Press Releases

NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC expressed today grave concern about India's relations with Iran. In a letter to the Indian ambassador to the United States, AJC stressed that any effort by India to intensify its commercial activity with Iran could undermine the U.S. and EU sanctions that aim to stop Iran's nuclear-weapons program.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100816/AJCLOGO )

"We are alarmed and dismayed by this apparent move to elevate commercial interests over vital security concerns," wrote AJC President Robert Elman and Executive Director David Harris in a letter to Ambassador Nirupama Rao.

The full text of the letter to Ambassador Rao follows:

Her Excellency Nirupama RaoAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryEmbassy of India2107 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.Washington, D.C. 20008

Dear Ambassador Rao:

As you are aware, AJC has been a long-time friend of India and an advocate of increasingly close cooperation between Washington and New Delhi.

In that spirit, we were deeply troubled by recent news reports of Indian efforts to intensify trade relations with Iran at the very moment that Washington and fellow democracies are applying new economic pressures in the banking and energy sectors to persuade Tehran to halt its pursuit of nuclear-weapons capability.

We were particularly struck by the announcement this week, by Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar, that "a huge delegation" of Indian business representatives would soon travel to Iran to capitalize on opportunities created by European withdrawal from the Iranian market. This suggests that New Delhi is attempting to take advantage of sanctions adopted by like-minded nations for the explicit purpose of preventing nuclear proliferation by a dangerously aggressive regime -- and which could, in turn, trigger an escalating arms race -- in a highly volatile region.

In light of India's history of support for International Atomic Energy Agency resolutions on Iranian transgressions, and repeated expressions of Indian Government concern about Iran's nuclear ambitions, we are alarmed and dismayed by this apparent move to elevate commercial interests over vital security concerns.

India has asserted that it will only abide by UN Security Council restrictions on trade with Iran, but not go beyond. Yet, as in the recent case of Syria, further measures are today impossible because of a threatened veto by one or two permanent members. We fear that India risks not only the erosion of the latest steps laudably adopted in Washington, Brussels and elsewhere, but also its standing as an admired partner in safeguarding regional and global security.

We thank you for conveying AJC's concerns on this urgent matter to your Government, and look forward to the prospect of discussing it with you at your earliest convenience.

With the assurance of our profound esteem and best wishes, we remain,

Respectfully,Robert Elman, PresidentDavid Harris, Executive Director

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

MANASSAS, Va., Feb. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Richard A. Viguerie, the Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, issued the following statement regarding Mitt Romney's speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in which he described himself as "severely conservative":

"In my 50 years in conservative politics at the national level, I have never heard anyone other than Governor Romney describe himself as 'severely' conservative. 

"Romney has shown, once again, that he can mouth the words conservatives use, but he has no gut-level emotional connection with the conservative movement and its ideas and policies.

"To paraphrase a story about Mark Twain, one day his wife decided to repeat some of his more colorful four-letter words to embarrass him into cleaning up his language.  After absorbing the barrage, the author thought for a moment and said, 'Honey, you've got the words right, but you just don't have the tune.'

"After 50 years in the conservative movement, I can say with some authority:  Mitt, you may have the words of conservatism right, but you just don't have the tune."

NOTE TO EDITORS:  Richard A. Viguerie pioneered political direct mail and has been called "one of the creators of the modern conservative movement" (The Nation) and one of the "conservatives of the century"(Washington Times).  He is the author of Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause.

Contact: Bob Sturm, (703) 396-6974 or Ryan Rogge, (703) 396-6971After 6 PM Eastern & on weekends,(703) 307-8176 or (703) 674-6948rav@conservativehq.com

SOURCE ConservativeHQ.com

MANAMA, Bahrain, Feb. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Samel, a leading specialist for dry bulk solutions in the Middle East, has chosen Bahrain as its logistics hub for the Gulf Region. 

"This strategic partnership allows Samel and the Bahrain Logistic Zone (BLZ) to open the gates for highly specialized logistics in this region, with Bahrain playing an important role as a distribution hub for the GCC," Dr. Wolfgang Hoppmann, Samel CEO, said.

Factors such as Bahrain's competitive rates, world-class import/export services and close proximity to the Khalifa Bin Salman Port, led to Samel's decision, Hassan Ali Al Majed, the director general of BLZ, said.

Dr. Wolfgang expects that others businesses, particularly in the bulk goods industry, will quickly follow his company's path as Bahrain's competitive rates and investment opportunities become better known.

"Ultimately, this will lead to a drastic increase in the number of companies with specialized expertise and operational skills, especially in the bulk market, setting up shop in Bahrain, which will help support Bahrain's economy in the future," Dr. Wolfgang Hoppmann, Samel CEO, said.

SOURCE Kingdom of Bahrain

Rev. Larry Snyder believes that this is a step in the right direction

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rev. Larry Snyder, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) responds to the Administration's announcement on religious freedom and believes this is a step in the right direction:

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081008/CCUSALOGO )

"Catholic Charities USA welcomes the Administration's attempt to meet the concerns of the religious community and we look forward to reviewing the final language.

"We are hopeful that this is a step in the right direction and are committed to continuing our work to ensure that our religious institutions will continue to be granted the freedom to remain faithful to our beliefs, while also being committed to providing access to quality healthcare for our 70,000 employees and their families across the country."

Catholic Charities USA's members provide help and create hope for more than 10 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing.  

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA