• 
• 

Published on December 6, 2007

The latest report by the US intelligence community clearly proves that Iran's nuclear programme is completely peaceful. In a report released on December 3, US intelligence agencies said Iran currently has no nuclear weapons programme and probably can't produce enough uranium for a bomb until 2010 at the earliest. The report said that US allegations about Iran's nuclear objectives have been exaggerated for at least two years.

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Thailand welcomes the unexpected US intelligence report in which the peaceful nature of the nuclear activities of Iran is enlightened once more and emphasises the following points:

This report proves many facts, the most important of which is that the allegations of a few countries, that always speak of the serious danger of Iran's nuclear programme, are fabricated and unreliable.

The contradiction between an intelligence report of 2005 which stated Iran was determined to produce nuclear weapons and the report of 2007 which "confidently" rejected the previous conclusion, clearly proves the unrealistic and biased nature of the previous reports by the US intelligence agencies.

Iran's actions and the reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency all show that the country's nuclear programme has not deviated toward non-peaceful purposes and that the previous US reports claiming Iran intended to manufacture nuclear weapons were totally baseless.

The US intelligence agencies provide evidence that the decision to send Iran's nuclear dossier to the UN Security Council was an unlawful act because, according to the findings of the US intelligence agencies, the country did not have any military nuclear programmes when the issue was referred to the Security Council in 2006. So the US and its European allies should revise their unrealistic policies and adopt just and logical approaches.

We welcome all countries that have questions about Iran's nuclear case in the past - regardless of their motives - when they realistically correct their views.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, which was briefed on the US intelligence report two hours before its release, saw the judgements as validation of its own long-standing conclusion that there is "no evidence" of an undeclared nuclear programme in Iran. "It also validates the assessments of Mr Mohamed ElBaradei (IAEA director-general), who continuously said in his public statements that he saw no evidence of illegal nuclear activity in Iran.

Finally the IAEA's negotiators should be allowed to find a workable and mutually acceptable solution to all the pending issues between Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog agency. More importantly the conditions to move Iran's nuclear issue away from the overcrowded political arena to the legal and technical framework of the IAEA - where it rightly belongs - should be provided. 

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Bangkok

-----------------------------------

Misguided assumptions about HIV/Aids

Re: "Moralising an established failure in curbing teen sex", Letters, December 3.

John Shepherd's reminiscences about the "boys will be boys" generation of the 1960s and 70s who were on the "path of discovery", while ringing a bell for many in the Western audience, must have left many in the Thai audience wondering what is this man talking about? Say what you want about sexual mores in the culture and tradition of the East, but that "sex is dirty" is a point of view totally alien and particularly in this society. The mindset Shepherd describes and embellishes with his own musings belongs precisely as a consequence of the puritanical religious roots of that country.

In delivering his message Shepherd has completely overlooked that the Health Ministry was not speaking of the morals of Thai youths but to their shocking lack of knowledge about HIV/Aids, its dangers to worldwide health, how the disease effects the recipients of the virus, how it is transmitted, and the fallacious myths that have arisen and are perpetuated through ignorance. Thai youths' lack of knowledge about the disease is appalling.

HIV/Aids prevention and awareness education here in the Kingdom should be stepped up to include not only youth volunteers but especially parents and school administrators nationwide.

No sex education as well as bad sex education regarding HIV/Aids can only be fatal.

Mr Bill

Bangkok

----------------------------------------

Revenge list is the last

thing Thailand needs

Re: "Vendettas in the way of harmony, reconciliation", Opinion, December 2.

Sopon Onkgara's piece about a "list of enemies and critics" to be avenged by Thaksin's cronies must mean he doesn't think he's one of them, or he wouldn't have written the piece. But I wonder who really tops it?

Prem, Sonthi and Sak would be my winner and runners-up for the prize. Surayud's got to be a close contender. Then there are the members of the PAD.

Perhaps Abhisit is also in the frame, not so much for his non-committal ramblings but for managing to scupper last year's elections? Mid-way through the New Year, he could well be canvassing in leg irons when the new government inevitably falls apart.

All in all, it seems likely that next year will be unproductive, so a business trip to Vietnam, which is said to be "gaining quickly on Thailand in the economic race" seems distinctively all the more "lamb au jus vert avec pomme frappe" to me.

James Groveway

Bangkok

---------------------------------------

Pata Zoo a disgraceful anachronism

I visited the Pata shopping mall and its zoo a short while ago, which left me in shock.

Although this zoo is not bad for the smaller animals (after a proper renovation), it is a shame how they keep the big animals such as tigers, monkeys and bears.

How can it be that one of these animals has been imprisoned there for more than 21 years without any reaction from the responsible authorities?

It seems that those responsible for Thai wildlife allow these practices to continue far below modern standards. Even after a fire, which was fatal for several of the zoo's animals, the authorities were unable to do anything or even to open their eyes.

I can understand that this zoo may have been acceptable at the time it was built, but it is now completely unacceptable, and has been for many years.

I do hope the authorities will come to understand the concern of many people about this terrible situation.

Antoni P Uni

Bangkok

--------------------------------------

Unfair to compare chimps to students

The recent reports in the international media that chimpanzees are more intelligent than university students are grossly unfair to our young learners. In all my 35 years experience as a university lecturer in various countries around the world, I can clearly state that I have never found any discernible difference in intelligence between the two.

Peter Moseley

Bangkok