Ahmadinejad Visits Ashkhabad for Nowruz Celebration

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Turkmen capital of Ashkhabad on Thursday to participate in the international Nowruz celebration ceremonies. Heads of states and high-ranking officials from twelve countries including presidents of Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan attended the New Year ceremony.

After arriving at Ashkhabad airport, Ahmadinejad told reporters that Iran-Turkmenistan is “special.”
 
“Relations between Iran and Turkmenistan are special, deep, brotherly and cordial and the volume of ties between the two countries in the economic sector, particularly in the fields of energy and investment, and also in the cultural area are advancing on a regular basis,” Ahmadinejad said. (Fars News Agency, 22 March)

Ahmadinejad held talks with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie and Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi accompanied Ahmadinejad during the visit.

File photo: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (FNA)

Khamenei Marks Iranian New Year

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today sent a message marking the beginning of the Iranian New Year. Khamenei has designated the new year as “Year of Political and Economic Epic”.  State-run Press TV has posted English translation of selected parts of the message, as follow.

“In the political field, they (the enemies) sought, on the one hand, to isolate the Iranian nation, and on the other hand, to make the Iranian nation perplexed and doubtful [about pursuing its goals], and undermine their determination. But in practice, exactly the contrary has occurred.

“However, they failed to paralyze the Iranian nation and, thanks to God, we have made huge achievements in different sectors.

“The enemies also failed to stall Iran’s international and regional policies.” 

Statement by President Obama on Nowruz (Video & Text)

The White House Press Office today released the video (with Persian subtitles) and the text of President Obama’s message on the occasion of the Iranian New Year, Nowruz, which begins on 20 March (0702 EST). Please click on the video above or read the text of the president’s message below.

“Dorood.  As you and your families come together to celebrate Nowruz, I want to extend my best wishes on this new spring and new year. Around the world, and here in the United States, you are gathering at the Nowruz table—to give thanks for loved ones, reflect on your blessings and welcome all the possibilities of a new season.

As I have every year as President, I want to take this opportunity to speak directly to the people and leaders of Iran.  Since taking office, I have offered the Iranian government an opportunity—if it meets its international obligations, then there could be a new relationship between our two countries, and Iran could begin to return to its rightful place among the community of nations.

I have had no illusions about the difficulty of overcoming decades of mistrust.  It will take a serious and sustained effort to resolve the many differences between Iran and the United States. This includes the world’s serious and growing concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, which threatens peace and security in the region and beyond. Iran’s leaders say that their nuclear program is for medical research and electricity. To date, however, they have been unable to convince the international community that their nuclear activities are solely for peaceful purposes.  That’s why the world is united in its resolve to address this issue and why Iran is now so isolated.  The people of Iran have paid a high and unnecessary price because of your leaders’ unwillingness to address this issue.

As I’ve said all along, the United States prefers to resolve this matter peacefully, diplomatically.  Indeed, if—as Iran’s leaders say—their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, then there is a basis for a practical solution.  It’s a solution that would give Iran access to peaceful nuclear energy while resolving once and for all the serious questions that the world has about the true nature of the Iranian nuclear program.

The United States, alongside the rest of the international community, is ready to reach such a solution.  Now is the time for the Iranian government to take immediate and meaningful steps to reduce tensions and work toward an enduring, long-term settlement of the nuclear issue.

Finding a solution will be no easy task. But if we can, the Iranian people will begin to see the benefits of greater trade and ties with other nations, including the United States.  Whereas if the Iranian government continues down its current path, it will only further isolate Iran. This is the choice now before Iran’s leaders. I hope they choose a better path—for the sake of the Iranian people and for the sake of the world.  Because there’s no good reason for Iranians to be denied the opportunities enjoyed by people in other countries, just as Iranians deserve the same freedoms and rights as people everywhere.

Iran’s isolation isn’t good for the world either.  Just as your forbearers enriched the arts and sciences throughout history, all nations would benefit from the talents and creativity of the Iranian people, especially your young people.  Every day that you are cut off from us is a day we’re not working together, building together, innovating together—and building a future of peace and prosperity that is at the heart of this holiday.

As you gather with family and friends this Nowruz, many of you will turn to the poet Hafez who wrote: “Plant the tree of friendship that bears the fruit of fulfillment; uproot the sapling of enmity that bears endless suffering.”

As a new spring begins, I remain hopeful that our two countries can move beyond tension.  And I will continue to work toward a new day between our nations that bears the fruit of friendship and peace.

Thank you, and Eid-eh Shoma  Mobarak.” 

Freer and Sackler Galleries Receive Largest Gift Ever for Iranian Programs

Jahangir Amuzegar Endowments for Nowruz Celebrations and Iranian Arts

The Smithsonian's Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in Washington, DC, have received what they described the largest gift ever for their Iranian programs in the history of the galleries. The donor, Jahangir Amuzegar, has established two endowments: the Jahangir and Eleanor Amuzegar Persian Cultural Celebrations Fund, which will support an annual celebration in honor of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, and the Jahangir and Eleanor Amuzegar Fund for Contemporary Iranian Art.

"My interest in establishing the endowments follows from the hope and trust that the Nowruz festivals should be celebrated for years to come and that the Galleries will have the ability to host contemporary Iranian art at the museum as far in the future as I can see," said Amuzegar. 



Dr. Amuzegar is an economist who has served as ministers of commerce and finance and the ambassador-at-large for economic affairs in the previous regime in Iran. He has also served on the Executive Board of the IMF and written numerous books and articles on Iran's economy, politics, and oil industry. Amuzegar earned his Ph.D. in economics from UCLA (although this is problematic, at least for this blogger and SC graduate) and has taught economics for many years.

Nowruz Art Exhibition in Tehran

Tehran's Museum of Contemporary Arts will hold an exhibition of works by master Iranian artists during the Persian New Year (Nowruz) holidays (starting 21 March). The exhibition is part of the International Nowruz Celebrations events taking place in Tehran next week with the theme of ‘Nowruz, Spring and Nature.’

The exhibition will showcase works by artists such as Sohrab Sepehri, Faramarz Pilaram, Reza Shahabi, Ali-Mohammad Heidarian, Mehdi Vishkaei, Ahmad Esfandiari, Davoud Emdadian, Yaqoub Emdadian, Reza Mafi, Mohammad Ehsaei, Abolqasem Saeedi, Nasrollah Afjei, Jalil Rasouli and Monir Farmanfarmayan.

Tehran will also host the 'Manifestations of the World's Contemporary Arts' exhibition, showcasing a collection of rare international artworks, including impressionist, cubist, abstract, minimalist and conceptual masterpieces. Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Kamil Jacob Pissarro, Fernand Leger, Rene Magritte, Max Ernst, Vasily Kandinsky, Pierre Soulages, Francis Bacon, Juan Miro and Roy Lichtenstein are among the artists whose works will be displayed.

Photo: A work by Faramarz Pilaram / PressTV