Iran

[Shahab3]

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Khatami condemns terrorism, tyranny

Tehran, May 19 - President Mohammad Khatami said on Tuesday that Iranian society needs the reform process to go ahead to move forward to the lofty goals of the Islamic Revolution.

Addressing the international conference on 'the Islamic Revolution and future prospects', he said that the states following unilateral approach toward the international community have embarked on unfair campaign against Islam under the pretext of the int ernational campaign against terrorism.

"We should endeavor to remove the misunderstanding, because certain acts being done by certain extremists are not acceptable to Islam. The Islamic Revolution rejects extremism," President Khatami said.

"Terrorism is not excluded to the Islamic states. It is going on worldwide.
"From the beginning, the Islamic Revolution was never dependent on force and violence and in the reconstruction period, it will not opt for force either, President Khatami said.

"Iranian nation speak about peace rather than war and preferred 'dialogue of civilizations' and 'coalition for peace' vis-a-vis 'clash of civilizations' and 'coalition for war'," President Khatami said.
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Iran ranks 1st in book production

Tehran, May 16 - Advisor to director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Ehsan Naraqi, here Sunday said that according to the statistics, Iran stands first in publishing books among Islamic countries.

He said that this shows reduced book audit in the country and more freedom in publication, despite the problems evidenced in the field.

Turning to Tehran international book fair as a cultural event, he said that it gives momentum to the book market and creates a cheerful atmosphere in it.

"Authors, publishers, researchers, men of intellect and pen from Iran and foreign countries annually present their cultural products there and exchange views with one another."

In a letter submitted to the secretary general of UNESCO national commission in Iran Mohammad Tavakkoli at the 17th Tehran international book fair, Tehran publishers and booksellers association proposed to nominate Tehran as the world book capital for 2006 or 2007," he added.
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