U.S. refuses to question Iraqi pilots held in Iran for information on Ron Arad
By Ellis Shuman September 4, 2003
The United States refused an official Israeli request to ask Iraqi pilots who had been held as prisoners of war in Iran if they know anything about missing IAF navigator Ron Arad, who may have been held at some time there, Channel Two television reported. The request came after an IDF panel concluded that there is no available information that can refute the defense establishment's working assumption that Arad is still alive.
After the United States refused to ask the Iraqi pilots they were interrogating about Ron Arad, Israel asked if Israelis could be given the opportunity to talk with the pilots directly. The Americans refused this request as well, Channel Two reported.
Israel turned to the Americans in Iraq at the recommendation of the Winograd Committee, a special IDF panel headed by retired judge Eliyahu Winograd. The committee was established over a year ago by then-IDF Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz with the goal of reevaluating ways to handle the case of Ron Arad, who was captured in southern Lebanon after his jet was downed on October 16, 1986.
The committee reportedly examined thousands of documents collected in the seventeen years since Arad's capture and concluded that there was no evidence to change the assumption that he is still alive. The committee presented its findings to IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon three weeks ago, but no conclusions or decisions have been made by the army, the army spokesman's office said.
"We have always said that we are certain that Ron is alive, although recently we have received unconfirmed reports that he might be very sick," said Yoske Harari, head of the Fellowship for Ron Arad's Release.
"Next Friday [September 12], we will gather some 5,000 students together near the Tel Aviv Museum to press the government not to forget Ron Arad," he said yesterday.
Dudu Arad, Ron's brother, said he was please to hear the committee's conclusion. "We were glad to hear that we are not crazy, that there is a committee, set up by the person who was IDF chief of staff and today is defense minister, that has determined that Ron is still alive."
The committee's report came as Israel and Hizbullah are negotiating a possible prisoner exchange deal. According to media reports, Israel would release former Hizbullah leader Sheikh Abdul Karim Obeid and Believers Resistance head Mustafa Dirani in exchange for Israeli citizen Elchanan Tannenbaum and the bodies of the three IDF soldiers, who were presumably killed by Hizbullah. After Israel dropped its demand for information about Ron Arad's fate, progress was made in the talks, the reports indicated.
"As part of the proposed deal it is, apparently, planned to release two important figures, Sheikh Abdul Karim Obeid and Mustafa Dirani, who were brought to Israel against their will specifically to help bring about the release and return of Ron," Harari said.
"We are sure that with patience, a deal can be concluded that would ensure the return of the missing Israelis and would include Ron or information about him. Not doing this would be a big mistake and the government still has the time to change its mind and plans," he added.
Military sources said that publication of the Winograd Committee report might complicate the prisoner exchange deal being brokered by German negotiator Ernst Uhrlau, Haaretz reported.
http://web.israelinsider.com/bin/en.jsp?enPage=ArticlePage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enDispWho=Article%5El2711&enZone=Diplomacy&enVersion=0&BP, Royalutch Shell ready to continue activity in Iran
Tehran, Sept 3, IRNA -- British Petroleum (BP) and Anglo-Dutch conglomerate, Royal/Dutch Shell, will continue activity in Iran despite closure of British Embassy in Tehran as a result of a shooting incident on Tuesday.
Informed sources say BP and Royal/Dutch Shell, two well-credited oil companies that started activity in Iran in recent years, would go on with their mission despite temporary closure of British Embassy in Tehran. The embassy was closed late Wednesday morning until further notice after being hit by gunfire from two motorcyclists.
Iranian police is investigating the case. BP has started activity in Iran since 1997 after setting up its representative office and is now a major purchaser of the country`s crude oil and oil derivatives.
The company is one of the two winners of a tender for development of Bangestan oil field, still awaiting National Iranian Oil Company`s (NIOC) decision to announce it as the final winner.
BP has also taken part in the tender for development of phase 11 of South Pars gas field and is currently cooperating with the NIOC to implement the first LNG project in Iran. The company is also cooperating with the NIOC and other international companies in the Output Expansion Consortium.
Meanwhile, Shell is busy with the project for development of Sorush and Norouz oil fields and is keen to contribute to development of phases 13 and 14 of South Pars gas field as well as implementation of the LNG projects in Iran.
The company signed a contract with Iran`s Oil Industry Research Center early this year for research and exploratory operations. Negotiations are underway between the Iranian party and the two British companies for implementation of GTL projects.
http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=17780&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs