of these classified cables were sent as recently as February this year.
Attack on Iran
The documents show that Arab leaders are privately urging an air strike on Iran and that
US officials have been instructed to spy on the UN’s leadership. The cables also talk
about a major shift in relations between China and North Korea, and details of
Sayfa 79

clandestine US efforts to combat Al Qaeda in Yemen. Disclosures that both the Guardian
and the NYT believe can cause a major diplomatic uproar include:
— Alleged links between the Russian government and organised crime.
— Devastating criticism of the UK’s military operations in Afghanistan.
— Claims of inappropriate behaviour by a member of the British royal family.
— Serious political criticisms of David Cameron to requests for specific intelligence about
individual MPs.
— Specific allegations of corruption against world leaders.
— Harsh criticism by US embassy staff of their host governments.
The material includes a reference to Vladimir Putin as an “alpha-dog”, Hamid Karzai as
being “driven by paranoia” and German Chancellor Angela Merkel as someone who
“avoids risk and is rarely creative”.
One cable compares Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with Adolf Hitler.
The cables name countries involved in financing terror groups, and describe a near
“environmental disaster” last year over a rogue shipment of enriched uranium.
They disclose technical details of secret US-Russian nuclear missile negotiations in
Geneva, and include a profile of Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi, who they say is
accompanied everywhere by a “voluptuous blonde” Ukrainian nurse. The cables cover
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s activities under the Obama administration, as well as
thousands of files from the George Bush presidency.
The cables reveal how the US uses its embassies as part of a global espionage network,
with diplomats tasked to obtain not just information from the people they meet, but
personal details, such as frequent flyer numbers, credit card details and even DNA
material.
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Classified “human intelligence directives” issued in the name of Hillary Clinton or her
predecessor, Condoleezza Rice, instruct officials to gather information on military
installations, weapons markings, vehicle details of political leaders as well as iris scans,
fingerprints and DNA.
The most controversial target was the leadership of the United Nations. That directive
requested the specification of telecoms and IT systems used by top UN officials and their
staff and details of “private VIP networks used for official communication, to include
upgrades, security measures, passwords, personal encryption keys”.
One cable shows that when Afghanistan’s vice-president visited the United Arab
Emirates last year, local authorities working with the Drug Enforcement Administration
discovered that he was carrying $52 million in cash.
Speaking to an Iraqi official about Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, Saudi
King Abdullah says: “You and Iraq are in my heart, but that man is not.”
Some cables claim that Saudi donors remain the chief financiers of militant groups like Al
Qaeda, and the tiny Persian Gulf state of Qatar, a generous host to the American military
for years, was the “worst in the region” in counter-terrorism efforts. (Dawn)
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said Pakistan and Oman are working together for
enhanced cooperation and a strategic partnership to seek development and peace in the
region.
Speaking at a function held here on Sunday to celebrate the 40th National Day of the
Sultanate of Oman, the Prime Minister said Pakistan and Oman are bound by a common
history, shared values, faith, traditions and commonality of interests.
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These common characteristics form the basis of a special relationship with Oman, he
added. He congratulated Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al-Said and the people of Oman on the
important landmark in the history of Oman.
He said, “Oman’s success is Pakistan’s success. We take pride in the achievements of the
Sultanate of Oman.”
The Prime Minister said Pakistan admires the tremendous progress achieved by Oman
under the sagacious, experienced and visionary leadership of Sultan Qaboos.
“It is also a matter of great pride for us that since its creation, hardworking and
committed Pakistanis, have contributed towards Oman’s development. Today, 175,000
Pakistanis continue to make their contribution,” he noted.
The Prime Minister expressed his best wishes for the sustained progress and prosperity
of the people of Sultanate of Oman.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador of Oman Mohammad Said Mohammad Al-Lawati
said people of the two countries are tied in bonds of brotherhood.
Relations of the two countries are strong and will further improve with their partnership
in various fields, he added. (Dawn)
Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif has assailed the PML-Q for walking out of
the Senate, saying that it had paved the way for the government to get
recommendations on the reformed GST bill approved by the upper house of parliament.
“They (PML-Q) had to vote against the RGST bill, instead of merely criticising it outside
parliament,” Mr Sharif said at a press conference after presiding over a meeting of his
party here on Saturday.
