All Mining Projects on Hold: Official
TERHAN (Dispatches) -- Iran has put on hold almost all of its
mining agreements with foreign investors as companies from Eu-
rope to Asia fear additional sanctions on the Persian Gulf nations
economy, according to the deputy minister of Irans Ministry of In-
dustries, Mines and Trade.
Less than $100 million of projects is moving forward, out of the
$50 billion in potential investment the government is seeking from
overseas mining companies by 2022, Mehdi Karbasian said Mon-
day in an interview with Bloomberg. Fearing they might get placed
on a blacklist in the wake of the return of sanctions, the companies
with whom we have made these deals have suspended almost all of
the agreements and maintained a wait-and-see attitude, he said.
VOL NO: LV 10322 TEHRAN / Est.1959
Viewpoint
By Kayhan Intl Staff Writer
U.S. Arms Dictate Saudi
Policies in Yemen
People Across World
Mark Nakba Day
RAMALLAH (Dispatches)
Palestinians clashed with Israeli forces
on Monday as the occupied territories
marked the 69th anniversary of the
Nakba, or day of catastrophe when
the Zionist regime was forged after the
forced removal of more than 750,000
Palestinians.
Injuries were reported in the
flashpoint West Bank town of
Bethlehem, where Palestinians threw
stones at Israeli forces. Palestinians
also clashed with police near the
illegal settlement of Beit El, near the
West Bank city of Ramallah.
Palestinians in occupied Palestine,
the occupied West Bank and the Gaza
Strip were holding rallies, marches
and candlelight vigils.
Sirens wailed in the West Bank to
mark the passing of 69 years. Cars
stopped and pedestrians stood still in
commemoration.
Monday also marked the 29th day of
a hunger strike by 1,800 Palestinians
in Israeli prisons.
Imprisoned Palestinian leader
Marwan Barghouti, who is a leader
of the strike, released a statement
through his lawyer on Sunday denying
that a recent video released by Zionist
prison authorities claiming to show
him eating in his cell was fake, and
the cell shown in the video was much
larger and cleaner than his own.
I plan to escalate my hunger strike
soon. I will stop drinking water,
Barghouti was reported to have said.
There is no backtracking. We will
continue until the end.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat
demanded an Israeli apology over the
Nakba.
Our nation marking 69 years of
the Nakba, our national catastrophe,
is symbolized in our exile and the
systematic denial of our rights,
Erekat said in a statement.
Awamiyah Under Saudi Siege for 6th Day
LONDON (Dispatches) -- A
Saudi town spent its sixth day under
siege from the kingdoms security
services on Monday, with several
reportedly killed in clashes between
police and protesters.
Saudi security services launched
a raid in the Eastern Province town
of Awamiyah early on Wednesday,
claiming the historic Almosara
neighborhood was being used as
a hideout for Shia militant groups.
The Eastern Province has a large
Shia population. Another aim
of the raid, however, appeared
to be to allow the demolition
of Almosara to make way for
a planned renovation project.
Activists have posted pictures
and videos of bulldozers being
accompanied by heavily armored
military vehicles towards the site.
Al-Hayat newspaper reported that
a man wanted by the authorities
Iranian
Calligraphy Art
Exhibition Opens
P. 2 in Ankara P. 3
-- The official further urged the UK
to apologize for its role in the
Palestinian catastrophe, beginning by
the infamous Balfour Declaration and
the denial of our national rights.
The document issued in November
1917 by the then British foreign
secretary Arthur Balfour said the
UK government views with favor
the establishment in Palestine of
a national home for the Jewish
people, settling the stage for
creation of Israel.
Palestinian survivors of the Nakba
and their descendants have lived
outside of Palestine since 1948, with
millions of them still stateless or
languishing in surrounding refugee
camps.
The occupying regime of Israel has
prevented them from returning to their
homes. Palestinians have cited UN
Resolution 194 that they say preserves
their Right to Return to Palestine.
Barghouti urged Palestinians to
carry out acts of civil disobedience
to commemorate Nakba. He also
appealed to Fatah and Hamas to
enter into a national reconciliation
agreement.
Barghouti further warned against
the resumption of talks with Israel
after Palestinian Authority chief
Mahmoud Abbas met U.S. leaders in
Washington.
Elsewhere across the world, people
rallied in Berlin in remembrance of the
Nakba Day. Protesters also gathered
outside the Israeli consulate in the
Canadian city of Toronto in support
of the hunger-striking Palestinians in
Israeli jails.
In the occupied territories, human
rights group Yesh Din released
footage showing Israeli forces
watching indifferently while Jewish
settlers hurled stones at Palestinians
in the West Bank.
had been shot dead, while the
Mira al-Jazeera news site claimed
two locals had also been killed by
the security services in the ensuing
clashes.
A citizen was confirmed
martyred as well as another of
Indian nationality after being
shot by Saudi army gunfire, the
online newspaper reported on its
Facebook page. The European
Saudi Human Rights Organisation
(ESHRO) identified one of the
men as Ali Abdul Aziz Abu
Abdullah.
Dozens have reportedly been
injured. The interior ministry
said 14 people were wounded,
including two Pakistanis, an
Indian, a Sudanese and four
policemen.
ESHRO said the entrances to
the town have been blocked by
concrete slabs.
Tuesday, May 16, 2017, Ordibehesht 26, 1396, Shaban 19, 1438, Price 15000 Rials
Qalibaf Throws Weight Behind Raisi:
Principlists Close Ranks Before Election Day
Tehran Mayor Muhammad Baqer Qalibaf, left, asks his supporters to use all their capacity to help Seyyed
Ebrahim Raisi, right, win the election.
TEHRAN (Dispatches) Tehran
Mayor Muhammad Baqer Qalibaf
quit the Iranian presidential race on
Monday, backing instead Principlist
cleric Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi in
Fridays vote.
Qalibaf, a former Islamic
Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)
commander and police chief, was
one of the main challengers to the
current president, Hassan Rouhani,
who is seeking a second term.
In the last election four years ago,
Qalibaf finished second. Rouhani
averted a second round by winning
just over 50%.
This time around, Principlists who
want to unseat Rouhani are mainly
placing their trust in Raisi, a jurist
and cleric who studied at the feet of
Leader of the Islamic Revolution
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
The situations miserable,
a resident told AFP, asking for
anonymity. We think it will take a showed that hundreds of Syrian
long time to finish this operation.
Residents have also reported a
lack of water and can only access
electricity from private generators.
People from the Almosara
neighborhood have been asked to
leave by authorities, while photos
circulating on social media have
shown special police wearing
balaclavas and camouflage pants
moving residents in armored cars.
Ameen Nemer, an activist
originally from Awamiyah, told
Middle East Eye that most of
the entrances to Awamiyah had
now been blocked off so that
cars hardly go out or get in and
that there was only around one
entrance still in use, which was
also frequently closed.
(Continued on Page 7)
Iran Bag 5 More
Medals at Islamic
Solidarity
Games P. 6
I should take an important
decision to keep the unity of
revolutionary forces, Qalibaf said
in a statement published in state
media. I ask all my supporters
around the country to use all their
capacity to help my brother, Mr.
Ebrahim Raisi, win the election.
Both men criticized Rouhani over
unemployment rate, which rose to
12.4% last year, up 1.4% from the
previous year. Raisi and Qalibaf
promised to create five to six million
Syria Deploys Troops to Border
With Jordan
DAMASCUS (Dispatches) --
Syria is reportedly moving troops
to a desert region near its border
with Iraq and Jordan amid reports
that U.S. and allied forces are
consolidating positions in the area
for a possible ground invasion.
Militant sources and commanders
said Monday their intelligence
Zawr.
troops and their allies with tanks
and heavy equipment had moved
in the last few days to the town of
Sabaa Biyar.
The remote town near the strategic
Damascus-Baghdad highway was
captured by the army last week as
they seek to prevent areas left by
Takfiri terrorists from falling into
the hands of Western-backed FSA
militants.
They have sent big reinforcements
from artillery, to tanks and armored
vehicles, FSA spokesman for the
so-called Southern Front Issam al-
Reis told Reuters.
U.S. special forces operate and
train FSA militants at the Tanf
base near the Iraqi border in the
area which is known as the Syrian
Badia, meaning desert in Arabic.
Iran-India Tiff Over Gas Price Continues
NEW DELHI (PTI) -- Iran wants India to pay more than
triple the gas price for award of the coveted Farzad-B
natural gas block to ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL), the
overseas arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp
(ONGC).
Iran wants India to buy all of the natural gas to be produced
from the Persian Gulf block at a price equivalent to the rate
Qatar charges for selling liquefied natural gas (LNG) to
India under a long-term deal. The rate being sought by Iran
is triple of $2.3 per mmBtu rate OVL is willing to pay for the
gas during low global oil prices.
Barghouti
Warns Against
Zionist
Talks P. 8
for his withdrawal.
The fight against pseudo-
revolutionary opportunists has
become highly costly, because this
current is gnawing at the roots of
the Revolution like a termite, the
statement said.
The opportunists, Qalibaf said in
his statement, are not only at odds
with the intellectual fundaments of
original revolutionaries, but also
represent a current whose material
interests are at risk.
Qalibaf said, Right now, the
main goal of the country and the
people is to change the status quo,
and to that end, there is no other
way than beginning a genuine fight
free of slogans against aristocracy
and opportunism in order to find a
precise and comprehensive solution
to the countrys problems.
Tehrans mayor also stressed
the importance of preserving the
interests of the country, its people
and the Islamic Revolution.
jobs in their first term if elected and
Qalibaf said a fundamental
to triple the monthly cash handouts
decision must be made for forging
to Irans poor.
unity within the revolutionary front.
Rouhani told supporters on
Iran will simultaneously hold its
Monday he needed a stronger
12th presidential election and 5th
mandate to liberalize Iranian
city and village council elections on
society.
May 19.
The day I decided to enter
Other candidates in the race
the election despite my personal
are First Vice President Eshaq
interests, I was aware that I would
Jahangiri, member of Irans
face difficult and dangerous
Expediency Council Mostafa Aqa-
conditions, Qalibaf said in his
Mirsalim, and former vice president,
statement, sounding out his reasons
Mostafa Hashemi-Taba.
The base is being expanded Daesh from Dawr al-Zawr, Foreign
to become a launching pad for Minister Walid al-Muallem warned
operations in the province of Dayr Jordan against getting involved
al-Zawr that straddles Iraq, Reuters without Syrias permission.
cited regional intelligence sources If the Jordanian forces entered
as saying. without coordination with the
Syrian media on Sunday said Syrian government they will be
government forces have made fresh considered as hostile forces,
gains against terrorists in Dayr al- Muallem said.
In addition to the large U.S.
Army units clashed with presence on the Jordanian side of
terrorist groups affiliated with the border, U.S. special forces were
Daesh in the province, leaving also spotted inside Syria, training a
a number of terrorists killed and group of militants called Mughawir
their fortifications and hideouts al-Thowra, the Newsweek
destroyed. magazine reported.
Last week, about 7,400 troops
began conducting military exercises U.S. Airstrikes Kill Dozens of
known as Exercise Eager Lion in Civilians
Jordan, in what was described as
the largest and most complex of Dozens of civilians, including
their kind conducted jointly with scores of women and children,
the U.S. have been reported killed by U.S.
The exercises prompted concerns air attacks in Syria and Iraq, the
that Washington and its allies UK-based Syrian Observatory for
were attempting to stage a major Human Rights said.
intervention to undermine recent The air attack killed 23 civilians
gains made by the Syrian military on Monday in Abu Kamal, a Syrian
against Daesh terrorists. town held by Daesh on the border
As the Syrian military began a with Iraq, it said.
new eastward push to drive out (Continued on Page 7)
 2 May 16, 2017 DOMESTIC NEWS

