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Monday, May 16, 2011

Iranian, Egyptian FMs discuss Fatah-Hamas deal over phone

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and his Egyptian counterpart Nabil al-Arabi discussed the reconciliation deal between the Palestinian movements of Fatah and Hamas during a telephone conversation on Tuesday.

Salehi announced Iran’s stance on the Palestinian unity agreement, and al-Arabi welcomed the position adopted by the Islamic Republic.

The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on the latest developments in the Arab world.

Salehi and al-Arabi are scheduled to hold talks on the sidelines of the NAM foreign ministerial meeting in Bali next month.

Iran severed relations with Egypt following the Islamic Revolution of 1979 because Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel and gave refuge to ousted Iranian dictator Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

After the collapse of Hosni Mubarak’s regime, Iranian and Egyptian officials expressed interest in restoring diplomatic relations between the two countries and the Iranian foreign minister officially invited al-Arabi to pay a visit to Tehran.

Source: Tehran Times.
Link: http://www.tehrantimes.com/Index_view.asp?code=239961.

India plans new law to deal with piracy

Abantika Ghosh, Apr 28, 2011

NEW DELHI: Faced with repeated instances of piracy in the high seas with Indians' well-being at stake, New Delhi is putting together a robust mechanism to deal with the menace, contemplating and working on not just a new domestic law against piracy but also negotiating with the littoral states of Somalia and some independent ones within it to ensure that acts of piracy do not go unpunished because of logistical, legal or diplomatic issues.

The law, according to senior officials, has been in the works for some months now with the ministries of shipping, external affairs, defense, law and home affairs working in close cooperation. The legislation will put together some of the vital points of international laws against piracy, provisions of the IPC and the admiralty laws. It will, however, not be of any help in the negotiation process after Indians aboard a ship have been taken hostage which, according to experts in the field, often proves to be a major hurdle especially when the liners belong to smaller shipping companies.

"It will be a comprehensive piece against piracy. For example, now our domestic laws do not even define piracy. This has made it difficult to try the 120-odd pirates who are at present in our custody. The importance of international cooperation is immense. The reason we are trying to involve countries like Kenya, Tanzania and Seychelles is because if our Navy captures pirates in the Gulf of Aden, it is hardly feasible for them to bring them all the way back to be tried and prosecuted. Impunity is the biggest bane of piracy and it is important to resolve that," explained a senior official involved with the process of both the drafting of the law and the international negotiations.

Many countries have already put together a law and have understanding with the nations surrounding Somalia on prosecution of pirates as per a resolution adopted in the United Nations Security Council. Seychelles has an agreement with Somalia based on which they can try pirates and send them back home to serve the punishment. India to is planning something on these lines.

Officials say it is a matter of some relief that no Indian-flagged ship has ever been targeted by pirates but the government does not want to sit back but tackle the menace with active cooperation from the international community.

Source: The Times of India.
Link: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-28/india/29482427_1_piracy-pirates-law.

Missouri honors Turks with goodwill resolution

01 May 2011, Sunday / KERİM BALCI, MISSOURI

A small but influential group people within the Turkish community in Missouri was honored last week with a standing ovation and a goodwill resolution passed by the House of Representatives of the State of Missouri, recognizing both the local Turkish community and their contribution to the US and the friendly relations with Turkey.

Mehmet Salih Erdoğan and İsmail Özgün, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputies from Denizli and Balıkesir, were present during the proceedings. The two deputies were introduced by Speaker of the House Steven Tilley and were applauded in recognition of the vigorous efforts and activities organized and promoted by the Niagara Foundation, an interfaith dialogue organization founded by Turkish citizens active in the Midwestern states of the US, the Turkish American Society of Missouri (TASOM), and the Chicago-based Turkish American Federation of Midwest, an umbrella organization of Turkish organizations in Midwestern states. After the passing of the goodwill resolution in the House of Representatives, the Turkish NGOs hosted the fourth Annual Intercultural Reception at the State Capitol in Jefferson City, promoting Turkish cuisine, culture and Turkey’s historical and sightseeing locations.

The reception was held on April 20, the same day the state’s General Assembly met to discuss the resolution recognizing the contribution of Turkish-Americans to the state and to the US.