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He alleged that some opposition parties, which had no agenda or ideology, were serving
their own interests, instead of the country and the nation.
The PML-N chief said he had written to President Asif Ali Zardari a letter suggesting
measures to improve the political and economic situation in the country.
He said that although he had received a response from the government assuring him
that the suggestions would be positively considered, his party would wait what steps the
government took in this regard.
“We would have to put our own house in order and stop tax thefts before imposing new
taxes. There will be no need of any grant from any country if we ensure transparency in
taxation,” he added.
He warned that the government should correct things before the masses took to the
streets.
“We have laid a foundation of positive politics and we want to continue this trend in the
larger interest of the country and the nation.”
Mr Sharif blamed former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf for the current unrest in
Balochistan. “Balochistan has been mishandled, which resulted in deteriorating the
situation.”
He said that military operations in the past had created a sense of deprivation among the
people of the province.
“It is irony that Gen Musharraf is still saying that he will adopt the same policy in
Balochistan if he comes to power,” the former prime minister said, adding that it meant
that the general would target another Baloch leader in future.
He said that peace of the country was linked with Balochistan’s stability.
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He expressed concern over the killing of missing persons and said that this was
unacceptable in the 21st century.
“Efforts should be made to get issues resolved through dialogue and political means.”
Mr Sharif said that not only Punjab but the entire country was the victim of terrorism,
adding that all political forces should work together to cope with this menace.
In reply to a question about drone strikes, he said these had been allowed by the
Musharraf government. (Dawn)
Participants of the ‘Save Pakistan Long March’, launched in protest against terror attacks
on shrines, safely reached Data Darbar here on Sunday night.
The march organised by some groups belonging to the Barelvi school of thought under
the umbrella of Sunni Ittehad Council set off for Lahore from the Bari Imam shrine in
Islamabad on Saturday and after passing through Jhelum, Gujrat and Gujranwala,
terminated at its destination peacefully.
The participation in the car rally, however, was not very high because the Punjab
government had detained scores of religious leaders on Saturday.
In Rawalpindi, police barricaded the Grand Trunk Road and fought a ‘brick battle’ with
activists before allowing them to proceed towards Lahore.
However, the rally participants did not face hurdles during the rest of the journey and
were given receptions in almost every town and city on the way. Strict security measures
were taken to meet any eventuality.
In Lahore, police cordoned off Hazrat Ali Hajveri’s mausoleum, known popularly as Data
Darbar, at 3pm and traffic on roads leading to it was blocked. At least 1,000 security
personnel were deputed around the shrine.
Sayfa 84

The protesters were asked to get off their vehicles when they reached Azadi Chowk and
requested to go to Data Darbar on foot.
However, MNA Fazl Karim, former federal minister Haji Hanif Tayyab and Sunni Tehrik’s
Sarwat Ijaz Qadri were allowed to go to Data Darbar on their vehicles.
Outside the shrine, the Ulema delivered short speeches vowing to oppose those creating
lawlessness in the name of Jihad. They also pledged to resist repeal of the blasphemy
law. (Dawn)
A US drone attack targeting a vehicle travelling in Pakistan’s lawless northwestern tribal
belt near the Afghan border killed four militants on Sunday, local security officials said.
The unmanned aircraft targeted the vehicle in Hasan Khel village, around 30 kilometres
east of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan tribal district, and a known hub of
Islamic militants.
“US drone fired two missiles, the vehicle is still on fire, we have reports that three
militants were killed in this attack,” a local security official in Miranshah told AFP.
A security official in Peshawar also confirmed the incident and the toll.
Another security official in Miranshah said that identities of those killed in the strike
were not immediately known.
A covert US drone campaign in Pakistan has been stepped up over the last few months
with strikes in the tribal belt, which Washington considers as the most dangerous place
on earth, taking place with increasing frequency.
More than 250 people have been killed in 47 strikes since September 3, heightening
tensions with Islamabad over reported US criticism of Pakistan’s failure so far to launch a
ground offensive in North Waziristan.
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The United States does not as a rule confirm drone attacks, but its military and the
Central Intelligence Agency operating in Afghanistan are the only forces that deploy the
aircraft in the region.
