In continuation of releasing the Iraqi POWs, the last group of the Iraqi POWs remaining in Iran including 728 people retuned to their country on August 9, 2000. This was the last group of the Iraqi POWs who left Iran while stressing that no Iraqi POWs was detained now by Iran. The Iraqi POWs were released by Iran unilaterally under an agreement with the international committee of the red cross. Thus no Iraqi POW was detained now by Iran. Meanwhile, there is no exact statistics on the number of remaining Iranian POWs in Iraq but the documents offered by Iran indicate that at least 3,000 Iranian POWs are still held in Iraq. Baghdad, due to different reasons, is not ready to settle the issue of POWs and instead puts obstacles in the way of releasing the POWs in one way or the other.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has in the past years unilaterally released Iraqi POWs to show its good will and now it is Iraq's turn to reciprocate by releasing Iranian POWs. Although Iraq has launched a negative propaganda campaign to overshadow Iran's unilateral release of 728 Iraqi POWs and claims that Iran is still holding 29,000 Iraqi POWs, the international organizations including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) should exert pressure on Iraq to release Iranian POWs.
It is to be noted that Iraqi government do not accept the number of those Iraqis who, in their interview with the ICRC, have expressed their unwillingness to return home. More than 9,000 Iraqi POWs have sought asylum, and the ICRC has confirmed that during the past three years 7,307 of them have expressed their unwillingness to return home.  

Joint Ownership of Caspian Sea Resources Is Iran's Priority 

In a meeting with Russian president's special envoy for Caspian Sea affairs on Tuesday, Iranian foreign minister Dr.Kamal Kharrazi said that Iran prioritizes joint ownership of Caspian Sea resources. He added, "In order to speed up solution to the issue, Iran is ready to accept a complete division of the Caspian Sea with Iran having a 20 percent share." Iranian foreign minister said, "Iran prefers joint ownership of Caspian Sea resources as called for in the 1921 and 1940 accords".
He reiterated, "The spirit of the accords points to shared exploitation of the sea resources, and completing the Caspian Sea legal regime is a basis of future activities in the area." Dr. Kharrazi pointed out, "Iran, has from the beginning,
introduced a proposal to set up an organization, comprising five littoral countries, mandated to deal with the economic, fisheries, shipping, environment, energy and security issues, adding, "We still support the proposal today". He said, "The five countries are neighbors and can coexist respecting justice and equity. Hopefully, the meeting of the deputy foreign ministers of the Caspian Sea littoral states, to be held in Tehran following the millennium summit, will agree on constructive accords".

Iran Holds Iraq Responsible For MKO Terrorist Acts 

The spokesman of Iran's foreign ministry Dr. Hamidreza Assefi said here Wednesday that the Islamic Republic of Iran held the Iraqi government responsible for the terrorist acts committed by terrorist Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO)in Iran. 
He reiterated, "The government of Iraq backs the MKO in its terrorist moves, and preparing the ground for the sabotage activities of this grouplet in the soil of the Islamic Republic of Iran, completely runs counter to the principle of good-neighborliness". 
Dr. assefi underlined that the government of Iraq had to bear all consequences of the MKO terrorist acts in Iran.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman: As Long As Those Responsible for the Crime in Mazar-e-Sharif Have Not Been Punished Tehran Will Not Change Its Position

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Dr. Hamidreza Assefi said, "As long as Taliban has not identified and punished those responsible for the martyrdom of Iranian diplomats and a reporter in Mazr-e-Sharif they should not expect the Islamic Republic of Iran to change its stand.
Although some representatives of Taliban have expressed several times their readiness to identify and punish the invaders to Iran's consulate general , regrettably the group has so far taken no serious measure.
He underlined that Iran would seriously and firmly follow up the issue through the UN and other channels, and once again on Sunday in a letter to the UN Secretary General Iranian foreign minister Dr. Kamal Kharrazi called on him to follow up the issue.
Dr. Assefi said, "Foreign ministry understands the feelings and sentiments of the honourable families of the martyrs".
Commenting on the statements of the family of Iranian diplomat Majid Nouri that he is still alive Dr. Assefi said unfortunately, the existing evidences did not indicate such a thing. Meanwhile he added, "If it comes true we certianly share their happiness, and if we have access to any effective information we will inform Nouri's family at the shortest possible time".
Commenting on the presence of Iranian diplomats in Harat Dr. Assefi said, "Their mission there is to check Iran's properties as well as review and settle border issues".
He added, "In addition to its embassy in Kabul, Iran had consulates in a number of other Afghan cities including Mazar-e- Sharif and Jalal Abad which are presently closed down".
On Iran's initiatives for ending the crisis in Afghanistan, he said that in the light of Iran's efforts and in cooperation with the UN already a number of Afghan groups had negotiated with each other. Dr. Assefi expressed hope that the conflicting groups would respect their pledges to each other in those talks.
He added that Taliban should accept that war would not lead to the solution of crisis and establishment of peace in Afghanistan.

