My dear Lenin, Slavoj Zizek doesn't think like me. Then again, who does?
Besides, we have to make a distinction between theory on one hand and positions that the theorist takes on the other hand. Smart liberals -- even right-wing ones like Mark Lilla -- know what liberalism is better than most Marxists, many of whom have implicitly adopted liberalism, not knowing what they are doing. Listen carefully to what smart liberals have to say in theory, and we'll find something useful, even though that something is not what they put into practice.
> Most importantly, he insists that the Third World lacks
> the resources for combatting US hegemony and looks to European renewal. His
> defensive strategies against 'political correctness' are designed to
> foreclose criticisms of his very obvious Eurocentrism.
Socialists in Europe have to ask themselves. Is socialism possible in Europe? If so, what kind of socialism? And when? If not now or any time soon, what is to be done in the meantime? In their nation, and the European Union? Is their nation to become or remain a member of the European Union? If no, then what? If yes, what kind of Europe? How to get there?
The interval between the No vote on the European Constitution and the elections in France this year, more than anything else, showed that the absence of clarity and of vision with regard to the aforementioned questions is a great problem. Their defeat made France itself more Atlanticist -- and it can take Europe even closer than it is to the USA as well, which will be a _great setback_ for the Third World.
We live in an age when populists of the Third World, religious or secular, have a more forward-looking vision than European Marxists. That must be rectified, immediately.
<http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=27594§ionid=351020101> Ahmadinejad: Europe can save itself Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:31:00 Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The President says Iran will give France time to develop a more logical understanding of issues, hoping it will eventually find its place.
"We need to give the new French government more time, so it can achieve a better understanding of the situation," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said.
"We are in no hurry and we believe that time can help the French government find its place."
Iran hopes that Paris will start acting realistically as soon as possible as we do not desire it to do anything to tarnish the image of the French nation, he added on the sidelines of a general meeting of the high provincial councils.
He pointed out that France is a great nation which can be instrumental in helping achieve global peace and security and said that Iran and France have a long history of mutual cultural ties.
He noted that the time has come for European leaders to act independently.
"They can avoid incurring heavy expenses and help save themselves if they act independently," the Chief Executive concluded.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has recently commented that the world must prepare for war with Iran.
France's newly adopted policy is considered a shift in the country's foreign policy towards becoming Bush's new lapdog.
<http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aSJemgLhzPhY&refer=news> Iran, Venezuela Form Oil Venture to Rival Shell, Eni (Update1)
By Lucian Kim Enlarge Image/Details
Oct. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Iran and Venezuela, the producers of about 9 percent of the world's oil, will form a $1 billion global venture for projects in countries where companies such as Royal Dutch Shell Plc or Eni SpA are facing tougher business conditions.
Venezuelan-Iranian Oil & Gas Co., or VENIROGC, may be registered by the end of the year with its head office in a European country, Mohammad Ali Talebi, chief of Venezuelan operations at Iran's state-owned Petropars Ltd., said in an interview in Tehran late yesterday.
``The idea of the company is to become the same as Chevron, Shell or Eni,'' Talebi, a VENIROGC board member, said in the Petropars headquarters. ``We'll do the international oil and gas business along the entire value chain, from production to gasoline stations.''
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez, denounced as demagogues by the U.S. government, have expanded cooperation outside the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, to which they both belong. Chavez began supplying Iran with gasoline after June protests over fuel rationing turned violent, rattling Ahmadinejad's government.
VENIROGC will be a 50-50 partnership between state-run Petroleos de Venezuela SA and Petropars. Unlike existing ventures, it will focus on oil and gas developments outside the two countries, such as in Bolivia, Talebi said. Spain and the Netherlands are being considered as possible sites for the company's head office.
Banking Sanctions
Talebi said he hopes the venture will be registered in the British Virgin Islands by the end of 2007. Its offshore address will make the company immune to any banking sanctions against Iran and allow it to attract loans on international financial markets.
Talebi declined to say how much money VENIROGC needs to raise initially, saying only it would be ``no less'' than $1 billion for exploration and production.
``This is still a baby,'' Talebi said. ``You have to take good care of a baby.'' Ahmadinejad and Chavez agreed to create the venture during a meeting in Caracas in September 2006.