The Turkish delegation was also hosted by State Senator Joseph Keaveny in his office where the Turkish deputies were briefed about the workings of the Senate. State representatives also informed the Turkish deputies about recent developments in Missouri trade laws expected to boost the state’s foreign trade ties. The delegation was then received by the Senate majority leader, State Senator Tom Dempsey, for a conference about the similarities and differences between the legislative systems of the two governments. The American politician discussed global issues faced by both countries with the Turkish deputies and suggested that there should be more cooperation not only between Turkey and the US, but also between individual US states and Turkish provinces.

Accompanied by members of the local Turkish community, the Turkish deputies also visited State Senator Eric Schmitt and State Senator Bill Stouffer. Stouffer hosted a lunch in honor of the Turkish delegation. The group then met with House International Trade and Job Creation Committee Chairman Representative Jerry Nolte in his office, where participants exchanged ideas to increase trade between Turkey and the state of Missouri. According to Nolte, the state of Missouri exported about $60 million in goods to Turkey last year.

TASOM and the Turkish American Federation of Midwest are organizing their annual Spring Festival in St. Louis Forest Park on May 7-8. The accomplishments of the handful Turks living in Missouri are evidence of the fact that it is not the numbers that make a difference, but will and determination.

Source: Today's Zaman.
Link: http://www.todayszaman.com/news-242454-missouri-honors-turks-with-goodwill-resolution.html.

Israel court dismisses petition for Gaza war victims

Sunday 01/05/2011

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israel's High Court on Thursday dismissed a petition filed on behalf of 1,046 victims of Israel's Operation Cast Lead offensive on the Gaza Strip, a human rights group said.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights filed a petition in December to challenge the two-year statute of limitations imposed on compensation claims, which would allow Gaza families recourse to the law for violations that occurred during the offensive.

PCHR said the two-year limit should not accrue until Israel's illegal closure of the Gaza Strip was lifted and residents of Gaza could access courts.

According to Israeli law, PCHR should have had a right to reply to the State decision, however, the court dismissed the petition before hearing PCHR's reply, which was set to be heard on Tuesday.

The High Court's dismissal of the petition was a "serious setback for victims' legitimate quest for accountability," the organization said.

PCHR outlined several ways in which the Israeli judiciary was complicit in the perpetuation of "a climate of pervasive impunity," which shielded soldiers who violated international law from justice.

Financial obstacles to justice

Israeli courts often require claimants to pay court insurance fees before a case can begin. In practice, this fee is always applied to Palestinians and is often set at thousands of dollars, PCHR said.

"In a recent case brought by PCHR, the claimants were required to pay an insurance fee of NIS 20,000 (US $5,600) for each of the five wrongful deaths claimed," PCHR said in a statement, noting that the fees were "an insurmountable obstacle to justice."

"Simply put, claimants from Gaza – crippled by the economic devastation wrought by the occupation and the illegal closure – cannot afford this fee and their cases are being dismissed and closed," the statement said.

Israel army denies victims access to court

Under Israeli law, the victim or witness must be present in court, but since June 2007, Israeli military authorities have not allowed a single individual to leave Gaza to appear in court despite having letters from the court requesting their presence, PCHR said.

"As a result, their cases are dismissed and closed," the organization said.

Meanwhile, PCHR's lawyers cannot enter Israel, so Israeli lawyers must be hired. However, clients cannot enter Israel to meet their lawyers, while Israeli lawyers cannot enter Gaza to meet their clients or visit the crime scene.

An accountability-free zone

The statute of limitations, imposed monetary barriers and the illegal blockade of Gaza combine to establish an 'accountability-free zone" in the Gaza Strip "wherein Israeli forces are free to violate international law without consequence," PCHR said.

The organization noted that the UN fact-finding mission on the December 2008 offensive on Gaza concluded that the series of acts which limited Palestinians' access to justice "could amount to persecution, a crime against humanity."

PCHR's petition was filed on behalf of some of the most infamous cases of the 22-day offensive, including the Samouni family which lost 29 members in one airstrike. Prior to the strike, soldiers had ordered the family to stay in the home.

More than 1,400 Palestinians were killed during the offensive, most of whom were civilians.

Source: Ma'an News Agency.
Link: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=383470.