Officials in Washington say drone strikes are highly effective in the war against Al-Qaeda
and its allies, killing a number of high-value targets, including the Pakistani Taliban’s
founding father Baitullah Mehsud.
The leadership of the Haqqani network, which is linked to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, is
also based in North Waziristan.
It has been accused of plotting some of the deadliest attacks on US troops in
Afghanistan, including a suicide bombing that killed seven CIA operatives at a US base in
Khost last December.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said recently it would reject any overtures seeking to allow
the drone campaign to be expanded outside the tribal areas, amid US press reports that
Washington was seeking to expand the areas inside Pakistan where the pilot less aircraft
could operate.
The Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for a number of arson and gun attacks
on Nato supply convoys destined for Afghanistan, saying they are in revenge for the
drone war.
Washington has attempted to soothe anti-Americanism that is rife throughout Pakistan
with increased civilian aid to help the country overcome devastating summer floods,
balancing that with its huge military donations. (Dawn)
A deal to open new export markets for Afghan products, by creating a tax-free transit
corridor to India through Pakistan, is lopsided and may cement Islamabad’s resented grip
on the Afghan economy, traders and officials say.
Sayfa 86

The US-sponsored transit agreement which comes into effect next year allows Afghan
trucks to drive tax free across Pakistan up to the Indian border with products for sale
there — but they cannot load up with Indian exports for the return journey.
Instead, Afghan traders must buy products made in or shipped into Pakistan; ensuring
Pakistani merchants do not lose their foothold in a market worth billions of dollars in
annual sales.
“We couldn’t insist on bringing Indian goods to the country from Pakistan’s border or
they would not have been interested in signing it,” said Mozamel Shinware, head of
International Trade in the Ministry of Commerce.
Afghanistan also agreed to allow Pakistan traders to seek routes to central Asia along
Afghan roads, Shinware said.
The long-awaited agreement has been in the pipeline for months and was hammered out
with help from the United States, which is keen to try and wean Afghanistan off billions
of dollars in foreign aid by boosting economic growth.
Afghanistan’s total worldwide exports were only $400 million last year, and according to
Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce around half of that were sales of fruit and carpets
to India.
“Pakistan charges a 35 percent tax on Afghanistan exports to Pakistan itself, but transit is
now free,” said Chamber of Commerce deputy head Khan Jan Alokozai.
However the trucks will have to stock up with Pakistani goods for their return journey.
And importing Indian goods via sea is very costly, often more than twice as expensive as
overland transport, sources at the commerce ministry say.
“Pakistan was very cautious about signing this contract, thinking about its revenues first
and foremost,” said Afghan finance ministry spokesman Aziz Shams.
Sayfa 87

“We get 10 per cent of the benefits from the contract, and Pakistan gets 90 percent of
the benefits,” he said.
Afghanistan is the largest buyer of Pakistan goods ranging from food items to
construction materials, worth $4 billion a year, Shams added.
Islamabad says Afghanistan is the country’s third biggest market, although it put trade at
$1.45 billion for the 11 months from July 2009. The difference may be due to smuggling.
Uneasy partners
The trade deal should provide a significant new outlet for Afghan goods as the Kabul
government and its foreign partners struggle to rebuild an economy crippled by decades
of war.
India is a relatively short truck journey away and in 2003 signed a preferential trade
agreement with Kabul, one of only two such bilateral deals Delhi has agreed.
A strengthening insurgency and weak infrastructure have meant Afghans are still heavily
dependent on foreign aid.
Unemployment runs at around 40 percent, and economists and businessmen say lack of
jobs makes it easier for militants to recruit fighters to their ranks, so creating businesses
and finding markets for Afghan goods is an urgent concern.
But landlocked Afghanistan is dependent on its neighbours for access to markets, and its
small manufacturing base means it also relies on them for imports.
This has created widespread resentment of the grip Pakistan in particular has on the
country’s economy. This comes on top of the common perception that Islamabad has
contributed to decades of violence and insecurity by supporting insurgent groups.
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“Pakistan only sends poor quality and unhealthy things, without any controls imposed by
the Afghan government,” said Rahim Khan, a shopkeeper in Afghanistan whose general
store is packed with goods from his unloved neighbour.
