Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has underlined the importance of Iraq’s national unity, offering support for any attempt that would promote security and stability in the war-ravaged state. According to Press TV, during a meeting with Muqtada as-Sadr in Damascus on Monday evening, Assad highlighted that Damascus deemed it critical for Baghdad to create a positive political climate of national reconciliation.
He also underlined Syria’s backing of any well-intentioned effort aimed at consolidating national unity in neighboring Iraq.
For his part, Sadr expressed high appreciation over Syria’s supportive stance regarding the interests of the Iraqi nation and its all-out efforts to preserve the country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Daily Archives: July 21, 2009
Official Brazilian attacking Lieberman prior to his visit Brazil
JERUSALEM (AFP) – – Description of a high-ranking Brazilian official told the Ha’aretz Tuesday, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who will pay an official visit to Brazil as a “fascist.”
Bumar said Walter, secretary of international relations in the ruling Workers Party newspaper, “said Lieberman, a fascist and racist.”
“The Brazilian left will demonstrations of protest against him and against the policy, which is represented.” The paper also quoted a Brazilian Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed that “Bumar does not represent the position of the government.”
The spokesman said that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will meet Tuesday to Lieberman.
The visit is for Lieberman to Brazil as part of a ten-day tour in South America in an effort to address the Iranian influence in the region, according to a statement of Foreign Affairs of Israel.
Lieberman, chairman of the party and the extreme right-wing “Israel Our Home” and the third political force in Israel (15 deputies), set up his campaign in the elections of February to question the loyalty of Israeli Arabs, and adopted a strict attitude towards the Palestinians and the Syrians.
Preparations for Afghan polls in full swing: UN
UNITED NATIONS, July 21 (APP): With one month to go until Afghans elect the next leader, the U.N. said today that preparations are in full swing and that no effort will be spared to ensure security, the biggest challenge for the elections. “There will be no let up on behalf of the international community in underlining the importance of security over the coming weeks so every Afghan who has the constitutional and democratic right to vote is provided with that opportunity on polling day,” Aleem Siddique, spokesperson for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), told a news conference in Kabul, a transcript of which was issued at UN Headquarters in New York.
“Security is imperative for the forthcoming elections,” he added. “Voters must have confidence that they can vote without fear, without intimidation and in safety.”
Forty-one presidential candidates, including President Hamid Karzai, are running for Afghanistan’s top post while more than 3,000 Afghans are competing for provincial council seats during the 20 August elections, which are being organized by the Afghan Independent Election Commission (IEC). Two women are among the presidential candidates.
Last week the Security Council welcomed the Afghan-led preparations for next month’s presidential and provincial council elections, which are taking place during what has been the bloodiest year since the fall of the Taliban.
It also stressed the importance of “free, fair, transparent, credible, secure, and inclusive” polls.
Logistical preparations are continuing, with thousands of ballot papers arriving in Kabul over the weekend.
“As we speak, 17 million ballot papers are being transported, across the country, to every province, in a safe and secure manner,” he noted, adding, “these are all encouraging signs that bode well for the coming weeks as we approach polling day.”
In addition, more than 1,600 civic educators are briefing voters across the country with an 11-page flip chart detailing the process, while a toll-free elections hotline is taking 30,000 to 40,000 calls a week.
The IEC has also started a massive broadcasting campaign of informational television and radio advertising spots, and is monitoring the media coverage by Afghanistan’s televisions and radio stations.
Hasan Nasrallah:Our Enemies Did Everything Possible to Harm Resistance but Failed'
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah renewed on Monday calls for the nation to embrace the Resistance and the culture of the Resistance, saying that the last few years constituted the most difficult and dangerous phases in which the Resistance’s existence was questionable by some people in the region.
Speaking through a large TV screen during a ceremony held in memory of the head of the Islamic Action Front late Sheikh Fathi Yakan, Sayyed Nasrallah recalled that the past years witnessed the climax of conspiracy against the resistance, pointing out that the battle did not only target its weapons arsenal but reached the level of belittling the culture of resistance and its martyrs.
