Kazem Jalali

Iran and Egypt have underlined the desire for normalizing ties in recent months. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit recently stressed the necessity of resuming bilateral ties with Iran.
An Iranian parliamentary delegation is due to visit Cairo late January. However, the date of the visit has not been fixed and so is the early resumption of ties between the two Muslim states.
Kazem Jalali, rapporteur of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, is optimistic and believes that the time for resuming high-level diplomatic ties between Tehran and Cairo is near.
“Resumption of ties will not be in the distant future. Given the trend of normalization of relations, problems between the two countries will be resolved in the near future,“ he told Iran Daily’s Azam Mohebbi.
Jalali said unity and interaction between the two nations can lead to better cooperation at the regional and international levels.
“Normalization of ties is gaining more and more momentum in view of recent efforts by the two. Such a sensitive issue is also affected by international events, but the overall situation indicates a breakthrough in relations,“ he said.
Jalali further said Iran and Egypt enjoy rich civilizations, stressing that the two are also an influential factor behind Middle East developments.

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei

TEHRAN, Dec. 29--Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the main lesson of Eid-e Ghadir is about fighting discord.
In a meeting with thousands of people in Tehran on the occasion of Feast of Ghadir on Saturday, Ayatollah Khamenei said relentless efforts aimed at establishing the Muslim society, as envisaged by Imam Ali (AS), are needed today, IRNA reported.
Felicitating all Muslims, the pious people and freedom-seekers, especially Iranians, on the occasion of Eid-e Ghadir, the leader opined that determining the path of Shiite Imams was the ideological function of Ghadir.
“Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) declaration of the holy Imams (as his successor) upon God’s order showed that in Islam’s perspective, administration is tantamount to imamate and does not merely deal with people’s routine affairs,“ he said.
He pointed out that the notion of imamate deals with administration of this world’s affairs and the lives of people in the Hereafter.
“Another dimension of Ghadir deals with the personality of Imam Ali (AS). The third dimension of Ghadir is the necessity of shaping the Muslim society as envisaged by Imam Ali’s (AS) model,“ he said.
The leader termed the main characteristics of the government of Imam Ali (AS) as justice, purity, monotheism, working for the sake of God, being kind toward humans and preventing deviation from the divine path.
“The Iranian nation has embraced the logic of imamate,“ he said.
Referring to the necessity of people’s vigilance toward enemy’s sophisticated activities aimed at sowing seeds of discord among Iranians, Ayatollah Khamenei said being aware of the enemy’s plots will foil the conspiracies of the world arrogant powers.
Commenting on the next Majlis elections, the leader said God willing, necessary directives will be issued and what is important is to consider elections as a divine test and people should be vigilant about enemy’s plots.

ALGIERS, Algeria, Dec. 29--A senior Iranian official stressed the need for talks between Iran and the Arab world to improve relations and remove misunderstandings.
Ali Larijani, the leader’s representative to Supreme National Security Council, made the remark at a joint press conference with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Mousa in Cairo on Thursday, IRNA reported.
The two officials underlined that these minor misunderstandings should be removed to help bolster ties between the two sides.
“Iran has no fundamental problem with Arabs,“ Larijani said, adding that some wish to fish in troubled waters.
He noted that Iran and the Arab world have many commonalities, which help improve mutual ties and remove misunderstandings.
Larijani also said resumption of full relations between Tehran and Cairo in the near future are unlikely and called on the two sides to exercise patience.
“Although a senior Egyptian official has visited Tehran, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has voiced his readiness to visit Egypt and the condition for resumption of ties seems positive, the two sides should exercise patience,“ he said.
Amr Mousa, for his part, underlined the importance of continuing talks between Iran, Arab League and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council to resolve any differences.
“Iran is one of the biggest countries in the Middle East and we should consider it as a brotherly country. Minor differences can be resolved through mutual talks,“ he said.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit told Qatar-based satellite network Al-Jazeera on Wednesday there is no tension in Cairo-Tehran ties.
He pointed out that Iran and Egypt were holding serious talks to achieve understanding about all issues of mutual interest in order to restore full diplomatic relations between the two capitals.
Gheit made the remark after his meeting with Larijani.
Larijani, who arrived in Cairo on Monday, also told reporters that Iran enjoys “strategic ties with Arab states“.
The Iranian official has also met with head of Egypt’s national security organization, Omar Sulayman, Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar University Muhammad Al-Tantawi and head of Al-Azhar University Ahmad Tayyeb.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (c) welcomes Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah (r) in Tehran on Saturday, as Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki looks on.

