Azeri envoy summoned to foreign ministry, Borujerdi

Tehran, Apr 27, IRNA

Head of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin
Borujerdi said on Sunday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has
summoned the Azeri ambassador to Tehran to give explanation on the
confiscation of Iran's cargo.

Borujerdi told IRNA that the Islamic Republic of Iran has expressed its
protest over the seizure of a nuclear cargo dispatched from Russia to
Iran.

He also noted that Russia is responsible for shipment of all the parts
Russia dispatched for completing Bushehr nuclear power plant, and that
Moscow should follow up the reason for the Azeri action.

Russians are negotiating with Azeri officials to address
misunderstandings over the cargo, he added.

Iran underlines the necessity of observing the principle of good
neighborly relations between Iran and the Azeri Republic as well as
refraining from such acts in the future, he added.

Mehr News Agency, Iran
Aug 26 2007

IRAN AND ARMENIA TO COLLABORATE ON TV SERIES

TEHRAN, Aug. 26 (MNA) -- During a meeting in Yerevan last week Iran's
cultural attaché to Armenia together with Armenian cultural officials
reached a preliminary agreement to make a joint TV series.

The project was initially proposed by Iran's cultural attaché Reza
Atufi in order to extend cinematic ties between the two nations. It
is intended that the series should feature the cultural and social
life of people in the two countries.

Atufi pointed out that Iranian TV series have shown great
developments in recent years and many of them are now appropriate for
broadcasting in Armenia.

Iranian director Qasem Jafari, who also attended the meeting, went on
to say that he will submit a film script to Armenian officials. He
also emphasized the mutual capabilities of the two countries for
embarking on this project.

The Deputy Director of Armenian Public Television and Radio Levon
Galstian announced that although Iran and Armenia have established
political and economical relations, their peoples are not familiar
with each others' culture and lifestyle.

He went on to say that this cultural vacuum can be filled by
appropriate films and TV series.

Armenian National Cinematheque's director Garegin Zakoian also warmly
welcomed the proposal of the production of a collaborative TV series.
He mentioned that this project will help revitalize the Armenian
filmmaking industry.

The participants at the assembly agreed to put the proposal to the
Council of the Armenian Public Television and Radio Company.

Meanwhile, China which now holds $1 trillion in foreign reserve holdings, announced March 20 it will no longer accumulate foreign exchange reserves.

This is more bad news for the dollar, since approximately 70 percent of China's $1 trillion in foreign reserve holdings are held in U.S. dollar assets.

About half of China's foreign exchange U.S. assets are invested in U.S. treasuries, which are vital to financing the continuing U.S. federal budget deficits.

mojuba