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‘Closure of Afghan border

can stem inflow of material


used in drug production’
NATION
2 Obama backs
mosque near
ground zero
INTERNATIONAL
10 Iran freestyle
wrestling team crowned
CISM champions
INTERNATIONAL
13 Egyptian Quran
reciters coming
to Iran

ART&CULTURE
16
What explains the tight-fisted
From Goldstone response to the
to Alvaro Uribe SINCE 1979 Pakistan floods
See Page 15 W W W . T E H R A N T I M E S . C O M See Page 15

16 PAGES, PRICE 4,000 RIALS, 32nd YEAR, NO. 10943, SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010; MORDAD 24, 1389; RAMADAN 4, 1431

Diplomat calls for Foreign firms


creation of Silk Road bloc
Tehran Times Political Desk
20 million homeless join Iran
housing project
TEHRAN — Iran’s ambassador to China says the

in Pakistan
establishment of a bloc of countries of the old Silk Tehran Times Economic Desk
Road would help boost trade among these states. TEHRAN — The Iranian deputy
The expansion of trade ties among Silk Road housing minister stated that five
countries could lead to the formation of a bloc, which foreign companies have con-
in turn would further boost commerce between these 6 million need immediate aid in Pakistan: UN cluded contracts to build 40,000


Asian countries, Ambassador Mehdi Safari told the houses in Iran.


IRNA news agency in Beijing on Saturday. Jamshid Noorsalehi told said
He said that Iran and China could play a signifi- that the project is part of the
cant role in boosting ties between countries located Mehr national housing plan.
along the Silk Road. He pointed out that the firms
Iran and China had been in contact with each oth- are from Turkey and South Korea.
er through the Silk Road for thousands of years, and Meanwhile, talks are to be started
now this important trade route has drawn attention to with a Swiss firm this week.
itself one again, he added. The Iranian official added that
Safari, who was appointed to his new post in March, there had been no offers from
said that removing the obstacles that hinder coopera- American or Canadian countries
tion between Iran and China is his priority as Tehran’s yet, but he did not deny that
ambassador to China. The fact that Iran and China Iranian firms could possibly be
have good political relations has provided a solid foun- in negotiations with companies
dation for the expansion of economic and scientific co- from these countries, according
operation between the two countries, he added. to the Mehr news agency.
Commenting on China’s stance toward Iran’s Turkish Public Works and Hous-
nuclear program, Safari stated that Tehran’s ex- ing Minister Mustafa Demir said
pectations have not been fully met. However, he in July that Turkey and Iran could
said that the Islamic Republic has always tried to cooperate in the sector of construc-
clear up ambiguities about its nuclear activities, tion and work on joint projects.
and added that Beijing is not seeking to exert po- “We want to take part in
Pakistani flood survivors walk with their animals as they evacuate a flooded area of Shah Jamal village on August 13, 2010. (Getty Images)
litical pressure on Tehran. housing projects in Iran. Devel-
The ambassador stated that the Western powers’ By staff and agencies United Nations aid agencies have provided assistance to hun- opment of Turkey-Iran coopera-
sanctions against Iran are ineffective and noted that ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s worst floods in 80 years have left 20 dreds of thousands of victims of floods but relief operations have tion in construction will have a
Tehran has many trade partners which are opposed million people homeless and six million without food, medicine, yet to reach an estimated six million people, a UN report said. positive impact on cooperation
to sanctions and will fill the gap. or shelter. (Contd. on P. 15) ties in the other areas.”