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Dr. Kharrazi: Holy Qods, an Islamic Ideal Belonging to All Muslims

In a meeting on August 10 with chairman of Palestine authority Yasser Arafat, Iranian foreign minister Dr. Kamal Kharrazi said, "The holy Qods is an Islamic cause belonging to all Muslims, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) will never let any deal to be made over the holy Qods. Any desecration of holy Qods will provoke the Muslim world". The Iranian foreign minister said, "The Muslim world possesses large-extent resources to support the Palestinian cause and self-reliance and self-confidence are needed to utilize the resources of the Muslim world to liberate holy Qods. He said the nation of Palestine, the popular support and the support offered by the Muslim nations are determining factors and that the enemies cannot stand against the Muslim nations' resolve". Kharrazi elaborated on the measures taken by the chairman Dr. Kharrazi elaborated on the measures taken by the chairman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in support of Palestine and the holy Qods He said, "President Khatami has dispatched a delegation to Muslim states", adding, "the OIC chairman expects the organization to play an effective role in connection with Palestine and the holy Qods. It is to be noted that in his one-day visit to Iran Arafat met with President Khatami, chairman of national expediency council Hashemi Rafsanjani and foreign minister Kamal Kharrazi, and briefed them on the latest developments in Palestine and Camp David II peace talks. In the meetings, both sides underlined the need for Muslim countries to further support the cause of Palestine and holy Qods in particular.
Praising the measures taken by the chairman of the OIC to activate the world of Islam in support of the cause of Palestine and holy Qods, Arafat said the Islamic Republic of Iran wields great power in the world of Islam.

Iranian and Venezuelan Presidents Hold Talks

In the course of official talks held on August 10 between the Iranian and Venezuelan presidents the ways to boost bilateral ties, especially mutual cooperation in the field of oil were discussed. Stressing the need for further cooperation in the field of oil, President Khatami said that OPEC should not be only engaged in the issue of oil price but the organization, as an international and powerful body, would rather have an impact on world economy. terming the upcoming OPEC summit in Caracas as a turning point in the history of the organization, president Khatami expressed the hope that the organization in cooperation with non-OPEC oil producing countries would be successful in defending of the rights of both oil producing and consuming countries and establishing the oil market. He reiterated," We should try to achieve a balance between the price of oil and the price of goods made form oil". 
In a joint press conference with Venezuelan President, Mr. Khatami praised the efforts made by President Chavez to bring stability to international oil market and defend the rights of both oil producing and consuming countries. President Khatami also termed attempts by the the Venezuelan president including the hosting of the September OPEC summit meeting in Caracas as an important step towards consolidating the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
While defending the viewpoints of Venezuelan President, the chairman of the OIC said, " OPEC should play a more active role, and its member states should further strengthen their cooperation". It is to be noted that during Venezuelan president's visit to Iran the two countries signed two memoranda of understanding to cooperate in the fight against narcotics and hallucinogenic drugs and to remove political and service visa requirement between the two countries.
At the end of president Hugo Chavez's visit to Tehran Iran and Venezuela issued a joint communiqué stressing the need for strengthening and promoting bilateral cooperation.

Iran, Greece and Armenia Sign a Memorandum of Understanding

Multilateral cooperation as part of regional and international cooperation aims to promote political and economic ties to utilize joint fields of cooperation to achieve common interests. Trilateral cooperation among Iran and a number of neighboring countries is complementary to bilateral ties, and as it has been repeatedly said it does not mean to be against any other country in or outside the region. To this end the fourth session of the coordinating committee on trilateral cooperation opened in Tehran on July 17, 2000. A review of the activities of the six technical committees and the preparation of a plan of action for the forthcoming foreign ministerial meeting of the three countries slated on November in Athens were on the agenda of the Tehran session. Iran, Greece and Armenia signed a letter of understanding at the end of the coordinating committee's one-day session on trilateral cooperation. Iran, Greece and Armenia have already held numerous meetings at ministerial, deputy ministerial and expert level, and signed several memoranda of understanding.
The idea of the trilateral cooperation was first proposed by the Greek ambassador to Tehran in 1995, and the first session on trilateral cooperation was held at foreign ministerial level in Athens in 1997 which led to the signing of an MoU on trilateral cooperation. The three previous sessions of the coordinating committees for cooperation were held in Tehran, Yerevan and Athens respectively.

Iran and Qatar Sign Several Cooperation Agreements

Thanks to historical ties as well as Iranian nationals presence in Qatar, the relations between Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Iran have been seriously and willingly followed.  Signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding in economic, educational, trade and cultural fields, Qatari Emir's participation in the OIC summit meeting in Tehran in 1997, President Khatami's official visit to Qatar in 1999 and the recent visit to Tehran in general indicate the positive assessment of the ties between the two countries.
During the Qatari Emir's two-day visit, bilateral and international developments, particularly cooperation within the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) were discussed. While in Tehran Qatari Emir was received by the supreme leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei and President Khatami. In a meeting with the Emir of Qatar the supreme leader expressed pleasure with the good neighborly relations between Iran and Qatar, and said the current level of Tehran-Doha relations was due to the wisdom of the Qatari government and Iran's policy to develop relations with the neighboring Muslim states.
Referring to efforts made by some western countries especially the US to sow the seeds of discord among regional countries to secure their own interests the leader stressed, "the US merely endeavors to safeguard the Zionist regime and support it. In Washington's view Muslim and Arab states are of secondary importance."
The supreme leader said the regional states should reinforce relations with each other regardless of the interests of external powers. political observers believe with the official visit to Iran by Qatari Emir the ties between the two countries have entered a more dynamic and fresh phase. The visit, made at a sensitive juncture in terms of major regional and international developments, on the one hand played a special role in strengthening Iran-Qatar ties, and in furthering Iran's relations
with Arab states in the region on the other hand. It is to be said that at the end of the visit to Iran by the Qatari Emir six agreements on cooperation were discussed.

Iran and South Korea Sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Posts and Telecommunications

At the end of the fourth meeting of Iran-South Korea joint committee on posts and telecommunications in Seoul the two countries agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding to promote cooperation on telecommunications.
Under the MoU, signed by the Iranian deputy minister for international affairs of the ministry of posts, telegraph and telephones, Dr. Tabeshian, and the Korean minister of information and telecommunications Kim Dong Sun, the two sides agreed on joint investment in research and technological affairs. Exchange of new telecommunications technology in the field of software and hardware, training of manpower and exchange of experts are among other items in the MoU.
the two sides also agreed on designation of Iran as a strategic and pivotal telecommunications point in the Middle East and central Asia.

Iran, Sri Lanka Sign MoU on Cultural Cooperation

At the end of the sixth session of Iran-Sri Lanka economic cooperation commission two memoranda of understanding on avoiding double taxation, and on supporting and encouraging foreign investment.
An MoU on cultural cooperation was also signed by the Sri Lankan side of the commission and Iranian minister of culture and Islamic guidance.  Iranian and Georgian Foreign Ministers Hold Talks in Tehran In their talks in Tehran, Iranian and Georgian foreign ministers underlined further expansion of bilateral ties in political and cultural fields, and promotion of cooperation and consultations between the two countries in regional and international arenas. In the meeting, Iranian foreign minister Dr. Kamal Kharrazi said, " Deep cultural and historical commonalities between Iran and Georgia require further expansion of cultural, diplomatic, economic and regional ties between the two countries". Referring to the exchange of economic delegations and holding of Iran's economic exhibitions in Georgia Dr. Kharrazi called the convention of the upcoming Iran-Georgia joint economic commission in Tbilisi as a good opportunity for developing more comprehensive economic cooperation. He added, "Iran enjoys high economic potentials, and Iranian companies are ready to cooperate in the construction of dams, cement plants and oil and gas refineries in Georgia". Stressing the importance of south-north connecting pivot Dr. Kharrazi said that Iranian companies were ready to participate in Georgia's road construction projects.

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