Iran Not After Tensions

Kayhan Group of Newspapers
Editorial Dept. Tel.: 33911561, 33110251-9
With Saudi Arabia And if they break
Ext.: 2334, 2336, 2337 their oaths after their
Advertising Dept.: 33110251-9 Ext. 2336 agreement and (openly)
Subscription Ext.: 2322
revile your religion,
Facsimile: 33114228 & 33111120
Website: www.kayhan.ir/en then fight the leaders of
E-mail: kayhanintl@yahoo.com unbelief-- surely their
P.O. Box: 11365/9631 oaths are nothing-- so
Address: Martyr Shah Cheraghi Street, Ferdowsi Avenue,
that they may desist.
Tehran Islamic Republic of Iran
The Holy Quran (12.2)

In the Name of the Most High

Viewpoint PRAYER TIMINGS
Noon (Zohr) 13:00
Evening(Maghreb)20:23
U.S. Arms Dictate Saudi Dawn(Fajr) Tomorrow04:18

Policies in Yemen Sunrise Tomorrow 05:57

Iraq. The smugglers are often the

By: Kayhan Intl Staff Writer
areas Kurds who have networks
and contacts in all three countries.
The United States is seeking to reach billions of dollars in arms sales The length of the Turkish-Iranian
to Saudi Arabia as part of Trumps visit to Riyadh. The White House is border is also used as a route by
very close to the deal, which will amount to over $100 billion in sales. Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi addresses reporters during a weekly news briefing in Tehran migrants seeking to reach Europe.
Details are still emerging, but the plan is for this to set out a series of in this undated photo. The migrants who frequently use
growing deals over the next decade that will involve more than $300 TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- Iran Minister Muhammad bin Salman The PKK and its various regional routes along the Turkish-Iranian
billion going to arms dealers, not just to arm the Saudis, but in extra said on Monday it does not seek recently said, We will work to affiliates have often used the border are usually Afghans,
aid to Israel to ensure their qualitative military edge over the Saudis. tensions with Saudi Arabia, even have the battle in Iran rather than in difficult terrain along the Turkish- Pakistanis and anti-Iran elements.
White House officials say the move would be good for the economy, though it characterized Riyadhs Saudi Arabia. Iranian and Iraqi border to launch Elsewhere in his news conference,
and insist that building Saudi Arabias already substantial military involvement in conflicts in Yemen, Relations between the two raids on Turkish territory. Qassemi urged the United States
Syria, Iraq and elsewhere a countries first soured after a deadly The Iranian news agency IRNA to adopt a pragmatic approach
is essential because of regional problems the problems they
strategic mistake. human crush during Hajj rituals in last week quoted an unnamed as regards the 2015 nuclear deal
themselves have created. Saudi Arabia, of course, spends much of its Foreign Ministry spokesman Mina, near Mecca, in September Iranian official as welcoming the between Iran and world powers.
military budget invading Yemen and trying to affect regime change in Bahram Qassemi called on 2015, which claimed the lives walls construction because it Despite the deal, the U.S. is
Sanaa. Saudi rulers to abandon their of hundreds of Iranian pilgrims would help the Tehran government refusing to give guarantees to
Worse, Saudi Arabia and its partners in crime have been financially misbehavior and instead among others. tackle the rampant smuggling in international banks against punitive
and militarily supporting Takfiri-Wahhabi terror proxies in Syria for answer Irans call for dialog and the area. measures which Washington is
years. They have intentionally bankrolled these terrorist groups whose interaction. Turkeys Border Wall Goods including alcohol, which is likely to mete out for transactions
mission it is to wipe out the Shia communities and ethnic groups in the Our response to the misbehavior illegal in Iran, are smuggled into the with Iran.
Middle East. These unelected regimes first started with Al-Qaeda and and improper remarks of Saudi Qassemi welcomed Turkeys plan country from Turkey and northern (Continued on Page 7)
then bankrolled what became ISIL. authorities is that we do not want to build a 144-kilometer wall along
Given Saudi Arabias Yemen-centric foreign policy, however, U.S. tensions, Qassemi told reporters its border to prevent the movement
during his weekly news briefing, of Kurdish groups hostile to Turkey.
sales are to be heavily on warplanes and bombs to drop on northern
adding Tehran is ready for dialogue The Turkish government
Yemens crowded areas, as the conflict has lasted far longer than
with Riyadh. announced the move late last week,
the Saudis anticipated, and there is little sign they are interested in However, dialogue and with Ergun Turan, the head of
extricating themselves from the conflict anytime soon. understanding does not mean Turkeys public housing authority,
Still, the Saudis are not in a position to dictate policy or be the teacher
For Sale
an endorsement of all the things saying it would be complete by
of democracy in Yemen. They dont support the heart of evolving governments and countries do. October.
humanity and they are not a leader worthy of being followed. They Either at the regional level or Turkey sees these walls as an KAYHAN: Everything has been up for sale during the past four years:
seek authority so that they may impose their policy without limitations. on the issue of Yemen and Iran, effective way to stop logistics
Economic issues, national security, honesty, dignity, fairness and suchlike.
Unsurprisingly, they also have America on board. Saudi Arabia is making strategic transfers and the movement of
mistakes. fighters by the Kurdistan Workers The government told lies to distract public attention from real issues. In the
Saudi officials are aware that their military might is not a force for
Qassemi said Iran is hopeful Party (PKK), which is based in the eyes of the Western hemisphere, the administration of Rouhani is desperate to
good and they cannot turn the tide of opinion in the region. They are
aware they cannot manage the current crisis and that the people of that Saudi Arabia would be ready mountainous terrain of northern sell national rights just like a fervent seller in debt. This is so true. We have
for dialogue with Iran in a fair Iraqs Qandil region bordering Iran to stop this from continuing, else generations after generations will remain in
Yemen, both Shias and Sunnis, do not have any intension to let them
environment. and Turkey. debt.
win the war. While difficult, resisting interventionism wont be futile. We hope they would realize their Qassemi said Iran supported
Within this context, the international community has to reject the
glorification of this latest U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia, before the
mistakes and create an atmosphere any move by Turkey that would
for understanding and negotiation improve security. A New Chance
U.S.-backed, Saudi-led violence in Yemen engulfs the entire region, through making up for their past The wall will not be built right RESALAT: Elections offer the chance to rebuild our national clout and
and before many more civilians die in Syria. The world must force mistakes, he added. on the border. It will be in Turkish security. Its a chance to legitimize our democracy, our establishment. Its a
the Saudis to stop their criminal aggression and accept an immediate Tensions between Iran and Saudi territory. We welcome any move chance to reckon government deeds and promises, and find out whether it
ceasefire in battle-torn Yemen. Arabia have escalated since the that increases the security and delivered them. Its a great chance to start all over again. We can and we must
The unprovoked war by the Saudi bigots, with full-hearted support kingdom executed a prominent stability of the border, he said.
Shia cleric in January 2016. He said Turkish officials had renew our national unity and resolve. We must show off our might to the
of their deranged and blood-drenched allies, is a great test for the
The execution triggered angry shared the idea of a border wall enemy. The problem is, Rouhani is still desperate to stay in power even if that
conscience of the world community. Bombing a poor countrys
protests in many countries, with their Iranian counterparts costs our national resolve or endangers our national security.
infrastructure, murdering its defenseless civilians, blockading its

Four Years of Lies

including Iran. Protesters attacked before the announcement.
ports, and hobbling its struggling economy are hardly ways of ensuring
the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and its The Turkey-Iran border wall is
security for the Arab rentier state. consulate in Mashhad, prompting being constructed with three-meter
The world is duty-bound to stop this criminal foolishness and its own VATAN EMROOZ: Rouhanis biggest false claim has to be the lifting
Riyadh to cut diplomatic ties with concrete blocks, which weigh
political correctness. The world must recognize that the American the Islamic Republic. seven tonnes each topped off with of sanctions regime in light of the nuclear deal. He said as per the deal all
bombs and the Saudi siege of the poorest nation in the Middle East are Saudi authorities have also a meter of razor wire. The wall financial, economic and banking restrictions would be lifted the moment the
a form of collective punishment that violates the Geneva Conventions become increasingly belligerent will have 15 gates to facilitate deal was implemented. The West delayed to lift sanctions, so much so that CBI
and international humanitarian law. in their verbal attacks on Iran. official movement between the two Chief Seif said the deal brought nothing, no economic achievement for Iran.
Deputy Crown Prince and Defense countries, according to Turan. Even Zarif said all sanctions would be lifted, but later did a flip-flop. He said
he made a mistake in trusting the Americans.
Two Police Martyred in Attack in Ahvaz
TEHRAN (Dispatches) The ILNA news agency said a police station in the provinces the Pakistani side. The assailants
Blood-Thirsty Saudis
SIASAT ROOZ: Mass murder and blood-letting is one of the key features
Gunmen have opened fire on the gunmen attacked a police station Hamidiyeh town, martyring three escaped into Pakistani territory of the Saudi regime. It continues to attack civilian areas in Yemen or blockade
police in the southern city of Ahvaz, in Ahvaz on Monday morning, security forces and injuring two immediately after the attack. populated neighborhoods. This proves beyond any doubt that the Saudis are
martyring two policemen. setting off a shootout that also more. The terrorists were arrested Chief of Staff of the Iranian blood-thirsty. The regime continues to murder women and children in cold
Col. Ali Ghasempour, deputy wounded four policemen. within 72 hours and sentenced to Armed Forces Major General
blood. It attacks and destroys houses and mosques. It cuts off water and
police chief of the oil-rich None of the reports identified the hang by a court. Muhammad Baqeri later called
electricity supplies to the besieged populations. Because of its failures in Syria
Khuzestan province where Ahvaz gunmen, who managed to escape Ten Iranian border guards were the perpetrators Saudi-hired
and Yemen, the regime is making sure the defenseless populations are paying
is located, said on Monday the and were said to be at large. martyred last month in the southeast terrorists, who enjoy the U.S.
the price for it. Worse, the international civil society is sitting on its hands,
attack is under investigation. Last year, a terrorist group struck in a border attack originating from endorsement.
doing nothing, absolutely nothing.
 Art & Culture May 16, 2017 3

