EVENTS IN TEHRAN
Persian
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EVENTS IN TEHRAN |
Persian |
Some of UNIC activities during 2003
In cooperation
with UNIC-Tehran, the Green Front of Iran, an environmental NGO, organized a
special gathering on 10 March 2003 to mark the International Day of Freshwater
2003. The meeting was organized ahead of the scheduled date because 22 March
2003 is an important holiday in Iran.
The Green Front works
within the framework of sustainable development and has launched a campaign to
make people aware of the status of water, among other activities. More than 250
members of the Front, experts and other interested people participated. After
speeches by representatives of UNESCO and FAO as well as those of the Government
and Non-Governmental (NGOs), an animated discussion took place among the
participants. The debate was of high quality as those present knew their subject
very well. The session was opened by the UNIC Director, Iftikhar Ali, who read
out Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message marking the day. The message of
UNESCO Director-General was translated into Farsi and distributed in the hall,
along with Farsi version of International Year of Fresh Water’s press kit
(translated into Farsi by UNIC-Tehran).
In cooperation with an NGO
called Iranian Association of Women’s Studies, UNIC-Tehran held a conference on
the subject of Family Challenges in the 21st Century at Allameh Tabatabee
University on 15 May 2003. UNIC Director Mr. Ali read out SG’s message at the
conference, in which Ayatollah Boujnourdi, a leading religious figure, and some
senior professors spoke about problems faced by families in Iran. The Centre
also held a book exhibit on UN publications related to family at the Conference
hall.
UNIC and UNDP Tehran
cooperated with Mofid Humanity University in organizing the 2nd International
Conference on Human Rights on the subject of Theoretical Foundations of Human
Rights at Mofid University in Qom on 17-18 May 2003. UNIC-Tehran translated the
full text of the UN Human Rights Commissioner’s message Mr. De Mello, which was
read out by UNIC-Director at the inaugural session of the two-day conference in
the holy city of Qom. Also, UNIC-Tehran mounted a book exhibit at which UN and
DPI human rights publications were displayed as also distributed to hundreds of
participants from all over the world.
UNIC Director opened a
meeting marking the World Telecommunication Day 2003 organized by the Faculty of
Social Science at the Allameh Tabatabaee University by delivering the
Secretary-General’s message on 18 May 2003. Other speakers dealt with various
aspects of the subject of telecommunications. Dr. Seyyed Ali Asghar Hedayati, in
an Op-ed published in Persian Daily Ettela’at, thanked UNIC Director Mr. Ali for
his presence at the Allameh Tabatabaee’s ceremony.
UNIC-Tehran actively
participated in the four-day Wave Festival, which was organized by Tehran
Municipality, in connection with the International Year of Fresh Water at the
Water park in Tehran on 15 April 2003. UNIC-Director Mr. Ali read SG’s message
on the occasion of IYFW. UNIC also distributed IYFW’s press kit in Farsi among
the large number of participants.
UNIC-Tehran has been
trying to have academicians discuss the war on Iraq and its aftermath so as to
put these developments in correct perspective. Four renowned professors of
international law and political science --- Dr. Jamshid Momtaz of the Tehran
University, who is also the member of the UN’s International Law Commission; Dr.
Davoud Hermidas Bavand of the Imam Sadegh University, who is also a former
Iranian delegate to the General Assembly’s Legal Committee; Dr, Ibrahim
Beigzadeh of the Shahid Beheshti University and Dr. Mohammad Reza Ziaei-Bigdeli
of the Allameh Tabatabei University – took part in the discussion at Tehran
University on 19 April 2003. Dr. Nasrin Mussfa of the Tehran University acted as
the moderator. The professors analyzed the situation in a dispassionate manner,
quoting from the key resolutions and the speeches delivered in the Council as
also citing some events outside the UN. While they put forward different
interpretations to the resolutions, there was general agreement among them that
the United Nations should have a leading role in post-war Iraq. UNIC-Director
Iftikhar Ali opened the discussion with brief remarks highlighting the
Secretary-General’s intensive efforts to resolve the issue of Iraq’s disarmament
peacefully in order to prevent the war. He also referred to SG’s efforts to
forge unity among the Members of the Council, who were sharply divided. And
then he went on to say that beyond its humanitarian role, the UN could act only
with a mandate from the Security Council. In doing so, he referred to the five
principles mentioned in the latest “Message of the Day.”
On the occasion of
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression 4 June 2003, UNIC
and an NGO accredited to DPI’s NGO Section, called Organization for Defending
Victims of Violence (ODVV) organized a one-day conference in which university
professors, judiciary officials elaborated on different aspects and impact of
aggression on children. In absence of UNIC-Director Mr. Ali who was abroad,
National Information Officer Moghadam delivered a speech on the subject.
UN participated in the
16th Tehran International Book Fair. In the UN booth, some of the publications
of different UN agencies in the Islamic republic of Iran, including UNDP, UNHCR,
UNFPA, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNODC, FAO, WHO and WFP, were displayed. On its part, UNIC
displayed and distributed large number of UN and DPI books, pamphlets, posters
and other information materials plus some of the major UNCTAD reference
documents, such as World Investment Report, Trade and Development Report, etc.,
as also some 31 documents that UNIC translated into Farsi.