Renegade warlord killed in Ivory Coast

By MICHELLE FAUL and SERME LASSINA, Associated Press – Thu Apr 28

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast – Renegade warlord Ibrahim "IB" Coulibaly' was badly beaten and then shot in the heart by former allies turned enemy, his top aide said late Thursday to deny a claim that the two-time coup plotter had committed suicide.

Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara, whom Coulibaly had said he considered "a father," earlier Thursday expressed his regrets at the death of his wife's one-time bodyguard, who began the pro-democracy battle for Abidjan that put Ouattara in power. Coulibaly died Wednesday.

Top aide Felix Anoble said the warlord was killed in an attack by fighters of his longtime rival Guilliaume Soro, a former rebel who is now the country's prime minister and defense minister.

Anoble was responding to comments made by one of Soro's commanders, who said Coulibaly appeared to have killed himself rather than surrender when Soro's troops seized Coulibaly's stronghold in Abidjan's poor neighborhood of Abobo on Wednesday night. The senior commander spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to reporters.

"Chief Sergeant Ibrahim Coulibaly has been killed this evening during fighting with the FRCI" Republican Forces of Ivory Coast, state television said.

But the senior commander who directed the fighting against Coulibaly said it appeared to be a suicide.

"Our men surrounded his residence but he refused to surrender. When our fighters got access, they found his body, lifeless but with no bullet wound."

Anoble denied that.

"Did you not see the photograph? That's him. His face is all swollen because they beat him badly before delivering the final shot."

A photograph posted at the news website http://www.abidjan.net showed the body of a man, arms stretched above him, with an apparent bullet wound to the chest and a bloodied face that looked like Coulibaly.

Anoble said he was killed after his troops were attacked while waiting for U.N. peacekeepers to arrive and disarm them.

U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq, speaking from New York, said the United Nations had negotiated a peace meeting and sent a patrol to escort Coulibaly. But when it arrived "Mr. Coulibaly changed his mind and refused to come," Haq said.

Haq said Coulibaly was attacked after the peacekeepers left.

Newly installed President Ouattara gave no details about Coulibaly's death Thursday saying only, "things happened as reported in the media."

Ouattara also announced he would be inaugurated May 21 in the administrative capital of Yamoussoukro. Ouattara won a November presidential poll but was unable to take command because strongman Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede power, plunging the West African nation into four months of chaos.

Ouattara on Friday had ordered Coulibaly and his forces to disarm or expect to have weapons seized by force. Coulibaly said that disarming would take time to organize. He pledged his allegiance to the new president in an interview with The Associated Press, but has not been received by him.

"Our positions were attacked this morning by Republican Forces (FRCI) while our soldiers had met to wait for disarmament overseen by the U.N.," Anoble said.

Brig. Gen. Michel Gueu, the military adviser to Ouattara's Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, said Tuesday he met with a Coulibaly delegation to advise they to disarm.

"We're here to bring a verbal message from the president and the prime minister who ask that IB deposes his arms," he said, adding that it was a prerequisite to meeting with the two leaders.

On Monday, Coulibaly's aides accused Soro's camp of attacking his forces that had been defending Abobo since February. The two men have a years-old feud.

Soro's men did not reach Abidjan until April.

The rivalry between Soro and Coulibaly was the biggest challenge to confront Ouattara's fledgling government since Gbagbo, the former strongman, was arrested April 11.

Coulibaly had led a successful 1999 coup that installed Gen. Robert Guei, who was assassinated after elections in 2000. In 2002 Coulibaly helped lead a failed coup against Gbagbo and made no secret of his own presidential aspirations. Later that year, Coulibaly began the rebellion that divided Ivory Coast between a rebel-held north and government-run south.

In 2004, Soro and Coulibaly waged bloody battles for leadership in the rebels' stronghold in the central city of Bouake. Soro won and Coulibaly was forced into exile.

Ouattara has little control over the former rebel forces that brought him to power and who will form the new Ivorian army by integrating with Gbagbo's old forces. The former rebels grouped loosely under Soro, who is also the prime minister, are commanded by five different warlords.

Coulibaly re-emerged in Abidjan in January at the head of the "Invisible Commandos" to start the battle against Gbagbo's forces after soldiers fired mortar shells and rockets into Abobo, a neighborhood that voted en masse for Ouattara.