This Day in History

(May 16)
Iranian Calligraphy Art
Exhibition Opens in Ankara
Today is Tuesday; 26th of the Iranian month of Ordibehesht 1396 solar hijri;
corresponding to 19th of the Islamic month of Shaban 1438 lunar hijri; and May
16, 2017, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.
1432 lunar years ago, on this day in 6 AH, the Battle of Bani Mustaliq occurred
near a place called Muraysi between Jeddah and Rabigh, when on hearing news are outstanding features of
of the intention of pagan Arabs led by Hareth ibn Abi Dirar, to attack Muslims,
Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) led an expedition in order to settle the matter in a the art of calligraphy clearly
peaceful way. The pagan Arabs refused to cease hostilities and heed the call of demonstrated in the works of
Islam. On seeing that the Prophet had only 30 riders amongst his modest group,
the pagan Arabs attacked the Muslims. The hypocrites among the companions of art displayed in this exhibition,
the Prophet, deserted on hearing that most Arab tribes were allied with the pagan said Reza Azizian, Deputy Cul-
warlord Hareth. The true Muslims had no other option but to defend themselves tural Attach of the Islamic Re-
with arms. Imam Ali (AS) led the charge and soon disposed off some of the
leading pagans such as Malik. The Muslims emerged victorious although some public Embassy in Turkey.
descendants of the Prophets grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, were martyred. The The continuance of human
fruits of this victory were the capture of several hundred pagan Arabs, including
the fearsome Bani Mustaliq chief, Hareth, who later, along with many members life will be toilsome and diffi-
of his clan became Muslim. It was during this expedition that God revealed cult without taking the role of
Surah al-Munafiqoun since some of those who accompanied the Prophet art in life into account, Azizian
from Medina and claimed to be Muslims, like Abdullah bin Ubbayy, were
hypocrites at heart, planning to undermine Islam. said.
515 solar years ago, on this day in 1502 AD, Honduras in Central America, The art of calligraphy dates
which was the centre of the Mayan civilization, was occupied by Spain. Spain
subsequently decimated the indigenous Mayan people. In early 19th century, back to Sassanid Empire and
due to the chaotic state of affairs in Spain, Honduras like the majority of the Iranian artists have evolved the
American colonies gained independence from Spanish colonial rule. Honduras visual effects of the art by illu-
covers an area of more than 112,000 sq km. it is a republic and shares borders
with Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. minating Quranic verses and
229 solar years ago, on this day in 1788 AD, the German poet and orientalist, texts of letters, he said refer-
Friedrich Ruckert, was born in the city of Hamburg. He was a researcher on
eastern languages and lectured at German universities. He has translated ring to the history of art of illu-
numerous poems from Persian, Arabic, and Chinese to German language. He is minating manuscript.
one of the German poets who have translated the Diwan of poems of renowned The exhibition is underway for
ANKARA (IRNA) The ex- manuscripts was inaugurated in ists and distinguished people in-
Iranian poet, Hafez, to German language, which has been published on several
occasions. hibition of the works of Irani- Ankara Castle Historical Com- volved in cultural activities. ten days in Ankara Castle His-
101 solar years ago, on this day in 1916 AD, the scandalous Sykes-Picot Accord an calligraphy and illuminated plex on Sunday attended by art- Spirituality and innovation torical Complex,Turkey.
was signed by representatives of Britain, France, and Russia in Paris for dividing
up the Arab lands of the Ottoman Empire and limiting the Turkish possessions to
Anatolia or present day Turkey. Even before the formal defeat of the Ottomans
in 1917, lines were drawn on paper to share the spoils by the two principal
European colonial powers. The British took control of Iraq and the Hijaz. Shaam
Aspirin Use and Risk of Stroke
or Greater Syria was split up into four parts, with the British taking Jordan
and Palestine, and the French taking Syria and Lebanon. The main goal of this WASHINGTON (Dispatches) - rin in 4,124 low-risk AF patients
plan was to set up in Palestine, an illegal entity called Israel as a homeland for According to new research, using who underwent catheter abla-
European Jews.
42 solar years ago,on this day in 1975 AD, India annexed Sikkim and abolished long-term aspirin therapy to pre- tion. The study showed that over
the Chogyal monarchy. The Himalayan land of Sikkim was part of the British vent strokes among patients who a three-year period, those who
subcontinent, but in 1947 when India became independent, a popular vote are considered to be at low risk were on aspirin had a significant-
rejected Sikkims joining the Indian Union and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
for stroke may not be effective as ly higher risk for gastrointesti-
agreed to a special protectorate status for Sikkim. The land, however, came under
the suzerainty of India, which controlled its external affairs, defense, diplomacy previously thought. nal bleeding and genitourinary
and communications, but otherwise retained administrative autonomy. A state The study by researchers at bleeding compared to those on
council was established in 1955 to allow for constitutional government under the the Intermountain Medical Cen- warfarin or who werent treated
Chogyal. Meanwhile, the Sikkim National Congress demanded fresh elections
and greater representation for the Nepalese majority. In 1973, riots in front of ter Heart Institute in Salt Lake at all.
the Chogyal palace led to a supposed request for protection from India. In 1975, City, Utah, in the U.S. found that In both the general and medi-
the Prime Minister of Sikkim reportedly appealed to the Indian Parliament for atrial fibrillation patients who cal communities, aspirin therapy
Sikkim to become a state of India. In April, the Indian Army took over the city
of Gangtok and disarmed the Chogyals palace guards. A referendum was held received a catheter ablation and is perceived to reduce risks, its
in which over 90 percent of the electorate allegedly voted to join the Indian were low risk of stroke didnt easy to prescribe, and its avail-
Union. On 16 May 1975, Sikkim was formally declared the 22nd state of the benefit from long-term aspirin able worldwide over-the-count-
Indian Union.
therapy, but are at risk of higher er. Theres always been little
20 solar years ago, on this day in 1997 AD, the autocratic president of Congo
(formerly Zaire), General Mobutu Sese Seko, fled after the united forces, led by rates of bleeding compared to no studys lead author and director Traditionally, lower-risk AF evidence to support its use for
Lauren Kabila, closed in on the city of Kinshasa. He came to power in the wake therapy at all. of Heart Rhythm Research at the patients have been treated with stroke prevention in AF patients.
of a coup in 1965 and ruled Congo with an iron fist for 32 years. Although he was When AF patients are con- Intermountain Medical Center aspirin without significant sup- This study continues to show that
a violent and ruthless dictator, he was always supported by the Western regimes,
especially the US and France. Congo has always been on the spotlight of the sidered low risk for stroke, phy- Heart Institute. What was un- portive data, he added. aspirin has little to no benefit for
Western regimes, given its strategic position in Central Africa and existence of sicians often treat them with known was if aspirin was a safe Dr. Bunch and his team at the stroke prevention in AF patients
ample copper and diamond resources. A day after the escape of Sese Seko, the aspirin rather than stronger anti- and effective stroke prevention Intermountain Medical Center and when used in low-risk pa-
opposition forces captured Kinshasa; and Lauren Kabila was installed as the
president. A while later, the refusal of Kabila to allow his Tutsi allies a share coagulants to further lower that treatment after an ablation in Heart Institute investigated the tients it significantly increases a
in the government, once again fanned the flames of civil war resulting in the risk, said Jared Bunch, MD, the lower-risk AF patients. impact of long-term use of aspi- patients bleeding risk.
assassination of Kabila on January 16, 2000, by one of his bodyguards.
24 solar years ago, on this day in 1993 AD the researcher, author, and lecturer
of Persian language and literature at Tehran University, Dr. Mahdi Derakhshan,
passed away at the age of 75. For a while, he also researched and lectured at Once Upon
a Time in the
Turkeys Ankara University. He has left behind a large number of valuable
compilations
13 lunar years ago, on this day in 1425 AH, Ayatollah Mirza Hassan Ali Morvarid
passed away at the age of 96 in his hometown Mashhad and was laid to rest in the
holy mausoleum of Imam Reza (AS), the 8th Infallible Heir of Prophet Mohammad
(blessings of God upon him and his progeny). Born in a scholarly family tracing
East Goes to
descent from the Safavid-era poet laureate and calligrapher Khwajah Shehab
od-Din Abdullah Morvarid Kermani (865-955 AH), he was nine years when his Indian Film
Festival
father Hojjat al-Islam Mohammad Reza Morvarid passed away and according to
the latters will his care was assumed by the famous scholar Shaykh Hassan Ali
Isfahani Nukhadaki. At the age of 13 he started his formal studies in the Islamic
seminary of Mashhad, where his teachers, besides Shaykh Nukhadaki, included TEHRAN (MNA) Once Upon
Allamah Shaykh Hashem Qazvini, and the famous Allamah Ayatollah Mirza a Time in the East by Hamed Ba-
Mahdi Isfahani the leading jurisprudent and scholar of Quranic sciences. He soon
zrafkan has been selected into the
became a leading professor of Islamic Sciences and taught for more than forty years
at the Mashhad seminary, grooming a large number of scholars. Tanbihat Hawl screening program of Pickurflick
al-Mabda wal Maad is the summary of Islamic sciences which he lectured at the Film Festival in India.
Mashhad Seminary. Ayatollah Morvarid founded two Islamic seminaries Besat Bazrafkans short film will com-
and Saadat in holy Mashhad. He used to lead the congregational prayers in pete in the Asian Short Film cate-
the famous mosques of holy Mashhad like Madrasa-e Mirza Jafar, Masjid Hajj gory of the online Indian festival.
Mullah Hashem and Masjid Mullah Hyder. Once Upon a Time in the East
6 solar years ago, on this day in 2011 AD, philologist and Grammarian of the
Persian language, Professor Hassan Ahmad Givi, passed away at the age of 84. managed to win Special Jury
A prominent student of the famous Professor Badi oz-Zaman Farouzanfar, after Award at the 7th Ammar Inter-
obtaining PhD from Tehran University, for over four decades he taught at his national Popular Film Festival in
alma mater as well as other universities. He actively participated as a contributor Tehran. The film reveals the se-
to the Dehkhoda Lexicon (Loghatnameh), accounting for over 20 percent of crets behind terrorism acts, and its
the voluminous project. He compiled over 50 books, including A Comparative synopsis reads: Indeed, right will
Study of Persian and Turkish Literature.
survive and wrong will Perish.
4 solar years ago, on this day in 2013 AD, Takfiri terrorists backed by Saudi
Arabia and the US detonated car bombs in the Shia Muslim neighbourhoods of Pickurflick Indie Film Festival
Baghdad and Mosul, resulting in the martyrdom of dozens of men, women, and (PIFF) 2017 is Indias first unique
children, and injury to scores of others, as part of their failed plot to stir sectarian indie film festival for indepen-
clashes in Iraq. Seven years earlier on this same day in 2006, Takfiri terrorists dent film makers from around the
had raided a parking lot in a predominantly Shia Muslim neighborhood of globe. All accepted films will be
Baghdad, shooting dead several guards, and leaving behind an explosives-rigged The Congregational Mosque of Ardestan is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved Iranian mosques.
screened online on Pickurflick
car that led to the martyrdom of over a score of would-be rescuers. Vestiges of four historical epochs are discernible there.
(Courtesy: IRIB English Radio http://parstoday.com/en)
network on 19-21 May, 2017.
Courtesy: Tasnim News Agency
 4 May 16, 2017 ECONOMIC NEWS

