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Red Carpet Welcome for Iranian President in Sri Lanka
Tuesday, 29 April 2008 - 11:42 AM SL Time
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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived at the Bandaranaike International Air Port around 7.30 pm local time on a two-day state visit.
He was welcomed at the International Airport by Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Navy accorded a Guard of honor by offering 21 gun salutes to the visiting President.
Iranian President headed a high ranking delegation which included Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Commerce Minister Mir Kazemi, Deputy Petroleum Minister Ali Kordan, Deputy Power Minister Dr. Rasool Zagar, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Asia and Pacific Seyyed Mohammad Ali Hosseni and General Abdol Ali Najafi, Chief of Security.
Later, Iran and Sri Lanka signed five Memorandums of Understanding on Monday. The MoUs on establishment of Iranian Club in Sri Lanka, Creating a consultation body between the two countries, developing production capacity of an oil refinery, financing a dam project and a hydroelectric power plant, cooperation on executing aforementioned projects were signed by officials of the two countries in the presence of the two presidents.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his counterpart President Mahinda Rajapaksa after the signing ceremony attended a joint press conference.
President Rajapaksa addressing journalists at a press conference said that Iranian economic aid was most opportune and timely for the people of Sri Lanka in an era where irrigation for cultivation was of paramount importance.
President Ahmadinejad pointed out that there had been a constructive dialog for the betterment and economic prosperity of the two countries whose cooperation has been increasing, and has the capacity to increase further.
The main focus of the Iranian President`s visit would be the inauguration of the US$ 450 million multi-purpose Uma Oya irrigation project in Wellawaya today.
The other major project due to be inaugurated today is the oil refinery which is due to be expanded in the outskirts of Colombo. It is expected to make Sri Lanka self-sufficient in Aviation fuel and tar. The project will increase the daily output capacity of 50,000 barrels to 150,000 barrels of refined oil.
Both the projects worth over US dollars 1.9 billion which are funded by Iran as a result of President Mahinda Rajapaksa`s State visit to Iran in November last year.
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CheGuevara
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 29 Apr 2008 04:47:22 GMT Report for Abuse
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Red Carpet Welcome for Iranian President in Sri Lanka
good
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Sinthaka
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 29 Apr 2008 04:49:11 GMT Report for Abuse
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Who will give Velu the No.1 Terrorist a Red Carpet welcome?
Osama Bin Laden?
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Robins
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 29 Apr 2008 04:50:05 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Sri Lanka joining Zimbawe group of Paryah states of the world!! |
Robins
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29 Apr 2008 04:51:55 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Mahinda Mugabe welcomes Ahmed Nana(Guy on the Terrorist list of the US) |
raigamakolla
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 29 Apr 2008 04:52:20 GMT Report for Abuse
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He will also discuss with Slankan Pre the formation of a new economic block to be called PUCA: People's Ultimate Choice for Anarchy.
Membership of PUCA will be limited to Slanka, Iran, Sudan, Chad, Zimbabwe, Serria Leon, Eretria, Ethiopia and Congo.
PUCA will lobby for greater human rights violations, worse econonic hardship for member country populations and more wasatefull money spending on wars and nuke development.
They will also aim to achieve over 100,000% inflation in the next year or so. |
Sinthaka
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29 Apr 2008 04:54:25 GMT Report for Abuse
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Oooops!
Some people are very hurt that Velu the No.1 Terrorist is not given a Red Carpet welcome.
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Robins
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29 Apr 2008 04:57:21 GMT Report for Abuse
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NEW YORK (CNN) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday challenged a university audience to look into 'who was truly involved' in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, defended his right to question established Holocaust history and denied there were gay Iranians.
When pressed about the harsh treatment of women, homosexuals and academics who challenge Iran's government, Ahmadinejad painted a rosy picture, saying, 'Women in Iran enjoy the highest levels of freedom,' he said.
He elicited laughter and boos from the audience at Columbia University when he said, 'In Iran, we don't have homosexuals, like in your country.'
His remarks, which lasted about an hour, made several general references to God, religion and science. He portrayed himself as an academic, misunderstood and unfairly criticized in the United States.
Ahmadinejad is in New York to address the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. He spoke at the invitation of Columbia's president, Lee Bollinger, who in his introduction excoriated the leader by saying he 'exhibits all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator.'
Blaming his schedule, Ahmadinejad left Columbia after his speech before answering many questions posed to him, Bollinger said.
Hundreds gathered to protest Ahmadinejad's appearance, incensed that a leader who has publicly denied the Holocaust and called for the destruction of the state of Israel was given a prestigious forum to espouse his beliefs.
Christine C. Quinn, speaker of the New York City Council, said Columbia should not be giving Ahmadinejad a platform. 'All he will do on that stage ... is spew more hatred and more venom out there to the world,' she said.
Hamid Dabashi, a professor of Iranian studies at Columbia, called the whole forum 'misguided.'
Refusing to back off of his stance on Israel, Ahmadinejad again questioned whether the Holocaust happened.
'If the Holocaust is a reality of our time, a history that occurred, why is there not sufficient research that can approach the topic from different perspectives?' he asked.
The Iranian leader has made statements in the past suggesting Israel be politically 'wiped off the map,' though he insists that can be accomplished without violence. See some of Ahmadinejad's controversial remarks
While he would not respond with a 'yes' or 'no' when asked Monday if he sought the destruction of Israel, he said the status of Israel should be determined by a free election.
'Let the people of Palestine freely choose what they want for their future,' he said.
Ahmadinejad has drawn fire for defying international demands that Iran halt production of enriched uranium.
At Columbia, he said Iran is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the world's central nuclear technology governing body, and has submitted many times to IAEA inspections. 'Over and over again the agency's reports indicate that Iran's activities are peaceful, that they have not detected a deviation,' he said.
Washington and other nations accuse Tehran of trying to create a nuclear weapons program
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Robins
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29 Apr 2008 04:58:48 GMT Report for Abuse
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PUCA
Isnt that an insulting word in sinhala? |
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29 Apr 2008 04:49:02 GMT 
29 Apr 2008 04:50:22 GMT