Auvers-sur-Oise, Associated Press (French), Aug. 18 - The conference of the committees of the National Council of Resistance of Iran chaired by Mr. Massoud Rajavi from August 4 to 10 concluded that: "The prospects for the overthrow of the religious terror ist dictatorship ruling Iran is brighter than ever."

A press statement released Thursday by the European headquarters of the National Council of Resistance in Auvers-sur-Oise, quotes Massoud Rajavi as saying: "Today, after 14 years, there is no doubts that the National Council of Resistance is the most last ing political coalition of Iran's contemporary history which owes its success and endurance to the loyalty of its members to the principles of democracy and tolerance of differing beliefs and views."

The congress of the National Council of Resistance emphasized, "It is clear today that the mullahs' terrorist and fundamentalist regime, with war mongering and crisis making inherent to it, does not have the will to live in peace and coexistence with its neighbors, particularly with Iraq. Likewise, it is the prime enemy of peace in the Middle East." The 18 committees of the National Council of Resistance of Iran have also concluded that "the prospects for the overthrow of the religious terrorist dictatorship ruling Iran is brighter than ever and the passage of time is strongly in favor of the Iranian Resistance."

A Woman Tops Central Secretariat of National Council of Resistance of Iran

Auvers-sur-Oise, Associated Press, Aug. 21 - In a statement on Monday, the NCR's European headquarters in Auvers-sur-Oise announced that a 38-year-old woman, Mrs. Mahvash Sepehri, is appointed to head the central secretariat of the National Council of Res istance of Iran presided by Massoud Rajavi.

Mrs. Sepehri, the senior secretary of the National Council of Resistance, used to be the coordinator for the offices of the transitional President in exile.

The NCR has 235 members and represents six parties and political organizations which decided to form seven new committees as the bases of the future provisional government: Committee on Trade Guilds (Ibrahim Mazandarani, a Tehran Bazaar merchant), Committ ee on Internal Affairs (Mehdi Bara'i), Committee on Finances and Procurement (Mrs. Sorayya Shahri), Committee on Political Studies (Mohammad Ali Jaberzadeh Ansari), Committee on Publications (Mohammad Ali Towhidi), Committee on Defense [and Strategic Rese arch] (Mahmoud Atta'i), and Committee on Planning (Mrs. Hamideh Shahrokhi).

The statement specified, "The National Council of Resistance of Iran is a coalition of democratic Iranian forces who strive for the replacement of the mullahs' regime with a pluralist government. The transitional government is committed to hold a fair ele ctions, with direct and secret ballot, for the formation of the National Constituent and Legislative Assembly."

Fraud

Die Rheinpfalz, Aug. 12 - People write slogans on the walls of public places, revealing the connections between the Rafiqdoust brothers in the $400 million fraud case. The slogans mostly seen around the Azadi square, read: "I wish I were a downtrodden lik e Rafiqdoust." They scorn Khomeini's famous remark of "I wish I were a Pasdar (Revolutionary Guard)." [Mohsen Rafiqdoust runs the largest Iranian business complex called the Foundation of the Downtrodden."]

Economy

Aug. 16, A report from Masshad - The price of food stuff has recently soared. "New Rice" costs 400 rials more per kilogram, while before, the introduction of New Rice came to the market reduced the prices. Vegetable oil has become more expensive as well. Previously 72000 rials per pit, it now costs 90,000 rials with a lower quality. To buy a train ticket, one has to stay, and literally sleep, in the queue for two to three days. Train fares have also gone up from 10,500 to 16,500 rials. This angers many, particularly those who come on pilgrimage to Mashhad.

NICOSIA, Aug 14 (Reuter) - Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) oil production fell in July due to output decreases in Iran and Nigeria, the Middle East Economic Survey (MEES) said on Monday. A survey by the weekly newsletter estimated OPEC output fell by about 90,000 barrels per day (bpd) last month to 25.12 million bpd. The newsletter estimated Iran's July output fell 60,000 bpd to 3.585 million bpd, below its OPEC quota of 3.6 million bpd.

Akhbar, Tehran-based daily, Aug. 19 -Monthly rents in Tehran have gone up 60 to 70 percent in the past 8 months. Millions of white-collar workers and low-income families are renting their residences. The rent for a small house in Narmak is 200,000 rials p lus 3,000,000 rials of deposit. Between 80 to 100 percent of the salaries of white-collar workers is spent on rent.

Social Problems

Sari, northern Iran, Aug. 14 - The food organization has been closed down for week due to a lack of budget. Except for the janitor, there is no one working in this factory at present. The workers are in an uncertain condition. According to the reports from the Army's garrison in Sari, most of the soldiers in that base are addicted to opium and hashish.

Abrar, Tehran-based daily, Aug. 13 - Some 190,000 accidents happen every year leading to deaths or material damages. In the first three months of this year, 607 accidents in the country led to deaths. The figure is 2 percent more than the same period last year.

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