Ahmadinejad says West now cooperating with Iran

By NASSER KARIMI, Associated Press Writer

TEHRAN, Iran – Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday that Tehran will not give up its nuclear program although the West and Iran are now cooperating on the issue — remarks that appear to reinforce Iran's support for the general outline of a U.N.-drafted nuclear deal.

The speech by Iran's president came on the same day Iran has promised to deliver its decision on the U.N. pact, which seeks to ease Western worries about Tehran's ability to produce a nuclear warhead.

Ahmadinejad's speech suggested that Iran will stick by earlier comments that support the framework of the deal, but demand some changes. A key point is how quickly Iran is willing to send its stockpile of low-enriched uranium outside the country for further processing.

Ahmadinejad said the West has moved "from confrontation to interaction" with Iran over its uranium enrichment program, which he called an "inalienable right of the Iranian nation."

"Today we reached a very important point," Ahmadinejad said, speaking at a rally in the northeastern city of Mashhad. "Ground has been paved for nuclear cooperation" and Tehran is ready to now work on nuclear fuel supplies and technical know-how with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, Ahmadinejad added.

But he insisted his government "will not retreat even an iota" over the nation's right to pursue a nuclear program — which the West fears masks a nuclear arms ambition.

Iran denies the charge and says the uranium enrichment program is exclusively for peaceful purposes, to make fuel.

Iran has promised to reveal on Thursday whether it accepts the U.N. plan, hammered out with world powers last week in Vienna, to ship out 70 percent of its enriched uranium to Russia for further enrichment.

The Vienna-brokered plan requires Iran to send 2,420 pounds (1,100 kilograms) of low-enriched uranium — around 70 percent of its stockpile — to Russia in one batch by the end of the year. After further enrichment there, France would convert the uranium into fuel rods for return to Iran for use in a Tehran reactor that produces medical isotopes.

Western powers say it's critical for Iran to send out 70 percent of its uranium store in one load to eliminate — at least temporarily — its options to make a nuclear weapon.

A significantly lower amount or gradual shipments by Iran could jeopardize a key part of the proposal, which was reached after talks last week that included the United States. About 2,205 pounds (1,000 kilograms) is the commonly accepted amount of low-enriched uranium needed to produce weapons-grade uranium for a single nuclear warhead.

Tehran signaled this week it wants significant changes in the U.N. deal and to be allowed either to buy the fuel for the Tehran reactor from abroad or to ship the material in small batches. That would not reduce fears about further enrichment to weapons-grade uranium because Iran would be able to quickly replace small amounts it sent out of the country with newly enriched material.

Ahmadinejad said the West had pushed for halting Iran's nuclear program in the past but that now it is "ready for cooperation and participation on exchange of nuclear fuel and building power plants."

The U.N. Security Council has slapped three sets of sanctions against Iran after the country refused to halt the uranium enrichment.

But the world now recognizes Iran's nuclear right, Ahmadinejad claimed. "We welcome the West's change in behavior," he said, adding that Iran is ready to "shake any hand that is honestly extended toward us."

Also Thursday, a team of U.N. nuclear inspectors returned to the agency's headquarters in Vienna from a visit to a previously secret Iranian uranium enrichment site. It expressed satisfaction with the mission but details have not been revealed.

What the inspectors saw — and how freely they were allowed to work — will be key in deciding whether six world powers engaging Iran in efforts to reduce fears that it seeks to make nuclear weapons seek a new round of talks with Tehran.

The Fordo site is near the holy city of Qom. Iran revealed it was building it Sept. 21 in a confidential letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Just days later, the leaders of the U.S., Britain and France condemned Tehran for having kept it secret.

The West believes Iran revealed the site's existence only because it had learned that the U.S. and its allies were about to make it public. Iran denies that.

Jordan to host 6th International Water Association Conference

SYDNEY - Jordan is set to host the 6th International Water Association (IWA) Conference slated for 2011, organizers announced on Wednesday, while local officials expressed hope the event will highlight the Kingdom’s severe water shortage.

The IWA Conference, held every two years, is a global event that gathers hundreds of water experts from different countries.

Public, private and civic institutions will take part in the event and exchange scientific and professional experiences.