European, Asian Firms Ready IME Ready to Expand Economic

to Fund Plane Purchases
Iran says nine major Asian and European credit companies have
announced readiness to fund the countrys purchases of planes from
global aviation giants Airbus and Boeing.
TEHRAN (Press TV) - Iran says
several major European and Asian
financers have announced readiness
to fund the countrys purchases of
planes from global aviation giants
Airbus and Boeing.
Irans Deputy Minister of Road
and Urban Development for Inter-
national Affairs Asghar Fakhrieh
Kashan was quoted by the domes-
tic media as saying that nine fi-
nancial institutions from Norway,
Denmark, Ireland, Britain, China
and Japan had already approached
Iran to fund the purchases.
Fakhrieh Kashan did not reveal
the names of the interested financ-
ers.
Nevertheless, he emphasized
that proceedings to hold a tender
chases were underway, adding that
tender documents would be sent
out to potential bidders within a
month.
Last week, he was quoted by
media as saying that Britains key
export credit agency UK Export
Finance (UKEF) had informed
Irans Ministry of Roads and Ur-
ban Development that it was ready
to provide funding for all of Irans
purchases from Boeing and Airbus.
He emphasized that Iran wanted
to have an open hand in choosing
the best financers and that a tender
to the same effect would be held
soon.
Iran Air is preparing the tender
documents so that they would be
sent to all credible financers across
the state news agency IRNA.
We are in conditions that allow
us to choose our desired financers
in a competitive atmosphere that a
tender creates.
Also, Irans media last October
quoted an unidentified governmen-
tal official as saying that Boeing
had sealed a deal with an American
bank to provide financing for Irans
purchase of airliners in cooperation
with a Japanese bank. No names
were provided at the time.
ATR Planes Within Days
Iran says it expects to receive the
first batch of planes from Europe-
an aviation player ATR within the
next few days.
Affairs Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan
told the domestic media that four
ATR planes would arrive in the
country in coming days.
He told the countrys state news
agency IRNA that five more planes
would be handed over to Iran until
the end of 2017. However, he did
not provide a clear timetable for the
deliveries.
All the planes would be delivered
to Irans national flag-carrier air-
line Iran Air, IRNA added.
In April, Iran Air finalized an
agreement with ATR to buy 20
planes from the company at an es-
timated cost of above $500 million.
The planes all ATR 72-600
would be twin-propeller aircraft
Ties With Iraq
EHRAN (FNA) - The Iran Mer-
cantile Exchange (IME) dispatched
a high-ranking delegation to Iraq to
pave the ground for the establish-
ment of an IME office in Baghdad to
further ease and boost trade with the
neighboring country in large scale,
the IME said on Monday.
The IME said that its dispatched
Over $70mn Worth of Goods
Exported Via Chabahar in 1 Year
TEHRAN (Dispatches) - Man-
aging Director of Chabahar Free
Zone Organization Abdulrahim
Kordi has announced that Iran
exported $70mln worth of goods
and petrochemical products
through Chabahar in the past Ira-
nian year (ended on March 20).
Last year, $70mln of exports
were carried out in Chabahar
delegation had several meetings
with Iraqi officials to explore new
avenues to strengthen economic
ties between the two countries over
the platform of Iran Mercantile Ex-
change.
The IME delegation also paid a
visit to renowned markets in Iraq.
The IME delegation, meantime,
free zone and we had focused on
the downstream petrochemical
industries and packaging indus-
tries, Kordi told reporters in a
press conference.
He predicted that in the cur-
rent year, exports of goods from
Chabahar will increase 2.5 times
compared with the previous
year.
evaluated the economic situation
in Iraq on the ground while visiting
markets in important cities of Bagh-
dad, Karbela and Najaf.
Decision-makers in IME are of the
opinion that the IME will rekindle
trade of Iranian commodities in Iraq
by establishing an office there, the
IME said.
Official Calls
for Boosting
Industrial
Cooperation
With Latin
America
TEHRAN (Dispatches) - Ira-
nian Deputy Industry, Trade and
Mine Mehdi Karbasian has called
for broadening of bilateral trade
relations with the Latin American
countries.
The Islamic Republic of Iran
has planned a 50-billion-dollar
investment in its mining, and
industries sectors and the Latin
American countries participation
in these areas is welcomed, Kar-
basian said.
He reiterated that Iran is inter-
ested to cooperate with Latin
America in the economic and
trade fields.

G7 Finance Ministers Puzzle Over

to choose the financer for the pur- the world, Fakhrieh Kashan told that can carry 70 passengers.

Oil Exports to South Korea Up 63%

TEHRAN (Dispatches) - South
Korea considerably has increased its
crude oil imports from Iran in April
as compared with the corresponding
period in the last year.
Iran boosted its crude exports
to South Korea by 63.5 percent in
last month (April), Customs Office
data showed.
South Koreas customs data also
showed that the country imported
1.41 million metric tons of Iranian
crude or 344,933 barrels of oil per
day in April.
The figures showed that the
worlds fifth-largest crude importer
shipped in 7.1 million metric tons of
Iranian crude oil, or 433,659 bpd, in
the first four months of 2017 which
was up 86 percent from 3.82 mil-
lion metric tons imported during the
same period a year ago.
Tehran, Seoul to Link Financial
Markets
Meanwhile, Tehran and Seoul
are making all-out efforts to have
the two countries financial mar-
kets connected to each other, CEO
of Central Securities Depository
of Iran (CSDI) Mohammad Reza
Mohseni announced on Monday.
Negotiations have been held be-
tween CDSI and South Korea over
past two years on linking the two
countries markets, Mohseni said.
CSDI CEO said that a special
working group has been set up to
connect financial markets of Iran
and South Korea.
Mohseni reiterated that the base
mode for binding financial markets
of Iran and South Korea through
Islamic treasury bills is in its final
stages and would be implemented
in the near future in case of removal
of restrictions on exchange and in-
terbank transactions.
He noted that another measure
taken by CSDI pertain to coopera-
tion with Greeces Hellenic Central
Securities Depository and Athens
Stock Exchange (ATHEX Group)
aimed at developing a joint operat-
ing model between capital markets
of Iran and Greece.
Head of Central Securities Depos-
itory of Iran (CSDI) also called for
formation of two working groups to
develop a system for payment and
settlement of transactions aimed at
hedging against risks and joint col-
laboration to enhance international
relations.
Trumps Policies
BARI, Italy, (Euronews) - The
different positions of protection-
ist President Donald Trump and
finance chiefs from the worlds
richest countries meant trade was
downplayed at the latest meet-
ing of the Group of Seven finance
ministers and central bankers.
Instead in the two-day meeting
in the southern Italian port city
of Bari they have been focusing
on inequality, international tax
rules and cyber security but Ger-
manys Wolfgang Schaeuble had
a message for Washington.
We need a strong United
States to lead the global econ-
omy and global politics in a
tant political and economical
power in the world and the best
alliance for Europe, he told re-
porters.
Participants revealed U.S.
Treasury Secretary Steven
Mnuchin was subjected to pleas
from ministers for Trump not to
weaken long-established poli-
cies on trade and the banking
regulations designed to prevent
a repeat of the global financial
crisis, even as they try to get a
sense of how much is rhetoric
and how much reality.
French Finance Minister Mi-
chel Sapin said: It is unthink-
able, and it will not happen, that
bility .. and at the end of the day
are truly in everyones interests.
European Economic Affairs
Commissioner Pierre Moscovici
said he hoped Trump would not
abandon multilateralism and free
trade. We can discuss, we can
have different appreciations, but
we are in the same world and in
the same boat, he told reporters.
Several officials at the G7
raised concerns about risks to
global growth from the Trump
administrations policy propos-
als, including tax reform, a se-
nior U.S. Treasury official said.
Trump has vowed to revamp
the U.S. tax code with major

Iranian, Foreign Firms to Participate at Intl sustainable way and the United
States is still the most impor-
one can destroy these collective
achievements that give more sta-
cuts for businesses and ease
business regulatory burdens.

Iran Health Exhibition

TEHRAN (Dispatches) - Hun-
dreds of Iranian and foreign com-
panies will participate in the 20th
International Iran Health Exhibi-
tion due to be held on May 16-19,
Deputy Industry Minister Moham-
mad Javad Qanbari has said.
Over 600 Iranian and foreign
companies will attend the Interna-
tional Exhibition for Medical and
Laboratory Equipment, Pharma-
ceutical Products and Health Care
Services (Iran Health), Qanbari
told media in Tehran.
He said that 180 producers of
medical equipment from differ-
ent countries, including Germany,
Poland, South Korea, Austria, Ma-
laysia, Turkey, Ukraine, the U.S.,
Britain and Denmark will display
their products in the exhibition.
Qanbari also underscored that
Iran enjoys good potentials and
capabilities to develop health tour-
ism.
Iran health International Exhibi-
tion, which will be held concur-
rent with several national medical
workshops, is a comprehensive
IMF Urges Germany to Invest in
Infrastructure, Raise Wages
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany should use its rising tax
revenues to invest in infrastructure projects that will en-
hance its growth potential, and encourage employers to
raise wages to help lift euro zone inflation, the Interna-
tional Monetary Fund said on Monday.
The IMF recommendations run counter to the think-
ing of Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, who last
Thursday announced higher tax revenue estimates for
this year and rejected criticism that Germany was not
investing enough.
fair which covers Medical, Dental, In a report following its annual Article IV meetings
Laboratory Equipment, Pharma- with the German authorities, the IMF said Germanys
ceutical Products and Health care
Services. large and persistent current account surplus reflected
The exhibition will be held at high domestic savings and better investment opportuni-
Tehran permanent international ties abroad.
fairground on May 16-19. Germany should embrace a set of coordinated fiscal
and structural policies to safeguard its strengths and ad-
dress remaining challenges, including reducing external
imbalances, the IMF added.
An IMF official told a news conference the Fund saw
Germanys current account surplus falling to 7.5 per-
cent of national output by 2022 from 8.3 percent last
year, adding that a surplus of between 2.5 and 5 percent
would be appropriate.
Germanys current account surplus has been a source
of discord for years with the United States, the IMF and
some euro zone peers, which have urged it to do more
to boost lacklustre domestic demand.
Germany has pushed back, arguing that it is increasing
investment and that the surplus is partly due to the at-
tractiveness of German products, for which the country
should not be punished.
 WORLD NEWS May 16, 2017 5