Sayyed Nasrallah also addressed those who are betting on a sectarian strife in Lebanon saying that “we will not let them take over our national arena.”
His eminence pledged that his party will continue on the path of resistance for the sake of all those who sacrificed their lives. “We are required to work to help the resistance spread to the Muslim world.”
SHEIKH FATHI YAKAN AN ISLAMIC LEADER FROM LEBANON
Sayyed Nasrallah began his speech by paying tribute to the late Sheikh Fathi Yakan, saying that the latter’s favor for the Islamic movement in general and in Lebanon in particular was more than clear. “In Lebanon especially, we cannot speak about an Islamic movement or an Islamic act or an Islamic path or even an Islamic resistance without remembering Sheikh Fathi Yakan as one of the founders, leaders, symbols, intellectuals but also as one of those who educated and taught generations and generations of strugglers, believers and cultivated young people,” Sayyed Nasrallah emphasized.
Sayyed Nasrallah pointed to his personal relation with Sheikh Yakan that actually started following the Israeli war against Lebanon in July 2006. “Personally, I got to know Sheikh Fathi Yakan through his books especially when we were still young and we were searching for an Islamic book that discusses challenges with a contemporary language. However, the direct contact between us took place following the July war against Lebanon. During the war, I watched the press conference during which Sheikh Yakan announced the formation of the Islamic Labor Front and I found in its political line one of the strengths that the Resistance made use of in its historic victory against the Israeli enemy. Following the war, Sheikh Yakan insisted in visiting me despite all circumstances and I even felt ashamed that Sheikh Yakan, with his age and knowledge and status, comes personally to visit me. But his eminence came and a long and intimate meeting joined us in which I figured out the Sheikh’s sensitiveness, love and true passion.”
According to Sayyed Nasrallah, the current phase that Lebanon, in specific, is going through is difficult, complicated and dangerous. “It needs someone with Yakan’s courage, devotion and commitment,” his eminence highlighted.
PAST YEARS WITNESSED CLIMAX OF RESISTANCE AGAINST RESISTANCE
Hezbollah Secretary General then pointed to one of the main characteristics of Sheikh Yakan which is defending the Resistance movements in Lebanon and the region.
His eminence said that the past years witnessed the climax of conspiracy against the resistance. “The battle did not only target its weapons arsenal but reached the level of belittling the culture of resistance and martyrdom,” Sayyed Nasrallah said. “They went on to undermine the Resistance’s culture and describe it as a culture of death and darkness and murder and loss and destruction opposed to a culture they called a culture of life but they included in it the culture of surrender and acceptance of humiliating compromises offered by our enemies.”
Sayyed Nasrallah said that the battle against the Resistance was huge not only in Lebanon but also in the whole Arabi and Islamic region. His eminence noted that the battle took many forms starting from the assassination of Resistance top figures but also took the form of moral assassinations through accusing Resistance movements of working in favor of the outside far from the national interests.
OUR ENEMIES DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO HARM RESISTANCE
Yet, Sayyed Nasrallah spoke with assurance about the future of the Resistance in Lebanon and the region. “I say that our enemies have done all that can be done to harm the resistance and have failed,” his eminence said.
“We got past our enemies most difficult and most dangerous phases,” Sayyed Nasrallah pointed out, telling the late Sheikh Yakan to be assured that his brothers, friends and students will continue their struggle until transforming all his dreams into realities.
Hezbollah Secretary General, meanwhile, tackled news of a new attack being planned for Lebanon as the Israeli tone escalates. “They are speaking of war that will eradicate the resistance from the Lebanese territories,” Sayyed Nasrallah said. His eminence called on the nation to once again embrace the resistance and the culture of resistance.
ISRAEL IS MERELY A US TOOL, FOLLOWER OF US
Sayyed Nasrallah also raised the Palestinian cause, stressing that all Lebanese, Arabs and Muslims should commit to this national, human and Islamic cause. “Palestine is nowadays facing very dangerous challenges,” his eminence said, adding that the so-called compromise wasn’t anymore possible “because what was earlier rejected by the Palestinians wouldn’t be approved at any circumstance.”