``It's very, very difficult to create something like that,'' said Steven Dashevsky, co-head of equities at Moscow-based Aton. ``It's going to take a lot of time to get management and technology in place to be competitive with global majors.''
A 27-year veteran of the oil industry, Talebi is the urbane, English-speaking face of Iran's new global energy push. He splits his time between his modern office in a wealthy north Tehran suburb and the Eurobuilding in Caracas, 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometers) away.
`We're Friendly'
Petropars, a unit of National Iranian Oil Co., already has two agreements with PDVSA. One is for joint exploration of the Ayacucho 7 block in Venezuela's heavy-crude-producing Faja del Orinoco region. If the wells are determined to be commercially viable the two companies will develop it together, with PDVSA holding 51 percent of the venture, Talebi said.
Production may begin as early as 2011 and reach full capacity, or 200,000 barrels per day, after 2012, Talebi said. The two companies estimate that Ayacucho 7 will require $4 billion of investment, should development go ahead.
A second project, exploring for natural gas in the Cardon 2 block in the Gulf of Venezuela, is still waiting for government approval, Talebi said. Chevron Corp. runs neighboring block 3.
``We have no hesitation to talk to them,'' Talebi said, when asked if the proximity of a U.S. company caused any awkwardness because of American economic sanctions against Iran. ``We're friendly. We're talking together, sharing information.''
Iran's Oil Law
The peculiarities of Iran's petroleum law are partially responsible for pushing Petropars to look abroad, Talebi said.
The company was originally founded in 1998 as a general contractor to develop Iran's South Pars field, part of the world's biggest reservoir of natural gas. Because it's not allowed to operate projects once they're up and running, Petropars is expanding abroad, Talebi said.
Besides Venezuela, the company is considering operations in Bolivia, where Ahmadinejad signed energy agreements on a visit last month. Bolivian President Evo Morales nationalized oil and gas fields in 2006, causing companies like Petroleo Brasileiro SA and Shell to sell assets.
Petropars is on an Iranian government list of state asset sales, and 20 percent of the company will be offered to investors by March 2008, Talebi said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Lucian Kim in Tehran via the Moscow newsroom at lkim3 at bloomberg.net Last Updated: October 18, 2007 06:48 EDT
<http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/iran191007.html> Russian and Iranian Presidents' Joint Statement ITAR-TASS
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Tehran, 16 October: A joint statement has been signed following today's talks in Tehran between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad. Here is its full text.
On 16 October 2007, which corresponds to 24 Mehr 1386 in the Iranian calendar, Russian President Vladimir Putin, at the head of a high-ranking delegation, paid a working visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran on the invitation of President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmud Ahmadinezhad. This was the first visit to Iran by a Russian head of state in the whole history of relations between the two countries.
During his stay in Tehran, Russian President Vladimir Putin took part in the Second Caspian Summit, met and held talks with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamene'i and President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmud Ahmadinezhad.
During the talks, which were held in the atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding, the sides discussed key aspects of Russian-Iranian relations and cooperation in various areas, exchanged views on important regional and international issues and reached the following agreements.
1. The sides confirmed that mutually beneficial cooperation in the political, economic, cultural and other areas, as well as cooperation on the international stage, meet the national interests of the two sides and play an important role in supporting peace and stability in the region and beyond.
2. The sides expressed their determination to further contribute to the steady development of multifaceted Russian-Iranian relations, keeping with the spirit and the letter of the Treaty on the Fundamentals of Relations and Principles of Cooperation, which was signed in Moscow on 12 March 2001.
3. On issues of trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Iran, the sides spoke in favour of increasing efforts to further expand economic ties between the two countries, especially in areas like the oil and gas, nuclear power, electricity, processing and aircraft-building industries, banking and transport. Both sides are convinced that the Permanent Russian-Iranian Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation will make a valuable contribution to this work.
4. Special attention was paid to cooperation in the extraction and transportation of energy resources. The sides agreed to develop direct contacts between the two countries' oil and gas companies in order to sign concrete, mutually beneficial commercial agreements on joint work in all segments of the oil and gas sectors.
