Today's Top Stories (February 6, 2009)

World leaders gather for Munich Security Conference Senior officials from around the world are meeting this weekend for the 45th annual Munich Security Conference, one of the most important international forums on foreign and security policy. Topping this years agenda are Russias relations with the West, Irans nuclear program, security in Afghanistan, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and transatlantic relations. The forum will be an opportunity for the new US administration to outline its foreign policy vision. In his first foreign trip since taking office, US Vice President Joe Biden will deliver the keynote speech on Saturday. Irans Majlis [parliament] speaker, Ali Larijani, is also in Munich. Larijani, who has said that he would not hold talks with the American delegation on the sidelines of the conference, will address a panel on non-proliferation, arms control and the future of nuclear weapons. Larijani today met with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA], Mohamed ElBaradei, on the conferences sidelines, and urged the UNs nuclear watchdog to state its position on Irans right to nuclear technology. Clinton seeks closer cooperation with Russia on Iran US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday that she hoped to build a more constructive relationship with Russia, particularly on tackling the Iranian nuclear issue. US relations with Russia have grown colder in recent years, on issues ranging from Washingtons plans to deploy a missile shield in Eastern Europe to Russias offensive in Georgia last August. We intend to forge a more constructive relationship, Clinton said of Russia, adding that Washington would seek to include Moscow as a cooperative partner in efforts to curtail Irans nuclear ambitions. Russia is part of the sextet that is trying to persuade Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activities, which some Western powers suspect is being used to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran denies this charge. Ahmad Khatami: Iranian nation enjoys independence and freedom Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, member of Irans Assembly of Experts, in his second sermon at Tehrans Friday Prayer said that the technological achievements of Irans scientists has transfixed the world and added: After they blockaded us for thirty years and not allowed our dear nation to take advantage of the technology, which they themselves possess. The firing of the satellite, Omid, into orbit, has created sensation in the world, and has left them open-mouthed and astonished. By the grace of God and the guidance and wise counsel of our supreme leader, we are everyday a witness to such advances. .. The U.S. is extremely angry. May they die of their anger! The fruition of this technology is thanks to the efforts of all the governments after the revolution, specially the people-based and serving government of the honorable Dr. Ahmadinejad. On the eve of the thirtieth anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, Khatami said that the people of Iran decide their own fate and enjoy the blessings of independence and freedom. You decide the fate of your country. All the officials are elected by you, either directly or through an intermediary. You elect the supreme leader through an intermediary. You elect the Assembly of Experts, which in turn elects the supreme leader. You elect the president directly. You elect the parliament deputies, members of the city, town and district councils. In the past thirty years you have gone to the polls nearly thirty times. And God-willing you will go to the polls once again this Khordad [June] to vote for your choice of president in the tenth round of the presidential election. Is this not a gift of God? This is the highest gift. The gift of freedom! He also said that the slogan of Change, based on which Barack Obama was elected president of United States, was a lie and a deception of public opinion.

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