“This agreement is totally to the advantage of Pakistan.
They should allow Afghan traders to bring Indian goods into the country, why are we
forced to just use Pakistani products?” (Dawn)
INDIA / HINDISTAN
Moderate Kashmiri separatist Mirwaiz Umar Farooq's remarks at a seminar in Kolkata
provoked protests, with BJP's youth wing activists blocking his way and throwing eggs at
his car on Sunday.
The incident came three days after a group of Kashmiri Pandits and right-wing activists
assaulted him and another moderate separatist, Bilal Lone, at a seminar in Chandigarh
on Thursday. The activists had punched and slapped the Mirwaiz there and vandalised
the seminar venue. In his speech at the Kolkata seminar titled 'Kashmir: A Way Out', he
described Kashmir as a ''disputed land'' and said the ''the Indian government should
realise the strong sentiments of the Valley's people for azadi''.
As soon as he left the seminar venue, a group of activists from BJP students' wing, AVBP,
surrounded his car and threw eggs at it. The protesters, carrying banners, saying 'Bharat
Ek Hai' and 'Mirwaiz Murdabad', waved sticks with shoes tied to them. Police whisked
away the Mirwaiz and arrested 22 activists including a woman. ''Kashmir is a disputed
land and we want a solution,'' said the Mirwaiz, while replying to former Army chief
Shankar Roy Chowdhury's question whether he considered Jammu & Kashmir a part of
India.
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The Mirwaiz said he was in favour of dialogue, but called for a conducive atmosphere for
the talks.
Read more: Mirwaiz targeted again, BJP men held in Kolkata (The Times of India)
India was deliberately kept out of the Turkey-sponsored meeting on Afghanistan earlier
this year to address the “sensitivities” of Pakistan, according to the documents released
by WikiLeaks.
Reflecting Islamabad’s insistence at every international fora that New Delhi be kept out
of any meeting on Afghanistan, a top Turkish diplomat told U.S. officials early this year
that India was kept out to address the concerns of Pakistan, WikiLeaks said.
At a meeting with the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, William Burns,
Rauf Engin Soysal, who then was the Turkey’s Deputy Under-Secretary for Bilateral
Political Affairs responsible for the Middle East, South Asia and Africa, said Turkey had
not invited India to the Afghan neighbours summit in deference to Pak sensitivities.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai met in Istanbul for
a Turkish—sponsored talks to discuss cooperation against extremists in Afghanistan
earlier this year.
“He (Soysal) said Turkey had not invited India to the neighbours summit in deference to
Pakistani sensitivities; however, he claimed, Pakistan understands attempting to exclude
India from the nascent South Asian regional structures would be a mistake,” says the
confidential State Department cable dated February 25, 2010.
Mr. Soysal, a former Turkish Ambassador to the Pakistan from 2007 to 2009, and his
country’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan in September was
appointed by the U.N. Secretary General, Ban Ki—moon, as the Special Envoy for
Assistance to Pakistan.
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“He (Soysal) reported Indian Prime Minister Singh had requested (Turkish) President
Gul’s assistance with Pakistan during the latter’s visit to New Delhi the previous week.
Acting on that request, Gul had phoned Pakistani President Zardari, who was sceptical of
Indian intentions. Gul is planning to visit Pakistan later this year,” the cable said.
“Soysal said Iran is proposing a quadrilateral summit, which would include Turkey,
Afghanistan and Pakistan, but that proposal had yet to generate enthusiasm,” it said.
Mr. Soysal, according to the cable, said the Pakistani military, though displeased with the
President, Asif Ali Zardari, remains unwilling to intervene; nevertheless, senior officers’
patience may not be infinite.
“Zardari needs to increase the democratic legitimacy of Parliament. Soysal offered.
Nawaz Sharif has become a much more constructive player,” said the State Department
cable as released by WikiLeaks. (The Hindu)
AFGHANISTAN / AFGANİSTAN
In efforts to enhance and modernize agriculture sector in Afghanistan, the United States
has pledged 36 million U.S. dollars to boost agriculture sector in the war- torn country,
U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan Karl W. Eikenberry said Sunday.
