Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (r) shakes hands with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran, November 19.

TEHRAN, Nov. 19--President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran and Venezuela have reached important and constructive understanding that will help expand relations between the two countries.
Ahmadinejad noted that Tehran and Caracas have extensive programs for pursuing peace and security in the interest of nations, IRNA reported.
“Despite the efforts of arrogant world powers, Tehran and Caracas are expanding their relations,“ he said.
During Chavez’ visit to Tehran on Monday, the two countries signed four agreements, which earlier numbered 186.
These agreements form the basis of consolidating ties between Iran and Venezuela.
Chavez noted that trade balance between Iran and Venezuela amounts to nearly $4.6 billion.
“Of course, we will not speak about dollar in the near future because dollar is being replaced by other major currencies. We should pray to God that dollar’s imperialism will soon collapse,“ he said.
Chavez pointed out that during his meeting with President Ahmadinejad, Iran and Venezuela agreed on establishment of a joint bi-national bank and other countries will also join the club.
Iran and Venezuela on Monday signed four agreements in industrial, energy and banking cooperation.
The agreements, signed at the end of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s one-day visit to Tehran, envision educational cooperation, production of industrial molds, establishment of joint Iranian and Venezuelan banks, and setting up of joint financial units.
A joint declaration issued by Iranian and Venezuelan presidents during Chavez’s Tehran visit was among other documents agreed upon by the two sides.

BRUSSELS, Belgium, Nov. 19--EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana urged Iranian negotiators to meet him this week before he hands in a report to the six major powers on Tehran’s nuclear program.
“I have been in touch with the Iranians. I hope that they will find time in their calendar to meet this week. That is my position, and that is what I transmit to them in a very clear manner,“ Solana said as he arrived for a meeting in Brussels of European Union foreign and defense ministers on Monday, AFP reported.
Solana said top Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili and his assistants “are ready to meet“.
“We’re pretty late in the month already,“ he added, aware that he is due to present his report on Iran’s nuclear program by the end of November to Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.
Solana has said he will give his views to the leading world powers even if he manages to arrange no more meetings with the Iranians by then.
His opinion will be important in the possible adoption of fresh United Nations sanctions against Iran.
“They are ready to meet. It doesn’t mean from that meeting will come the possibility of negotiations. At the moment, we are paving the way for negotiations,“ he said.
A report released last week by the UN’s nuclear watchdog agency found
Iran has been generally truthful in the information it has provided the agency about aspects of its past nuclear activities.
“It’s very difficult to make a judgment, but I think it’s fair to say that it is a positive step and that there is still much work to be done,“ Solana said.
The UN nuclear agency report is one of two on Iran’s nuclear program this month.

TEHRAN, Nov. 19--Government Spokesman Gholamhossein Elham criticized certain political currents for undermining the government’s decisions in all areas.
Speaking in an educational seminar attended by electoral officials of Tehran province on Monday, Elham regretted the attempts of certain political groups to weaken the incumbent government, Mehr News Agency reported.
“The government has always tried to move in accordance with international conditions and always considered the Islamic system’s strategic principle,“ he said.
Commenting on elections, he pointed out that educating people for taking part in the elections is one of the most important duties that should be pursued by officials, particularly in the political field.
He noted that some political groups want to prepare the ground for enemy’s infiltration and pave the way for a velvet revolution.
The spokesman noted that officials are duty-bound to deal with elections.
Elham also said the enemy will try to achieve its objectives by focusing its propaganda on elections and such efforts should be prevented.
“Governmental dialogue does not belong to a particular political party and knows no border. This kind of dialogue is in full compliance with the ideals of the Islamic Revolution and accepts any political party that acts within a revolutionary and Islamic framework,“ he said.

Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli

TEHRAN, Nov. 19--Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, resigned on Monday.
SNSC Secretary Saeed Jalili accepted Rahmani-Fazli’s resignation but his successor’s name was not revealed, Mehr News Agency reported.
Fazli, who was also SNSC’s deputy secretary for cultural, social and media affairs, had tendered his resignation on Sunday.
Earlier, Ali Larijani, former top nuclear negotiator, also resigned as the SNSC secretary and was replaced by Saeed Jalili.

TEHRAN, Nov. 19--An official said the Iranian armed forces will vigilantly help maintain peace and security across the nation.
Brigadier General Seyyed Masoud Jazayeri, deputy for cultural and defense propagation affairs of the armed forces, also said on Monday the armed forces have always provided security, peace and comfort and defended the people against enemies through military and cultural measures, IRNA reported.
“Cultural and Defense Propagation Headquarters should be ready to organize concerted and effective propagation at home and abroad according to the special circumstances,“ he said.
Commenting on Iran’s readiness in defending the country, Jazayeri noted that the proper analysis of the enemies’ activities will prevent their aggressions and force them to retreat.
Referring to the defeat of the policies of the US and the Zionist Israeli regime against Iran, Jazayeri said the victory of Lebanon’s Hezbollah against the Zionist regime’s army, defeat of American forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Iran’s achievements in gaining access to peaceful nuclear technology are examples of their defeated policies.

LONDON, Nov. 19--The London-based group Stop the War Coalition has called for a national day of rallies on November 24 to say “Don’t attack Iran“.
The coalition stressed that an attack on Iran would further destabilize the Middle East and could result in the deaths of thousands of innocent people, Presstv reported.
During the rallies, demonstrators will hold die-ins and carry banners to show the realities and horrific consequences of a possible war. Students will also demonstrate in universities and colleges across the UK on November 22.
In addition to advocating tough sanctions, western countries have refused to rule out military options against Iran, the US being the strongest backer of a military approach. This, despite the recent report by the UN nuclear watchdog showing the civilian nature of Iran’s nuclear activities.
Stop the War Coalition is UK’s major anti-war group set up in September 2001.
The coalition has opposed wars that are claimed to be part of the so-called war on terrorism. It has been the most prominent group in Britain campaigning against the war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

TEHRAN, Nov. 19--An official said public complaints against the performance of police personnel will be investigated decisively.
Brigadier General Mahmoud Tashakkori, head of Police Inspection Center, also said on Sunday when a public complaint about police negligence is received, it will be investigated even if the complainant does not wish to follow up the case, IRNA reported.
He noted that police try to take preventive measures, adding that 2 percent of public complaints against police personnel during the first seven months of the Iranian year (started March 21) pertained to extortion and bribery, which were investigated.
The official stated that the second conference on “Police and Public Supervision“ will be held in the current week.
“The conference will discuss issues such as society, public supervision and the structure of police public supervision,“ he said.
The official also said the conference is aimed at identifying strategies for expanding public supervision over police forces, promoting the culture of accepting constructive criticism by police personnel and benefiting from the researchers’ views for promoting the performance of Police Inspection Center.
Tashakkori said police commanders and people who contacted the center and presented solutions will attend the conference, which is scheduled for Nov. 21 at the Labor Ministry’s auditorium.

TEHRAN, Nov. 19--Iran and Qatar signed an agreement for further bilateral cooperation to fortify security in border areas.
The agreement was signed by Iran’s Interior Minister Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi and Qatari Minister of State for Internal Affairs Sheikh Abdallah bin Nasir Khalifa Al-Thani on Sunday, IRNA reported.
Based on the agreement, Tehran and Doha should cooperate in exchanging security information between the two capitals and sharing security experiences.
Other major issues stressed in the agreement include bilateral cooperation for fighting drug trafficking, preventing piracy and avoiding illegal fishing in Iranian and Qatari waters.