Hezbollah Secretary General described the “differences” between the United States and Israel over the settlement as a “spectacle.” His eminence expressed belief that the Israeli enemy was merely a US tool in the Arab and Islamic world. “No one can lie to us and make us wait for the US efforts to achieve peace,” Sayyed Nasrallah stressed, highlighting that the Israeli enemy was a follower of the US administration no matter what the latter seeks to claim.
His eminence also regretted the fact that betting on the Arab and Islamic regimes was also improbable. “The readiness of these official regimes to accept compromises is actually a high one,” Sayyed Nasrallah said. “Just after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for Arab courageous moves, we saw some Arab officials calling for openness to Israeli media and to the so-called Israeli nation.”
UNITED STATES WILL BRING VIOLENCE BACK TO IRAQ
Turning to Iraq, Sayyed Nasrallah praised the real Iraqi resistance, the one that’s fighting sedition, the one that’s fighting occupation forces and safeguards Islamic and national unity.
Sayyed Nasrallah recalled the Iraqi nation, Iraqi government, the whole world and especially those who considered the US withdrawal day as a national festival that the withdrawal was achieved thanks to the Resistance and its sacrifices.
His eminence also pointed out that there were still two challenges in Iraq: the Resistance’s perseverance at one side and the fight of sedition plotted by the Americans at the other.
Sayyed Nasrallah found dangerous a statement delivered a few days ago by US Vice President Joe Biden, who said that “if violence returns to Iraq, then the US administration will free itself from its previous obligations.” According to Hezbollah Secretary General, such statement means that “the United States will bring violence back to Iraq.” His eminence stressed that the Iraqi leaders must assume a higher sense of responsibility to combat strife that takes on several faces.
WE WILL CONTINUE ON THE PATH OF RESISTANCE
Sayyed Nasrallah concluded his speech by reminding that the conflicts that took place in Lebanon during the few last years were political not sectarian.
“I tell all of those who are betting on a sectarian strife in Lebanon that we will not let them take over our national arena,” Sayyed Nasrallah highlighted, renewing calls for national unity to face all dangers and threats surrounding the Lebanese scene.
“We will continue on the path of resistance for the sake of all those who sacrificed their lived. We are required to work to help the resistance spread to the Muslim world.”
AHMADINEJAD: MANKIND PROBLEMS ROOTED IN DIVERGENCE FROM THE PROPHET'S PATH
Islamic Republic of Iran’s President Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad congratulated the anniversary of divine appointment of the Prophet of Islam Mohammad (Peace be upon him and his progeny), while noting that the root cause of mankind’s problems is divergence form the Prophet’s path. According to IRNA, speaking in a meeting of a number of officials and people with the Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Monday on the auspicious occasion of anniversary of divine appointment of Prophet of Islam Mohammad (Peace be upon him and his progeny), President Ahmadinejad underlined that the Iranian nation which is inspired by the Prophet’s tradition will not allow the enemies of mankind to trample upon the rights of human beings.
President Ahmadinejad further referred to June 12 presidential election, noting that holding the freest; most glorious; and unprecedented elections, and selecting of the honorable path of the Islamic Revolution heralds a bright future for the Iranian nation and mankind. 
