EVENTS IN TEHRAN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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.,

This was a highly

successful activity as large crowds visited the Fair over a period of 11 days

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

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

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

The World

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

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

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

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

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.

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

 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

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

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

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

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

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