"This is a 36 million U.S. dollars initiative that will modernize the Afghan Ministry for
Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock operations and help it even more effective in Kabul
and all other provinces," ambassador Eikenberry told a one-day seminar attended by
some 300 Afghan and U.S. agriculture officials and specialists.
The initiative, he added, has two objectives to help Afghan agriculture ministry develop
capacity and managed funds received from the donors.
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"The ministry for agriculture would provide services to Afghan farmers directly," he said.
The second objective is to establish an office that will analyze ministry's functions and
achievements.
Reaffirming the U.S. long-term commitments, Eikenberry said, " This project here today
is another tangible sign, tangible commitment of Americans for Afghan government and
Afghanistan's people."
"Our job today is to connect American know how to Afghan policies and change the life
of Afghan farmers and their families, " said Afghan Agriculture Minister Mohammad Asif
Rahimi at the seminar.
He said the seminar will discuss Afghanistan's agricultural priorities with the U.S.
technical support. "We will succeed together if we each contribute and we each do our
best," said Rahimi. (Xinhua)
A media house in the east of Afghanistan yesterday started broadcasting articles of an
Afghan law that seeks to end violence against women, coinciding with the start of a 16-
day global campaign against violence against women.
The state-controlled Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) of Nangarhar province started
the broadcast of public service announcements during prime time hours to make the
people aware of the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) Law enacted in
August 2009.
The 44-Article law criminalizes various forms of violence against women, such as sexual
assault, forcing into prostitution, beatings, baad (the use of women or girls in exchange
for a settlement of disputes or debt), forced marriage, child marriage and honour killings,
among others.
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Amrullah Rawan, Director of RTA Nangarhar, said the message will reach about 2 million
people in the conservative east of Afghanistan, where most families keep women away
from the public's eye and crimes like honour killings and baad are frequent.
A Nangarhar agreed to broadcast the messages following a request by the United
Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
In 1999, the UN General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for
the Elimination of Violence against Women. The day also marks the beginning of the 16
Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence against Women that ends on 10
December, which is International Human Rights Day.
Nwanneakolam Vwede-Obahor, a UNAMA human rights officer, believes the radio
campaign will help spread the message to a wider population as radios are the most
effective medium of communication to reach out to the country’s rural population.
“There is very little information about the existence of the EVAW Law and a large
number of the population in the eastern region are in the dark,” said Vwede-Obahor.
“We hope that knowledge about the law minimizes violence, at the least, if not
eliminates it against women in the region.”
Meanwhile, UNAMA's human rights officers have also been briefing religious clerics
about the law. On 24 and 25 November, 58 clerics were briefed in Nangarhar and
Laghman provinces and a similar session will be held in Kunar province on 3 December.
UNAMA will also brief women’s shuras (councils) in conjunction with an international aid
group called International Medical Corps.
During the 16 days of campaigning, eastern Afghanistan will see similar briefings to youth
groups, discussions and distribution of banners, with the involvement of various
Government departments, UN agencies like UNICEF and UNHCR and other humanitarian
agencies. (UNAMA)
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A cleanup operation launched against Taliban militants in Baghlan-e-Markazi district of
northern Baghlan province have left seven insurgents dead and three others injured,
police spokesman in the province Ahmad Jawed Basharat said Sunday.
"The operation backed by international troops and kicked off on Saturday afternoon has
claimed the lives of seven Taliban rebels and wounded three others so far," Basharat told
Xinhua.
Over 140,000-strong NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) stationed in
Afghanistan to stabilize security, have been backing Afghan security forces in war against
Taliban and associated militants.
The police spokesman also stressed that several villages had been cleared from Taliban
insurgents since Saturday.
Baghlan-e-Markarzi district has been regarded as Taliban hotbed in Baghlan province
since early this year.
"The cleanup operation would continue till the eviction of insurgents and restoring
government control there," he further said.
Taliban militants fighting Afghan and NATO-led troops have yet to make comment.
(Xinhua)
Afghan forces have killed five militants and detained four others over the past three days
in Shahjoi district of southern Zabul province, deputy to provincial police chief Ghulam
Jilani Khan said Sunday.