T Karzai asks Obama for review of Afghanistan war


Grand ayatollah KABUL (Reuters) — Afghan President Hamid offer of an amnesty, cash and job incentives to UAE queries
authorizes donation of Karzai has asked U.S. President Barack Obama Taliban fighters.
to review how the war in Afghanistan is being Last month, online whistleblower Wikileaks Germany over
part of khoms charity conducted as civilian deaths continue to rise, published tens of thousands of classified docu-
Karzai’s office said on Saturday. ments about the war. Israeli spy’s
tax to Pakistan A statement issued by the presidential palace said Wikileaks says it will publish about 15,000
Tehran Times Political Desk Obama agreed in a video call to start talking about a more documents, ignoring demands by Wash- release
TEHRAN — Grand Ayatollah review, which Karzai also proposed in a letter. ington to remove the material and return docu- DUBAI (Reuters) — The United
Ali Safi Golpayegani issued a “The two presidents agreed that discussions ments to the U.S. government. Arab Emirates voiced concern
statement on Saturday author- regarding a strategic review of the more effec- The White House said on Friday the leaders on Saturday over Germany’s re-
izing that a third of the Imam’s tive ways of fighting terrorism should begin,” the discussed efforts to avoid civilian suffering as lease of an Israeli spy on bail in
statement, written in Dari, said. Afghan President Hamid Karzai well as the campaign to defeat the Taliban. It said
share of the khoms charity tax a case over a falsified passport
be donated to floods victims in “The war on terrorism should not be won in the backers and led to a serious dispute between the General David Petraeus, commander of U.S. and linked to the killing of a Hamas
Pakistan. villages of Afghanistan, there should be a strategic two sides last year. NATO forces in Afghanistan, and U.S. ambassa- leader in Dubai.
Pakistan’s worst floods in 80 review of the method of fighting terrorism,” it said, add- With a parliamentary election looming after a dor Karl Eikenberry also took part in the call. On Friday, German authori-
years have left 20 million people ing they also discussed the parliamentary election on flawed presidential poll a year ago, Karzai is un- “Both leaders agreed that the United States ties released Uri Brodsky, pend-
homeless and six million without September 18 and efforts to combat corruption. der pressure to demonstrate independence from and Afghanistan should continue to work to- ing a decision on whether he
food, medicine, or shelter. Civilian casualties caused by U.S. and other his Western backers. gether to keep the pressure on the Taliban and was involved in the falsification
A third of Pakistan is now foreign forces have been a source of friction be- He has pushed reconciliation efforts with in- to build Afghan capacity,” the White House said of the German passport linked
under water, and fresh rainfall tween the Afghan government and its Western surgents through a peace plan which includes an in a statement. to the killing.
threatens two more waves of Abdurahim al-Awadhi, a top
flooding in the southern province UAE Foreign Ministry official,
of Sindh. Petraeus: Withdrawal from Afghanistan Bangladesh vows to bring “expressed concern that Brod-
According to the Encyclo- sky has been released on bail
pedia of the Middle East, the depends on situation on ground back Mujib killers and granted the freedom to
Khoms charity tax as interpreted return to Israel while the case
by the Jafari school of Shia Is- WA S H I N G - Petraeus said DHAKA(AFP) the country against him continues”, the state
lam consists of a “tax on one fifth TON (Xinhua) the challenge — Bangla- and execute news agency WAM said.
of the income, in addition to the — The time- now is to dem- desh vowed them. “The UAE seeks assurances
zakat. It is calculated as a capital table of U.S. onstrate signs to bring back “We had that Brodsky is in no way connect-
gains tax. The tax is paid to the troops’ with- of progress, the convicted to wait a long ed with the murder of Mahmoud al-
governor, but it is voluntary and drawal from according to killers of its time to im- Mabhouh in Dubai,” Awadhi said in
is never a forced exaction.” Afghanistan excerpts of founding lead- plement the a statement cited by the agency.
According to the book Religion, will be driven the interview er from abroad verdict (of the A spokesman for state pros-
Globalization, and Political Culture by situation released by as it prepared Mujib murder ecutors in Cologne said on
in the Third World, edited by Jef- on the ground, U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus NBC on Fri- to mark the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman case). We Friday that Brodsky would not
frey Haynes, “Half of the khoms, the command- day. The in- 35th anniver- have imple- have to stand trial in Germany.
known as the Imam’s share (sa- er of U.S. forces in Afghanistan said terview will be broadcast on Sunday sary of his death on Sunday. mented the verdict partially. Others The court had a range of options
hm-e imam or vodjuhat) is gen- in an interview to be aired over the on “Meet the Press.” Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led who are hiding abroad are being it could pursue against Brodsky
erally collected by a network of weekend. “I think our job is again to show the country to independence from tracked down,” he told reporters. and that the most likely option
mosques and is centralized by the David Petraeus, the four-star those in Washington that there is Pakistan in 1971, was assassinated “They will be brought back to the was a fine, he said.
devotional leaders (marja taqlid)… general recently installed to take progress being made,” Petraeus along with more than 20 members country no matter how long it takes Brodsky was extradited from
It is intended to ensure the mate- over the Afghanistan war, told said. “To do that, we’ve got to build of his family in a coup by army offic- and justice will be meted out,” he Poland on Thursday on suspicion
rial upkeep of the clergy.” NBC’s David Gregory that President on the progress that has been es- ers on August 15, 1975. said. of fraudulently obtaining a Ger-
In response to the severe Barack Obama has made clear he tablished so far, because there is Five of the 12 men convicted of Six of the convicts are believed man passport believed to have
flooding in the Islamic state of wants the best military advice pos- certainly nothing like irreversible killing Sheikh Mujib were executed to be hiding in North America and been used by a member of the hit
Pakistan, which has claimed sible concerning the drawdown of momentum.” in January this year -- just a year Africa while another died in Zimba- squad that Dubai says killed Mab-
many lives and brought devasta- U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Petraeus, who previously after his eldest daughter Sheikh bwe. houh in a hotel room in January.
tion to the Muslim people of that “Certainly, I am aware of the con- served as head of the U.S. Central Hasina stormed back to power with Bangladesh marks Sheikh Mu- The hit squad used fraudu-
county, Ayatollah Safi Golpaye- text within which I offer that advice,” Command, assumed command of a landslide victory. jib’s assassination date as a day lent British, French, Irish and
gani expresses his condolences Petraeus said. “But that just informs U.S. Forces Afghanistan and the Local government minister and of national mourning and it is a na- Australian as well as German
and allows a third of the Imam’s the advice; it doesn’t drive it. The NATO- led International Security deputy chief of Hasina’s ruling Awa- tional holiday. Top ministers flew to passports, according to Dubai.
share to be donated as humani- situation on the ground drives it.” Assistance Force in Afghanistan mi League party Syed Ashraful Islam the home town of the independence Mabhouh, born in the Gaza
tarian assistance for Pakistan, Obama has set July 2011 as a last month. said on Saturday the government hero on Saturday to place wreaths Strip, had lived in Syria since
the statement said. deadline to begin withdrawing troops. (AP photo) would bring the other killers back to at his grave. 1989.

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