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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


April 2005 Iran Special Weapons News



  • Iran vows to continue talks with EU if uranium enrichment is resumed IRNA 30 Apr 2005 -- Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Hassan Rowhani said here Saturday that Iran is ready to continue nuclear talks with the EU if it resumes uranium enrichment.
  • UK plays down EU-Iran nuclear meeting in London IRNA 29 Apr 2005 -- The British government played down hopes of any major breakthrough at Friday's steering committee meeting, which is reviewing the ongoing EU talks to reach long-term arrangements on Iran's nuclear programme.
  • U.S. Says Iran 'Most Active' State Sponsor Of Terrorism RFE/RL 28 Apr 2005 -- The U.S. State Department says in a new report that Iran was the "most active" state sponsor of terrorism last year, putting the Tehran government atop a group of six countries cited in the department's annual report on terrorism that remain subject to U.S. sanctions.
  • Putin Reassures Israel On Deals With Syria And Iran RFE/RL 28 Apr 2005 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met in Jerusalem today for talks on Russia's role in the Middle East -- including a proposal by Putin to hold a peace conference in Moscow later this year.
  • EU, Iran nuclear talks in London on Friday IRNA 27 Apr 2005 -- European Union diplomatic sources in Brussels are expressing surprise over "rumors'' that nuclear talks between the EU3 and Iran have been postponed.
  • Kharrazi reaffirms Iran's commitment to NPT IRNA 27 Apr 2005 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi on Thursday underlined that Iran's commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is irrevocable based on its religious beliefs and the international conventions.
  • Iran's Alleged Nuclear Weapons Program to be Topic at NPT Review Conference VOA 27 Apr 2005 -- Delegates from more than 180 countries (will be) are gathering in New York to take part in the Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference (to be held from May 2nd to 27th).
  • Iran-Nuclear-Delay Europeans have called for delay in nuclear talks: SNSC official IRNA 27 Apr 2005 -- The Europeans have called for a delay in Iran-Europe nuclear talks due to the upcoming presidential elections in Iran and the parliamentary elections in Britain, an official at the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) said here Wednesday.
  • Pakistan supports EU efforts for resolution of Iran nuclear issue IRNA 27 Apr 2005 -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri on Wednesday called Iran a 'very good friend' and underlined his country's support to a peaceful resolution of the Islamic Republic's nuclear issue.
  • Western diplomat says final Iran-EU nuclear talks to be held after Iran presidential elections IRNA 27 Apr 2005 -- A Western diplomat said here Wednesday that the final nuclear talks between Iran and EU will take place after the 9th Presidential Elections in Iran.
  • Iran's Influential Ex-President Hints At New Bid For Post RFE/RL 26 Apr 2005 -- Influential former President Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani suggested yesterday in his strongest language to date that he will run in Iran's presidential election in June, Radio Farda reported.
  • Iran: Former President Rafsanjani Likely To Run In Presidential Election RFE/RL 26 Apr 2005 -- Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, Iran's influential former president, has given his clearest indication yet that he will run as a candidate in June's presidential election. The 70-year-old pragmatic conservative cleric is considered by many analysts as a leading candidate to succeed President Mohammad Khatami. Rafsanjani, who heads the country's powerful Expediency Council, has been a key figure in Iranian politics since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
  • RFE/RL Iran Report, Volume 8, Number 17 25 Apr 2005 -- FALLOUT FROM AHVAZ UNREST COULD LEAD TO TELEVISED CONFESSIONS / AHVAZ UNREST FELT OVERSEAS, DOMESTICALLY / LEGISLATURE TOUGH ON REFORMIST PRESS, LENIENT TOWARDS STATE MEDIA / LEGISLATORS COMPLAIN OF TELEVISED ANTI-SEMITISM / IMPRISONED IRANIAN JOURNALIST VERY ILL / ROHANI DELAYS ANNOUNCING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY / CONSERVATIVE COUNCIL ANNOUNCES ITS CANDIDATE / CONSERVATIVE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE STRESSES INDEPENDENCE / KHATAMI BRIEFS NATIONAL OFFICIALS ON ELECTION / CANDIDATE CALLS FOR RENEWAL OF RELATIONS WITH U.S. / KARRUBI OPEN TO RELATIONS WITH UNITED STATES... / ...AND WILL REPLACE SUBSIDIES WITH CHARITY / STUDENTS COMPLAIN OF RENEWED CRACKDOWN / TEHRAN REFUSES TO REPATRIATE CANADIAN'S REMAINS / IRAN'S HIV-POSITIVE COUNT SURPASSES 10,000 / RETIRED SAVAK EMPLOYEES DEMONSTRATE IN TEHRAN / AGRIBUSINESS WORKERS IN KHUZESTAN PROVINCE CONTINUE SIT-IN / IMPRESSIVE WATERMELON EXPORTS AMIDST RISING PRICES / IRAN FACES ELECTRICAL BLACKOUTS / NUCLEAR WORKERS STAGE PROTEST / IRAN HONORS PALESTINIAN 'OLIVE GIRLS.' / LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER GETS IRANIAN BACKING / OFFICIALS DENY IRANIAN INVOLVEMENT IN IRAQI HOSTAGE INCIDENT / IRAN, EUROPEAN NEGOTIATORS MEET IN GENEVA / ISRAEL PREDICTS IRANIAN BOMB CAPABILITY WITHIN A YEAR / TEHRAN OPPOSES U.S. PRO-DEMOCRACY INITIATIVES / IRAN GOVERNANCE NEAR BOTTOM OF WORLD BANK REPORT
  • Assefi calls for Israeli case referral to UN IRNA 24 Apr 2005 -- Iran on Sunday called for referral of the Zionist regime's dossier to the United Nations Security Council.
