Thursday, December 2, 2010

SUBJECT: (SBU) QUESTIONS ON REMOVAL OF ANTI-AMERICAN SLOGANS AND ART FROM TEHRAN'S BUILDINGS

VZCZCXRO0101
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHTRO
DE RUEHC #7326 1282021
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 082009Z MAY 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO IRAN COLLECTIVE

S E C R E T STATE 047326

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2034
TAGS: PINR IR
SUBJECT: (SBU) QUESTIONS ON REMOVAL OF ANTI-AMERICAN
SLOGANS AND ART FROM TEHRAN'S BUILDINGS (C-NE9-00993)

Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).

¶1. (C/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS ARE HIGHLY INTERESTED IN
CONFIRMING A REPORT REGARDING AN IRANIAN GOVERNMENT DECISION
TO REMOVE ANTI-AMERICAN SLOGANS AND ART FROM TEHRAN'S
BUILDINGS. THIS DECISION WAS REPORTED IN AN AGENCE FRANCE
PRESSE (AFP) ARTICLE ON 7 APRIL AND THE US-BASED IRAN TIMES
ON 17 APRIL 2009. THESE CHANGES COULD REPRESENT AN IMPORTANT
INDICATOR ON TEHRAN'S VIEWS TOWARDS ENGAGEMENT WITH THE US
AND FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE EFFORT AND GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN THE DECISION, POSTS' TIME AND RESOURCES
PERMITTING, WOULD BE VERY VALUABLE.

¶A. (U) WHAT, IF ANY, ANTI-AMERICAN SLOGANS AND MURALS ARE
CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED IN TEHRAN, INCLUDING THOSE IN AZADI
SQUARE AND THE "DOWN WITH AMERICA" MURAL ON KARIM KHAN
AVENUE? WHAT, IF ANY, PLANS ARE THERE TO REPLACE SUCH MURALS?

¶B. (U) IF THERE ARE PLANS TO REPLACE THE MURALS, WHO
AUTHORIZED THEM? WHAT ARE THE REASONS FOR THE MURAL
REPLACEMENT PLAN?

1) (U) THE AFP ARTICLE MENTIONS MOHAMMAD REZA SHARIF KAZEMI
AS THE CITY OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF THE PROJECT, WHAT IS HIS
POSITION IN THE GOVERNMENT?

2) (U) HOW MANY MURALS WILL BE REPLACED?

¶C. (U) WHAT, IF ANY, PLANS ARE THERE TO EXTEND THE MURAL
REPLACEMENT TO CITIES BESIDES TEHRAN?

¶D. (U) HOW WIDELY HAS THE DECISION TO REMOVE THE ART BEEN
PUBLISHED IN IRANIAN PRESS?

¶E. (U) WHAT HAS BEEN THE REACTION OF THE IRANIAN
PUBLIC/PRESS TO THE DECISION?

¶F. (U) WHAT, IF ANY, ROLE HAS TEHRAN MAYOR QALIBAF PLAYED
IN THIS DECISION? TEHRAN CITY COUNCIL CHAIRMAN CHAMRAN?
PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD? SUPREME LEADER KHAMENEI? RELIGIOUS
LEADERS IN QOM?

¶G. (U) WHAT, IF ANY, DEBATE IS THERE AMONG GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS ON THIS EFFORT? WHAT ARE THE ARGUMENTS OF
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS (PLEASE IDENTIFY) EITHER FOR OR AGAINST
THE PLAN?

¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-NE9-00993 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
CLINTON

http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2009/05/09STATE47326.html