Jump to full article: REDORBIT (formerly RedNova.com), 2008-09-01
Intro: Mahmud Abtahi, General Director of Iran Tobacco Company gives information about the cigarette mafia in Iran and interest of American producers to cooperate
- Does the general director of Iran tobacco company smoke?
- No, not at all. He is against smoking and strongly advises those who smoke to quit. Particularly ladies, who follow the new fashion of smoking recently.
- Then how do you fulfil your duties with this belief? Isn't there a contradiction?
- Iran Tobacco Company is a trading company with unlimited possibilities, a lot of money and production and employment opportunities. This is true that I am not a smoker and I am against smoking, but I have the responsibility of developing this company. So I differentiate my personal opinion and professional duties. I know that development of tobacco industry is to the benefit of Iran and can bring a lot of economic-export opportunities to the country. . . .
. In 2005 about 10.9 billion cigarettes were smuggled. In 2006 it decreased to 8.5. For 2008 we have planned to bring it down to 3.73 billion.
- What policies were implemented?
- Iran Tobacco Company is following Majlis decision to make the cigarette import tax lower to bring it in to the legal realm. . . . .
- When we speak of cigarette mafia, we should know that it's a world mafia linked to capitalists and Zionists. The world economy knows three spheres where dirty money exists. First is narcotics, second is weapons and the third is cigarette. This mafia is a world network that does any unclean thing to sell cigarette and get the market. It does not have a conscious. Sure, they also exist in Iran.
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