IR Leader: Elites face a big test
In a meeting with the officials of the Islamic system and a group of people on Monday, the Islamic Revolution Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei regarded the Be’tha of Islam’s Noblest Messenger of Allah Hazrat Mohammad (PBUH) as an important section in the history of mankind. “Today, the main need of the Islamic society is acting according to the message of Be’tha and setting wisdom as a standard, the dominance of ethical virtues and maintaining legal discipline in the society, in which the duty of the elites is very important,” the Leader stressed. Felicitating the Islamic Umma and Iranian nation on the great feast of Mab’ath, Ayatollah Khamenei considered the cultivation of wisdom and underlining rationalism and meditation as the most important part of the Be’tha message. Referring to ethical cultivation as the second part of the Be’tha message, the IR Leader said: “The spread of ethical virtues in society is like pleasant air that paves the way for a healthy life and prevents the human being from greed, ignorance, personal hatred and suspicion against others and it is because of this reason that in Islam, purification and ethical cultivation precedes education.” Considering legal discipline as the third part of the Be’tha message and referring to Islam’s Prophet being pioneer in acting according to Islam’s decrees and orders, Ayatollah Khamenei added: “All of these are an index and a standard for the Islamic society, and the field of life is a scene for testing human beings.” The IR Leader regarded the current dignity of the Iranian nation as the result of prosperity and success in the difficult tests of the past 30 years, stressing: “The Almighty God has rewarded the Iranian people with very great achievements for these successes, and today as well, every one of people is moving and making effort toward Islam’s exalted goals, and the result of that is the feeling of dignity and identity by the Iranian people.” “This issue that the world’s arrogant powers has put confronting the Islamic Republic of Iran as their motto and regard the Islamic system as an obstacle to reaching their inauspicious goals especially in the Middle East region, shows the greatness of Iran’s people, system and government,” he added. The IR Leader considered these achievements as the result of the Iranian people’s movement in the arena of the orders of religion, reminding the role of the elites and the officials as examples for people. “The Iranian people showed in the past 30 years that they are a loyal and forgiving nation and in the recent issues and incidents after the presidential elections too, this characteristic of the Iranian people appeared once again,” said Ayatollah Khamenei. “Among the Iranian people, there are different tastes in the arena of social life, but where people feel that there is the issue of enmity with the system and a hand is managing a movement to harm it, they keep distant from that movement even if it uses the same motto that people believe in,” the Leader added. He regarded the recent incidents as another important experience and lesson for the Iranian people beside the experiences of previous years, stressing: “These incidents bore this experience and lesson that even when a great move is being conducted in complete peace and stability, the enemies’ plot and conspiracy should not be ignored.” “While everybody admitted that the recent elections with 40-million-people turn-out was a unique glory since the beginning of the Revolution and showed the system’s power in bringing people to the scene after the passage of 30 years, however, everybody noticed that in such conditions too, the enemies’ ambush and planning to harm the nation should not be ignored,” Ayatollah Khamenei said. Referring to the claim made by the enemies of the Iranian people that they did not interfere in the country’s internal affairs, the IR Leader added: “While the enemies’ interference especially the role of their media is completely apparent, this claim shows their shamelessness.” Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to his warning against intelligence and propaganda role of arrogant media to block independence of nations and said, “The enemies of the Iranian people, via their media, are giving instructions to the troublemakers to cause disorder, destruction and violence, while at the same insisting they are not interfering in Iranian internal affairs.” The IR Leader urged all to distinguish between rioters and the people and said the arrogant media name the rioters as people to support them while the people are those who express their hate for the rioters’ moves. Pointing to long-term goals of the Iranian nation, the IR Leader said salvation in this world and the Hereafter would be achieved through peace and security. “Depriving the people from security and peace is a great sin.” “Anyone, no matter their rank or title, will be detested by the people if they lead our society towards insecurity,” Ayatollah Khamenei said. “Our elites should be vigilant. Any word or action which helps the enemies will be contrary to the interests of our people,” the IR Leader said. The IR Leader added that all should take care with their words and statements. “The elites should be vigilant because they involve in a great test and not being successful in this test would lead to collapse,” Atollah Khamenei said, adding the sole way for getting rid of such fate is following wisdom. “Wisdom is not political manipulation because it is against wisdom and those who term political manipulation as wisdom and rationality are wrong,” the IR Leader said. Ayatollah Khamenei said the right way of rationality would pave the way for worshiping God and we should judge weather our words would satisfy God or some individuals. So we should no cheat ourselves. The IR Leader urged people to think deeply over the Mab’ath’s message and noted that Mab’ath was a turning point for humanity because the movement which was formed during the 10-year rule of the Noblest Messenger of Allah Hazrat Mohammad (PBUH) made an development in the human history which was not comparable with any move.
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