"The three-day operation involving Afghan police and Afghan army and wrapped up
today (Sunday) have led to the killing of five Taliban rebels and capturing four others,"
Jilani Khan told Xinhua.
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A Taliban commander namely Mullah Abdullah Musazai was injured during the
operation, he emphasized.
Only one police constable received injuries during the operation, the police officer
contended.
Taliban militants fighting Afghan and NATO-led troops have yet to make comment.
(Xinhua)
A bomb planted in a bicycle went off in a bazaar in Taliqan city the capital of
Afghanistan's northern Takhar province on Sunday killing a civilian and injuring another,
spokesman to provincial administration Faiz Mohammad Tawhidi said.
"The device was planted in a bicycle and detonated in flour market around 1 p.m. local
time as a result a civilian was killed and another non-combatant seriously injured,"
Tawhidi told Xinhua.
No group or individual has so far claimed of responsibility for the incident.
The previous peaceful northern provinces of Takhar and the neighboring Kunduz
province has been the scene of Taliban-led militancy since early this year. (Xinhua)
A suicide bomber who attempting to target security forces in western Ghor province was
killed in his blast on Sunday, provincial governor Mohammad Iqbal Munib said.
"A man strapped explosive device in his body and attempted to target security forces in
provincial capital Chaghcharan was identified by police and surrounded but the terrorist
left with no option and blew himself up this morning," Munib told Xinhua.
The bomber was killed in the blast and no military or civilians had been harmed, the
official emphasized.
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Taliban militants who have intensified their activities mostly in the shape of suicide
attacks and roadside bombings have yet to make comment. (Xinhua)
Unknown armed men gunned down a member of provincial council in Logar province 60
km south of capital city Kabul on Sunday, a senior police officer, Mohammad Jan Abid,
said.
"Abdullah Ahmadzai, a member of Logar provincial council, was on way to office this
morning when two unidentified armed men riding a motorbike opened fire on his car,
killing Ahmadzai and his two bodyguards," Abid told Xinhua.
The incident took place in Qalai Ali Khan village outside provincial capital Pul-e-Alam city
at 09:00 a.m. local time and the attackers made their good escape, he further said.
He blamed the enemies of peace, a term used against Taliban militants by Afghan
officials, but the outfit has yet to make comment. (Xinhua)
A latest review of US-led war in Afghanistan by a leading think tank issued on Sunday
said foreign forces' draw-down by 2014 would end up with Kabul government's collapse
Around 152,000 foreign troops are in Afghanistan busy fighting the Taliban whose
activities are peaking in southern and eastern parts of the country.
The report by the International Crisis Group (ICG) which is based in Brussels said the
Nato's strategy to break the Taliban, build support among civilians, encourage rebels and
boost Afghan security forces was failing.
"There is little evidence that the operations have disrupted the insurgency's
momentum.... The Taliban are more active than ever and they still enjoy sanctuary and
support in Pakistan," said the ICG report.
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So far this year in total 662 foreign soldiers have lost their lives and compared to the 521
troops killed in the whole last year it shows an ever significant increase in troops' deaths
since the invasion in 2001.
The report further said the Afghan security forces "have proved a poor match for the
Taliban".
"Without outside support, (President Karzai's) government would collapse, the Taliban
would control much of the country and internal conflict would worsen, increasing the
prospects of a return to the destructive civil war of the 1990s," it said.
The think tank also slammed a peace strategy being pursued with the Taliban.
The report said the allies should focus on strengthening Afghanistan's political and
judicial institutions and work to overcome the "pervasive atmosphere of impunity".
The report on the Afghan war came as the US Defence Department has recently
admitted that progress had been "uneven" in the conflict in Afghanistan. (Tolo News)
Some Afghan Senators said on Sunday that parliamentary elections were full of frauds
and final results were announced ahead of time
Hailing the recent action taken by Attorney General's Office, Afghan Senators urged the
Office to continue its investigations over the frauds and violations in elections.
The senators said those involved in electoral fraud and violations should be brought to
justice.
Votes of Afghan people were misused in the elections process and this will make people
not to take part in the future elections.
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"I want President Karzai and the related justice organisations to give back the trampled
rights of oppressed Afghan people," said a member of Afghan Senate House, Mir
Hamdullah Munib.