IWA approval for Jordan to host the international water event comes in recognition of its water conservation and efficiency programmes and projects, officials said Wednesday.

Jamal Hijazi, director of the water demand management unit at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, underscored the importance of hosting the global water conference in Jordan.

“The conference will give policy makers and Jordanian water experts the opportunity to cement cooperation with donor organizations and advanced countries to implement water-saving ventures,” said Hijazi, who is heading the Jordanian delegation at the 5th IWA Conference on Efficient Use and Management of Urban Water, which concluded yesterday.

He noted that the conference will present an opportunity for sharing expertise with countries advanced in water conservation and efficiency programmes, which will help improve water use in Jordan, currently facing a water shortage, blamed on climate change.

The Kingdom, which is categorised as the fourth poorest nation in the world in terms of water availability, suffers an annual water deficit of 500 million cubic metres.

An arid country, more than 70 per cent of the Kingdom’s area receives less than 100mm of rainfall annually. Consequently, water is the most critical natural resource, as virtually all aspects of sustainable economic, social and political development in the country depend on the availability of an adequate water supply.

Hijazi noted that the ministry will benefit from the experiences of different countries in conservation and efficient use of water by drawing up water-demand management programmes and formulating strategies for applying best practices in this field.

He added that the participation of representatives from several donor countries and agencies will increase financial support to water conservation projects.

Demand on water in Jordan, with a per capita share of 145 litres per day, is increasing due to population growth coupled with industrial and tourism sector growth.

The Ministry of Water and Irrigation has explored all available water sources, but is struggling to cope with the rising demand, given the limited resources.

Meanwhile, more than 200 experts in water demand management, who took part in the 2009 conference, called for supporting and improving water efficiency and conservation methods, describing them as the “quickest and cheapest” mechanisms, in light of climate change and the impact of the world economic crisis.

Mohamed Chebaane, chief of party of the USAID-funded IDARA project, reviewed Jordan’s experience in improving water-use efficiency and the country’s water situation.

In a paper he presented at the conference, prepared in cooperation with Ministry of Water and Irrigation Secretary General Maysoun Zu’bi, Chebaane showcased the national strategy on water-demand management.

The strategy includes specifications of water-efficiency devices and appliances, the water and wastewater code as well as water-demand management best practices.

He highlighted the need to expedite drafting a water law that supports efficiency and conservation projects.

By Hana Namrouqa

Israel's growing Al-Aqsa attacks 'alarming'

Head of the Manuscripts Department in Al-Aqsa Mosque warns of mounting Israeli violence against the holy site, amid growing protests in the Muslim world against the desecration of the mosque.

Israel has stepped up attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque to pave the way for dividing the Muslim world's third holy site, Najeh Bkeirat said on Wednesday.

Tel Aviv's assaults and measures against the mosque have reached more than 1250 cases since the occupation of Palestinian territories in the West Bank, including Jerusalem Al-Quds, in 1967.

Bkeirat warned of an alarming increase in the hostile Israeli measures, recalling twin attacks which targeted the mosque within the same day during the past week.

The Israeli army's drills in the Al-Aqsa Mosque vicinity and barring Palestinians from entering the site is a prelude to a long-planned destruction of the mosque and its change into a Jewish temple.

Meanwhile, large crowds of Egyptian students took to streets in capital Cairo in protest to Israel's violation of the Al-Aqsa mosque and the regime's atrocities against the Palestinians.

Thousands of demonstrators, chanting anti-Israeli slogans, gathered outside the University of Cairo on Wednesday and torched the Israeli flag, IRNA reported.

A similar rally was also held by students of Alexandria University in a show of protests to the Israeli army's intrusion of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

The angry protesters condemned the Arab world's silence to the suffering of the Palestinian nation.

On Tuesday, Israeli forces razed six Palestinian houses in East Jerusalem Al-Quds, leaving their 26 residents, including 10 children, homeless.

Palestinians accuse Israel of efforts to remove the Palestinian-Islamic identity of East Jerusalem Al-Quds, which hosts the Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock.

The Arab dominated neighborhood was occupied during the 1967 war by the Israeli regime, which annexed it later, despite opposition from the international community.

The Israeli municipality authorities have been evicting Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem Al-Quds ever since, demolishing their houses over 'illegal construction'.

