TEHRAN - The Iranian parliament Wednesday turned down new legislation to protect foreign tourists drafted after a wave of kidnappings of Western nationals threatened the country's fledgling tourism sector.

Several deputies objected to the bill on the grounds that it was unnecessary to have a special law, because the existing legislation "is perfectly adequate."

The bill, proposed by some 70 of the 270 deputies, laid down tough penalties for attacks on foreign tourists. Discussion of the bill started Tuesday, but was suspended after 30 minutes.
 

Rafsanjani to Run for Parliament, Reuters, December 15

TEHRAN - Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani signed up on Wednesday to run in February's parliamentary elections, in a move seen as a challenge to the "reformist" camp.

Rafsanjani, who now heads a powerful state body, appeared at the Interior Ministry to register for the crucial February 18 polls.

His candidacy threatens to split the "reformers'" ranks for the first time since Khatami's 1997 election. Rafsanjani has tried to maintain a bipartisan image, but has increasingly come out against more impatient "reformers, accusing them of jeopardizing the Islamic system.

His stance has earned him the support of former conservative rivals.

"I decided to run to foil possible plots by enemies... Foreign radios kept saying I should not run," Rafsanjani told reporters after signing up, referring to the Western media. "I don't care if I do not get votes. My purpose is to serve the revolution."
 

Turkey Doubts Iran Plan to Pump Gas in 2 Weeks, Reuters, December 15

ANKARA - Iran said on Wednesday it will start natural gas exports to Turkey in two weeks in defiance of U.S. efforts to isolate Tehran but Ankara cast doubt on the timetable for the new deliveries.

Turkey and Iran agreed a landmark $23 billion deal in 1996 that Turkey would initially buy three billion cubic metros of gas from Iran through a pipeline from Iran's Tabriz to Turkey's capital Ankara.

Construction has proceeded on the new link but Turkish Energy Minister Cumhur Ersumer expressed doubts on Wednesday that Iran could begin deliveries as quickly as it hopes.

"We know that the pipelines in Iran are not ready," he told reporters when asked about the statement. "We know that Iran does not have the amounts of gas which it has pledged to us."
 

Payam-E Azadi, December 15 - In an Open letter sent by Heshmatollah Tabarzadi, managing director of the now-banned Hoviyat-e Khish (Self-Identity), to Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, Tabarzadi writes:

"You are an intellectual and can certainly tell the difference, from legal perspective, between citizen of Iran and citizens of other countries who are of Iranian descent.

"Further, your ancestors immigrated from Iran to Iraq. Do you think, based on the definition of a `citizen,' you are an Iranian citizen?

"Moreover, you were not in Iran during the Islamic Revolution and therefore not aware of all issues concerning the Iranian society.

"Furthermore, there are officials who would never consider you a `first-class citizen,' unless you go along with their decisions."
 

Asr-E Azadegan, December 15 - Yahya Mohammad Zadeh, governor of East Azarbaijan Province, commented Sunday on the events happened in Tabriz University in July.

He said that students were arrested in mass during the incident without a valid reason.

"We wonder why those involved in the attack on the University have not been arrested and punished yet…. As a 70-page report about the incident has been submitted to President Khatami.."

Sobh-E Emrooz, December 15 - Majlis deputy, Rahmanqoli Qolizadeh, said the presence of Rafsanjani in the elections would harm the reforms under way.

"The public has begun to wonder about Rafsanjani's political stances because he did not take a firm position vis-a-vis serial killings, the attack on Tehran University dormitory and the trial of Abdullah Nouri..."
 

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