Bravo Nicolas! Sarkozy Comments Spark Iran Row
BBC: Iran has summoned the French ambassador in Tehran over comments made by the French president about his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Nicolas Sarkozy said earlier this week that he would not be able to shake hands with someone who said Israel had to be wiped off the map.

Ambassador Bernard Poletti was told of Iran's strong objections.

He was told there would be repercussions for relations if such remarks were repeated.

In the speech, given on 8 December on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Mr Sarkozy said: "How is it that a people such as the Iranian people - one of the world's greatest peoples, one of the world's oldest civilisations, sophisticated, cultured, open - have the misfortune of being represented as they are today by some of their leaders?

"I have said this to my friend Kofi [Annan]: I find it impossible to shake hands with somebody who has dared to say that Israel must be wiped off the map. >>> | December 11. 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Broché) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Relié) >>>

Die Entzauberung des Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
DIE PRESSE: Je mehr der Atomstreit abebbt und je üppiger die Öleinnahmen sprudeln, desto deutlicher wird das Versagen von Präsident Ahmadinejad. Die Inflation explodiert, die Wirtschaft stagniert, die Kritik wächst. Es drohen Unruhen.

TEHERAN/ISTANBUL. Das Leben des iranischen Präsidenten Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ist nicht leichter geworden, seit die US-Geheimdienste dem Mullah-Regime im Dezember bescheinigten, ihr militärisches Atomprogramm 2003 gestoppt zu haben. Der Atomstreit mit dem Westen kann nun nicht mehr die wirtschaftlichen Probleme überdecken, in die der Petro-Populist sein Land trotz dramatisch steigender Öleinnahmen geführt hat.

Zum Präsident wurde Ahmadinejad nämlich 2005 nur aufgrund eines sozialen Versprechens: Er wolle den vielen armen Iranern die Erdöleinnahmen „nach Hause bringen“ und ihnen so das Leben leichter machen. Doch fällt ihm das zusehends schwer: Die Wirtschaft stöhnt immer lauter, die Inflation steigt kräftig, ebenso die Preise von Alltagswaren – und das Leben der vielen armen Iraner ist heute schwieriger als 2005.

Subventionen, günstige Kredite

Dabei bezweifelt niemand Ahmadinejads gute Absicht. Der von seiner Regierung jüngst vorgelegte Haushaltsentwurf fürs neue iranische Jahr, das Montag begann, beweist jene Absicht. Da finden sich erhöhte Subventionen für Bedarfsgüter, viele Wohnbauprojekte in der Provinz, vergünstigte Kredite für den Bau von Eigenheimen, höhere Gehälter für Beamte und die Möglichkeit einer frühzeitigen Pensionierung. Und so steigen die Staatsausgaben heuer um 19%, oder rund 200 Milliarden Euro, an.Die konservative Mehrheit im Parlament, geführt vom Parlamentssprecher und Philosoph Gholam Ali Hadad Adel, will das Budget rasch verabschieden. Im März wird gewählt, da sollen die Iraner sehen, was die Religiösen Gutes tun. Die Entzauberung des Mahmoud Ahmadinejad >>> Von Jan Keetman

Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)

”Great Victory”
BBC: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that a US report on Tehran's nuclear programme is a "great victory".

He said in a televised speech that Iran would not retreat from its path towards a peaceful atomic programme.

The US intelligence report released on Monday said that Iran had halted a nuclear weapons programme in 2003.

The US and its European allies are pushing for UN sanctions but China has said the report raises questions about the need for new measures.

US President George W Bush said on Tuesday that Iran remained a threat and his view that a nuclear Iran would be a danger "hasn't changed".

'Final blow'

Mr Ahmadinejad made his televised speech in front of thousands of people during a visit to Ilam province in western Iran.

"This report... is announcing a victory for the Iranian nation in the nuclear issue against all international powers," he said. Nuclear report a victory – Iran >>>

Mark Alexander (Hardback)
Mark Alexander (Paperback)

Ahmadinejad: Iran Should Get Ready for Its Global Missions
IRNA: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday, "We should get ready to carry out our significant missions in the world." The president made the remark while addressing students, professors and officials of Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran.

"We should first resolve our geopolitical issues and then prepare ourselves for the next move," he said.

The enemies try to convince the world that the Islamic Republic of Iran is not capable of handling its own affairs, he said, adding that "In my belief the God Almighty will humiliate the big powers." The enemies try to create obstacles to deviate Iran from path of development and success, said the president.

On Iran's nuclear programs, he said some domestic agents who were at the service of enemies tried to force Iran to deviate from right path and give up its legitimate rights, Ahmadinejad said.

"Some try to indicate that there is a wide gap between leadership and president in taking strategic decisions in the country but they are mistaken and instead we scoffed at them in our meetings," underlined the president.

The country's officials are very coordinated and united in making decisions, said the president.

The main duty of Iran's diplomatic apparatus is to make political arrangement and coordination in order to maintain the country's national interests and cause, said the president.

On mutual talks between Iran and the US on Iraq's security, he said "We cannot remain indifference towards the crimes and massacres of people by occupation forces while the Iraqi nation seeks our assistance." [Source: Ahmadinejad: Iran should get ready for its global missions]

Mark Alexander