  • FM Spokesman: No Iranian military personnel present in Lebanon IRNA 24 Apr 2005 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Assefi stressed here Sunday that no Iranian military personnel were present in Lebanon.
  • Iran Vows to Resume Uranium Enrichment VOA News 24 Apr 2005 -- Iran says it is determined to resume uranium enrichment whether talks with the European Union over its nuclear program succeed or fail.
  • Blair challenged on any US deal to attack Iran IRNA 23 Apr 2005 -- Prime Minister Tony Blair is being challenged during Britain's general election campaign whether he has made any secret deal with the US to join in any attack on Iran similar to his alleged undertaking ahead of the Iraq war.
  • NEGOTIATIONS WITH EUROPEAN UNION ON IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAMS WILL CONTINUE RIA Novosti 22 Apr 2005 -- Hamid Reza Hasefi, an official spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, has reported progress in the negotiating process with the European Union on solving the problem of the Iranian nuclear programs, RIA Novosti was told on Friday at the press-service of the Iranian foreign ministry.
  • Iran, EU-3 end nuclear negotiations in Geneva IRNA 22 Apr 2005 -- Iran and the EU-3 ended Thursday the latest round of nuclear negotiations held in Geneva with one official saying that the two sides were satisfied with the results the negotiations.
  • Tehran Opposes U.S. Pro-Democracy Initiatives RFE/RL 22 Apr 2005 -- U.S. interest in Iranian domestic politics has increased recently. The State Department is looking for democratic organizations or activists to support, and Congress is considering legislation relating to Iran. Iranian opposition groups, meanwhile, are soliciting U.S. support. Tehran does not see these developments in a positive light and claims that the United States has always opposed Iranians' democratic efforts.
  • Iran, EU-3 end nuclear negotiations in Geneva IRNA 21 Apr 2005 -- Iran and the EU-3 ended Thursday the latest round of nuclear negotiations held in Geneva with one official saying that the two sides were satisfied with the results the negotiations.
  • Iran frees more detainees of ethnic unrest IRNA 21 Apr 2005 -- Judiciary officials released Wednesday night 155 people arrested following ethnic troubles in this southwestern Iranian city, the city's prosecutor said Thursday.
  • Nuclear talks going on well: Rowhani IRNA 20 Apr 2005 -- Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Hassan Rowhani here Wednesday expressed satisfaction with technical talks between Iran and the European Union in continuation of bilateral nuclear negotiations.
  • Iran not after nuclear weapons: Moussavian IRNA 20 Apr 2005 -- Iran has no intention to get access to nuclear weapons while it will use all its inalienable and absolute rights, Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Hossein Moussavian said here Tuesday.
  • EU must stand up to US to achieve Iran nuclear deal, says Rowhani IRNA 20 Apr 2005 -- Britain, France and Germany must resist any US pressure to prevent the collapse of the European Union's bid to negotiate long-term arrangement on Iran's nuclear program, according to Iran's Supreme National Security Council chair Hassan Rowhani.
  • Iran prods Europeans for progress in nuclear talks IRNA 20 Apr 2005 -- Iran announced Wednesday that it would wait for 'a couple of more months and not years' to settle differences in its nuclear talks with the Europeans, or ditch the negotiations.
  • Iran Warns of Collapse of European Nuclear Talks VOA News 20 Apr 2005 -- Iran has warned that nuclear talks with three European countries could break down unless those nations accept Tehran's proposals as a basis for negotiations.