The Nov. 28 elections were supposed to reunite the country, but Gbagbo's stubborn refusal to accept his defeat precipitated the most recent violence in a country in conflict for a decade. It is not known how many thousands have been killed and wounded.

Ouattara's government has appealed for residents to return to their normal lives.

Late Tuesday, Ouattara's government announced preliminary investigations into Gbagbo and his family.

___

Michelle Faul reported from Johannesburg and Edith M. Lederer contributed to this report from the United Nations

A Soyuz is "born" at the Spaceport

Kourou, French Guiana (SPX) May 05, 2011

The first fully-assembled Soyuz in French Guiana was unveiled Wednesday as the completed vehicle made its initial appearance during ongoing dry run evaluations at the Spaceport.

This workhorse Russian vehicle emerged under partly sunny skies as the 52-meter-tall service gantry made a maiden roll-back, having protected the Soyuz during final integration and checkout activities on the launch pad that began last Friday.

The gantry's removal occurred during a simulated final countdown, which marks a new phase of the dry run evaluations being conducted ahead of Soyuz' commercial service entry with Arianespace later this year.

Under the direction of a European/Russian launch team, this activity replicated the basic elements of an actual Soyuz countdown to three minutes before liftoff - when it purposely was stopped, allowing procedures to be confirmed in the scenario of a launch-day "hold."

The chronology will resume tomorrow, and is to continue through a simulated liftoff, downrange flight and payload deployment.

Soyuz' gantry is one of the most visible changes in Spaceport operations when compared to the long-existing processing flow for this launcher at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

With a height of 52 meters to the top of its curved roof, the Spaceport's purpose-built gantry allows payloads to be installed atop the Soyuz vehicle in its vertical position - as is the practice with Arianespace's Ariane launchers and the new lightweight Vega.

It represents a change from the horizontal Soyuz integration process employed for both the launcher and payload at Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Bruno Gerard, Arianespace's project head for Soyuz at the Spaceport, said the gantry provides access to a vertically-erected launcher on the pad that is similar as the two-piece "frame" service tower system used at Baikonur Cosmodrome.

"Both systems have basically the same access to an erected Soyuz, with the upper work stands located in three-meter level intervals," Gerard explained.

"Our gantry at the Spaceport has the additional infrastructure needed to integrate the Soyuz' upper composite - which consists of its Fregat upper stage, satellite payload and the payload fairing."

Following the planned countdown "hold," the launch team went through the procedures of bringing Soyuz to a safe configuration, and the gantry was moved from its parked location back into position around the launcher.

Source: Space Media Network (SPX).
Link: http://www.spacemart.com/reports/A_Soyuz_is_born_at_the_Spaceport_999.html.

SpaceShipTwo's First "Feathered" Flight

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 05, 2011

Early on Wednesday 4th May 2011, in the skies above Mojave Air and Spaceport CA, SpaceShipTwo, the world's first commercial spaceship, demonstrated its unique reentry 'feather' configuration for the first time. This test flight, the third in less than two weeks, marks another major milestone on the path to powered test flights and commercial operations.

SpaceShipTwo (SS2), named VSS Enterprise, has now flown solo seven times since its public roll-out in December 2009 and since the completion of its ground and captive -carry test program.

This latest flight saw a 6:43AM (local) runway take off for VSS Enterprise, attached to its WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) carrier aircraft, VMS Eve.

At the controls of the of the spaceship were Scaled Composites' test pilots Pete Siebold and Clint Nichols whilst Mark Stucky, Brian Maisler and Brandon Inks crewed the purpose built, all composite, twin fuselage WK2.

After a 45 minute climb to the desired altitude of 51,500 feet, SS2 was released cleanly from VMS Eve and established a stable glide profile before deploying, for the first time, its re-entry or "feathered" configuration by rotating the tail section of the vehicle upwards to a 65 degree angle to the fuselage.

It remained in this configuration with the vehicle's body at a level pitch for approximately 1 minute and 15 seconds whilst descending, almost vertically, at around 15,500 feet per minute, slowed by the powerful shuttlecock-like drag created by the raised tail section.

At around 33,500 feet the pilots reconfigured the spaceship to its normal glide mode and executed a smooth runway touch down, approximately 11 minutes and 5 seconds after its release from VMS Eve.

