The column ‘Persian Press Review’ features the headlines and leading articles carried by Farsi dailies.

Wednesday’s headlines:
AFARINESH: Academic relations of Iran and Britain to be reduced, says Foreign Ministry spokesman
IRAN: Banks ordered to lower interest rate on loans for the Mehr housing project, says housing minister
ABRAR: Time to impose sanctions on Iran is close, says German chancellor
EBTEKAR: I have no plan to run for president (in 2013), says Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani
ASRAR: Next year’s national budget plan is a positive step toward the realization of the general policies of the Article 44 of the Constitution (privatization plan), says Ali Larijani
ETELAAT: Fanning discords does not benefit the nation, says Ali Larijani
TAFAHOM: Guardian Council approves national budget plan (for the next Iranian calendar year which starts on March 21)
PUL: Administration will continue talks with the parliament to increase its revenues from subsidy elimination savings, says VP for parliamentary affairs
JOMHURI-E ESLAMI: Iran urges Swedish government to take action against publication of sacrilegious cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (S)
JAHAN-E SANAAT: People can not tolerate high inflation, says Majlis speaker
Leading articles:
‘MARDOMSALARI’ in its editorial has commented on the issue of brain drain in Iran. Unfortunately the issue of the emigration of Iranian scientists, academics, and elites to foreign countries has afflicted the country for over 100 years. This issue can not be attributed only to the occurrence of the Islamic Revolution (1979), Iran-Iraq war (1980-88) and the post-election unrest. The educated people need calm to display their talents and potential and unfortunately most of the time the ground has not been ripe for them. The trend of emigrations was declining during the rule of the reformist administration, but the growing trend of brain drain has started once again. The problem can be alleviated by being receptive to the elites’ criticisms and viewpoints, by hearing their voices and by respecting civil rights. If the role of experts in management of country fades away, inevitably the country will experience an serious problems in the future.
‘PUL’ in its editorial has criticized the administration’s decision to lower interest rates on loans for the Mehr housing project. Now that the banks are grappling with the issue of huge defaults in the repayment of loans, the administration orders them to grant low-interest, high-risk loans to state-funded housing projects, the move that may lead to the bankruptcy of banks. The ill-advised banking policies of the administration has plunged the banks into the current alarming situation. However, the recent loan-awarding policy shows that the administration aims to proudly continue its inefficient banking policies.
‘DONYA-E EQTESAD’ in its editorial has analyzed the causes behind a drop in the country’s economic growth rate. In Iran, the oil revenues account for a large section of the gross national product, so the economic growth rate is largely dependent on oil revenues. Considering the fall in oil revenues in the current year, naturally the economic growth decreases. Of course, it can not be overlooked that the widespread drought in the country has negatively affected the agricultural sector. The writer says the officials should answer why Iranians can not produce sufficient wealth. The answer seems to be the inefficiency of the management and economic systems.
‘RESALAT’ in its editorial entitled “The Reproduction of Despotism” has mocked the recent remarks of the opposition leaders Mahdi Karroubi and Mirhossein Mousavi. The candidate (Karroubi) who came fifth after the invalid ballots (out of four candidates) has recently said Ahmadinejad’s administration is not backed by the nation. In the June presidential election, two-third of voters voted for Ahmadinejad, so it is hilarious that the defeated candidates say Ahmadinejad is not backed by the people and the system is despotic. In fact, these two figures have targeted the principle of Islamic republic.