Libyan Leader Mu’ammar Al-Qadhafi To Write Screenplay

Libyan leader Colonel Mu’ammar Al-Qadhafi has written the screenplay for a new Syrian television drama set to air next Ramadan. The series, which is said to provide a response to “media attacks on the Arab and Muslim worlds” was written by the ostentatious leader and adapted by a Syrian writer.

Syrian media sources say the series depicts a journey through the Mediterranean Sea, Europe, Iran and parts of Asia and addresses matters such as tyranny, dictatorship, the relationship between citizens and ruling institutions, and the strong ties between Muslims and Christians in the Arab world.

Dr. Aijaz Ilmi, a media analyst and owner of the Urdu daily Siyassat Jadid, said Qadhafi’s personal venture into show business was rare among regional leaders.

“A lot of key countries have invested in satellite channels, television and media news networks,” he told The Media Line. “But to be part of a system when you actually write something – this is the first of its kind.”

“Mu’ammar Al-Qadhafi is obviously preparing to hand over the reins of the system to his son and he needs to do something else,” Ilmi said. “This is something that people do post-retirement so this seems to be a signal that he’s getting out of the system.”

Al-Qadhafi has been in power since a 1969 coup, making him the longest standing leader in the Arab world.

Libya drew considerable international criticism in August when convicted terrorist Abd Al-Baset Megrahi, who was released from a Scottish prison on humanitarian grounds because of a terminal illness, received a huge welcome party in Libya.

Megrahi was convicted for involvement in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 in which 270 people were killed.

Ilmi said he did not believe the timing of the television series was deliberate.

“I think [Qadhafi] got onto the media bandwagon much earlier, and Megrahi happened in the middle,” he noted. “This has been in the offing for more than 12-18 months, his pursuit of being a media persona or contributor to the media world.”

The new script is being adapted into a drama by Syrian writer Fadel Affash and will be produced by Syrian producer Ziyyad A-Rees.

There are plans to air it next Ramadan, around the summer of 2010. It has become customary to air new television shows during this month, when families set into their living rooms at the end of the day to break the traditional fast.

The media section at the Libyan embassy in London had no knowledge of the initiative.

Al-Qadhafi’s foray into television screenwriting is the first of its kind for an Arab leader but it is not the Libyan leader’s first attempt at writing.

He has written a compilation of stories, and his most well known treatise is the famous Green Book, first published in 1975, which outlines his political philosophy.

In the past he wrote a draft script entitled “Oppression: The Years of Torment” as the basis for a movie. The film is about a Libyan national hero, Omar Al-Mukhtar, and the suffering of the Libyan people during the Italian occupation.

Syrian producer Najdat Anzour began working on it in 2008 but it appears the project has been halted. There was speculation the movie might attract Hollywood stars such as Anthony Hopkins, Kevin Spacey, Ben Kingsley and Omar Sharif and would be filmed with a budget of more than $50 million, funded by the Libyan government.

PA Prepares Anti-Crime Campaign

RAMALLAH [MENL] -- The Palestinian Authority, battling a sharp drop in support, has drafted plans for an anti-crime campaign throughout the West Bank.

Officials said Prime Minister Salam Fayad has ordered a law and order campaign throughout the West Bank that would demonstrate the utility of the newly-trained and -equipped PA security forces. They said the campaign, launched as the PA set elections for Jan. 24, 2010, would include a crackdown on drug traffickers, car thieves, violent crime and the establishment of a tourist police.

Algeria, UK Advance Toward Major Arms Deal

CAIRO [MENL] -- Algeria and Britain have been moving toward the completion of a major weapons agreement.

Officials said the two countries have been holding a high-level defense dialogue meant to result in a major British arms sale to Algeria. They said the arms sale could also include training and joint exercises by the militaries of Algeria and Britain.

Turkey Could Invade Independent Kurdistan

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The United States expects Turkey to invade Iraq to stop the establishment of an independent Kurdish state.

A U.S. government report said Ankara could attack any nascent Kurdish state in northern Iraq. The Congressional Research Service said an independent Kurdistan would also threaten Turkish relations with the United States.

Source: Middle East Newsline.
Link: http://menewsline.com/article-1173,4954-Turkey-Could-Invade-Independent-K.aspx.