All objectives for the flight were met and detailed flight data is now being analysed by the engineers at Scaled Composites, designers and builders of Virgin Galactic's sub-orbital spacecraft.

George Whitesides, CEO and President of Virgin Galactic, said: "This morning's spectacular flight by VSS Enterprise was its third in 12 days, reinforcing the fast turnaround and frequent flight-rate potential of Virgin Galactic's new vehicles. We have also shown this morning that the unique feathering re-entry mechanism, probably the single most important safety innovation within the whole system, works perfectly.

This is yet another important milestone successfully passed for Virgin Galactic, and brings us ever closer to the start of commercial operations. Credit is due to the whole Scaled team, whose meticulous planning and great skill are changing the course of history."

Pete Siebold, who along with Clint Nichols piloted the spaceship added: "In all test flight programs, after the training, planning and rehearsing, there comes the moment when you have to go up there and fly it for real.

This morning's flight was a test pilot's dream. The spaceship is a joy to fly and the feathered descent portion added a new, unusual but wonderful dynamic to the ride. The fact that it all went to plan, that there were no surprises and that we brought VSS Enterprise back to Mojave safe and sound is a great testament to the whole team."

Wing Feathering for Re-Entry
Perhaps the most innovative safety feature employed by SpaceshipOne and now SpaceShipTwo is the unique way it returns into the dense atmosphere from the vacuum of space.

This part of space flight has always been considered as one of the most technically challenging and dangerous and Burt Rutan was determined to find a failsafe solution which remained true to Scaled Composite's philosophy of safety through simplicity.

His inspiration for what is known as the feathered re-entry was the humble shuttlecock, which like SpaceShipTwo relies on aerodynamic design and laws of physics to control speed and attitude.

Once out of the atmosphere the entire tail structure of the spaceship can be rotated upwards to about 65 degrees. The feathered configuration allows an automatic control of attitude with the fuselage parallel to the horizon. This creates very high drag as the spacecraft descends through the upper regions of the atmosphere.

The feather configuration is also highly stable, effectively giving the pilot a hands-free re-entry capability, something that has not been possible on spacecraft before, without resorting to computer controlled fly-by-wire systems.

The combination of high drag and low weight (due to the very light materials used to construct the vehicle) mean that the skin temperature during re-entry stays very low compared to previous manned spacecraft and thermal protection systems such as heat shields or tiles are not needed.

During a full sub-orbital spaceflight, at around 70,000ft following re-entry, the feather lowers to its original configuration and the spaceship becomes a glider for the flight back to the spaceport runway.

Source: Space Media Network (SPX).
Link: http://www.spacemart.com/reports/SpaceShipTwos_First_Feathered_Flight_999.html.

Report: Iranian commander says Saudi deployment to Bahrain could spark domestic unrest

May 1, 2011

TEHRAN, Iran — One of Iran's top military commanders warned Saudi Arabia on Sunday that it's decision to send forces to Bahrain to quell protests by Shiite Muslims would spark unrest at home, a semiofficial Iranian news agency reported.

Gen. Hasan Firouzabadi, head of Iran's joint chiefs of staff, didn't offer any evidence to back up his claim. But his comments reflected growing tension between Shiite-majority Iran and Sunni-dominated countries in the Gulf like Saudi Arabia.

Iran has repeatedly denounced Gulf leaders for dispatching a Saudi-led military force in March to prop up Bahrain's Sunni monarchy and try to quell the protests by Shiites, who comprise 70 per cent of the population but are excluded from key government and security posts.

"Unfair and unIslamic moves will hurt the honor of Muslims in Saudi Arabia, and it will threaten the security of Saudi Arabia," Firouzabadi was quoted as saying by the Mehr news agency.

Firouzabadi, who is known for his anti-Saudi rhetoric, also lashed out at the United States, claiming Washington was behind Riyadh's move into Bahrain so that it could preserve an American naval base there.

"Washington ordered Saudi Arabia as its mercenary to thwart the Bahrainis' popular revolution so that the U.S. can maintain its base," Firouzabadi was reported as saying.

Again, he offered no evidence to back up his claim.

Firouzabadi lashed out at Arab countries on Saturday as well, according to the official IRNA news agency.

