Diplomatic Iran renames street at Egypt's request
The Scotsman
PARISA HAFEZI IN TEHRAN
1.7.2004
THE simple renaming of a street in Tehran yesterday paved the way for Iran and Egypt, the Middle East’s two most populous nations, to re-establish diplomatic relations for the first time in 25 years.
Tehran city council yesterday agreed to rename the street commemorating Khaled Islambouli, the man who killed the former Egyptian president, Anwar Sadat.
The street’s name was changed to Intifada Street, after the Palestinian uprising, at the request of Iran’s foreign ministry. Cairo had demanded Iran rename the street before it would contemplate restoring ties.
A senior Iranian official said the two Muslim countries had agreed to patch up a relationship severed by Tehran shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution, due to Cairo’s 1978 Camp David peace deal with Israel and decision to play host to Iran’s exiled shah.
But Egypt said a final decision had yet to be taken. "The two countries have decided to restore ties and right now they are making the preparations," the Iranian vice-president, Mohammad Ali Abtahi, said.
In Cairo, the Egyptian foreign minister, Ahmed Maher, said: "When a decision is taken, it will be announced. There is no official announcement from anywhere."
An agreement between Tehran and Cairo would heal the last rift between Egypt and fellow Islamic states caused by the Camp David peace deal.
Iran, which still has no diplomatic ties with the United States and Israel, has recently made great efforts to improve relations with its Arab neighbours.
http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/international.cfm?id=18502004I just received this from a student in Iran about the story above...
"Regarding the renaming of a street in city of Tehran to restore ties with Egypt, I would like to mention that here in Tehran most streets have names of famous terrorists.
Like Boby Sands ( IRA member died due to hunger strike ), Ahmad Qasir ( Palestinian, who was responsible for bombings), Navab Safavi ( Iranian mullah, trained by Gamal Abdul-Naser thugs in Egypt, killed Iran's Premier in early 60's ).
Before 1979, All streets of Tehran had well-known and nice names, like Eisenhower Ave, Churchil St, Elizabeth Blvd, Persepolis St ( US embassy is located there ), Cyrus the great Ave, Roosevelt St, Shah Ave, Edward Brown St, Los Angeles St and so on....
So should they change all these terrorists names in favor of Iranian people? Or will these mad men let us change them forever? "