Heavy Gunfire Hits Putin Rules Out Role

Ivory Coast Cities in Global Cyber-Attack BRUSSELS (Dispatches) -- The
EU Monday urged all sides in

Amid Munity Venezuela to abstain from vio-

Mutinous soldiers pose with their weapons in the streets of Ivory Coasts
central second city, Bouak.
BOUAKE, IVORY COAST (Dis-
patches) -- Heavy gunfire erupted on
Monday in Ivory Coasts two largest cit-
ies of Abidjan and Bouake as the military
said it pressed an operation to quash a
four-day nationwide army mutiny over
bonus payments, witnesses said.
Residents also reported gunfire in the
port city and major cocoa hub of San
Pedro.
More than 200 commercial trucks
were stranded on the roadside after mu-
tinous soldiers sealed off the southern
entrance to Bouake, the epicenter of the
revolt, on Monday, Reuters witnesses
said.
A Reuters team traveling from the
capital Yamoussoukro toward Bouake,
saw only a handful of loyalist military
vehicles, a day after the head of the
army said troops were being sent there
to re-establish order.
Most of a large column of troops spot-
ted on Sunday evening appeared to have
withdrawn - suggesting any government
operation was not yet fully under way.
Sporadic gunfire was heard overnight
in Bouake as well as at military camps
in Abidjan. Shooting in both cities in-
tensified before dawn.
There was heavy shooting at the
northern entrance to the city and in the
city center. Its calmed a bit but were
still hearing gunfire, said one Bouake
resident. Other residents confirmed the
shooting.
The soldiers staged the revolt over de-
layed bonus payments promised by the
government after a mutiny in January
but not fully paid after a collapse in the
price of cocoa, Ivory Coasts main ex-
port, caused a revenue crunch.
Ivory Coast has been touted as a post-
war success story because it emerged
from a 2002-2011 political crisis as one
of the worlds fastest growing econo-
mies under President Alassane Ouat-
tara.
But it remains divided and a wave of
mutinies that began earlier this year has
exposed the lack of unity in a military
assembled from former rebel and loyal-
ist combatants.
In signs of the economic impact of the
crisis, the banking association, the AP-
BEF, ordered all banks to remain closed
on Monday and many businesses at the
port in Abidjan from which cocoa is ex-
ported were also closed.
Heavy shooting was also heard in
Daloa, a hub for western cocoa growing
regions.
All businesses are closed here in
Daloa. The banks are closed and so are
the cocoa buying businesses, said Aka
Marcel, a farmer cooperative manager
in Daloa. The soldiers are in the streets
on foot and on motorbikes. Theyre
shooting in the air.
President Vladimir Putin gestures while speaking to the media after
the Belt and Road Forum at the China National Convention Center on
Yanqi Lake just outside Beijing, May 15, 2017.
BEIJING (AFP) -- Russia had noth-
ing to do with a massive global cyber-
attack, President Vladimir Putin said
Monday, calling for urgent consulta-
tions on countering the hackers.
Hundreds of thousands of comput-
ers in more than 150 countries have
been hit by the ransomware attack,
which has been described as the larg-
est-ever of its kind.
The attack began Friday and struck
banks, hospitals and government
agencies among a variety of other
targets, exploiting known vulner-
abilities in older Microsoft computer
operating systems.
As for the source of these threats,
Microsofts leadership stated this
directly, they said the source of the
virus was the special services of the
United States, Putin said.
Putin was referring to a weekend
blog post by Microsoft president
Brad Smith stating that the U.S.
of an international summit in Beijing.
The U.S. has accused Russia in
the past of mounting several cyber-
attacks.
In March the Justice Department
indicted two officials of Russias
Federal Security Service and two
criminal hackers whom they alleged-
ly hired to steal data from some 500
million Yahoo user accounts.
The fast-spreading malware called
WannaCry, is the first ever detect-
ed to combine both a worm -- which
enables it to burrow into an entire
network from a single infected com-
puter -- and ransomware, demanding
$300 (275 euros) in the virtual cur-
rency Bitcoin to unlock systems.
While there was no significant
damage to Russian institutions such
as banks and hospitals, Putin said the
incident was worrisome and war- ment to the detriment of the state,
ranted immediate talks on a serious
political level.
lence and seek a political solution
as the death toll mounts in clashes
between the government and riot-
ers.
Protests against leftist Presi-
dent Nicolas Maduro demanding
early elections have left 38 dead
since April 1, with many hundreds
wounded and arrested. The EU
said all parties should work to-
wards a settlement which would
allow the establishment of an
electoral calendar. The statement
said there were more than 600,000
European citizens in Venezuela
and the EU was ready to work with
the government to help them.
****
ROME (Dispatches) -- Italy has
broken up a mafia ring accused
of infiltrating one of the countrys
largest refugee reception centers
and capitalizing on asylum seekers
with the help of a Catholic associa-
tion, police said Monday.
The Arena clan, a family belong-
ing to the powerful Ndrangheta
crime syndicate, allegedly made a
fortune by supplying services for
the center at Isola di Capo Riz-
zuto and siphoning off money from
the state destined for the refugees.
Over 500 agents overnight ar-
rested 68 people... accused of ma-
fia association, extortion, carrying
illegal weapons, fraud, embezzle-
(and) theft, police in Catanzaro, a
city in Calabria, said in statement.

Experts: N Korean Missile Range

Unprecedented
SEOUL (Dispatches) -- North Korea said Monday it
had successfully tested a new type of rocket in its latest
missile launch, as analysts said it showed an unprec-
edented range that brought U.S. bases in the Pacific
within reach.
Sundays launch was of a new ground-to-ground
medium long-range strategic ballistic rocket named
the Hwasong-12, the official Korea Central News
Agency (KCNA) said.
Leader Kim Jong-un personally oversaw the test,
it said, and hugged officials in the field of rocket
research, saying that they worked hard to achieve a
great thing.
The missile was launched on an unusually high tra-
jectory, with KCNA saying it flew to an altitude of
2,111.5 kilometers and traveled 787 kilometers be-
fore coming down in the Sea of Japan (East Sea).
That suggests a range of 4,500 kilometers (2,800
miles) or more if flown for maximum distance, ana-
lysts said.
Aside from space launches, Jeffrey Lewis of the
Middlebury Institute of International Studies in the
U.S. told AFP: This is the longest range missile
North Korea has ever tested.
On the respected 38 North website, aerospace engi-
neering specialist John Schilling said it appeared to
demonstrate an intermediate-range ballistic missile
that could reliably strike the U.S. base at Guam in
the Pacific.
More importantly, he added, it may represent a
substantial advance to developing an intercontinental
ballistic missile (ICBM).
The North says it needs atomic weapons to defend
itself against the threat of invasion and has carried
out two atomic tests and dozens of missile launches
since the beginning of last year.
Its goal is to develop a missile capable of delivering
a nuclear warhead to the continental United States
-- something President Donald Trump has vowed
wont happen.
Tensions between the two reached a peak in recent
weeks, with Washington saying military action was
an option under consideration and Pyongyang issuing
threats of its own, sending fears of conflict spiraling.
Trump later appeared to backtrack on the threat,
saying he would be honored to meet Kim and
called him a smart cookie.
In April the North put dozens of missiles on show at
a giant military parade through the streets of Pyong-
yang, including one that appeared to be the type of
device launched Sunday.
The test proved to the full all the technical specifi-
cations of the rocket which was capable of carrying
a large-size heavy nuclear warhead, KCNA said.
The North could be testing ICBM subsystems in a
low-key manner to hedge against the possibility
of U.S. military action, Schilling said.
KCNA cited Kim as saying that the U.S. strategy
of militarily browbeating only weak countries and
nations which have no nukes would never work on
the North.
If the U.S. dares opt for a military provocation
against the DPRK, we are ready to counter it, it
said.
National Security Agency had de-
veloped the code being used in the
attack.
This completely doesnt concern
Russia, Putin added on the sidelines
Merkel Threatens to Pull Out
Troops From Turkey
German Tornado jet at the air base in Incirlik, Turkey
BERLIN (Dispatches) -- Berlin on
Monday slammed Ankaras refusal
to allow German lawmakers to visit a
NATO base near Syria and warned it
could move its troops elsewhere.
The German foreign ministry de-
scribed as absolutely unacceptable
Turkeys latest ban on a visit to the
Incirlik base in southern Turkey.
Germany has about 250 military
personnel stationed there, flying Tor-
There is nothing good in this and
calls for concern, he said.
A protection system from these
manifestations needs to be worked
out.
many granting political asylum to
some of its military officials since
last years failed coup against Presi-
dent Recep Tayyip Erdogan, foreign
ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer
suggested.
He said Ankaras reason may be
individual decisions of independent
German authorities in connection
with military members.
Merkel stressed that, since Germa-
****
PARIS (Reuters) -- Newly inau-
gurated centrist President Em-
manuel Macron appointed on
Monday conservative Edouard
Philippe as prime minister, an
unprecedented move in postwar
France in the voluntary choice of
a head of government from out-
side the presidents party.
Philippe, 46, a lawmaker and
mayor of port city Le Havre and
a close associate of prominent
conservative Alain Juppe, is from
the moderate wing of The Repub-
licans party. He will be a counter-
weight to the former Socialist MPs
who have joined Macrons cause.
****
FRANKFURT (Reuters) -- Thir-
teen people were injured, four of
them seriously, in an explosion
on Monday at a German factory
operated by ball-bearings maker
Schaeffler, German police said.
An explosion at a cleaning facility
for industrial salts at Schaefflers
plant in Eltmann, Bavaria, was
reported to police in nearby Sch-
weinfurt at around 1015 am local
time (0815 GMT), according to an
emailed statement. More than 120
firefighters as well as police and
a large contingent of rescue staff
were on the scene but police said