This was a highly successful activity as large crowds visited the Fair over a period of 11 days (4-14 May 2003).
The fair, 16th in the series since the 1979 Revolution, is one of Iran’s most important cultural events, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Thirty-five countries participated in the Fair that also brought together more than 1,100 foreign and 1900 Iranian publishers displaying about 120,000 titles for the benefit of more than one million visitors from all over Iran and abroad. About a million people visited the Fair held in its sprawling complex.
The United Nations
Information Centre invited the founding bureau and the board of directors of the
Iranian Association for UN Studies, to the Centre on 3 July 2003. The invitees
were top professors of the universities based in Tehran. There was a discussion
on resolving conflicts as envisioned in the UN Charter. Professor Momtaz of
Tehran University, who is also the president of the Association and a member of
UN International Law Commission, opened the discussion. Several professors took
part in the discussion. UNIC-Director Iftikhar Ali wound up the discussion,
stressing that member-states needed to recommit themselves to the principles and
purposes of the Charter.
At the Celebration marking
the World Population Day 2003, messages of the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan,
and the UNFPA Executive Director, Ms. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, were read out by
UNIC-Director Iftikhar Ali at the Allameh Amini Hall of Tehran University.
UNIC-Tehran
translated the full text of SG’s message on the International Youth Day 2003 and
issued it as a press release. The UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Frederick Lyons,
read out the SG’s message just before President Mohammad Khatami addressed a
large gathering of youth and distinguished guests. Also present on the occasion
were a number of Majlis (Parliament) deputies, the Advisor to President and Head
of National Youth Organization(NYO), Rahim Ebadi, and representative of youth
NGOs. An estimated 1,000 youth were present at Razi Conference hall in Tehran on
12 August 2003.
The World
Investment Report -- 2003 was
launched at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance by Dr. Mortazavi,
Director-General of Foreign Investments on 4 September 2003. About 20
correspondents representing major print and electronic media, including the
Iranian TV, were present. In addition, the Ministry had invited representatives
of the Tehran Stock Exchange and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as
of some major businesses. Some key sections of the WIR had been translated into
Farsi, and copies of the report were made available to the press. Different
channels of the TV covered the news the same night while newspapers published it
the day after their Friday holiday. Mehr News Agency also put it on it’s site.
The
UNIC-Tehran, in collaboration with other UN agencies and funds stationed in
Tehran, helped organize a solemn condolence meeting for the August 19 victims of
the bomb attack in Baghdad on 21 September 2003. Led by the remarkable Sergio de
Mello, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, who was killed in the
blast, men and women of the UN had gone to Iraq with one purpose: to help the
people. The Baghdad bombing victims included an Iranian national, Reza Hosseini.
The Niavaran Cultural Centre, where the ceremony was held, was
packed-to-capacity with UN staff members based in Iran, foreign ministry
officials, academicians, members of the diplomatic corps and NGO representatives
as well as the members of the bereaved Hosseini family. The ceremony opened with
the screening of Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s video message to UN staff on the
tragedy. The United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Islamic Republic of
Iran, Frederick Lyons, then made his condolence statement. The Director General
of the International Economic Affairs and Specialized Agencies of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, Amabassador Bozorgmehr Ziaran followed. The most touching
part of the one-hour programme was the reading of poetry of Fereydoun Moshiri as
also the works of the renowned poet, Sa’di Shirazi. Earlier, the
Secretary-General of the Iranian Association of UN Studies and Director General
of Human Rights Centre at the Tehran University, Dr. Nasrin Mosaffa, joined in
paying the tributes to the fallen UN colleagues. The Director General of the
International Economic Affairs and Specialized Agencies in the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bozorgmehr Ziaran. Traditional Iranian musicians
playing somber music.
UNIC-Tehran
commemorated the International Day of Peace in cooperation with at least 8 youth
NGOs and the National Youth Organization as well as the Tehran Municipality
(District 6). The colourful ceremony took place in the Nezami Ganjavi Park. Of
course, the huge peace dove, constructed by the youth, dominated the scene and
attracted visitors. At the outset, flowers were presented to the participants,
mostly youth members and supporters of youth NGOs gathered in a
packed-to-capacity hall at the edge of the park. Two members of the NGOs
presented a report on their efforts to organize the Day. The Secretary-General’s
message on the International Day of Peace, which was translated into Farsi was
delivered by UNIC Director who also explained the significance of the Day. This
was followed by recitation of peace poems. Also read out was a joint message of
NGOs dedicating themselves to the cause of peace and harmony while emphasizing
the role of youth and the NGOs. The message also emphasized that youth NGOs in
Iran “will do their best to develop the culture of peace in Iran”. Afterwards,
four children jointly read a message in which they expressed their wish for
having a “world with sustainable peace”. At the end of the programme, the peace
dove was moved around the park, in a symbolic act of support for peace.