The Attorney General has sent a delegation to the Independent Election Commission
(IEC) to interrogate four employees of electoral commissions who were accused of
organising frauds and violations in the elections.
Meanwhile, the IEC said it will accept no pressure to bring changes in the final results of
elections in Ghazni province.
Final results of parliamentary elections of Ghazni province was postponed, as IEC officials
argued, because of some technical problems in elections system.
The IEC said there are some factions that want to sabotage elections by organising
demonstrations.
"There are some hands involved in crucial cases of the country and unfortunately these
hands are not short in elections and in a way they want to disrupt the process," said
Head of IEC, Fazl Ahmad Manawi. (Tolo News)
World Bank and other donors have warned to suspend their aid if all Afghan government
officials do not register their assets
The High Office of Oversight and Anti-corruption (HOOAC) said on Sunday that the World
Bank has urged the Afghan government to finish reviews over the registered assets of
five ministers and twelve other high-ranking government officials.
The HOOAC said donor countries have put pressure on Afghanistan in this regard.
The HOOAC called on all government officials in particular MPs and Afghan ambassadors
to register their assets.
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"World Bank and other donors greatly emphasise on this issue and in case asset
registration forms are not filled, they will suspend their aid," said head of the HOOAC,
Mohammad Yasin Osmani.
According to the law, to fight against corruption the HOOAC is responsible to register
entire assets of all government officials.
The HOOAC slammed Members of Parliament for being carless in terms of having their
assets registered.
"Despite the fact that we sent register forms officially and did some paper work, only 11
MPs have filled in the forms," Mr Osmani said.
The Afghan government sees asset registration of officials as one of the ways tackling
corruption.
At a conference in the wake of this year, president Karzai ordered that the entire assets
of top government officials be registered annually. President Karzai has said there will be
no room for corrupt ones in the government. (Tolo News)
A coalition forces Female Engagement Team met with the women of Shesh Par village
Nov. 21 to assess the needs of local women as the team develops future plans and
programs for the Uruzgan province.
These teams provide coalition forces insight on women’s medical, educational and
employment needs, and how they may be addressed in a culturally sensitive way.
During the visit, the FET members heard from a midwife who runs a practice along with
her 11-year-old daughter. She lacks the funds to purchase and provide proper
medication for her patients during the week, whom she rarely charges for services. She
also lacks the money to provide heating and lighting for the patients, said a member of
the team.
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Another need the team uncovered involved the local school, which has been closed for
several months, but is scheduled to reopen in three months. The school, which teaches
students first through twelfth grade, lacks funding and supplies to operate daily.
Members of the engagement team and civil affairs representatives are currently
exploring possible solutions to these two specific areas as well as others that were
presented during the visit. (NATO News Release)
Naval Mobile Construction Battalions 40 and 18, SeaBees, and the 864th Engineer
Battalion, 557th Engineer Company began razing the area around a former Soviet grain
processing silo for a future 10 mega-watt power plant and a combat outpost in Kandahar
City, Kandahar province, Afghanistan Nov. 18.
The outpost is planned to be home to a team of soldiers of the 122nd Infantry to support
their mission in and around Kandahar. The power plant will provide power to the
western side of Kandahar city.
The SeaBees were tasked with the demolition of the smaller buildings around the silo,
and it was estimated it would take more than two weeks to complete the work.
“It’s a great experience to be able to work with a sister service just to see what the
differences are with leadership and construction abilities and daily ops,” said U.S. Army
Staff. Sgt. Pedro Armijo, 1st Squad Leader, 2nd Platoon, 557th Engineer Company, 864th
Engineer Battalion. “It should be more often that we work with our sister services like Air
Force, Navy, Marines, and coalition forces.”
The 557th Engineer Company received a request to help the SeaBees finish the project
earlier than scheduled. The company brought heavy equipment, excavators and
bulldozers to help the SeaBees with the project.
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“We came together, active duty and reserve battalions, we meshed right away,” said U.S.
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Brian Cahoon, NMCB 40 Assistant Officer in Charge.
“Anybody looking from the outside in couldn’t tell whose active duty and whose reserve.