Greek Lawmakers Debate Extending Austerity
ATHENS (AP) -- Lawmakers in Greece started a four-
day debate Monday on whether to approve a new pack-
age of spending cuts that will extend the number of years
Greeks have lived under austerity to more than a decade.
Amid confirmation that the countrys battered econo-
my is in recession again, unions have launched a wave of
protests ahead of a general strike Wednesday.
The latest round of austerity measures, which form part
of an agreement between the Greek government and in-
ternational bailout lenders, will involve additional pen-
sion cuts in 2019 and higher income tax in 2020. With-
out the new measures, Greece would face the prospect of
not getting the rescue money it needs to avoid potential
bankruptcy this summer when it faces a big debt-repay-
ment spike.
Greece is currently in the midst of its third bailout
program - the current three-year program expires in
the summer of 2018 and could be worth up to 86 bil-
lion euros ($95 billion) in total. In return for the money,
the government promised to enact a series of austerity
measures as well as economic reforms - its progress is
continually monitored by institutions from the European
Union and the International Monetary Fund.
While the austerity measures has seen Greeces public
finances improve, the draconian spending cuts have seen
poverty rates surge to more than 35%, high in relation to
the EU average under 24%.
Delays in negotiations between Prime Minister Alexis
Tsipras left-wing government and lenders have held up
hopes of a return to growth. Official figures Monday
from the National Statistical Authority showed the Greek
economy shrinking for the second straight quarter dur-
ing the first three months of the year - two consecutive
quarterly declines is the traditional measure of recession.
Greeces GDP shrank by 0.1% on a quarterly basis in the
first quarter, taking the annual rate of decline to 0.5%.
nado surveillance missions over Syria
and refueling flights for partner na-
tions.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said
Turkeys position was unfortunate
and that Germany, while continuing
talks to resolve the issue, would also
search for alternatives to Incirlik, and their relatives had sought politi-
including in Jordan.
A defense ministry spokesman said
Jordan offered the best conditions
after Berlin had also looked at Kuwait
and Cyprus since Turkey first denied
such visits to German MPs for several
months last year.
The spokesman cautioned however
that any move would involve shifting
hundreds of containers of materiel
and would take several months.
Turkey rejected the latest lawmak-
ers visit because of anger over Ger-
nys military missions always require
parliamentary mandates, it is abso-
lutely essential that our lawmakers
there appeared to be no danger for
people living nearby.
are able to visit our soldiers. ****
German media have reported that
over 400 Turkish military personnel, THE HAGUE (AFP) -- India
diplomats, judges and other officials Monday appealed to the UNs top
court to order Pakistan to suspend
cal asylum in Germany.
its planned execution of an Indian
They fear being caught up in Tur- national convicted of spying.
keys crackdown against those Erdo-
In an emergency hearing, law-
gan blames for the coup -- supporters
yers for New Delhi urged the In-
of Fethullah Gulen, a reclusive U.S.-
ternational Court of Justice to
based preacher who has denied the
halt the execution of Kulbhushan
charges against him.
Sudhir Jadhav. Jadhav was ar-
The vast crackdown has heightened
rested in the southwestern prov-
tensions between Turkey and Germa-
ince of Balochistan last year and
ny, which is home to a three-million-
Pakistani officials claim he has
strong ethnic Turkish population, the
confessed to spying for Indian in-
legacy of a massive guest worker
telligence services.
program in the 1960s and 1970s.
 6 May 16, 2017

Iran Bag 5 More Medals at Womens U-23 Volleyball

Islamic Solidarity Games
Ganjzadeh Takes Irans
Fourth Gold
TEHRAN (Dispatches) Sajjad
Ganjzadeh has collected another
gold medal for Iran in the 4th Is-
lamic Solidarity Games.
In Mens Kumite +84kg, Ganjza-
deh defeated Turkeys Enes Erkan
5-3 in the final match.
Bronze medal went to Egyptian
Ahmed Elasfar and Azerbaijans
Asiman Gurbanli.
Narjes Andevari Emamgholine-
jad in the 10-metre air rifle, karate
fighter Nasrin Dousti and judoka
Saeid Mollaei have previously
won two gold medals for Iran.
Irans Mohadeseh Aghaei won
the bronze medal in the Womens
Kumite +68kg after defeating her
Indonesian rival.
Mahsa Afsaneh also seized a
bronze medal after defeating her
Malaysian opponent Celine Lee
5-0 in womens Kata.
Mollaei Wins Gold
And also, Saeid Mollaei claimed
Irans third gold medal at the
event.
Mollaei defeated his Turkish ri-
Neymar Hat-Trick Keeps Spanish Title Race Alive
Neymar scored a hat-trick for Barcelona in a comfortable 4-1 win at Las Palmas.
MADRID (Xinhua) - Neymar has scored a hat-trick for FC Barcelona as the
La Liga leaders won 4-1 in Las Palmas to ensure that the race for the title will go
into the last weekend of the season.
Juventus Waste Chance to Clinch Title With 3-1 Loss at Roma
ROME (Washington Post) Ju-
ventus wasted a chance to clinch a
record sixth straight Serie A title
with a 3-1 loss at rival Roma on
Sunday.
Stephan El Shaarawy put Roma
2-1 ahead early in the second
half with a long, low shot that
was deflected by Juventus full-
back Stephan Lichtsteiner. Radja
Nainggolan added another for the
hosts to hand the Bianconeri their
first league loss since a defeat to
Fiorentina in January.
Mario Lemina was set up by
Gonzalo Higuain to give Juventus
the lead midway through the first
half but Daniele De Rossi equal-
val Ilker Gulduren with an ippon
in the title challenge of the -81kg
weight class.
Uzbekistans Davlat Bobonov
and Vladimir Zoloev from Kyr-
gyzstan won the bronze medal
jointly.
Narjes Andevari Emamgholine-
jad in the 10-metre air rifle and
karate fighter Nasrin Dousti has
previously won two gold medals
for Iran.
Rostamian Wins Silver
at 25m Pistol
Iranian shooter Hanyeh Rosta-
ized for Roma four minutes later.
With two rounds remaining,
Juventus lead over Roma was
reduced to four points. Napoli is
third, one point further back, after
its 5-0 rout of Torino earlier.
You cant always be at your
maximum, Juventus coach Mas-
similiano Allegri said. We just
have to stay as calm as possible
and well achieve our goal.
It was the third straight match
in Serie A that Juventus failed to
win, after draws with Atalanta
and Torino.
Juventus last two matches are
against relegation-threatened
Crotone and Bologna.
Team Routs New Zealand
also, claimed a bronze medal at
the mens 50-meter pistol shooting
at the event.
The Iranian shooter finished in
third place with 200.9 points.
Yusuf Dikec claimed Turkeys
21st gold medal of the Games,
scoring 223.0 points.
Omans Ismail Al Abri won the
silver medal with 220.8 points.
Khanarinejad Takes Ring
Bronze
Hadi Khanarinejad from Iran
claimed a bronze medal in the TEHRAN (Dispatches) - Iran The 2017 Asian Womens U-23
mens ring of the 4th Islamic Soli- thrashed New Zealand at the 2017 Volleyball Championship is a bien-
darity Games in Baku on Monday. Asian Womens U-23 Volleyball nial international volleyball tour-
mian took a silver medal at the The Iranian gymnast won the Championship on Monday. nament organized by the Asian
games. bronze medal by scoring 13.85.
Sima Sedighis girls defeated Volleyball Confederation (AVC)
She lost to Qatari Aldana saad The gold medal went to the Turk-
Ammubarak in the final match of ish participant Ibrahim Colak who New Zealand in straight sets (28- with Thailand Volleyball Associa-
the Womens 25m Pistol. scored 15.25. 26, 25-22, 25-20) in Pool D at the tion (TVA).
I am very happy to win the sil- Bence Talas from Azerbaijan seized Mall Nakhon Ratchasimas MCC The tournament will serve as the
ver medal since it was my first the silver medal with 14.85 points Hall. Asian qualifiers for the 2017 FIVB
international experience. Its an More than 3,000 athletes from 54
important success since three countries of the Islamic Solidarity The Iranian team swept past Ma- Volleyball Womens U-23 World
Olympics athletes took part in the Sports Federation are competing laysian team in straight sets in its Championship held in Ljubljana
event, Rostamian said. in 21 sports at the Games which first match on Sunday. and Maribor, Slovenia with the top
Tunisias Olfa Cherni won the run through May 22. Iran will play Vietnam on Tues- two ranked teams qualifying for
bronze medal in the event. The Baku 2017 Islamic Solidar-
day in Pool F. the world championship.
ity Games started May 8 and will
Ahmadi Wins Bronze
Mohammad Ahmadi from Iran
last until May 22 in Azerbaijans
capital. Nekounam Shortlisted for
Tractor Sazi Hot Seat
Barca remain level on points with Real Madrid, but Madrids 4-1 win at
home to Sevilla means that if they take a point from their visit to Celta Vigo on
Wednesday they will go to the top of the table and be favorites to be crowned
champions next Sunday. Barcelona had an early scare when Lucas Digne was
lucky not to be shown a red card for bringing down Jese Rodriguez when Las
Palmas looked to be clean through on goal, but goals from Neymar and Luis
Suarez in the 25th and 27th minutes put Barca in the driver seat.
Pedro Bigas gave Las Palmas hope in the 63rd minute, but Neymars second
of the game just four minutes later made it 3-1 and his hat-trick with just under
20 minutes remaining sealed the win. Real Madrid also fulfilled their part of
the bargain with a 4-1 win at home to Sevilla. Nacho Fernandez opened the
scoring with a quickly-taken free kick but Sevilla fought back and were un-
lucky to see Stefan Jovetic twice send shots against the woodwork. Cristiano
Ronaldo doubled Madrids lead midway through the first half, but Jovetic then
gave Sevilla (and Barca) hope four minutes after the break. The game was in
the balance for a while before Ronaldo netted his second in the 78th minute
and Tony Kroos rounded off the victory with six minutes remaining.
Javad Nekounam
TEHRAN (Tasnim) Ex- Naft Tehran 1-0 in the final
Irans football team captain Ja- match of the Irans Hazfi Cup.
Since Serie A was founded in Lemina to bang the ball in.
1929, no club has won more than Then De Rossi knocked in a vad Nekounam has been short- Nekounam has been Carlos
five straight titles. close-range rebound from a head- listed to take charge of Tractor Queirozs assistant for a short
Set to face Lazio in the Italian er by Kostas Manolas. Sazi of Tabriz football team. time.
Cup final on Wednesday and Real Juventus goalkeeper Gianlu-
Madrid in the Champions League igi Buffon appeared confused by The Tabriz-based football He is Irans most capped play-
final next month, Juventus is aim- Lichtsteiners deflection when team parted company with er with 151 matches.
ing for a treble. he was beaten by El Shaarawys
Amir Ghalenoei on Friday after Nekounam started his play-
Perhaps with those fixtures in shot, which deflected in off the far
mind, Allegri rested standout post. he failed to meet the clubs ex- ing career in Irans Pas and has
playmaker Paulo Dybala. Nainggolan, who had been a pectations. played for Osasuna seven years.
After a strong start from Roma, questionable starter due to a calf
Juventus fullback Kwadwo Asa- injury, then traded passes with Tractor Sazi finished in third He has also played for the
moah hit the post seven minutes Mohamed Salah before evading place in Iran Professional UAEs clubs Al-Wahda, Al-
into a fast-paced first half. two defenders including for- League (IPL). Sharjah, Irans Esteghlal and
Higuain met a long pass from mer Roma teammate Miralem
Stefano Sturaro at the edge of the Pjanic to beat Buffon inside Under leadership of Ghale- Saipa, Kuwaiti club Al-Kuwait,
goalbox with a volley that enabled the near post. noei, Tractor Sazi also lost to and Qatars Al-Arabi.