TEHRAN, Dec. 29--President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad conferred with Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah.
During the meeting on Saturday, mutual ties and international issues were discussed.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Tehran and Muscat aim to raise their trade volume from the current $200 million to $1 billion.
“The transfer of Iran’s gas to Oman is an important step in improving the two countries’ relations,“ Mottaki said in a joint press conference with his Omani counterpart in Tehran on Saturday, ISNA reported.
Mottaki announced that Tehran and Muscat are discussing the possibility of joint investments in industrial and energy sectors.
“If we reach an agreement and sign a free trade accord, I think regional states will benefit from future economic interaction,“ he said regarding the trade proposal put forward during the recent Persian Gulf Cooperation Council meeting.
Alawi said Oman is in favor of broadening ties with Iran.
“We welcome the strong will of Iranians and their vital role in regional cooperation,“ he said, adding that regional cooperation between Iran and Arab states of the Persian Gulf can foster unity and entail positive results.
“I appreciate the participation of President [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad in the recent PGCC meeting. More meetings should be held between Iran and Oman to help materialize the proposals made by Ahmadinejad,“ he said.
Bin Alawi was also scheduled to meet President Ahmadinejad and the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Saeed Jalili.

First Vice President Parviz Davoudi (l) shakes hands Libyan Leader Muammar Qaddafi in Tripoli on Thursday.

TRIPOLI, Libya,
Dec. 29--First Vice President Parviz Davoudi conferred with Libyan Leader Muammar Qaddafi on expansion of mutual relations as well as regional and international cooperation.
At the meeting on Thursday, Davoudi outlined Iran’s views on expansion of mutual cooperation and underlined the need to further bolster ties between the two countries, IRNA reported.
“Expansion of brotherly ties between the two countries after the victory of the Islamic Revolution was in line with the will of two nations,“ he said.
Davoudi stressed that the two sides should continue cooperation to maintain their Islamic dignity through expansion of economic, scientific and cultural cooperation.
Referring to Iran’s success in taking advantage of peaceful nuclear energy, he said Iran is determined to stick to its commitment.
“Iran and Libya share common stands on the right of the Lebanese people to have the final say in their affairs and their destiny,“ he said.
The Libyan leader, for his part, highlighted the significant role of Iran on the international scene and in the Middle East and said the two governments and nations call for expansion of cooperation.
He called on Iranian businessmen and traders to help implement infrastructural projects in Libya.
“The two sides’ cooperation could be extended to other regions such as African and Latin American countries,“ he said.
“Expansion of relations between Iran and Libya would open new horizons for both countries.“
On Friday, Davoudi met with Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh in Djibouti and discussed issues of mutual interest with him. After the meeting, the two officials attended a press conference.
Davoudi told reporters that his negotiations with President Guelleh was positive and the two sides have underlined the necessity of promoting politico-economic ties between the two countries.
He conveyed President Ahmadinejad’s greetings to his Djibouti counterpart and said promotion of ties with a Muslim country with a strategic situation in the African continent is among Iran’s foreign policy priorities.
Davoudi pointed out that he discussed cooperation in energy, fishery, construction and other infrastructural fields.
President Guelleh also told reporters that Djibouti’s relations with Iran are based on mutual trust, friendship and Islam.
During the three-day visit, Davoudi also met with other high-ranking Libyan and Djiboutian officials.

TEHRAN, Dec. 29--President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Eid-e Ghadir is a celebration of monotheism and justice.
“Ghadir is manifested in life and creation, and the world -- from East to West -- is in dire need of justice,“ President Ahmadinejad told the annual seminar of Researchers’ Center on Saturday, IRNA reported.
The president stressed that Islam does not contrast Christianity and Judaism.
“Islam is the point of perfection and superiority, and belongs to all,“ he added.
Ahmadinejad noted that Islam is a comprehensive collection of all divine religions and can therefore be presented to the humanity.
In the ceremony, head of the Researchers’ Center, offered a plaque bestowing honorary membership to the president.
Eid-e Ghadir marks the day Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) declared Imam Ali (AS) as his successor while returning from his last pilgrimage, which is known as Hajjatul Vida.

TEHRAN, Dec. 29--Over 45,000 inspectors will supervise elections for the next Majlis, Experts Assembly and Islamic councils in March.
Deputy Interior Minister Mohammad Hossein Mousapour said on Saturday that safeguarding people’s votes and holding healthy elections are among the government’s priorities, Mehr News Agency reported.
“As per the law, the Interior Ministry is duty-bound to organize elections in a healthy manner. Therefore, the Central Election Inspection Headquarters will be based at the Interior Ministry and affiliated headquarters will be based in all polling stations,“ he said.
He noted that the inspection headquarters will start activities on January 1. Mousapour stated that candidates, political parties and groups can participate in healthy elections by respecting the Election Laws.