  • Iranian, European Officials To Discuss Nuclear Program RFE/RL 19 Apr 2005 -- Officials from Germany, France, and Britain are expected to meet with Iranian authorities in Geneva today in the latest round of talks over Iran's controversial nuclear program.
  • Iran Shuts Down Al-Jazeera After Clashes RFE/RL 19 Apr 2005 -- Iran has temporarily closed the Tehran bureau of the Al-Jazeera television network, suspending all of the station's activities in Iran.
  • Russia hopes Iran-Europe talks bear positive results IRNA 19 Apr 2005 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov here Monday expressed hope nuclear talks between Iran and the EU big trio would entail positive outcome.
  • Iran's nuclear activities under IAEA supervision: envoy IRNA 19 Apr 2005 -- Iran's nuclear activities are conformed with legal regulations and under precise supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran's Ambassador to Hungary Abolfazl Rahnama Hazavei said in Budapest on Monday.
  • Khatami: Security of supreme importance to Iran IRNA 18 Apr 2005 -- President Seyyed Mohammad Khatami said here Monday that the issue of security was of supreme importance to Iran.
  • Iran Arrests Hundreds Following Ethnic Clashes VOA News 18 Apr 2005 -- Iran says it has arrested some 200 people and closed the offices of Arab language television station al-Jazeera following ethnic disturbances in recent days involving Arab-Iranians.
  • Council of Europe to debate Iran's nuclear programme IRNA 17 Apr 2005 -- The Council of Europe (CoE) is to debate Iran's nuclear programme and adopt a resolution in the session of its Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg .
  • RFE/RL Iran Report, Volume 8, Number 16 18 Apr 2005 -- ETHNIC UNREST IN SOUTHWEST IRAN SIGNALS BIGGER PROBLEMS / INTERNET POLL GIVES LEAD TO REFORMIST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE / PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OPPOSES FACTIONALISM / PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL DISMISSES CONCERNS OVER MILITARY BACKGROUND / AUTHORITIES CONFISCATE SATELLITE DISHES / ONE CORRESPONDENT IS DISMISSED AND ANOTHER GETS JAIL SENTENCE / TEHRAN REJECTS URANIUM-SMUGGLING ALLEGATIONS / TEHRAN DEFENDS RIGHT TO NUCLEAR ENERGY / RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS KHARRAZI / KHATAMI CRITICIZES MIDDLE EAST PEACE PLANS / IRANIAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SENDING ARMS FROM U.S. / TEHRAN AND SYRIA RESUME CONSULTATIONS / IRANIAN YOUTH MOVEMENT HAS UNTAPPED POTENTIAL
  • Iran sees signs of US maturity in nuclear standoff IRNA 16 Apr 2005 -- Chief of Iran Nuclear negotiating Team with the EU trio Sirous Nasseri said here Saturday that the base and framework of negotiations is the same as what the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is legally committed to.
  • Top nuclear negotiator Rowhani to go to parliament Wednesday IRNA 16 Apr 2005 -- Top nuclear negotiator Hassan Rowhani will go to the parliament Wednesday to brief MPs on the latest developments in Iran's nuclear dossier, an MP announced here Saturday.
  • Rice: U.S. Watching EU Efforts On Iran Nuclear Issue RFE/RL 14 Apr 2005 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says Washington is giving European efforts to rein in Iran's nuclear program a few more months before considering tougher measures.
  • CONGRESS/IRAN VOA 13 Apr 2005 -- A congressional committee has approved legislation seeking to strengthen existing U.S. sanctions on Iran and put more pressure on Iran's government on the issue of weapons of mass destruction, while providing greater support for Iranian democracy groups.
  • US / IRAN / ISRAEL VOA 13 Apr 2005 -- U.S. officials confirmed Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stressed concern about Iran's nuclear program in his meeting Monday with President Bush. The State Department says the United States shares Israeli concerns but believes Iran will not have a nuclear weapons capability before the beginning of the next decade.
  • Kharrazi rules out negligence towards Bushehr power plant IRNA 13 Apr 2005 -- Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi on Wednesday ruled out any negligence towards Bushehr power plant in southern Iran, describing any claim to this effect as 'baseless'.
  • IRAN VALUES RUSSIAN STANCE ON ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM: FOREIGN MINISTER RIA Novosti 13 Apr 2005 -- Kamal Kharazi, Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs, greets a principal Russian stance on his country's nuclear program.
  • BUSHEHR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT TO BE LAUNCHED BEFORE YEAR-END 2006 RIA Novosti 13 Apr 2005 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said he hoped for the first stage of the Bushehr nuclear power plant to enter operation before year-end 2006.