"The Arab dictatorial regimes in the Persian Gulf are unable to contain the popular uprisings," he was reported as saying. "The dictators should relinquish power, end their savage crimes and let the people determine their own future instead of ... opening an unworkable front against Iran."

Copyright © 2011 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Iran upgrading subs, drones, F-14 radars

TEHRAN, May 1 (UPI) -- An Iranian military commander Sunday announced a number of high-tech upgrades, including submarines equipped with home-made missile launchers.

Iran's Fars News Agency said the Islamic Republic was developing a submarine missile system at the same time it was upgrading the radars on its F-14 fighters and expanding the capabilities of its fledgling aerial drones.

Rear Adm. Farhad Amiri told Fars the Iranian-developed missile launchers would give his subs a capability beyond the current torpedo armament in about two years.

The project specifically creates the fire-control data capabilities necessary for missile launches.

"To fire a missile from a submarine, the target and missile-launch specifications need to be sent to the submarine very fast, and this communication technology is currently being developed," Amiri said.

The Iranian army is in the process of expanding the range and electronics capabilities of the unmanned aerial vehicles it deployed last year. The project includes adding missile capabilities to unmanned aerial vehicles currently limited to reconnaissance tasks.

Meantime, the Iranian air force is upgrading its F-14s with advanced radar. Brigadier Gen. Ahmad Migani told Fars the new radars were developed in Iran and would replace Western units.

"Our radars used to be mainly American and British … who were thus, fully informed of their blind spots."

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/05/01/Iran-upgrading-subs-drones-F-14-radars/UPI-29511304266214/.

Iranian MPs urge UN to prevent execution of 4 Bahrainis

Sunday, May 1, 2011

TEHRAN - In a statement issued on Saturday, the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian Parliament expressed disapproval the death penalty ordered for four Bahraini citizens.

On Thursday, a Bahraini military court sentenced four men to death over the killing of two policemen in recent anti-government protests.

The Iranian lawmakers stated that giving death sentences to four young Bahrainis and passing life sentences for three other youths indicates the weakness of the Peninsula Shield Force, which was created under the pretext of defending regional security.

In 1984, the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council decided to create a joint military force called the Peninsula Shield Force. The Peninsula Shield Force is intended to deter and respond to military aggression against any of the PGCC member countries, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The MPs added that the incidents taking place in Bahrain indicate that the capability of the Peninsula Shield Force is only limited to arresting, torturing, and killing of the defenseless civilians.

The parliamentarians also urged Bahrain to rescind the death sentences and consider the negative consequences of such an action.

Such a move is in sharply violates human rights and international law, the MPs said, urging the United Nations and other international organizations to take measures to prevent enforcement of the rulings.

A number of university students from across Tehran also held a demonstration outside the Bahraini Embassy in Tehran to denounce the bloody massacre of protesters in Bahrain.

The demonstrators carried the coffins of the Bahraini persons killed in recent protests in a symbolic funeral procession.

Source: Tehran Times.
Link: http://www.tehrantimes.com/Index_view.asp?code=239738.

Political disputes threaten national missions: official

Sunday, May 1, 2011

TEHRAN – Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaii has said that officials should follow the Supreme Leader’s directives and avoid political disagreements because internal disputes could negatively affect important national missions.

“Economic jihad and supporting the Islamic awakening in the region are two important missions in the current year (which started on March 21), so there is no reason for engaging in internal disagreements or following the paths parallel with that of the Iranian nation, which has been delineated by the Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei),” Rezaii told reporters on Saturday.

“All people are obligated to follow this path, because taking parallel paths will pose a threat to these two ideological goals of the Iranian nation in the current year,” he said.

He went on to say that “obstacles in the way of our nations’ progress can be removed if all political groups support the velayat-e faqih (rule of the supreme jurisprudent).”

“We should try to prevent (new) seditions because some people are seeking to provoke political disputes and intensify internal disagreements,” he noted.

Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani has also commented on the country’s current political issues, saying, “It is the Supreme Leader’s decree which legitimizes (the activities of) all officials.”

“Majlis is closely monitoring the country’s (political) situation, and if necessary, it will show the appropriate reaction,” he added.

Source: Tehran Times.
Link: http://www.tehrantimes.com/Index_view.asp?code=239736.