Nadal Beats Dominic Thiem to Win Fifth Title

MADRID (Dispatches) - Rafael Nadal has beaten Dominic
Thiem 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 to win his fifth Madrid Open title and move
into the worlds top four.
The Spaniard has now won three straight titles, after his Bar-
celona Open and Monte Carlo Masters victories, while his
record on clay this year is 15-0.
Nadal edged the Austrian in the tie-break of a tense first set
that lasted one hour and 18 minutes.
He broke world number seven Thiem early in the second set
to set up the win.
Nadal will be confirmed as the new world number four, re-
placing 18-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, when
the new rankings come out on Monday.
That will improve his seeding for the French Open, which
starts on 22 May and where Nadal is a nine-time champion.
Nadal, who beat defending champion Novak Djokovic in the
Rafael Nadal is a 14-time Grand Slam champion
semi-final, has now won his 30th ATP World Tour Masters
1000 title, tying the all-time record with Serbias Djokovic.
The former world number one was last inside the worlds
top four in October 2016 and struggled with a wrist injury last
year, which forced him to pull out of the French Open and
Wimbledon and end his season early.
Nadal told Television Espanola: The truth is I was up
against an opponent who, in the next five to 10 years, will be
fighting for the most important titles, so Im very happy to
have won.
It was a very exciting game.
It was a very important final for both of us, for him as it
was the first in the Masters 1000, and for me its always spe-
cial to play here in Madrid, in this unique tournament.
You never know when it might be the last, so I always try
to enjoy it.
 MIDDLE EAST May 16, 2017 7

Syria ...
U.S. Plan to Arm Kurdish (Continued From Page One)
Many of those killed were civilians from other areas controlled by

Militants Casts Shadow Over

Daesh, including Dayr al-Zawr, Raqqa and neighboring Iraq, according
to the monitor.
They hit a residential area at 3am while people were sleeping, causing

Trump-Erdogan Talks
ANKARA (Dispatches)
Angered by a U.S. decision to arm
Kurdish YPG militants in Syria,
Turkeys President Tayyip Erdogan
heads to Washington this week for
talks with Donald Trump seeking
either to change the presidents mind
or to sort things out ourselves.
Trumps approval of plans to
supply the YPG as it advances
toward the Daesh stronghold of
Raqqa, just days before his first
meeting with Erdogan, has cast a
shadow over Tuesdays planned
talks between the two NATO allies.
Ankara, a crucial partner in
the U.S.-led coalition allegedly
against Daesh, considers the YPG
an extension of the Kurdistan
Workers Party (PKK), which has
waged an insurgency in Turkeys
mainly Kurdish southeast for
three decades and is designated
a terrorist group by Turkey, the
European Union and United
States.
Washington sees the YPG as
distinct from the PKK and as
a valuable partner in the fight
against Daesh.
If we are strategic allies we must
take decisions as an alliance. If the
alliance is to be overshadowed
well have to sort things out for
ourselves, Erdogan told reporters
on Sunday, according to the pro-
Zionist Troops Shoot Dead Palestinian Fisherman Off Gaza
GAZA STRIP (Dispatches) A
young Palestinian man has been
shot dead after Zionist naval forces
opened fire on several Palestinian
fishing boats off the northern coast
of the besieged Gaza Strip.
Head of the Palestinian
Fishermens Union Nizar Ayyash
said on Monday that the assault
occurred overnight, when Zionist
troops detained four crewmen of
a single boat, including a critically
wounded fisherman who has
been identified as 28-year-old
Mohammed Majed Bakr.
Bakr, however, succumbed to his
injuries in an Israeli hospital later
in the day.
Zionist naval forces also arrested
two other crewmen of another boat
before impounding both fishing
boats.
The occupying regime regularly
shoots and detains Gazan fishermen
over allegations of crossing the
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the Roundtable Summit Phase One Sessions of Belt and
Road Forum at the International Conference Center in Yanqi Lake on May 15, 2017 in Beijing, China.
government Sabah newspaper.
Erdogan was speaking during a
visit to China, ahead of his trip to
Washington for his first meeting
with Trump.
Turkey had hoped that Trumps
inauguration would mark a new
chapter in ties with Washington
after long-running tensions with
the Obama administration over
Palestinian fishermen fix nets on a boat as they start fishing off the
coast of the Gaza Strip on April 3, 2016.
designated fishing zone, which is
practically three nautical miles.
Under a ceasefire agreement
reached between the Zionist
regime and Palestinians following
Syria policy and Ankaras demands
for the extradition of U.S.-based
Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.
Erdogan blames Gulen supporters
for a failed coup attempt last July
and has conducted a large-scale
crackdown on them, drawing
criticism from Washington. Gulen,
who has denied involvement in the
coup, remains in the United States.
the deadly Israeli war in August
2014, Tel Aviv agreed to
immediately expand the fishing
zone off Gazas coast, allowing
Palestinian fishermen to sail as far
against Daesh militants in Raqqa and Abu Kamal on May 14.
Erdogan welcomed Trumps
election victory last November
and said he hoped it would lead to
beneficial steps in the Middle
East. When Erdogan narrowly
won sweeping new powers in
an April referendum, Trump
rang to congratulate him, unlike
European politicians who expressed
reservations about the vote.
as six nautical miles off the shore.
The agreement also stipulated that
the regime would expand the area
gradually up to 12 miles.
Palestinian fishermen, however,
say the Israeli navy opens fire on
them before they reach the agreed
limit. About 4,000 fishermen work
in Gaza, half of whom live below
the poverty line.
Since the beginning of the
current year, Zionist troops have
confiscated five fishing boats,
arrested 14 Palestinian fishermen,
shot and injured five, of whom one
was fatally wounded, according
to al-Mezan Center for Human
Rights.
Last year, 135 fishermen were
arrested, 26 were wounded by
direct Israeli gunfire and 43 boasts
were impounded. The repeated
assaults damage or destroy a large
amount of fishing equipment of the
Palestinians every year.
the high toll, said the monitors director, Rami Abdel Rahman.
He added that Daesh was using some builidings in the target area as
local headquarters.
The deaths came after another attack by the U.S. in Raqqa province
on Sunday that killed 12 women, the monitor said. It said the afternoon
attack hit vehicles carrying farmworkers coming home from fields in the
east of the province.
The monitor said it believed this strike had also been carried out by
the U.S. The Central Command admitted that it had conducted strikes
The statement, however, did not mention the number of militants and
civilians killed by the airstrikes.
The U.S. military said in May that its strikes in Syria and Iraq had
unintentionally killed 352 civilians since it launched operations in
2014. Human rights groups, however, say that the death toll is much
higher.
Awamiyah ...
(Continued From Page One)
Ive seen some videos of people collecting the rubbish inside
Awamiyah, he said. The cleaners are not allowed to go there to
collect the rubbish, neither are the firefighters allowed to do the job of
extinguishing fires wherever it happens, neither are ambulances allowed
to enter Awamiyah.
Its really hard for people and you can imagine these army vehicles,
they would open fire like 24 hours. People cant sleep. You have these
vehicles going back to where they come and then you have new ones
come to replace these soldiers.
The planned renovation of the historic 400-year old Almosara district
has been highly controversial. In April, the United Nations called on the
Saudi government to halt the project, warning that it threatened the
historical and cultural heritage of the town with irreparable harm.
Residents have been pressured in many ways, including through
power cuts, to vacate their homes and businesses without adequate
alternative resettlement options, leaving them at best with insufficient
compensation and at worst, with nowhere to go, said the UN Special
rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Leilani Farha.
Awamiyah was also the home of Nimr al-Nimr, a Shia cleric executed
in January last year, leading to massive protests internationally.
Nimr was a driving force behind protests by Shia that began in 2011
and developed into a call for equality in the kingdom.
Since then, scores of activists have been arrested or killed, sometimes
due to torture and execution.
Ameen Nemer said the spiraling violence in the town stemmed from
the governments harsh response to calls for reform.
I believe the government has, from the beginning in 2011, dealt with
the demands in a military way, in a police way, thats why the thing has
turned into chaos, he said.
He also criticized the Saudi obsession with seeing an Iranian hand
behind any unrest in the country and accused them of punishing the
countrys Shias in order to press a proxy war with Iran.