  • HIGH-RANKING RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT VISITS IRAN RIA Novosti 12 Apr 2005 -- Russia and Iran are assessing a new potential of enhanced bilateral cooperation in the context of their own interests and regional interests.
  • RFE/RL Iran Report, Volume 8, Number 15 11 Apr 2005 -- DATES SET FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE REGISTRATION / CORRUPTION A WORRY IN IRANIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION / OBSERVERS FEAR MILITARIZATION OF POLITICS / QALIBAF RESIGNATION COULD AFFECT WAR ON DRUGS / CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE DISCUSSES ECONOMIC POLICIES / CONSERVATIVES SET TO ANNOUNCE THEIR CANDIDATE / PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE LOOKS SOUTH FOR SUPPORT / FILM MAKER WANTS TO BE IRAN'S PRESIDENT / LEGISLATURE TO LOOK INTO FATAL SOCCER RIOT / SCHOOL HOSTAGE INCIDENT DEFUSED / JOURNALISTS' GUILD CHIEF'S FOREIGN TRAVEL BARRED / IMAM KHOMEINI AIRPORT TO REOPEN THIS MONTH / WORKERS HAVING PROBLEMS / WAR GAMES BEGIN IN NORTHERN PERSIAN GULF / NUCLEAR PROGRAM THE FOCUS OF KHATAMI'S EUROPEAN TRIP / IRAN AND ALGERIA SIGN AGREEMENT / KHATAMI CHATS WITH ISRAELI COUNTERPART AT POPE'S FUNERAL / SYRIA TO WITHDRAW FROM LEBANON BY END OF MONTH / TALABANI ELECTION LEADS TO UNREST IN IRAN / IRAN, IRAQ SIGN CONSULAR AGREEMENT ON PILGRIMS, BUSINESS PEOPLE / KYIV EYES IRAN'S GAS FOR USE AND TRANSSHIPMENT
  • US / IRAN DEMOCRACY VOA 11 Apr 2005 -- The State Department Monday rejected Iranian charges that a planned U.S. program to promote democracy in Iran would interfere in that country's internal affairs. The U.S. Congress has appropriated three million dollars for the effort.
  • US aims to spend money in Iran IRNA 11 Apr 2005 -- For the first time in a quarter-century of estrangement from Iran, the Bush administration is openly preparing to spend government funds in that country to promote what it called democracy, USA Today said.
  • IRAN SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN INTO A CORNER RIA Novosti 11 Apr 2005 -- Russia's interest in the Iranian nuclear program is not only due to the fact that it is helping to build a nuclear plant at Bushehr.
  • Former Iranian Police Chief To Run For President RFE/RL 11 Apr 2005 -- Iran's former national police chief, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, today said that he will run for president in an upcoming election.
  • Iran: Observers Fear Militarization Of Politics RFE/RL 11 Apr 2005 -- The possibility that an individual connected with the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) could be elected as Iran's next president is causing some consternation in Iranian political circles. National police chief Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a former IRGC commander, announced in Tehran on 11 April that he will run in the 17 June elections.
  • Asefi rules out claims alleging Iran's involvement in Cairo blast IRNA 10 Apr 2005 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid- Reza Asefi Sunday ruled out claims that Tehran had been involved in recent Cairo market blast.
  • Iran has no documentary evidence on missile deal with Ukraine IRNA 10 Apr 2005 -- Iranian authorities do not have any documentary evidence on missile purchasing from Ukraine, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told a press conference in Tehran on Sunday.
  • Optimistic Iran calls for open nuclear talks IRNA 10 Apr 2005 -- Iran Sunday sounded upbeat ahead of planned nuclear negotiations with the Europeans on April 19, hoping that they would put reservations aside this time in order to move further ahead.
  • Khatami says Iran, EU made progress in nuclear talks (final) IRNA 06 Apr 2005 -- There was no talks on permanent suspension of uranium enrichment in Iran's nuclear talks with Europe, said President Mohammad Khatami of Iran here on Tuesday stressing that the two sides made progress during the talks.
  • Iran, France expect headway with nuclear talks IRNA 06 Apr 2005 -- Iran and France here Tuesday expressed hope talks between Iran and the EU trio on Tehran's peaceful nuclear program would make progress.
  • Mousavian rejects reports on limiting number of centrifuges IRNA 06 Apr 2005 -- Head of Foreign Affairs Committee of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Hossein Mousavian said on Wednesday that reports that Iran has proposed uranium enrichment to be limited only to 500 centrifuges is totally baseless.