Captions: UNIC-Director Iftikhar Ali standing next to a peace dove at Nezami
Ganjavi Park in Tehran on the occasion of International Day of Peace on 21
September 2003. From left to right: UNIC-Tehran Reference Assistant Ms. Nazanin
Ghaemamghami Farahani, a member of youth NGO, UNIC-Director Mr. Iftikhar Ali, an
NGO activist Mr. Said Neshat and two members of youth NGOs at the International
Day of Peace ceremony at Nezami Ganjavi Park in Tehran on 21 September 2003. A
section of people who participated in the International Day of Peace ceremony at
Nezami Ganjavi Park in Tehran on 21 September 2003. Children presenting their
peace message at the International Day of Peace ceremony at Nezami Ganjavi Park
in Tehran on 21 September 2003.
UNIC Director
Iftikhar Ali delivered the Secretary-General’s message on the occasion of the
International Day of Older Persons, 1 October 2003. More than 500 older persons
were present in a ceremony organized by the Welfare Department held at Welfare
Science University. The Head of Welfare Department, Dr. Rahchamani, was also
present at the ceremony.
The Kahrizak Charity and Rehabilitation Centre (NGO) held an impressive ceremony on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons at Kahrizak in southern Tehran on 1 October 2003. UNIC-Director Iftikhar Ali read out the Secretary-General’s message to more than 1,500 older and disabled persons as well as other guests at Kahrizak. The celebrations continued till late at night.
To mark the UN
Day 2003, the UN Theme Group on External Relations, under the chairmanship of
UNIC-Director Mr. Iftikhar Ali, held a two-day event at Melal (Nations) Cultural
Centre on 23 and 24 Oct. The programme included a press conference focused on
MDGs, with all the UN heads of agencies participating, followed by a formal
ceremony at which the UN Day message of the Secretary-General read out before
some 250 invitees by the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Frederick Lyons. The
Iranian statement, was delivered by the Director-General for International and
Political Affairs, Mr. Amir Hossein Zamani Nia. Also, some school children, in
multi-coloured clothes, sang peace songs to a very warm applause. In addition,
an impressive poster/picture and information materials exhibition, representing
all UN Agencies were held at the cultural centre. Also organized was a bazaar in
which several UN Agencies and NGOs participated. A lot of information material
was handed over the visitors.
Iranian
Association for UN Studies with cooperation of UNIC-Tehran held a UN Day event
on 22 October 2003 at the Tehran University Club. More than 250 students and
professors from all universities in Tehran were present. UNIC-Director Mr.
Iftikhar Ali read out the message of the Secretary-General after giving a little
background about the establishment of the United Nations. The main speaker was
Ambassador Bagher Asadi, a
Member of the UN Secretary-General’s Panel of Eminent Persons on UN-Civil
Society Relations. Some of the members of the Association of Iranian Children
Advocating United Nations (UNICHA) said a few words on children's rights and
UN's support for children worldwide. They also congratulated the UN day.
On Monday 3
November 2003, Mr. Alireza Shams Lahijani the Secretary-General of the
Association of Iranian Children Advocating United Nations (UNICHA) and Mr.
Shahryar Tajbakhsh, a member of the Association visited UNIC to bid farewell to
Mr. Iftikhar Ali. They presented Mr. Ali a gift extolling his services in Iran,
especially the encouragement he gave to their Association. Mr. Ali thanked them
for the gift, saying he will treasure it for the rest of his life.
UNIC-Tehran organized a press conference for the visiting UN Special
Rapporteur on the Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression,
Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo at UN Building in Tehran on Monday 10 November 2003. More than
90 Iranian and foreign reporters participated in the press conference. Mr.
Ligabo briefed journalists on his mandate and meetings with Iranian government
as well as judiciary officials, civil society members, journalists, members of
Iranian Journalists Association and media officials. He then answered
journalists’ questions.
UNIC
Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Moghadam read the Secretary-General’s message in a
function organized by Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education to
commemorate the World AIDS Day at Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)
Conference Hall on Monday 1 December 2003. A large number of Iranian and foreign
experts and NGO representatives as well as government officials attended the
ceremony.
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Human Rights Day |
1-The SG’s message was read for participants in the workshop called
“Right to Development” at the Centre for Human Rights Studies of Tehran
University.
2-The SG’s message was delivered for some 100 students and professors of the Faculty of Law and Political Science of Allameh Tabatabaee University at the faculty’s conference hall. Also, UNIC-Tehran held a poster and book exhibition on UN human rights publications and distributed the Farsi version of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and MDG’s flyer among the participants. UN video-cassette entitled “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights” was screened for the participants. Other speakers of the conference were Dr. Sharif and Dr. Ardalan who elaborated human rights situation in Iran an in the world, respectively.
3-The SG’s message was read for some 90 human rights activists, government officials, NGO representatives and scholars participating in a ceremony marking the HRD 2003 at Associate Professors Training University. The ceremony was organized by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC). The Farsi UDHR was distributed among the participants. Secretary-General of IHRC Mr. Ziaeifar talked about human rights and challenges before the world for the participants. Other speakers expressed their views on human rights and Islamic-Iranian culture as well as human rights issues related to women, journalists, workers, students, children, religious and ethnic minorities in Iran.