Yemeni Sharpshooters Kill 2 Saudi Soldiers in Jizan
SANAA (Dispatches) Yemeni
snipers have killed two Saudi
troopers in the kingdoms southern
region of Jizan in another retaliatory
attack against Riyadhs full-scale
war on the impoverished nation.
Yemens Arabic-language al-
Masirah television network carried
the report, saying the first soldier
was killed in ambushes by the
Yemeni army sharpshooters in
the Faridhah military base and
the second trooper was fatally
wounded in Dafiniah village later
in the day.
A report by Reuters published in
April last year said that at least 400
Saudi soldiers had been killed in
the cross-border fire since the start
of the war in March 2015.
In early April, Arabic-language
Yemen Watch news agency
reported that nearly 120 Saudi
troopers had been killed in dozens
of sniper operations carried out
by Yemeni army soldiers, backed
by fighters from allied Popular
Committees. It added that most of
the operations had been conducted
in Jizan, where a total of 74 Saudi
soldiers lost their lives in 22
encounters.
In early May, al-Masirah reported
that Yemeni sharpshooters had
managed to fatally injure as many
as 64 Saudi troops in April alone.
The Riyadh regime has maintained
a policy of ambiguity regarding its
casualties in the war on Yemen.
Senior military officials have said
that they would not release such
information until after the war.
Meanwhile, Yemens official
Saba news agency, citing an
unnamed military official, said
that a unit of Yemeni forces
had attacked a military vehicle
belonging to the Saudi mercenaries
near the al-Khanjar military base
in the northern province of Jawf,
destroying the vehicle and killing
all its crew members.
Other reports also maintained that
Yemeni forces launched an artillery
attack against several Saudi
mercenaries gatherings in different
localities of the kingdoms Asir
region, killing a number of them.
Over the past two years, Yemen
has been heavily bombarded by
Saudi warplanes as part of a brutal
campaign against the impoverished
country in an attempt to crush
the popular Houthi Ansarullah
movement and reinstall the former
president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur
Hadi.
Nearly 3.3 million Yemeni
people, including 2.1 million
children, are currently suffering
from acute malnutrition.
The military campaign, which has
claimed over 12,000 civilian lives,
has fallen short of its stated aims,
including obliterating the Houthi
movement.
Iran ...
(Continued From Page 2)
Qassemi said President Hassan Rouhani, who is seeking re-election,
also plans to have the non-nuclear sanctions against the country lifted.
We will try to remove these sanctions, which have certain
complications, he said, without explanation.
Some of these issues are related to the U.S., and some to other
countries, Qassemi said, urging the other side to reciprocate Irans
goodwill and fairness.
The spokesman further described an ongoing mass hunger strike by
Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails as indicative of their resistance
against Israeli aggression.
He also said in the absence of diplomatic ties with Iran, Canada has
been urged through the United Nations to allow Iranian expatriates to
vote in the Islamic Republics presidential election on May 19.
Qassemi put the Canadian governments lack of cooperation down to
its domestic problems.
 Cholera Strikes Yemens Sanaa; State of
Emergency Called
SANAA (Reuters) Cholera has killed at least 115 people in the Yemeni capital
Sanaa, the local Saba news agency said, after authorities declared a state of
emergency over the outbreak and called for international help to avert disaster.
More than 10,000 people have been killed and millions displaced in more than
two years of war waged by Saudi Arabia, which has also destroyed much of the
countrys infrastructure.
VOL NO: LV 10322 TEHRAN / Est.1959
Barghouti Warns Against
Zionist Talks
Palestinian women wave their national flags with a picture of jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti during
a protest to show their solidarity with hunger striking prisoners in the Zionist regimes jails, in Beirut,
Lebanon, on May 4, 2017.
WEST BANK (Dispatches)
Former Fatah leader Marwan
Barghouti has warned against the
resumption of talks with the Zionist
regime afterPalestinian Authority
chief Mahmoud Abbas met U.S.
leaders in Washington.
The jailed Fatah leader met his
lawyer Khader Shkirat on Sunday
for the first time since he began his
hunger strike about a month ago and
delivered him a letter later published
in the media.
In the letter obtained by Lebanons
al-Mayadeen TV, Barghoutiwarned
UN Restarts Syria Talks With Fresh Format
DAMASCUS (Dispatches)
Syria talks in Geneva this week
should prosper from a tighter
format and a recent deal to reduce
the violence, UN mediator Staffan
de Mistura said on Monday.
Previous rounds of talks have
produced agreement that the
warring sides will discuss a four-
part agenda, but no progress has yet
been made on any topic.
Under pressure from international
backers, the two sides have agreed
to discuss a new constitution,
reformed governance, new elections
and the fight against terrorism, but
they differ sharply over what those
agenda items mean.
UN Urges $1.4 bn in Donation for South Sudanese Refugees
NEW YORK (Dispatches)
The United Nations has urged
donor countries to raise their
contributions to South Sudanese
refugees, saying some USD 1.4
billion would be needed to help
people out of famine inside and
outside the war-torn country.
World Food Programme
Executive Director David
Beasley said in a statement on
Monday that the situation of
refugees in South Sudan and in
against the resumption of the so-
called peace talks between the Zionist
regime and Palestinians based on the
same principles that have proven
unsuccessful in the past.
The last round of the talks collapsed
in April 2014, with Israelisettlements
cited among major reasons behind the
failure. Settlements are considered
illegal under international law as
they are built on occupied Palestinian
lands.
Barghoutis remarks came
afterU.S. President Donald Trump
discussed ways to resume the
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad,
backed by Russia and Iran, is keen
on discussing terrorism, a term
he uses broadly to describe all
adversaries. Opposition negotiators
have demanded Assads removal,
something his backers think is
fanciful in the face of his recent
military advances in the war, now
in its seventh year.
Last week Assad told Belarusian
TV channel ONT that the Geneva
talks were merely a meeting for
the media and there had been
nothing substantial in all the
Geneva meetings.
De Mistura countered that Assads
negotiator Bashar al-Jaafari had
other countries was very dire,
adding that people were close to
the abyss.
The suffering of the South
Sudanese people is just
unimaginable, said Beasley,
adding, These are families like
yours and mine, our brothers and
sisters, and the world must help
them now -- not later.
Beasley, who was appointed
WFP chief in March, said that
shortages of cash had forced the
Palestinian-Zionist political process
during ameeting with Abbas atthe
White House earlier this month.
Barghouti also urged Fatah and
the Palestinian resistance movement
Hamas to enter into a national
reconciliation agreement.
He called on Palestinians to carry
out acts of civil disobedience to
commemorate the Nakba Day, which
marks the anniversary of forcible
eviction of hundreds of thousands of
Palestinians from their homeland in
1948.
The Day of Catastrophe is officially
arrived in Geneva with an 18-strong
negotiating delegation empowered
for serious discussions. He denied
the UN was being used as a
diplomatic smokescreen for more
war.
If being a mediator and trying
to find common points (means)
being used, I would accept that.
The alternative is no discussion,
no hope, no political horizon, just
waiting for facts on the ground
to take place, de Mistura told
reporters.
Facts on the ground - UN
jargon meaning war - will not
produce a political solution to the
intractable conflict which all sides
UN body to decrease its aid to
famine-stricken refugees, who
have escaped poverty and war in
South Sudan.
Our funding situation forced
us to cut food rations for many
refugees in Uganda, Beasley
said in a briefing with reporters in
Geneva.
A civil war that broke out
in South Sudan in December
2013 has left nearly two million
people internally displaced, while
Tuesday, May 16, 2017, Ordibehesht 26, 1396, Shaban 19, 1438
marked every year on May 15, but
the occasion this year coincides with
a hunger strike being observed by
more than 1,600 Palestinian prisoners
in the occupying regimes jails.
Barghouti, the leader of the
Palestinian prisoners hunger strike
in Israeli prisons,vowed to continue
the protest action till they achieve
their goals.
I promise to you and to all the
prisoners that we are continuing the
empty stomach campaign and the
campaign for freedom and dignity
until we achieve our objectives,
and that nothing will break the will
or determination of the prisoners
despite the assault on them and the
oppression they are coping with,
Barghouti wrote.
He added, I stress that all efforts
at blackmail and tough moves
will only increase the prisoners
determination.
Barghoutis lawyer said that his
client had lost 13 kilograms (28
pounds) since beginning the hunger
strike, adding he would escalate the
protest and stop drinking water.
Shkirat further said the jailed leader
denied the authenticity of a video
prepared by the Zionist regimes
prisons authority last week, which
purportedly showed Barghouti taking
food in his cell.
The Palestinian prisoners entered
the 29th day of their hunger strike in
Israeli jails on Monday, amid reports
that many of themare in critical
conditions.
had committed, he said. He said
the United States was increasingly
engaged and interested in the
process, and he hinted at high-level
diplomacy going on behind the
scenes.
Everything is connected. There
are big important meetings taking
place, that will be taking place.
There are discussions taking place
in capitals. They do have an impact
on what we discuss. But I am not
going to elaborate now.
The Geneva round of talks comes
on the heels of a deal by Russia,
Turkey and Iran to arrange and
monitor de-escalation zones in
Syria to ease the fighting.
around two million others have
sought refuge in Uganda, Sudan,
Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and the
Central African Republic.
South Sudan, the worlds
youngest nation which split from
the north in 2011, has declared
famine in some areas, warning
that one million people are on the
brink of starvation.
The WFP and the UN refugee
agency had initially requested
Thought for Today
Tongue is a beast, if it is let loose, it devours.
Iraqi Forces
Close In on Daesh
Stronghold in Mosul
A member of Federal police looks at the positions of Daesh terrorists
during clashes in western Mosul, Iraq, May 15, 2017.
BAGHDAD (Dispatches)
Iraqi forces pressed an advance
on neighborhoods under Daesh
control in Mosul on Monday as
they seek to dislodge the terrorists
entrenched in a central mosque
before the holy month of Ramadan.
Seven months into the campaign
to recapture Mosul, the terrorists
are besieged in its northwestern
corner, home to the historic Old
City center and the medieval Grand
al-Nuri Mosque, where their black
flag has been flying since June
2014.
If we advance this quickly
we can finish it in days, First
Lieutenant Nawfal al-Dhari told
Reuters at a house turned into a
temporary base in the western Islah
al-Ziraie district, retaken by Iraqi
forces three days ago.
These are the dying breaths.
They are completely surrounded.
He said the momentum was with
Iraqs elite Counter Terrorism
Service (CTS) despite continued
resistance from Daesh terrorists in
the groups last bastion in Iraq.
If you trap a cat in a room, it will
scratch, he said.
Military commanders and
intelligence officials say they
aim to take control of the mosque
before Ramadan starts at the end
of this month even if there are still
pockets under militant control.
Our advance on a vast front
has stunned the enemy and, God
willing, we will achieve victory
before Ramadan and announce the
liberation of Mosul and people of
USD 1.2 billion in donation, but
they said later that the amount
would not be enough.
The UN said recently that the
number of people who fled to
Sudan in March had surpassed
the expected figure for the entire
year, noting that about 375,000
South Sudanese refugees were
now in Sudan.
Uganda is hosting the largest
number of refugees from South
Sudan, with an estimated 900,000
Amir al-Momeneen Ali (AS)
Mosul from dirtiness of Daesh,
Lieutenant General Othman al-
Ghanmi, chief of staff, said in a
video distributed by the Defense
Ministry.
He was speaking on a visit to
the frontlines in western Mosul.
Ramadan is expected to start on
May 27.
The mosque, where Daesh leader
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared
a caliphate spanning swathes
of Syria and Iraq in 2014, has
symbolic and strategic value for
Daesh, officials say.
They hope its capture will deal a
painful blow to fighter morale and
bring an end to resistance in the
city.
The more they are besieged
the harder they fight. They have
nowhere to go, soldier Faris Sallal
said at another house in the Islah al-
Ziraie district, where intermittent
gunfire and the occasional boom of
artillery echoed.
Flies swarmed over the charred
remains of a Daesh terrorist lying
near a motorbike on a street in the
district. Parked in the garage of
another house on the same street
was an armor-plated car which had
been rigged with a bomb.
In the nearby Ureibi district,
which is partially controlled by
Iraqi forces, a Reuters reporter saw
thebloodied corpse of a Daesh
sniper in a childrens room on the
upper floor of a house. Iraqi forces,
now using the house as an outpost,
said the sniper had been targeting
advancing Iraqi troops.
people now living in camps there.
Sudan and Ethiopia are next, with
each hosting around 375,000
refugees.
Beasley also lamented that donor
nations had become increasingly
distracted from emergencies like
South Sudan.
Weve got to break through
all of the smoke Beasley said,
adding, People arent receiving
the normal information they
receive on international crises.