Reply back to Worldscale Association (London & New York)

From: Afshin Dastafshan, persiafshin@yahoo.com
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 7:21 AM
To: rwporter@worldscale.co.uk
Cc: PGTF Board; Jamshid Charmchi
Subject: RE: Complaint about Worldscale web site
Dear Mr. Porter,
It is very telling that you adopted a defensive tone in your reply to us. Perhaps it is because you are fully aware that the company you represent is negligently and deliberately contributing to the distortion of 2,500 plus years of recorded history. Perhaps you realize that the fictitious term you use only exists in the minds of certain Arab nationalists and their apologists who will go to any lengths for the sake of commercial profit. Make no mistake, Mr. Porter; when baseless propaganda is removed from the equation, there is no question in regards to the name of the Persian Gulf. It must be unsettling to know that your company's collaboration with a band of revisionists has been documented and exposed.

You acknowledge that you "do not contest the historical claim to the use of the term Persian Gulf." And yet, you go on to use the fabricated term with complete disregard to this statement. You claim that this has been the "accepted nomenclature...since the Iranian government wished to dispense with any references to Persia." Again, you are misinformed. While the government of Iran requested in 1936 that foreign governments refer to Iran by its native name, it did not, under any circumstance, relinquish the historical legacy of that country, as it has existed in the West for over two millennia. In recognition of this fact, the United Nations continues to use the Persian Gulf as the official name for this waterway, and Persian, as the official language of Iran. Attempts by certain newly created Arab states in the region, to affect a change in the name of the Persian Gulf, are ignored or dismissed as absurd. History should not be up for sale to the highest bidder. Somethings are worth defending.

You claim "Worldscale merely reflects what is common commercial usage." And that "it is not the role of Worldscale to attempt to change accepted industry terminology." Have you ever asked yourself how it came to be that your industry became party to the corruption of history? Who is it that so desperately seeks to impose a concocted phrase on the rest of the world and why? It is evident that someone must have been enticed to defy international norms in the first place and you have willingly perpetuated this contrived term. It is also unmistakably evident that no entity outside of your biased industry and some of the Arab monarchies or dictatorships, are willing to go along with your baseless terminology.

We have provided you with solid documentation from the British Foreign Office confirming Her majesty's Government's stance on the correct name of the Persian Gulf. We have also provided you with United Nations mandates and links that endorse this term. We will also provide you with a link to the United States Department of State to the same end and a United Nation endorsed map of the Middle East:

http://www.state.gov/p/nea/ci/c2419.htm
www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/westasia.pdf
You are right Mr. Porter, it is not the role of Worldscale to change accepted terminology by negating the judgment of history. Then why must you insist on perpetuating this fallacy when the vast majority of the General Assembly opposes your contention and uses the Persian Gulf in reference to the waterway in question? I regret to inform you that you have not refuted our allegation but have succeeded only in revealing the extent of the gross mistake that appears on your web site.

As a responsible member of the global community, it is important for Worldscale to adhere to accepted norms and standards of behavior. This includes showing good faith by not seeking to destroy one nations legacy and indeed that of the world, for the benefit of others.

We reiterate our request that Worldscale commits to abandoning its current biased and revisionist stance by agreeing to use the United Nations sanctioned term, the Persian Gulf, for the waterway located to the south of Iran. Doing so sends a clear signal that neutrality is the best commercial policy of all and that appeasement and pandering are not acceptable means of conducting business.

We look forward to a responsible and dispassionate reply from your company. Until then we must assume that you will continue to abuse the name of the Persian Gulf. As such we have no choice but to expose your company's stance on our website for the world to see.

Regards
Mr Afshin Dastafshan
Persian Gulf Task Force Board (UK Section)