The Iranian Times

Monday, March 20, 2000 / Farvardin 1, 1379, No. 941


Sehaty Foreign Exchange

Flower delivery in Iran

Iranian books


    Rumi


Cover story

Beam me there
Capturing the beauty and serenity of nature in Iran

Photographs by Elahe Moghadam
March 20, 2000
The Iranian

Elahe Moghadam's serene photographs of nature in Iran have a most calming effect. They seem to say that despite all the political upheavals, the breathtakingly beautiful essence that is Iran remains intact and will live on.

The images transport us on top of majestic mountains, under a grand old tree, in a field of wild flowers, and on the edge of turquoise blue lakes. I wish I could say, "Beam me there, there and there, Scotty!">>> GO TO FEATURE

Opinion

Not so bright
Secretary Albright's olive branch has neither leaves nor olives

By Guive Mirfendereski
March 20, 2000
The Iranian

The speech by the U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, before the American-Iranian Council in Washington D.C. on Friday, March 17 was more of an occasion than an event. The real story is not in what she said, did not say, or should have said, but rather that she would even consider addressing the group and in a city where the pro-Israel lobby and other perennial Iran haters have the run of the store. Kudos to the organizers for their courage, tenacity, sense of purpose, and resourcefulness.

Mrs. Albright's statement on the state of Iran-U.S. relations was long on history and characteristically short on the future. That is because the Clinton adminsitration is near-sighted and even then it is not very good at strategic thinking. The speech was then the mark of a bankrupt foreign policy toward Iran >>> GO TO FEATURE

Opinion

Ball in Iran's court
Will Iran grasp the opening offered by the U.S.?

From Iranians for International Cooperation
March 20, 2000
The Iranian

This past Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright finally gave an appropriate response to President Khatami's address to the American people two years ago, and by that, clearly put the ball in Iran's court. In an impressive speech, she made it CLEAR once and for all, that any concerns that the U.S. may have with Iran are best addressed through dialogue, and not sanctions...

Although a full lifting of the sanctions would have been better for both Iranian and American firms, this was nonetheless a step in the right direction. And as Secretary Albright declared herself, the pace of this process is secondary to its direction >>> GO TO FEATURE

Novel

Conspiracy at Desert One
A novel

By Bernace Charles
The Iranian

Chapter Thirty-Eight >>> GO TO FEATURE


Outlook

Can Fundamentalist Islam and Democracy Coexist in a Country?

By MAHER M. HATHOUT
The Los Angeles Times
March 20, 2000

It is clear that democracy is not expressed or implemented in the same way in different countries or different stages of history. Democracy in Scandinavia did not confront any contradiction with socialism, while in the United States, democracy is intertwined with capitalism and a free-market economy. Likewise, Islam was adopted by different cultures and, at different times, interpreted in different ways. >>> FULL TEXT


    Anyway

To fly

Ramin Rafirasm writes:

Nazanin, Eid Mobarak. Hope your season will be full of springy spirit. Fitzgerald may not be an accurate translator of Robaiyat Khayamm, but he captures the spirit well:

"...Come fill the Cup, and in the Fire of Spring
The Winter Garment of Repentance fling:
The Bird of Time has but a little way
To fly - and Lo! the Bird is on the Wing..."



More Letters

* Better Noruz

N.S. writes: Just wanted to thank you (and all the donators) for the photos and info about our past on your page. They really gave me a better Noruz than what I had in my lonely life - presently; THANX!!!

Noruz-e shomaa ham mobaarak.

* Very sad

Sudabeh writes: Your story of Haft Seen ["Noruz in spirit"] was very sad and questionable:

1- When a young girl is determind to make a Haft Seen and fails, it must be because there are obstackles and it is your duty to figure it out and remove those obstacles. It is a serious matter to me.

2- Why are you smoking? It is depressing when your daughter is looking for a "Seen" and comes up with cigarettes.

3- She might miss something that stops the action. Where is your spirit? To me Haft Seen is not important but the understanding of the people and their awareness of the reasons for that particular action is important.

Spring is in the air so they say but you also have to see and feel it . It this year something is wrong, it can be corrected as soon as you are aware of it. When the spirit and feelings come back, one can feel Noruz anytime even in the middle of winter.


Community: Iranian Heritage Day in Oregon

Oregon's Governor Kitzhaber and Portland Mayor Vera Katz have decalred March 19 as "Iranian Heritage Day". See their proclamations at the bottom of this page >>> HERE

SELL TICKETS ONLINE AT YOUR SITE


Books & Music from Iran

Check our fourteen new books from Iran including an authoritative history of the Achamenid empire, writings by leading reformists, Forough Farrokhzad's complete works, exquisite books of classical poetry with miniatures, Manichaean psalms and more! >>> GO HERE

New music albums

* Taherzadeh, Manochehr: Aakharin barg * Eyvazi, Mohammad Reza. : Rangin kamaan * Banan.: Shaakh-e gol (2) * Ta'rif, Sadiq: Maah baanoo * Lachini, Fariborz: Paaeez-e talaaee ... >>> GO HERE

THE IRANIAN
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Video

NEW: Champions: Iranian national soccer team

Three hours of interviews, trainings, matches, Biographies, and fans of Iranian National Soccer Team, covering Iran's soccer history from 1978-2000. Premium quality. Produced by: Alireza AmirGhasemi & Behrouz Deravi.