  • Straw denies any divergence with France on approach to Iran IRNA 05 Apr 2005 -- Foreign Secretary Jack Straw Tuesday denied that there were any differences with France over Paris favoring to have more positive relations with Iran.
  • Iran has no concerns about security of nuclear sites - Mousavian IRNA 05 Apr 2005 -- Iran has no concerns about security of nuclear sites and does not seek security guarantees from the United States in this respect.
  • RFE/RL Iran Report, Volume 8, Number 14 05 Apr 2005 -- ETHNIC POLITICS OUT OF BOUNDS IN IRAN / REFORMISTS CONSIDER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES / FEMALE LEGISLATOR WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT / TEHRAN MAYOR CLOSE TO ANNOUNCING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY / U.S. COMMITTEE WORRIES IRANIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE / CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR RECONFIRMED / PHYSICIAN: CANADIAN PHOTOJOURNALIST TORTURED, RAPED / DOCUMENTARY EXPOSES HIDDEN SIDE OF IRANIAN SOCIETY / KYRGYZ DEVELOPMENTS WORRY IRAN, BUT UNLIKELY TO HAVE LASTING IMPACT / WORLD SHI'A COMMEMORATE ARBA'IN / IRAN-IRAQ RAILWAY LINK FORTHCOMING / IRAN RIDICULES EGYPTIAN ESPIONAGE TRIAL / IRANIAN LEGISLATORS BEMOAN STATE OF NUCLEAR TALKS / ...WHILE ONE RECOMMENDS TALKING WITH WASHINGTON / KHATAMI AND JOURNALISTS VISIT NUCLEAR FACILITIES / INTELLIGENCE COMMISSION'S FINDINGS ON IRAN CLASSIFIED / HOMELAND SECURITY PERCEIVES IRANIAN THREAT
  • France has no doubt about Iran's right to use N-tech peacefully IRNA 04 Apr 2005 -- French Ambassador to Tehran Francois Nicoullaud here Monday said his country has no doubt about Iran's right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
  • Khatami: Iran expects nuclear talks to guarantee Iranian rights, remove EU concerns IRNA 04 Apr 2005 -- President Mohammad Khatami said on Monday that Iran expects its nuclear talks with the European Union (EU) to both guarantee Iranian legitimate rights and allay the concerns about proliferation of nuclear arms.
  • Iran, Algeria review expansion of defence cooperation IRNA 04 Apr 2005 -- Algerian Army Chief of Staff Brigadier General Ahmad Qaed Saleh along with the commander of air, sea and forces conferred here Monday with the visiting Iranian Defense Minister Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani on expansion of military cooperation between the two countries.
  • Iranian defense minister wraps up visit to Algeria IRNA 04 Apr 2005 -- Iran's Defense Minister Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani left here for home Monday at the end of a three-day official visit to Algeria.
  • Iran's Khatami Says Nuclear Program Is Peaceful RFE/RL 04 Apr 2005 -- Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said on a visit to Vienna today that Iran wants to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, not bombs.
  • Iraqi border guards reopen frontier post with Iran IRNA 03 Apr 2005 -- Iraqi Sunday border guards reopened a main crossing border with Iran, which they had shut down a week ago, the governor of this southwestern Iranian city said.
  • Iranian defense minister holds first round of talks in Algeria IRNA 03 Apr 2005 -- Visiting Iranian Defense Minister Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani discussed bilateral defense cooperation during the first round of his talks with Algerian Interior Minister Nourredine Yazid Zerhouni here on Saturday afternoon.
  • Iran's defense minister meets Algerian president IRNA 03 Apr 2005 -- Iran's Defense Minister Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, here since Saturday on a three-day official visit, conferred with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
  • Iran's defense minister meets with Turkey defense official IRNA 02 Apr 2005 -- Iran's Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani on his way to Algeria stopped briefly in Ankara airport on Saturday and met with a senior official of Turkey defense ministry.
  • Europe rejects Iran's proposal for limited uranium enrichment: German daily IRNA 01 Apr 2005 -- Europe has rejected an Iranian proposal to keep a limited uranium enrichment program and demanded once again a permanent cessation of Tehran's uranium enrichment activities, the daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said Friday.
  • IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM AND PROLIFERATION TREATY'S FUTURE RIA Novosti 01 Apr 2005 -- From May 2 through 27, New York will host the sixth review conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
  • Yushchenko Confirms Missile Sales to Iran, China RFE/RL 01 Apr 2005 -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko says the country's former regime secretly and illegally sold nuclear-capable cruise missiles to Iran and China.



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