We clicked and flowed, instantly merged together and became one unit.”
The Soviet silo was built during the occupation of Afghanistan and was left abandoned.
(NATO News Release)
Soldiers of the 2-45th Agribusiness Development Team and the Paktiya Provincial
Reconstruction Team conducted a joint mission to Gardez in order to help local officials
reinforce bonds between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the
citizens of the province.
The primary purpose of the mission was to establish a baseline for youth sports
programs and provide advice on female empowerment opportunities. A secondary
reason for the mission was to provide groundwork and structure for possible visits of
international officials to the province over the next few months.
“The *United States+ needs to reinforce the relationship between the government and
the Afghans to provide commitment and the necessary resources to assist in
redevelopment of many areas around the province,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Marchal
Magee, Paktiya Provincial Reconstruction Team commander.
One area of particular interest to Magee was of youth sports programs in the province.
Magee and other members of the reconstruction team spoke with the local director of
sports programs for the province to determine the level of commitment needed to
provide province-wide youth sports across the region.
“My role was to assist and form part of the joint female empowerment team to provide
key leadership advice on matters dealing with the Afghan women,” said U.S. Army Chief
Warrant Officer 4 Jill Graham, administrative officer for the agribusiness team.
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The agribusiness team plans many future missions with the Paktya reconstruction team
in order to strengthen the bonds between the two teams and provide redundancy
between the teams. The teams are also working to build stronger bonds between the
GIRoA and the citizens across the province of Paktiya. (NATO News Release)
Two Afghans accused of converting to Christianity, including a Red Cross employee,
could face the death penalty, a prosecuting lawyer said on Sunday.
Musa Sayed, 45, and Ahmad Shah, 50, are being detained in the Afghan capital awaiting
trial, the prosecutor in charge of western Kabul, Din Mohammad Quraishi, told AFP.
"They are accused of conversion to another religion, which is considered a crime under
Islamic law. If proved, they face the death penalty or life imprisonment," Quraishi said.
Advertisement: Story continues below Quraishi said Sayed, who works for the
International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) had already confessed and there was
"proof" against Shah.
The ICRC's spokesman in Kabul, Bijan Frederic Farnoudi, confirmed Sayed's arrest and
said the detained man had worked for the organisation since 1995.
Farnoudi said ICRC representatives had visited Sayed in prison "in accordance with its
mandate".
"During such visits, the ICRC has met Mr Musa (Sayed) several times and intends to visit
him in future," Farnoudi said.
Sayed and Shah were arrested in late May and early June, days after local television
broadcast footage of men reciting Christian prayers in Farsi and being baptised,
apparently in a house in Kabul.
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The government launched its own investigation and suspended two aid groups,
Norwegian Church Aid and Church World Service of the US, after the television program
reported the two men were proselytising, which is illegal in the devoutly Islamic country.
Several Afghan MPs have expressed their anger over the case, with one from western
Herat even calling for the men to be dragged from their homes and publicly executed.
The Afghan constitution, adopted after the fall of the hardline Islamic Taliban in late
2001, forbids conversion to another religion from Islam and in theory can sentence those
found guilty to death.
But Afghanistan has not executed anyone for the crime in recent history.
The last conversion case to be tried in Afghanistan is believed to be that of Abdul
Rahman, an Afghan man arrested in 2006 for converting to Christianity.
He was eventually released and granted refugee status in Italy, after a wave of
international human-rights protests. (AFP)
*This media summary is prepared by ORSAM Middle East Research Assistants Nebahat Tanrıverdi O and Sercan
Doğan. It covers news and commentaries as reported by the national media sources publishing in the Middle
Eastern countries. The views expressed are not those of ORSAM and their inclusion does not imply factual
accuracy.
*Bu bülten Kasım 2009’dan beri ORSAM Ortadoğu Uzman Yardımcıları Nebahat Tanrıverdi O ve Sercan Doğan
tarafından hazırlanmaktadır. Bülten Ortadoğu ülkelerinin yerel haber kaynaklarından derlenmektedir. Belirtilen
görüşler bölge ülkelerinin haber kaynaklarına ve ismi geçen yazarlara ait olup ORSAM’ın görüşünü
yansıtmamaktadır.
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