THE IRANIAN
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More news

Six men arrested in Iran shooting

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Six men have been arrested in the shooting of reformist Saeed Hajjarian, Iran's security agency announced Monday. The agency offered no information on the suspects' motives. One of the suspects has confessed to shooting Hajjarian in the face on March 12, according to the Supreme National Security Council, the nation's top security body >>> FULL TEXT

Khatami orders speedier inquiry into shooting of Hajjarian

TEHRAN, March 20 (AFP) - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has ordered police to speed up their investigation into the near-fatal shooting of a close ally and leading reformist, the official IRNA news agency reported Monday. It said Khatami issued a directive for a faster inquiry into the March 12 shooting of Said Hajarian by two gunmen who sped off on a high-powered motorbike of a type restricted here to government agencies >>> FULL TEXT

Albright unfazed by tepid Iranian response to easing of US sanctions

NEW DELHI, March 19 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Sunday she was not surprised by Iran's tepid response thus far to Washington's overtures to Tehran. Albright, who on Friday announced an easing of sanctions against Iran and acknowleged past US interference in the country's internal affairs in a renewed bid for a dialogue, said Tehran's reaction was to be expected >>> FULL TEXT

Iran to export 400 million dollars of carpets to US

TEHRAN, March 19 (AFP) - Iranian merchants plan to send 400 million dollars worth of Persian carpets to the United States after Washington's decision to lift sanctions, an industry spokesman said in Sunday's press. Akbar Harischian, president of the association of Iranian carpet exporters, told the Fath daily it was the first stage in an export drive designed to exploit the opening of the US market, which he described as of great importance >>> FULL TEXT

Iran merchants say little gain expected from US lifting of embargo

TEHRAN, March 18 (AFP) - Iranian merchants said here Saturday that a US decision to end the embargo on Persian carpets and other non-oil exports would have little immediate effect on their business. "The decision will enrich dealers in Europe and Canada. They already have a stockpile of Persian carpets ready to flood the American market," said Tehran rug dealer Fereydon Ayromlou >>> FULL TEXT

Conoco Chairman on Secretary Albright's Iran Speech

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE), March 20, 2000 -- Conoco (NYSE:COCA - news; NYSE:COCB - news) Chairman and CEO Archie W. Dunham today issued the following statement in response to the Clinton Administration's lifting of some trade sanctions toward Iran: ``There is more to the Administration's actions taken last week regarding relations with Iran than the lifting of prohibitions against the importation of luxury items into the United States >>> FULL TEXT

Pakistan backs planned Iran-India gas pipeline via its territory

ISLAMABAD, March 20 (AFP) - Pakistan has assured Tehran of its full support to a proposed Iran-India gas pipeline through Pakistani territory, an official statement said Monday. The assurance was given by an official Pakistani delegation which visited Tehran last week for talks on cooperation in the oil and gas sector >>> FULL TEXT

Art & politics

Tehran (Cinema) - Interview with filmmaker Behrouz Afkhami who has been elected to the Majlis >>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN

Largest set

Tehran (Cinema) - One of the "largest movie sets in the history of Iranian cinema" is being built in Shoushtar for the film, "Mosaafer-e Rey" >>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN

Kalari hurt

Tehran (Cinema) - Mahmoud Kalari, who has been the cinematographer for top film directors, including Abbas Kiarostami, is injured in an accident during filming an taken to the hospital >>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN

Azizi's first training session

March 20, (Iran Sports Press) - Khodadad Azizi took part in his first training session with the San Jose Earthquakes. ISP attended a press conference organized by the San Jose Earthquakes following the training session. The following observations were made of the training practice: >>> FULL TEXT

Talebi: Majidi and Mahdavikia join team tonight

March 20, (Iran Sports Press) - In an interview with IRIB on Monday, Jalal Talebi, the head coach of the Iranian National Team, said the team held a practice this morning in preparation for the friendly match against Cyprus on Wednesday. >>> FULL TEXT

Sattar Hamadani

Tehran (Iran daily) - Sattar Hamadani may be called to strengthen the national teams defensive line >>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN


BBC

Special Noruz show

Part One
Part Two
Part Three


Exchange rate

Updated March 15

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Selling: 821-825 tomans per dollar

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The Web

Iran

Iran Today

New & improved online magazine based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Beyond Iran

Auroras 2000

San Francisco's awesome museum of science and technology, The Exploratorium, presents a comprehensive guide to the northern and southern lights -- the auroras borealis and australis.

More web sites


Quote Unquote

Admission

In 1953 the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular Prime Minister, Mohammed Massadegh. The Eisenhower Administration believed its actions were justified for strategic reasons; but the coup was clearly a setback for Iran's political development. And it is easy to see now why many Iranians continue to resent this intervention by America in their internal affairs.

-- Madeleine Albright, U.S. Secretary of State
March 17, 2000


Photo of the Day

NY Times: Iran-U.S.


Music

Shahram Shabpareh

Music artists index


Art

Unknown artist
Rostam & Ashkbous