5. The sides confirmed their interest in coordinating marketing policies in oil and gas exports, attracting Russian companies to the development of oil and gas fields in Iran, including the Southern Pars gas field, and creating in Iran industrial facilities to produce, store and export natural gas.
6. Both sides confirmed their interest in continuing cooperation in the energy sector, including the modernization of thermal and hydro-electric power plants built with Russia's help and the construction of new ones, including the Tabas coal thermal power plant in Iran.
7. The sides noted bilateral cooperation in the area of peaceful nuclear energy and confirmed that it will continue in full compliance with the requirements of the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. In this regard they also noted that the construction and launch of the Bushehr nuclear power plant will be carried out in accordance with the agreed timetable.
8. The sides noted with satisfaction the signing of a contract to supply Iran with five Tu-204-100 aircraft. In this regard they expressed interest in deepening cooperation in the area of aviation industry further. The sides support the on-going talks between the relevant organizations of the two countries on the supply to Iran and the production in this country of Tu-334 and Tu-214 commercial aircraft and Kamov civilian helicopters. They also expressed their support for a speedy preparation and signing of contracts on these projects.
9. During their meeting the presidents deemed it necessary to continue work on the creation of favourable legal, economic and financial conditions for joint investment in Russia and Iran. In this context the sides noted the need to sign as soon as possible a memorandum between the government of the Russian Federation and the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the development of long-term trade and economic, industrial and scientific and technical cooperation and an agreement on facilitating and protecting capital investment.
10. The sides agreed to continue work on the development of the north-south international transport corridor, including its automobile, rail and maritime components, in the interest of further strengthening trade and economic ties between Russia and Iran, as well as other countries of the region.
In this regard the sides agreed to speed up the consideration of the issue of resumption of road transport communication between the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran through the territory of (Russia's) Republic of Dagestan.
11. The sides expressed their satisfaction with the steady development of regional cooperation between the Russian Federation's constituent parts and provinces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In this regard they expressed confidence that the resumption of operations in the city of Rasht by the Russian Consulate General and the opening of Iran's Consulate General in the city of Kazan, Russia, will facilitate further strengthening of interregional ties between the two countries.
12. The sides discussed pressing regional problems, expressed interest in bilateral and multilateral cooperation in Central Asia and the Transcaucasus with the aim of strengthening stability and security in these regions, including by way of closer cooperation between the countries of the region on the basis of mutual respect and interest.
13. Russia and Iran advocate the development of equal and constructive cooperation between member and observer states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on matters of mutual interest.
14. The presidents of the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran confirmed the two sides' aspiration to solve all the issues arising on the Caspian Sea solely by peaceful means, through cooperation on equal footing between the five Caspian littoral states.
They agree that the relevant norms of the agreements of 1921 and 1940 between Iran and the former Soviet Union remain in force until there is a convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea.
Taking into account the vulnerability of the environment of the Caspian Sea, the sides call on everyone to refrain from taking steps that could harm the environment, to maintain a reasonable balance between the efforts to develop energy resources and protect the marine environment of the Caspian Sea.
The sides invite the other Caspian littoral states to start talks, as soon as possible, on issues of cooperation in maintaining peace and strengthening security and stability on the Caspian. They advocate the exclusion from the Caspian of military presence of non-Caspian littoral states.
The Second Caspian Summit, which took place in Tehran on 16 October 2007 (24 Mehr 1386), and its declaration -- the first political document adopted by the five countries -- were assessed as highly significant. Satisfaction was expressed with the Caspian littoral states' positions on key issues of status, security and cooperation on the sea drawing closer to each other.
15. The sides confirmed the understanding of special responsibility of the littoral states for ensuring security on the Caspian Sea, including as regards countering new challenges and threats. In this regard the sides think that the implementation of the idea to create on the Caspian a naval group for operational cooperation (Casfor) would facilitate the elimination of the threat of terrorism and the proliferation of WMD, the fight against illegal trafficking of arms and narcotics and human trafficking and facilitate the protection of the Caspian littoral states' economic interests, the strengthening of stability and security in the region and the development of cooperation and interaction in addressing common tasks. They call on all the littoral states to actively join in this project and start talks on the parameters of their cooperation for this purpose as soon as possible.
16. The Russian and Iranian presidents noted the closeness of Russia's and Iran's approaches to the tackling of key issues of world politics and confirmed their readiness to expand cooperation with the aim of building a fairer and more democratic world order which would ensure global and regional security and create favourable conditions for stable development.
It was stressed that such a world order should be based on collective principles and the supremacy of international law with the United Nations Organization playing a central coordinating role, while any international and regional conflict and crises should be settled in strict compliance with the UN Charter and norms of international law, taking into account the legitimate interests of all the sides involved.
The sides confirmed their refusal to use force or threat of force to resolve contentious issues, and their respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of the states.
17. The presidents stated that Russia and Iran resolutely condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, confirmed the inadmissibility of equating terrorism with any nation, culture or religion.
The sides spoke in favour of strengthening the United Nations Organization's central coordinating role in the fight against international terrorism and other new challenges and threats. They will closely cooperate in implementing the UN's global antiterrorist strategy, ensuring strict observation of norms of universal antiterrorist conventions, as well as in promoting the soonest possible completion of the process of coordinating the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.
Being concerned by the ideological expansion of terrorism, Russia and Iran pay attention to the need for a consistent implementation of all the UN Security Council resolutions which condemn terrorism and call for every possible development of global dialogue.
The sides continue their cooperation in the fight against terrorism and other new challenges and threats at the regional level, above all on the basis of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, laying prime emphasis on curbing terrorist and drugs threats emanating from the territory of Afghanistan and creating anti-drugs and financial security belts around it.
The presidents noted the importance of increasing bilateral cooperation between Russia and Iran in the fight against terrorism and spoke in favour of continuing the practice of exchanging views between the ministries of foreign affairs of the two countries on the subject of countering new challenges and threats, making contacts between relevant bodies more active and giving them practical content.
18. When discussing the situation in Afghanistan, the sides expressed their concern over the continued worsening of the situation in that country, an increase in terrorist threats on the part of Taliban and other extremist forces. The presidents confirmed Russia's and Iran's intention to continue to take part in the post-war reconstruction of Afghanistan and are interested in strengthening its statehood and the process of that country becoming a peaceful, democratic, independent and flourishing state.
19. The sides expressed their concern over the difficult humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian Territories, especially in connection with the effective isolation of Gaza Strip.
The presidents noted that the restoration of Palestinian-wide consensus and unity through dialogue is a necessary precondition for the implementation of national aspirations of the Palestinian people, including the creation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.
The Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran confirmed their adherence to reaching a just, comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Middle East conflict.
20. The sides noted the need to strengthen the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Lebanon and maintain national unity, stability, security and peace in that country. The sides support efforts to achieve accord between various Lebanese movements to enable them to make decisions vital for Lebanon, within the framework of the constitution, with the participation of all political forces of the country, without any interference from abroad.
The sides believe that this is the only way to take the country out of the present crisis.
21. The Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran expressed vigorous support for Iraq's territorial integrity and sovereignty and for an end to foreign military presence in that country on the basis of the relevant schedule.
Supporting Iraq's government and parliament, which was elected on the basis of the constitution, the sides express hope that inter-faction strife, which negatively affects their work, will be soon overcome through a comprehensive pan-Iraqi dialogue.
22. Acknowledging the strategic importance and sensitivity of the Gulf region, as well as the importance of supporting security and stability there, the sides noted a need for collective cooperation of all littoral states in ensuring peace and security in the region and developing tools to ensure security within the framework of international law.
The sides noted the importance of reducing foreign military presence in the region and drawing up common measures of trust between regional and other states in order to ensure stability and security in the Gulf region.
23. The presidents of Russia and Iran noted the need to settle the issue of Iran's nuclear programme as soon as possible by political and diplomatic means through talks and dialogue and expressed hope that a long-term comprehensive solution will be found.
After the visit to Iran, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmud Ahmadinezhad for hospitality and warm welcome and invited him to visit Russia at his convenience. The invitation was received by the Iranian president with gratitude. The sides will agree on the date of the visit through diplomatic channels. Translation from Russian by the United States government's Open Source Center. The translated text was made available by Juan Cole at his blog Informed Comment. -- Yoshie <http://montages.blogspot.com/>